"I don't really care who sent you, Captain, you're in Tarlson now and the Lord Commander's orders supersede yours."

The Dawnfelden Captain looked ready to explode. The way he gripped his sheathed sword's pommel was heavy with homicidal considerations.

Shoto stood beside him with an aura of complete calm, both of them presenting themselves unarguably as the leaders of this expedition. Even still, Izuku could see Shoto's frustration with the Commander's words in the one finger that he pressed into his palm to the point of breaking skin.

Izuku felt greatly out of place among the hodgepodge gang of adventurers at their backs. Ochako looked equally uncomfortable with the Moondance elf and the dark haired woman at their side and a Synod Mage and a Dawnfelden Captain in front of her. They had been separated from Eijiro in all this, leaving him to look after Ochako's mother once she had completed her spell. That was a good thing, someone needed to stay with by her side and he prefered not to get the dragon boy involved if he didn't have to.

Were it just Izuku here he wouldn't have been nervous, outside of a rocky curiosity over what Shoto had gotten himself into, but with Ochako here he was wracked with worry that this little facade would fall apart any moment.

Shoto had claimed that Ochako was his apprentice and gave a passive excuse that she was a terrible bonehead and had ruined her clothes and lost her staff when it was questioned by the Battle Mages with Commander Tensei's army. It was obvious that Ochako was unhappy with that, that she hated being even falsely lumped in with Izuku's sort, but it was her own life on the line, and subsequently Eijiro's, if she didn't play the part; they both knew that boy would wreck what was left of the crumbled town if anything happened to Ochako and with an entire army at their backs the Battle Mages would make quick work of a dragon.

To her final dismay, Shoto had cast even more frustrating aspersions on her by saying that she was being punished with silence for the loss of her Synod gifted items, that she wasn't allowed to speak. Izuku quickly backed him up, knowing the girl might blow her lid, but also aware that what Shoto was doing was protecting her from herself. These Synod Mages were experienced and battle hardened and knew all too well what a Synod Mage acted and sounded like. The moment she opened her mouth their suspicions would be alight.

Commander Tensei's forces had gathered Shoto's entire party and sent them to speak with their Commander at the back of the small encampment they were still setting up. Apparently Captain Katsuki was able to communicate that their mission was not for common ears and the tall, well built military commander had waited with the Battle Mage Headmaster on the outskirts to speak with them.

"Commander Tensei, we are bound by assignment from the Synod and the Dawnfelden leaders, you have no right to detain us," Shoto said stiffly and Izuku could almost pick up the impression he was doing, a fabrication of one of their old teachers' stern voices. He had to stop himself from chuckling at the sound coming from his old friend, especially under the cowing eye of the Synod Headmaster.

The Headmaster, a man named Shinya Kamihara, gave the angry Captain and the all too youthful Master a critical once over and decidded to speak before the Captain had a chance to explode at the Commander.

"I've received no word of your mission or of your arrival to Tarlson, Master Shoto," Master Shinya said smoothly. Izuku had thought Shoto had perfected the unfeeling tone of the Synod until he heard this man completely outdo him.

"I already fucking told you our mission is a secret!" Katsuki huffed hot air, "You wouldn't have gotten word, because not even your sorry ass is supposed to know we're here!"

"Captain," Shoto bit at him, demanding him to calm down. A scathing glare cut over the mage and if they were in any other company Izuku was certain Katsuki would have ripped his head off.

"We had not originally planned to enter Tarlson," Shoto explained to the Headmaster, "Our mission led us here, but we are not privy to reveal any more than that. It is not our intention to draw any attention to ourselves and I hope you will respect the wishes of the High Circle in this very sensitive matter, Headmaster."

The hands Shoto had pulled behind his back were shaking around the staff her clasped, but to the narrow eyes of the Headmaster he was the epitome of calm, collected, and even threatening. His words were amicable, but the underlying meaning was biting.

"As far as I'm concerned, your mission is irrelevant," the Commander jumped back in, eyes grazing over the chaos of the scrambling village and rising triage tents, "I have my orders the same as you. We will cooperate with the Synod's needs, but unless you can give me a reason that you cannot be detained a single day, then you and your party will accompany us to the Keep."

