Melissa and Shade stood by the fort elevator as it brought up a stack of four crates. Shade yawned and pointed at the boxes. "Melissa?"

"Y-Yes sir, already on it!" She pulled out a parchment and quill before examining the boxes. Two Foresters on standby pried the lids open so she could have a look. She checked through all of them, marking off boxes on her parchment, then turned to Shade. "Everything is here, Dr. Shade."

Shade grinned. "Perfect." He snapped his fingers. "Alright, you two, take these to my hut immediately."

"Yes, sir!" They each took two crates and carried them toward the Sableye's house of operations.

Shade stretched his arms and stifled a yawn. "I have to say, Melissa, you work fast."

Melissa giggled. "I do try to keep myself organized." A random body pain acted up in her legs. She groaned and sat down for a moment, which made Shade laugh. She pouted. "Do not mock me."

Shade covered his mouth and sighed. "Sorry. I heard you've been busy with Basil, Marie, and Pandora over the last few days. I saw you marching around with a chair dragging behind you. I have to say, bold move having that nutty trio be your mentors."

"My options were limited, though not for the worst." Melissa pushed herself up. "I just need to rest for the day."

"Still, how are you handling training with Jet and those three all at once?"

"Long nights and, as Pandora said, a lot of grit," she grumbled. "I should not be awake right now."

"Heh, join the club. Anyway, let's get back to the hut so I can start working on those new medicines." Melissa beamed and eagerly followed her mentor. "We're in for a tricky afternoon, what with a few Foresters in sick bay."

"Oh my, are they okay?" Melissa asked worriedly.

Shade waved it off. "Eh, nothing I can't take care of, though it is tedious."

"How so? Are you not the Forester doctor?"

"No one told you, huh?" Shade asked with a wry smirk.

"Told me what?"

"We don't have a doctor here."

"S-Say what?!" Melissa gasped. "But I thought you were- Basil said you were the doctor around here!"

"I am a doctor…sort of. I'm an alchemist!" Shade sighed and pinched between his eyes. "Alright, here's the deal. I'm mostly self-taught in alchemy, but I never learned how to make medicine and stuff."

"Never?"

"I know basic elixirs, but nothing special. At best, they numb the symptoms until the sickness passes. We get sick out here a lot because we don't have proper medicine. Top tier physicians get access to the good stuff while we get…plants that hopefully have something curative in them."

Melissa frowned. "You are no good with medicine, are you?"

Shade sighed and shrugged. "You would think it'd come naturally with all the alchemical brewing I do, but I never had the time to research the curative aspects of plants. Not much time now with how swamped I am with requests from Jason. I am literally the person who keeps the smoke pellets in stock. We go through those things fast."

"Oh. That must be rough," Melissa sympathized.

Shade waved it off. "I do what I can and that's all that matters. That's why I needed an apprentice. With you keeping on track during my…naps, I should get by on production faster."

Melissa looked off to the side, then smiled. She never brought it up with Shade, wanting to stay focused on being his apprentice, but now seemed like the right time to mention it. "Well, if I am going to be your apprentice, that means I will learn everything from you, and become a second doctor to the Foresters, correct?"

"That's about right," Shade mumbled.

"Dr. Shade, I have some good news for you, then. I studied medicine!" she exclaimed.

"That's nice, Melis-" Shade jittered to a stop and spun around, gem eyes sparkling in shock. "Say WHAT?!"

Melissa chuckled bashfully and rubbed the back of her head. "Um, well…I would not say I studied under a teacher or anything, but I read many medical books in my spare time. I cannot patch a wound or remove bullets by any means, but I know medicinal plants pretty well."

Shade gaped at her for a few seconds before grinning like a loon. "Melissa, this is incredible! You really know how to make medicine?"

"Um, never actually made medicine, I just know the plants and their effects-"

"If you say you know plants and junk, that's good enough for me!" Shade slapped his forehead, laughing in excitement. "This is incredible. I can teach you how to use my equipment and we can make stronger and better medicines to help with the sick. We might have an actual doctor on our hands."

Melissa giggled. "You flatter me, Dr. Shade."

"You're going to be our lifesaver around here!" Shade paused suddenly, then groaned. "Ugh, but if you don't pass your exam…"

Melissa frowned. "Could we not just ask Jason to keep me on if he knew I could provide medical assistance?"

"Knowing him, he would have you pass your knowledge onto me before holding you for ransom. He's not all that keen on keeping you around."

Melissa pouted. "Darn."

Shade then smiled and patted her shoulder. "However, you have my support in your final exam. I can't lose an important asset like you so soon."

She beamed. "Thank you, Dr. Shade. That means a lot coming from you."

Shade snickered. "I'm liking you more and more each day."

Melissa giggled, but then turned her attention away as a sudden commotion came up around them. The pair saw some Foresters chattering and gathering by the elevator system, some appearing excited while others looked rather anxious. The pair looked at each other and shrugged.

Shade stopped a Nidorino that walked by. "Hey, what's going on over there?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, one of the guards got confirmation that the Nature Spirits returned from their mission."

"The Nature Spirits, huh…" Melissa mumbled, looking to the elevator.

"Back already, I see," Shade said to himself. "Must've gotten back from whatever mission Jason sent them out on."

"Yeah, though some of the Foresters looked a bit spooked by the news," Nidorino brought up. "I don't know what, but it's got some of them on edge."

Shade raised his brow. "That's odd. Wonder what that's about." The Nidorino waved them off and continued on his way.

Melissa hummed to herself, then tapped Shade on the shoulder. "Dr. Shade, can I ask you something?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I keep hearing Nature Spirits around here, and I figured they were a high ranking position. Though, I was wondering, who and what are the Nature Spirits?"

Shade held his hips and chuckled. "I'm not surprised no one debriefed you on them yet. You are correct, the Nature Spirits are one of the highest ranked thieves in the guild, with only the leader and co-leaders outranking them. Blitz and Jet used to be Nature Spirits before they were promoted as Jason's co-leaders. They're the best of the best around here. They don't go on raids like the rest of the guild. Jason assigns them to top secret missions that no one else knows about. All we know for sure is that that are our strongest members."