Shoto and Katsuki met eyes and attempted to communicate through it. Obviously they weren't so great at it and more pissy faces were made by the Captain than any that relayed some understanding, but at least they landed on the same conclusion and managed not to cause any further conflict between each other or with the Commander and Headmaster.

"Fine, we were headed there anyway," Katsuki grumbled.

Tensei tapped his fist to his shoulder at the Captain, a salute and small gratitude for his cooperation and the Captain tightly returned it.

"Gather your people then," Commander Tensei nodded, "We will leave after a command is established here. And Captain…"

Katsuki glared. "What?"

The Commander's head took a stiff bow at both of them. "Many people owe all of you their lives. My men included. The casualties were deemed to be unimaginable and many men will be returning to their families that we assumed would be lost when we began our march. You have my ultimate respect and gratitude for that."

Something in Izuku's chest fluttered and squeezed his throat. When they'd arrived at the horrible scene there had been no thought before leaping to action. Much like when the Tempest attacked in the forest, he just knew that he had to fight it and protect the others around him, even when he had no reason to. His instincts were just to protect and he'd never really thought much about it. But the Commander's words validated something inside of him he didn't know needed validating. That he was proud to be a Synod Mage because this was their mission, because spared lives were the result.

Even Katsuki looked a little taken aback by the gratitude and if Shoto had the range to show it, he would have been too.

The Headmaster gave a concurring nod and the previously coarse words exchanged didn't seem to matter anymore. No matter the discourse, annoyance or suspicion, they couldn't deny that the only reason there were two dead Major Demons becoming piles of ash in those scorched fields was because of the people in front of them.

"It was nothing to pros like us," the Moondancer grinned proudly, waving it off as the bard tapped her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

Katsuki then sucked his teeth, crossing his arms, appearing visibly uncomfortable by the blatant compliments and joining the Moondance elf in that confident disregard.

"Don't thank us," he huffed, "In Dawnfell we run towards the fight, not away from it. We see Demons, we kill them. It's nothing special."

Commander Tensei gave a short laugh in his chest and straightened. "I'd expect nothing less from a Dawnfelden Captain. Now please excuse me, I have a lot to do in a short time."

The Commander took his leave and moved quickly into the throng of his army, his lieutenants rushing to his side to report and receive orders. He was seamless and Izuku couldn't help how impressed he was with him. Strong, stern, respectful, and taking every turn in stride. He was a little excited that they'd be spending more time with him, but then that reminded him that he and Ochako were considered a part of Shoto and Katsuki's party and thus he had the entirely new concern of a Renegade Mage, hiding as a Synod Mage, soon to be stuck at the Tarlson Keep and he himself still unable to return to the Center Magesterium. That part he wasn't too upset about...what was he supposed to tell Master Shota anyway? There wasn't the urgency of reporting the Tempest Demon anymore seeing as it was thoroughly dead and with these new developments what was he really supposed to tell them about his mission to bring in Ochako?

It didn't bother him as much as it should that it looked like he was going to be detained even longer, but it didn't diminish his worry over what this meant for Ochako and possibly Eijiro.

"Master Shoto," Headmaster Shinya caught them before anyone could think of leaving, "May I speak to you and your mages before you leave?"

Izuku's heart dropped. Shit, did he know? Could he tell they'd been lying?

Ochako shifted closer uncertainly while Shoto nodded and clenched his hands nervously behind his back, obviously thinking the same thing.

"Mina, will you please look in on Nana and Denki?" Shoto requested stiffly.

"Sure thing," she grinned and tugged the bard's arm to follow.

Katsuki didn't seem interested in sticking around for more Mage talk either and he went with them, huffing one last time and dragging darkened eyes over the two mages at Shoto's back before disregarding them entirely. Izuku didn't really trust the angry captain either and he leaned a little closer to Ochako, almost protectively while he passed. But Katsuki said nothing and stomped off after the others.

Now that they were alone, the Headmaster relaxed only the very slightest and looked over each mage with a critical eye. Ochako went as stiff and dull as she could manage and Izuku had to fight the offended feeling that she was doing an impression of him and Shoto.

"How did you manage it?" Headmaster Shinya looked to the smoldering ash and decaying remains behind the village, "There are only three of you and you have so few years of experience between you, yet an Inferno and a Tempest have been made corpses of."

Even Izuku was a little curious about that and it was oddly relieving that the question was not about Ochako, even if this one was harder to answer.