"So, super strong and super secretive thieves?" Melissa summed up.

"Pretty much. You may have heard one of their names come up from time to time."

"I believe I overheard Eadwulf from Pandora."

Shade smirked. "There's a shock."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing. Yeah, Eadwulf is the top Nature Spirit, so he leads the group." Shade glanced to the side, then awkwardly rubbed his head. "Just, uh…be careful around him."

Melissa raised her brow. "What do you mean?"

"Eadwulf is a pretty nice guy by all means, but…the guild is often extremely cautious with him. For your safety, try not to piss him off…or get any sort of stain on his clothes."

"Stain on his…huh?" That was the oddest and vaguest warning she has ever heard.

"Just…trust me on this. I don't want to spook you with any details." Shade crossed his arms. "They go by some names out there and Eadwulf's isn't all that flattering. He's called many things. The Explosive Wolf is our nickname for him, some call him the Demon of the Foresters, but his actual moniker is a bit…telling."

"I see…" Melissa was still curious as to the true nature of Eadwulf and the apparent fear felt towards him. It was enough to deter her from direct questions, but not so much that she wasn't interested.

Speaking of, the elevator finally reached the top, carrying the Nature Spirits. A five-man group of a Nuzleaf, Spinda, Maractus, Abra, and Drilbur. Immediately, Melissa felt a stark difference in the atmosphere just from their appearance.

First was their drastically different uniform. Ditching the camouflage garb found all around, they sported dark green jackets with a slick sheen and black pants/skirts. The jackets definitely weren't made from regular cotton. Black bandanas hung around their necks, as well as a set of goggles with red tinted lenses. Melissa figured Pandora had something to do with those, given her penchant for new weapons and gear.

Speaking of weapons, there were some standouts among them. The Nuzleaf carried a three-sectioned staff strapped to his back, which, from Melissa's best observation, looked worn from years of use. The Drilbur carried a pair of bladed claws on her sides. Finally, the only other weapon was the Maractus', which was a halberd.

They seemed fairly normal, given the number of weirdos in the guild, but the Nuzleaf in particular stood out in appearance. There were noticeable burn scars on the left side of his face, possibly some hidden under his sleeve, but it was hard to tell for her.

"Whoa…" Melissa awed.

Shade nodded. "Yep, that's them. The infamous Nature Spirits of the Foresters. The best of the best." He tilted his head. "Huh. That's odd."

"What is odd?"

"Giles isn't with them. There's six active members of the Nature Spirits. Hmm. Maybe he's getting some cargo in order down below. It's not abnormal for them to bring stuff back from their missions."

Melissa nodded. "Makes sense." She tilted her head as the five-man group headed off from the elevator. "Hmm…I am going to introduce myself."

"Eh?!" Shade gasped.

Melissa grinned. "Well, if they are as respected as you say they are, would be nice to make friends with the best, right? I will meet you back at the hut later." She headed on over towards the Nature Spirits.

"Melissa, wait! You can't…c-can't just…oh, everything's going dark," he grumbled in his last breath before passing out. He snored soundly on the floor.

"Jason isn't going to like this," the Drilbur mumbled as she rubbed her face. "Rumors are already spreading."

"Not like we can hide it," the Maractus pointed out. "As soon as they pull the elevator up, everyone's going to freak out."

The Nuzleaf raised his hand to quiet them. "The only thing we can do is keep our cool. If everyone sees us freaking out, they will, too. We have an image to uphold for the good of the Foresters." He glanced down with a sour look. "Best not to think about it."

"Not easy for you to say," the Abra pointed out. He carried a metallic canteen in his hand and chugged the contents. "You went berserk back there."

The Nuzleaf lifted his right hand, which was bandaged up. Dried blood had soaked through the cloth. He grimaced with a scowl, then covered it to take a few calming breaths. "You all should get some rest. It's going to be a long couple of days."

"Come on, dude, don't put yourself through that," the Spinda cut in. "I'll report to Jason instead. You definitely need the rest."

The Nuzleaf shook his head. "As head of the Nature Spirits, it's my responsibility. Besides, I…I really just want to see him myself."

The Spinda smiled kindly. "Fair enough."

The Nuzleaf slid his hands into his pockets. "Go get some food, it's been a long day. Zephora, you should get going and prepare for the ceremony."

The Maractus, Zephora, nodded. "Always a pleasure. It's my favorite job."

The Drilbur shivered. "Don't remind us. Why would anyone willing become a-?"

"Hello there!" They stopped and turned toward the Buneary approaching the cheerily. "Hi! You are the Nature Spirits, yes? Nice to finally meet all of you!"

The Abra blinked his closed eyes, then huffed. "Oh…right, the princess." He sipped from his canteen. "What do you want?"

Melissa staggered from his blunt and, admittedly, rude greeting. "Uh…I only want to introduce myself. A-After all, we will be working together if I pass my exam. Haha…"

The Abra scoffed. "If? That's the attitude you're going in with?"

"W-Well, I-!" Melissa tried to explain until the Spinda raised his hand to silence her.

He wrapped his arm around the Abra and chuckled. "Ah, lighten up. No harm with introducing ourselves. Besides, might as well inform the readers so they don't have to refer to us by our Pokémon names."

Melissa blinked in confusion. "Uh…what?"

"Ignore him," Zephora replied. "He's kind of insane."

"Uh…okay?"

The Nuzleaf sighed, then casted a friendly smile at Melissa. "I do admire your forwardness. I've been hearing you had crippling shyness or something."

Melissa giggled bashfully. "K-Kind of."

He extended his hand. "Eadwulf Trevorrow. I'm the leader of the Nature Spirit Scouts."

Melissa beamed and shook his hand. "Melissa Penworth. Uh…former princess of Verde Kingdom."

"Hehe. You've caused quite a stir around here. I like that." He looked at her hand for a moment and smiled. "Oh, your fur is incredible. Very clean and well groomed."

"Oh, you noticed? Thank you so much! I always try to look my best!" She pouted. "Best I can do with my…limited care products."

"I think I might like you."

"Thank goodness," the Drilbur mumbled.

"Hmm?" Melissa hummed.

"Nothing," Eadwulf assured before gesturing to his team. "These are my finest allies." He gestured to the Spinda. "Valentine Dryden, expert tracker and hunter."

Valentine saluted. "How do you do?"

"This is Zephora Beaumont, our weapons specialist."

The Marcatus bowed her head. "A pleasure to meet you, Princess."

"Sidney Acworth, also known as Sid, our resident area control specialist."

The Drilbur crossed her arms and beamed. "If you need to lockdown an area and keep the enemy from escaping, I'm your girl!"

"And finally, this is Percival Rosenthal, our lead strategist and tactician." The Abra, Percival, grunted as he drank from his canteen.

Melissa's nose twitched from the strong aroma of the canteen. "Wow, that is…a pretty aromatic beverage you have there. What is it?"

"Coffee."

Her eyes widened. "That much in one canteen?"

"This is actually my fifth."

"You drank five canteens worth of coffee?!"

"It's been a long day, so I had to cut back."

"C-Cut back?!"

Eadwulf patted her shoulder. "Why don't you hang out with these guys? I've got to go speak with Jason."

"Huh? O-Oh, of course." She bowed apologetically. "I am sorry for disturbing you."

"It's cool, don't worry. Hope to see more of you around." Eadwulf took his leave, waving back to her.

Melissa lifted her head and smiled. "He was nice."

"Was that Eadwulf?!" Melissa shrieked as Pandora came screeching past her, knocking the poor rabbit onto her face. Pandora caught up with Eadwulf and grinded to a halt in front of him. "Eadwulf! Hi!" she greeted with her tail wagging enthusiastically.

Eadwulf smiled. "Ah, Pandora. How's my favorite evil overlord doing?"

"Aww, Wolfy, you flatterer!" Pandora squealed, holding her reddened cheeks.

Melissa lifted her face and gawked in disbelief. I have never seen Pandora acting so…girlish.

Pandora opened her pack and presented her recent blueprints. "I designed that crossbow you asked for. It has a draw weight of 113 kilograms. This baby will really kill when it hits!"

"I'm not exactly aiming to kill on my missions," he reminded jokingly.

Pandora frowned. "Oh…s-sorry. I must've got carried away."

He patted her head gently. "Oh no, it's fine. The draw weight is perfect. You've always been a reliable help for us, Pandora."

Her eyes sparkled happily. "Really?"

"Of course. Now, I got to get going. Try to stay out of trouble." He walked around her and continued on his way.

Pandora felt her heart thumbing against her ribcage in silence, then jumped into the air with a happy squeal. "He loved it! HEE!" She rolled around on the floor, hugging her blueprints. "My evil black heart is swelling with joy!"

Melissa stood up and stared at her in disbelief. She is like a completely different person.

"So, Melissa?" She turned around and faced the rest of the Nature Spirits. Valentine grinned before asking, "How's life in Fort Lucus working out for you? Must be grueling work with Jet managing your training."

Melissa chuckled sheepishly. "Uh…yeah. He will not take it easy on me. I am thankful for Basil, Pandora, and Marie helping me out on the side."

"Ah, Marie's helping you out?" Sid asked. "You went to the right teacher, then. That girl knows her way around a knife."

"Oh? She does?"

Sid grinned. "Trust me, she may not look like the serious type, but that girl is deadly. Shame she doesn't go on missions nowadays."

Melissa frowned. "She does not?" She thought back for a moment and remembered how Marie always walked with a limp. Her left leg always looked weaker than her right. "Did…something happen to her leg?"

"Bingo," Zephora confirmed. "She got hurt on a mission. Really messed her up. Since we don't have much medical expertise on hand, that was the best Shade could do to fix her up. She doesn't like talking about it to anyone."

"I never pictured her for the secretive type," Melissa mumbled. "What happened?"

Valentine shook his head. "Not our place to talk about it. She wanted to drop it right after commotion started up."

"Oh, I see." Melissa narrowed her eyes, making a mental note for later.

"But, enough about her," Valentine moved on. "How about you? Catching up with your teammates?"

Melissa scratched behind her head. "Uh, it has been a slow…very slow process. I have not been all that successful in swordplay."

"Oh yeah," Zephora murmured. "I heard a rumor you nailed yourself in the head during training."

Melissa cried through a pained smile. "Why does everyone keep bringing that up?"

The Maractus shrugged. "Eh, no one's perfect."

"She is wasting her time, though," Percival cut in, drinking from his canteen.

Valentine grinned. "We have enough pessimists doubting the poor girl, Percy, she doesn't need another one beating her down."

"That's not what I mean." Percival glared at Melissa. "Princess, forgive my rudeness, but you really should quit while you're ahead."

Melissa pouted. "But I am progressing very well. If you just give me more time-"

"This isn't about training or experience. I don't think you fully grasp the seriousness of what world you're stepping into." Percival strapped his canteen onto his waist. "This isn't child's play. No one's going to be holding your hand as you step out into this unforgiving world. That is only fact. We are thieves. Regardless of what side we fight for, we're still thieves. Out there, thieves are punished in the worst ways possible."

Melissa grimaced. "H-How so?"

Percival glared over at the elevator as more and more Foresters crowded around it. "I doubt you'll ever trek into the kind of work we have to do, but the results are the same. The ten kingdoms of Virdis each have their own objectives, and with that, their own ideals. What do you suppose some of them will do to you if you're captured?"

"I, uh…" Melissa clenched her teeth and tried to look away.

"Too many answers to a serious question. Verde despises us. The Wick Kingdom has quite a few bounties over our heads. The Senbo Kingdom holds prisoners of war in dungeons until the reaper comes knocking. Don't even get me started on the New Chariot Empire. Best case scenario, you're taken in as a slave to serve the emperor's every desire. Worst case…instant execution."

The color drained from Melissa's face. "W-What…?"

Sid immediately interrupted Percival. "Alright, let's not fill her head with any horrors. She's not going on those type of missions." She smiled sweetly at Melissa. "You'll be fine. The stuff we do is ten times more dangerous than whatever you get roped into. Besides, since you're a rookie, the worst you'll get is the food run."