Shoto's nervousness didn't abate, but the show he was putting on was convincing. "We trained with the Griffin Cohort," he lied, "This is what we do."

Izuku could feel Ochako's confusion, saw the purse of her mouth, but he subtly nudged her to play along. He was going to have to be so vigilant with her making sure she didn't purger herself accidentally.

Master Shinya gave a tiny lift in his shoulder. "I suppose it would account for the Dawnfelden Captain that keeps your company. If ever there were demon killers, they are the children of Dawnfell."

A tight coil in Izuku's chest unwound and he had to stop himself from verbally sighing with relief.

"To do what you did is a feat of powerful mages," Master Shinya looked off, "I can see why you were made Master so young."

Shoto visibly stiffened when the Headmaster's eyes swung back to him. There was no telling if they were suspicious or simply curious.

"Headamaster, I-"

"There is no need to explain your success," Master Shinya dipped his head, "It is not such a strange concept in Tarlson as it may be at the Center Magesterium. The Headmaster of the Tarlson Seat is not much older than you."

"That's true," Izuku added, trying to keep down his excitement, "Master Keigo Takami is only 25 years old and has a pretty astounding record in a really short time. He led the Mages that ended the Blight four years ago and people say he took down an Ethereal Demon and the Mage it possessed all on his own! And his magic proficiencies are-"

Shoto turned a sharp glare back to him. He may not have been a real Master, but he'd already perfected the icy stare of one. It made Izuku come back to himself in an instant and realize he was rambling again, something he just never seemed to be able to overcome.

"Sorry...Master," Izuku tightened his mouth so as not to laugh when he called Shoto that.

"Innocent enthusiasm is a rare trait among our kind," Master Shinya said coolly, "I do not speak for your master, but I urge you not to stifle yourself, young mage."

Izuku was floored.

"Cynicism is for the old," he then bowed his head shortly to Shoto, "And those with the responsibility of the title: Master."

Shoto returned the nodded head and without so much as an outro or true end to the conversation the Headmaster walked past them and returned to the tasks required of his cohort. There was still so much to be done with the village that it made sense the Headmaster and the Commander's focus was elsewhere. This was their homeland and their care for its well being was obvious.

Thankfully, that finally left the three mages alone, even if they were still within eyesight of the army and villagers. They were far enough away not to be heard and to at least physically relax some when they spoke, though.

Shoto exhaled a breath so unsteady that Izuku feared he'd collapse. He reached out to him, but he turned on them before he could, face drawn pale and hands openly shaking.

"Shoto, are you okay?" Izuku's eyes went wide.

Ochako moved a little towards him too, hand open to form a glyph. "Are you hurt?"

The red and white hair mussed together when he shook his head and rediscovered his voice, his face not showing nearly the anxiety that his voice did. "I'm fine, just...I could have sworn we were going to be found out."

Izuku sighed and rubbed his neck. "Me too," he swallowed, "That was terrifying…"

"I didn't know if I would be able to stay quiet for much longer," Ochako's hands turned to fists, "Why did you tell them I wasn't allowed to speak? That was a pretty dirty trick."

Izuku went a little sheepish, but Shoto answered coolly, "You would give yourself away in moments if you spoke around a Synod Master. I'm sorry about that, but we were trying to protect you, especially with your obvious contempt for the Synod. You don't seem to hide it well, even without being able to speak."

Ochako hissed through her teeth and crossed her arms indignantly. "Saving me from myself? I don't know if I even want to thank you…"

She let that hang for a good moment before she mumbled at the ground, "Thank you...for me and my mom."

It burned Izuku's heart with an iron to see her shoulders drop at the mention of her mother and he squeezed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. It was a close call, but Shoto had given Ochako enough time to bring her back from the brink. She was still in pain and had healing to do, but she would live. It was obvious how hard it was to step away from her and pretend that she wasn't anyone special in front of the Lieutenants, but it was a small comfort that they'd left her with Eijiro. At least she was in caring hands and he would get her back to Ochako's father.

Ochako's eyes lifted and she allowed sincerity to grace a tiny smile. "I've been pretty lucky with the Synod Mages I've met lately, I guess."

Shoto shifted, "Maybe not so lucky as you think."