Melissa gulped and chuckled nervously. "O-Of course."

Valentine grinned. "It's not nearly as bad as Percival makes it out to be. Trust me, the raids hardly ever go wrong. It's likely you won't have to get into any serious fights for a long time."

Melissa breathed a sigh of relief. "That…does make me feel a little better."

Percival huffed. "Perhaps my examples were a little extreme." He glared seriously at Melissa. "But I wasn't lying about what I said. You better know what you've gotten yourself into, because there's no turning back afterwards." He floated off, leaving the Buneary in stunned silence.

Sid rolled her eyes, then patted Melissa's shoulder. "Don't take him too seriously. He means well in his own…blunt way. Come on, guys, I'm starving." Zephora and Valentine followed the Drilbur toward the mess hall.

Melissa held her head and let out a shaky sigh. "That was…intense."

"Hey Melissa." She saw Shade approaching her with a glum look on his face. "So, how did it go?"

Melissa played with her right ear. "A lot different than I imagined, but they were not…overtly rude to me, at least."

Shade sighed. "They're really kind, even Percival. I suppose he's just keeping you from making a big mistake."

"I suppose so." She took notice of the sad look in his face. "Hey. Is something wrong? You look a little pale."

"…" Shade pressed his hand against his crystal eye as tears leaked out from both. "Melissa, we have some bad news."

"What bad news?"

Shade pointed over his shoulder, towards the elevator. Melissa looked over his shoulder, then her heart stopped. Foresters parted away from the elevator as it came to the top. The mood turned cold at the cargo sitting on it.

A wooden coffin.

"Giles. The one I mentioned. He was killed on their mission."

The mood throughout Fort Lucus went down significantly as word of Giles' death reached their ears. The bustling activity often seen in the guild suddenly turned cold, as quickly as a snap of the fingers. A death of one of their own was never easy to stomach.

It was harder for Eadwulf when he delivered the news to Jason.

Jason was hunched over his desk, hands clasped over his chin as he stared down with a dark stare. Eadwulf stood in front of the desk, hands folded behind his waist, and trying to remain calm before his leader. He waited for the Pikachu to say something after two minutes of silence. Jason didn't show it, but Eadwulf could tell he was in shock.

Jason finally breathed an audible sigh and pinched between his eyes. "This is…unexpected."

"It was for all of us, sir."

"What happened?"

"The mission happened." Eadwulf pulled up a stool and sat down. He threw a rolled up scroll onto the desk. "That's the mission report right there. We sent Giles out to investigate before we staged our attack. Unfortunately, he went missing. He never came back at the rendezvous time. We assumed the worse and went on ahead."

"And…?"

Eadwulf bared his teeth, then clutched his wrist tightly. "It was horrible. The boss had Giles chained to the wall. He looked terrible. Dried blood over his face, a swollen eyelid, numerous broken bones, and throwing knives in his body. They tortured him for hours. He was barely alive when we found him, but…" Eadwulf's eyes shrunk. His breathing became sharper. "It was too late to do anything else."

Jason kept his clenched teeth hidden as he opened the scroll. "I see." He sighed. "Giles had family, right?"

"Yeah. Two parents, a baby brother."

"They live close to the forest. I'll have Blitz deliver the news before bringing them here." Jason covered his face and sighed. "They agreed on our terms when Giles became a thief for this very reason. It's going to be hard for them."

Eadwulf nodded. "It was hard for us, too."

"You've already assigned Zephora to handle the proceedings, right?"

"Of course." Eadwulf sighed. "She's a good person, but I can't imagine anyone would take joy from being a mortician. She's the exception, I guess."

"Yeah." Jason unfurled the report. "I…suppose I should be asking this next. What did you do to their boss?"

Eadwulf glared. "What else? I went after him."

"I know that. I mean…did you lose your temper?"

Eadwulf bared his teeth. "He was a filthy stain that had to be erased."

Jason looked over the report. "Says here he was still alive." He glared. "Barely."

"The others had to stop me. I kept getting his blood over myself and…" Eadwulf calmed down and sighed. "Yeah, I lost my temper. There was just…so much blood that I wanted to wipe it out."

"The Demon of the Foresters strikes again," Jason mumbled to himself. He set the report aside and leaned forward. "The boss' name is Big Pasco, as referred to by his peers. Did you find anything on him?"

Eadwulf shook his head. "We couldn't find anything on the hidden contraband they snuck away from us. It's long gone now, along with Pasco's goons."

"Damn."

"Although, it wasn't a total loss. Giles had just enough life in him to tell me something. He mentioned someone by name, but I didn't get much else after that."

"A name?"

"Someone who had a connection with Pasco. Giles must've dug something up right before he was tortured. I guess they wanted to punish him for uncovering their dealings." Eadwulf glared. "The Freaks don't normally go that far. They usually want us dead on sight. Giles must've discovered something huge to deserve that treatment."

"What was the name?"

"Don't get your hopes up, it's not much to go off of. His name is Althalos."

"Species? Affiliations outside Pasco's ring? Anywhere he frequents?"

"I'm telling you, that's all I got from Giles. I've never even heard of a Freak with that name."

Jason clasped his hands against his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, that might be a problem. However, if this Althalos has any connection to that mysterious contraband, it's worth investigating."

"How are we supposed to find one guy in all of Virdis? He could be in any of the ten kingdoms."

"Maybe, but we can deduce one thing about him. He's a gang leader."

Eadwulf raised his brow. "What makes you say that?"

"Why would Giles give the name of some random lackey? Even if it was for pick-up, that lackey may not know anything regarding the box itself or have any personal use for it. Besides, for Giles to single out that name, two possibilities arise. He either found a list of clients and singled out 'Althalos' somehow, or the name came up in conversation by Pasco."

"But what makes you think he would be a gang leader? Plenty of Freaks work solo."

"Pasco himself is my reasoning. A self-respecting gang leader like him wouldn't deal with a wild card. A solo operator provides no benefits to be exploited unlike that of a gang. He may have wanted a cut of control over any territory this Althalos wanted." Jason closed his eyes. "It's only a hypothesis, of course. We can't assume certain until the truth is revealed."

Eadwulf sighed. "I never doubted you before. Alright, we'll have some scouts look into the underworld affairs and find any dirt on this guy. Though, if we've never heard of him, that might cause trouble."

"If there's a gang without a confirmed boss or name, they're liable for investigation. Just to be on the safe side, look into all of them."

"Aye." Eadwulf leaned back on the desk. "Any idea as to what they're carrying?"

"Not one, but we'll worry about that another day." Jason leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. "I'm tired…"

Eadwulf smirked. "Staying up late again?"

"Busy with work. Same as usual."

"Why didn't you have Blitz or Jet take over for the night?"

"Jet did late night training with the rookies and Blitz…well, can't really do the paperwork on his own."

Eadwulf shrugged. "Fair, but you really need a break."

"Uh huh."

Eadwulf narrowed his eyes. "So, what's your opinion on Melissa?"

"How so?"

"I get the distinct feeling you're trying to get rid of her." Jason glared to the side. "…The Penworth name once brought you hope, then you lost faith in it. How long has it been since then?" Eadwulf closed his eyes. "You were eight when it happened. Twelve years, huh?"

Jason clutched his sleeve. "I don't like seeing her here."

"Because of the grudge you hold against her family name, not her."

Jason huffed. "What do you know?"

"Though it may not be by blood, we are brothers. I think I know plenty about you that others have yet to unearth themselves." Eadwulf glared. "I've been with you through it all, from that day until now. We've been through a lot to get here and we're still thick as thieves."

"So, why did you refuse to become one of my co-leaders?" Jason asked. "If you didn't turn down the position, Jet would've taken over as Nature Spirit Leader."

Eadwulf closed his eyes. "You don't want me doing all that paperwork and junk. My skills are better suited for out there." He sighed. "My point is, I've been with you for so long that I can see when you're hurting. Despite her demeanor, Melissa is just another Penworth in your eyes."

Jason looked down. "Well…"

"That name carried great meaning for you because of her mother. You lost faith in it even before she died. But perhaps Melissa can reignite your hope. Who knows?"

Jason turned away, hiding his glare. "…Shouldn't you be getting ready for the ceremony? Once Blitz gets back with Giles' family, we'll be starting."

Eadwulf sighed and slipped off the desk. "Fine." He headed for the exit, stopping just as he parted the curtain. "Any missions for us?"

"Not until we get new leads."

"Good. I want to keep an eye on Melissa for a while. I'm curious to her potential." Eadwulf stepped out, leaving Jason alone in the darkness of his hut.

Jason pressed his hands to his cheeks and leaned on his elbows, heaving a deep breath. He stared vacantly at the desk for a moment, then pulled open one of the drawers. He pulled out the letter that came along with Melissa and read it over a couple times.

"It's hard to believe that anyone affiliated with the Penworths is of good nature, but…" He glared. "If the evidence is correct, should I accept it without hesitance?"

Melissa twitched uncomfortably as she followed Marie and Pandora out their hut. Sunset came and went with the fort illuminated by the torches around them. It was eerily quiet out tonight, much more than Melissa's first night. Barely a sound made, save for the rustling of leaves.

Pandora sighed. "Poor Giles. Can't say I knew him too well, but he would've been a valuable asset to my empire."

"Uh, yeah…" Melissa mumbled just to humor her, though she could tell Pandora meant it. In a twisted sense, it said a lot about Pandora's kindness.

Marie narrowed her eyes. "Damn fool."

"Huh?" Melissa gasped.

Marie shook her head. "It's nothing. Just upset, that's all."

"Did you know Giles personally?"

"…We talked regularly." Marie gripped the waist of her jacket. "Sorry, these ceremonies are never easy to sit through."

Melissa's ears flopped. "This…happens often?"

"Foresters formed six years ago and made their official debut four years ago," Pandora explained. "We've lost six Foresters ever since we made our name known, not counting Giles. It happens. Something goes wrong in a raid, personal vendettas enacted by a Freak, corruption of a kingdom, etc. This is the first time we've had someone on the Nature Spirits die."

"That is…horrible," Melissa mumbled.

"That's why Jason chooses who becomes a Nature Spirit wisely," Marie added. "Granted, the whole initiation process is a secret to everyone who isn't a part of it. Passes like a normal day and no one is none the wiser about it until one of us is flashing that new gear around."

"Training must be difficult," Melissa said. "Did you not say that…grappler device requires extensive training, Pandora?"

She shrugged. "Well, duh, I just don't know what Jason puts them through." She glared. "Still, it must be something big if they're gone for a whole month."

"What?"

"Once Jason picks someone to be a Nature Spirit, that Forester disappears for the next four weeks," Marie explained. "When they come back, you can see they're a totally different person. Giles' had been one for, say, two years. Still same happy guy, but you can tell he had seen some shit."

Melissa frowned. "I am really sorry you all lost such a respected comrade." She turned away. "Should I even come? I do not even know Giles. Would it be disrespectful for me to join in mourning?"

Pandora shook her head. "All Foresters are required to attend, even rookies. We're a tightknit community. That's our law."

"L-Law?"

"'Sacred Law 1: A Forester never abandons their own. To abandon one's comrade in the face of peril or desperation is a sin that will never be forgiven.' That includes battle and in death."

"Wow…"

Marie closed her eyes. "We follow the sacred laws of the Foresters. A strict path to keep us focused on the objective ahead. We never stray from them, no matter what."

Melissa sighed. "I really do have much to learn. I still do not feel like my presence at the ceremony is welcomed. It is not like anyone cares for me here."

"Showing up is the ultimate sign of respect, whether it is a duty or not," Pandora assured. "You don't have to do anything. You just need to be present."

Melissa whimpered quietly, then nodded. "O-Okay."

They arrived at the center of the fort, the largest platform not a part of the residential huts. Foresters were gathered in a crowd before a recently built stage. Melissa winced at the coffin sitting in what looked like a large fire pit. It was surrounded in stone with wood piles gathered around the coffin.

"What is…that for?"

"We don't bury the dead," Pandora explained. "They're burned to release their spirit and become one with the forest."

"H-Huh?" Melissa scrunched her face in confusion. "That…does not make any sense. Back home, we bury bodies to preserve their memory. Why would you destroy a treasured ally's body? Is that not disgraceful to their memory?"

"Maybe for some," Marie admitted, "but we do it to let go of our grief." Melissa still looked confused, so Marie explained a little more. "Most kingdoms have their traditions when it comes to the dead. Out here, though, we don't have the luxury of cemeteries because land can be taken from us any moment. That memory would be destroyed.

"So, the Foresters agreed on cremation. We ultimately leave the decision up to the family, but if the deceased doesn't have any close family, we spread their ashes through the forest so that, in a way, they continue to protect us. They become one with the forest and guide us along our way."

Melissa frowned. "What about Arceus' palace? It is said to be a place of relief and beauty for the dead."

"Remember Sacred Law 1?" Marie reminded. "We made a vow, even in death, to never abandon our own. We will continue to serve the Foresters until our goals are met."

Melissa came to a stop as the two continued ahead, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She felt tears dripping down her face. Her body trembled with confusion.

The customs out here are so…strange. Protect us even in death? Why would any spirit linger in the mortal realm? Spirits…cannot protect the living…right?

A hand touched her shoulder.

"AH!" Melissa jumped and nearly slipped off the platform, again. A hand caught her arm and pulled her back up. "Wah…! Oh my, I…" She clutched her chest, feeling her heart beating hard.

"Practicing your screams again, prietene?"

Melissa sighed in relief. "Basil…thank goodness, I thought you were a-"

"Fantomă?" he guessed with a teasing smirk.

Melissa pouted. "Y-Yeah, a ghost…"

Basil laughed and shoved his hands inside his pockets. "Outstanding, but perhaps save that for another time. This isn't the time to get jittery."

"S-Sorry."

"Nervous about the ceremony?"

"I do not like attending funerals. I attended my mother's and I could barely keep myself from bawling in front of everyone." She winced with new tears leaking out. "I had to speak in her honor as I…was to ascend the throne. Ortwin, our advisor, had to comfort me through it until it was over."

Basil smiled sympathetically. "Prietene…" He rubbed her back. "Getting emotional over one of our own?"

"I do not know this Giles, but…" Melissa clenched her eyes shut and shuddered. "Basil, I need you to be honest with me."

"Of course."

She looked him straight in the eyes with tears flowing down her face. "W-Will I die…if I continue to be a F-F-Forester?"

Basil frowned. Her voice was cracking hard. She did her best to hold in her overflow of sobs. "Prietene…" He pulled her into his arms and offered a comforting hug. "There, there."

Melissa choked back a sob, then pressed her face into his shoulder. "A-Am I making a mistake, just like Jason said? Just like J-Jet said? Just like Percival said? Am I in w-way over my head here?"

Basil patted her head and sighed. "What do they know?"

"They are far more experienced than me. Th-They must know I am not ready for this." She clenched her eyes shut. "Am I being an idiot for thinking I could change everything by becoming a thief? I made a vow to Jason that I was going to bring Virdis back to its former glory, but…I-I cannot even keep m-myself together."

Basil pulled away and reached behind her ear. "Prietene, a tear should not be shed in doubt, but when hardship arrives." He pulled a handkerchief out and handed it to her, spooking her. "What use is crying over nothing?" Basil shrugged. "Death happens. It's sad, but…it happens."

Melissa blew into the handkerchief. "Have you…ever feared dying?"

Basil held his chin. "You know, I never gave it much thought. How would I be if I were on the final cusps of life?" He shrugged. "I guess I never cared to think about it. My future is mapped out for me. Nothing catches me by surprise." He flicked a tarot card into his hand. "The answers always make sense in the end."

Melissa frowned. "W-What does that mean for me?"

"You know, you and Giles are quite similar."

She wiped her eyes. "How so?"

"He was always something of an optimist. No matter what anyone said, he believed order could be restored to Virdis after the Great War pretty much demolished peace. He was always driven by something, but never told us what." He smiled. "He knew something and wanted to seek out the truth. I think that's something you should aspire for."

"Th-The truth?"

"Truth is such a nebulous concept. What even is truth? Tangible evidence? Facts of the world? What cannot be denied? I think Giles had a slightly different interpretation. To seek out the truth is to find the only possible answer to it all, regardless of fact or fiction.

"That boy was always up to something. He always seemed to have his own hidden agenda behind the scenes, not even known to his teammates."

"Wh-What agenda?"

Basil shrugged. "Can't say. He confides with Jason in privacy, so anything he knows is stuck with the boss man himself." Basil sighed. "I imagine, if that were the case, Jason might have sent Giles to his own execution on an idea. I don't know what sparked his death, but the state of his body tells it all.

"He discovered the truth and had to be eradicated for it."

Melissa narrowed her eyes. "The truth…what truth?"

Basil shrugged. "Who's to say? He took that secret to the grave, sadly." He walked around her and patted her head. "Melissa, the Foresters risk their lives to protect their families and fight for their freedom. There's no justice out here." He smiled. "I wonder…if you'll be able to change that."

"H-Huh?" She turned, but saw the Salandit already walking away. "Wait, Basil-!"

"Just go along with the ceremony, prietene. You'll find your truth soon." He grinned back at her. "That's where you'll find the answer to your question. Noapte bună, prietene."

Melissa blinked with tears still running down her face. Why does he always need to speak so…cryptically? She looked over the crowd of Foresters, took a deep breath, then approached the crowd. Put on a brave face, Melissa. You can get through this.

"Here you go," said a Smeargle as he handed Melissa a candle. The Smeargle was in uniform with large overalls often seen worn by blacksmiths. He wore a bulky glove over his right hand. He snapped his fingers and created a tiny spark from it, lighting her candle.

"Thanks, Tank," she thanked, having gotten to know him thanks to Pandora. He wasn't much of a talker from what she told her, but he was passionate about construction and weapon crafting, so perhaps that would be a good conversation point for later.

She took her candle and carefully walked through the crowd, trying to find a place to stand. She felt awkward standing next to a bunch of strangers. She could see her rookie 'friends' hanging out up front, but she wasn't sure she felt particularly welcomed, especially by Leon and Avel.

She did, however, spot a free space by a familiar Kecleon. Melissa gulped, realizing this would be a bad idea, but took her chance. She approached the Kecleon and greeted her. "H-Hi, Adenine!"

Adenine jolted, nearly dropping her candle. She blinked in surprise at Melissa, then bit her lip wearily. "O-Oh, howdy Princess. Ah wasn't expectin' to see ya."

"Hehe, yeah, me either," she mumbled awkwardly. "Um…this space taken?"

Adenine gritted her teeth, clearly uncomfortable, but inhaled through her nostrils and reigned in her nervous jitters. "N-No, ya can…stay."

"A-Are you sure?" Melissa asked gently. "I do not mean to-"

"Ah said it's fine!" Adenine shouted, now trembling like a Rockruff coming out of a downpour.

Melissa squeaked, then slowly took two steps to the side. "Th-Thank you." She covered her eyes with her ears and sighed. I just make things worse. What did I do to her?

Melissa decided to focus on something else to take her mind off it, so turned her attention ahead. Her eyes narrowed sadly at three figures sitting on stage. Two Girafarig, one adult and one child, and a Heatmor. They dressed in all black and saw in seats at the front of the stage next to a small podium. The adult Girafarig, presumably the mother, wiped her eyes while her husband did his best to comfort her.

The little Girafarig, meanwhile, mindlessly kicked his legs around with an innocent gaze about him. He didn't seem to understand what was going on. He looked no more than two by Melissa's guess.

"Poor thing does not seem to know what happened to his brother," Melissa mumbled.

Adenine glanced at Melissa, then nodded. "It's real sad. When he got here, he was askin' where his brother was and why he needed to dress up. Ah don't think he knows Giles is in that there coffin." She sighed. "Ah wouldn't have the heart to tell him."

Melissa frowned. "Yeah. I would not have it in me, either." She looked down at her candle. Thoughts of her mother surfaced again. She had been with her mother up until she passed on. Melissa didn't like discussing death with anyone. It brought back painful memories.

Her attention turned back to the stage as the leaders and Nature Spirits stepped on. She saw everyone raise their heads and straighten their backs. She tried to mirror them, still unfamiliar with their internal etiquette.

Jason took to the podium while Blitz and Jet stood by his sides. The Nature Spirits stood on the opposite side of the stage from Giles' family, arms behind their backs and eyes closed. There was immediate silence in the crowd, enough to hear a pin drop.

Jason sighed, then cleared his throat. "…We're gathered here on this night to honor the passing of Giles Grove, a respected member of the Nature Spirit Scouts. He has been in service to our cause for three years and became a Nature Spirit two years ago. When I first saw that rookie Heatmor become a full-fledged Forester, I saw the potential he had. It was the same potential I saw in our current Nature Spirits.

"Many of you may remember Giles for being a cheerful fellow who often never let anything bad get to him. He always moved forward with a smile, never letting his mistakes get to him. His parents should be very proud to have raised such an outstanding Heatmor like him."

The mother cried into her hooves while her husband again tried to calm her down. The toddler Girafarig, meanwhile, was confused about why they were talking about his brother and why everyone was so sad. Melissa couldn't stand to watch the sight.

"Giles didn't come from a very wealthy background, but he had all he needed to get by. He worked as the local messenger of his village, spreading the news and informing the people of what goes on in the region. He was reliable at intel gathering. He, too, wanted to make a change for Virdis, so he sought us out to make a difference." He nodded at the parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Grove, would you like to say anything?"

Seeing as his wife didn't look emotionally stable, Mr. Grove nodded and took the podium from Jason. The Heatmor leaned forward on it and sighed. "I…I would first like to say…thank you all for being there for my boy, for being his friend. Giles was a sweet and reliable son, and I'm glad others saw that same kindness that we did in him.

"When Giles first told us that he was going to join a group of bandits in the name of Virdis, we were obviously skeptical of his decision. Before we knew anything about the Foresters, we thought he was getting mixed up in the wrong crowd. Sure, we weren't wealthy, but we didn't think he would resort to thievery.

"We forbade him, of course, but Giles made his own decision. It took us a while to accept it and…we're just glad the Foresters aren't the same heartless thieves told in rumors. It was dangerous, but…we had faith in our son." Mr. Grove paused to wipe his eyes. "The news was…hard to take when we were informed this morning.

"I still want to believe I'm dreaming and that this has been one drawn out nightmare. I'm going to wake up in bed, having imagined all of this. I…desperately want to believe none of this is real, and that our son isn't really-"

"GILES!" the mother finally broke into sobs, collapsing from her chair and covering her eyes. "MY BABY BOY, GILES! WHY?! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GET ROPED INTO THESE DANGERS?!"

Mr. Grove immediately fled the stage to comfort his wife. The toddler poked his father's shoulder. "Daddy, why is Mommy crying? Why is everyone sad? Why do they keep saying Giles is gone?"

Melissa covered her eyes just as the father took his son into his forelegs and hugged him. She hid new tears sliding down her face. She took the handkerchief she got from Basil and gently wiped them away. This is too much.

Jason took the podium again while Blitz helped comfort Mrs. Grove. "Thank you, Mr. Grove." Jason took a deep breath, then continued, "I want everyone to remember something important regarding what this ceremony represents. We aren't just honoring the loss of a valuable comrade and friend. This serves as a reminder as to what we potentially put ourselves through. All of you are here for one reason alone: to fight against the tyranny that has slowly poisoned this once great region.

"Death is certain, it's just a matter of when we bring it to us and how we face it. You all became a Forester knowing that you are putting your lives on the line for a belief you hold dearly to your hearts. That is the same principle Giles followed, even in the final moments of his life. We are not invincible. One mistake will cost us everything."

Melissa frowned and turned away from the stage. I have made plenty of amateur mistakes ever since I got here. I really am a fool for thinking this was a good idea. I will just wind up getting myself killed.

"Why do we fight for what we believe it, then?" Melissa's ears poked up at the new question. "Well, a question like that can be best answered by my best fighter. Eadwulf Trevorrow, if you would…" Melissa looked up just as Jason stepped aside for Eadwulf to take the stand.

The Nuzleaf cleared his throat, then gripped the sides of the podium. "…I would first like to say that I am ashamed of myself for letting this tragedy happen. As the leader of the Nature Spirits, I bear the guilt of letting one of my own be captured without warning. I should've exercised better caution when sending Giles into the gather intel. To that, I am sorry for my errors." He bowed his head in a moment of silence.

Melissa frowned. Poor guy.

Eadwulf lifted his head, then continued, "I've been the leader of the Nature Spirits ever since this guild was made. I made a solemn oath to protect my team in the face of danger. I got my revenge on the man who took Giles from us, but the void in our hearts cannot be filled for it. The Nature Spirit Scouts are a branch of the Foresters' best to carry out missions of confidential priority. We don't take mistakes lightly.

"Giles was one of the best, and I am proud to be his leader for it. Giles knew the dangers ahead in each of our missions, but wouldn't rest until he found meaning in his work. As Jason proposed, why do we fight despite the risks? Why do we fight for what we believe in? There are many interpretations to that question, but one suffices for me.

"The kingdoms of Virdis all have their own agendas. Stubbornly rooted into tradition, an act of change might as well be an act of treason. We've seen many fall due to the errors of the monarchs in rule. The rich thrive, the poor survive. We are forced to bear the burden of working under them while they live without strife. A tightly woven network luxury and suffering. We live in the squalor, provided with only what we can get, while they inherit their fortunes through years of selfishness, corruption, or general lack of interest in others.

"Giles may not have firmly believed the nobility were corrupt, but he sought the truth to understand what drives our kingdoms the way they are." Eadwulf glared. "Giles sought to uncover the whole truth, and that is what he believed in. To fight for what you believe in, you have to first believe you can. The risk and dangers are there, but he accepted them, embraced them, and welcomed them."

Melissa's eyes widened. What?

"That is the belief I wish to carry with my team. We fight for our beliefs, no matter the danger. If the world turned against us, we would welcome it to show we won't back down against the opposition. That is what it means to be a Forester. We're agents of chaos. We are the forest spirits that haunt these woods. Until change is made, we will see our destinies and clutch onto them until our dying breaths. We are Foresters!"

"Yeah!" the crowd cheered, raising their fists/appendages.

"Giles will be remembered! No one will be forgotten! We, the Foresters, are eternal! We fight for our ideals! We fight to let our voices be heard! We won't be oppressed by the corrupt ever again!"

"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"

"No one will stand before our destinies! We'll earn our keep by taking it ourselves! Let them try and stop us! We all will seek the truth in the name of Giles! We are Foresters!"

"Foresters! Foresters! Foresters!"

Melissa looked around at all the cheering Foresters, stunned in disbelief. They are cheering…at a funeral? They all still look glum, but…simultaneously fierce as well. She looked down at her candle. Are they all scared of meeting the same fate as Giles? Do they empathize with his death?

She narrowed her eyes and let the thoughts roll around in her head. No one went into the Foresters believing they were invincible. They all lived through their own hardships and knew the risks that came with joining a group of thieves. Like her, they made their decision because they wanted something out of it.

Melissa wanted to find a way to bring peace back to Virdis, just like the days of the Great Kingdom. She, too, wanted to seek the truth and restore order.

Her ears drooped. Here I am being scared and bratty while everyone else has likely gone through these same thoughts, maybe still are. I knew what I was getting roped into, but hearing an actual Forester died in person was too much. I hear of people in the city passing on from old age or being killed on the road, but I never took it personally. I never felt dread over a stranger's death. But here, it is different.

To doubt myself is to admit Jason and the others were right, that I cannot do anything myself and that I am more useful as a hostage than an ally. She glared. I…I, Melissa Penworth, will overcome any challenge. That is my promise to the Foresters, to myself. I will not let anyone else tell me that I am not ready for the future. The only one who decides that…is me.

Eadwulf stepped off the podium as Jason reclaimed his spot. "Thank you, Eadwulf. Giles will most certainly be missed, but never forgotten." He turned to the firepit behind him. "It is time. Are there any final words that wish to be shared?"

The crowd was silent.

"Very well." He nodded at Blitz, who took his place by the firepit. "Let Giles' body be renewed so that he may become one with the forest. As he leaves the physical world, his will shall remain to guide us to our futures."

Blitz dipped his tail into the pit and set the wood ablaze. Fire spread through the wood and wrapped around the coffin. All stared in silence as the fire built around the coffin, illuminating the darkness in an intense orange glow.

"Make your final wishes to Giles and wish him a safe travel into the next life."

One by one, Melissa watched everyone around her blowing out their candles. They looked like silent prayers being shared to the deceased. She looked back at the stage, with only Jason and Giles' family not holding candles. Even Jet, Blitz, and the Nature Spirits had their own. She could probably understand why the family didn't hold any, as their wishes were unconditional and expected.

But she wondered what significance there was in Jason not participating?

Regardless, she didn't dwell on it for too long. Lights were vanishing among the crowd. She spotted Pandora and Marie blowing out theirs, though Marie seemed oddly troubled, staring at her candle for a long time before finally blowing it out.

Melissa frowned, then looked back at her own. She seemed to be the only lit candle left. A part of her felt awkward for not immediately participating like the rest, but she also felt…calm. Calmer than before.

She closed her eyes and sighed. She made her choice.

Giles, my name is Melissa Penworth, the princess of Verde Kingdom. I do not know who you are or what secrets you may have taken with you, but I will make my promise to you. I promise to follow in your example and not let doubt cloud my mind. I would have loved to meet you in person. This is all I can offer. Please, if you truly are with the rest of your Forester brethren and watching over us, help guide me to success. I want to…no, I will prove myself and become a strong leader. Please rest easy, and thank you for being a kind and noble soul.

She blew out her candle, then stared determinedly at the fire burning before her eyes.

From today, this will be my starting line.