"But really, Shoto," Izuku interjected, "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there…"

"How did you end up with a Renegade Mage in Tarlson, anyway?" Shoto's face tightened and he blushed, pushing their gratitude away, still not so great at receiving genuine feelings from people it seemed, "I thought you were better than this."

"I thought you were too," Izuku gave a nervous laugh, "Looks like neither of us are the perfect Mages we thought we were. You're lying to Masters and I'm hiding Renegades. If our younger selves could see us now…"

Shoto physically cringed and shook his head of the unsettling thoughts. "This is serious, Izuku. What you've done could destroy your future. What if you're found out? You could be reconditioned or banished. You shouldn't have given all that up so easily."

Izuku didn't like his tone. It was deep with concern, but it struck so hypocritical and a touch bitter. Izuku's smile dropped and he got that spark of anger in his chest he hadn't felt in months, instantly bringing back the memory of their last encounter and their fight, something he'd nearly forgotten until then.

"And what about you?" Izuku said stubbornly, "You could face much for what you've done, so don't scold me for my decisions! You have forged papers, stolen robes, a stolen signet ring, and from what I can tell you've abandoned your post!"

"There's no post left to abandon!" Shoto snapped defensively and then flinched, suddenly drawing back, like he was catching his anger.

Izuku's eyes went wide on him. He'd never seen a reaction like that from Shoto. It was brash and snippy and ached of an unhealed hurt.

His hands were shaking again and Shoto had to take a second to calm himself before speaking again.

"The front fell, Izuku," Shoto stared at the ground, voice calmer, "Our cohort...the Dawnfelden army, the armies of the lorships...everyone is dead. The Griffin Cohort was gone before we got there and there has been no word on finding the Summoner from the Synod or any others. And now the entire world is unknowingly trapped in a month-long standoff with the crushing force of the ether until Nana's magic runs dry and the Archdemon is free to burn the kingdom to the ground."

Ochako stifled a small gasp and Izuku's chest sank. His hand lifted towards his friend..

"Shoto…"

Eyes that had seen things Izuku couldn't imagine struck him harshly.

"I should be dead three times over. Katsuki should be dead. We didn't abandon our post, we survived it and...unless we complete our mission all of those lives will have been lost for nothing. We're survivors of a massacre with nothing left to lose, Izuku… We already lost everything so our souls are just a drop in the damn bucket. But you...you still have a future and promise in the Synod. I regret involving you. I've put you both in worse danger than you were before…"

His head hung, jaw clenched on his admittance, "What I have to do will make you lose respect for me...and I'm begging you not to ask me more about it. I understand what I'm doing, I understand the consequences, but I know it's the right thing to do."

Every word stung. He knew his heart wasn't the heart of a normal Synod Mage and every pained admittance confirmed it. To even imagine what Shoto must have seen there and to understand even a hint of this burden, ached Izuku with sympathy.

Shoto moved closer and dropped his head, hands in fists at his sides, "Please don't ask me what I have to do...as soon as the Lord Commander releases us, I'll send you both on your way and we'll be even. I'll do nothing to hurt Ochako and in return you won't reveal my misconduct to the Synod until I come forward about it myself."

"And you won't tell on Red either?" Ochako quickly asked.

Shoto pursed his lips, uncertainly.

"The uh...the dragon," Izuku clarified.

Shoto's eyes lit up and he nodded. "Of course, not! But I don't know how you plan to hide an entire dragon."

Izuku threw a knowing smile to Ochako and then shrugged to Shoto. "He has his ways."

To agree would leave so much unanswered, but truthfully it didn't matter in the end. Izuku's focus was keeping Ochako safe and he couldn't help that he trusted his friend, despite previous discourse. That argument felt so childish now, the petty spite of children who didn't know who they were.

"Whatever you need to do, Shoto, we'll have your back," Izuku nodded resolutely to him, "As long as Ochako is safe then I won't ask any questions."

"Thank you," Shoto took a relieved sigh, "I won't either…"

He glanced over Ochako and then Izuku, his eyes showing that he was making a few of his own conclusions, even if he wasn't asking the question he wanted to about this relation.

"And Shoto," Izuku's face flushed, looking away from him, rubbing his arm nervously, knowing this was something he needed to say, "Um...about the last time we talked…"

"Izuku, you don't have to… It doesn't seem relevant anymore."

"I do, Shoto" Izuku chewed his lip, "I was unfair to you. You aren't a coward...you've outdone me a thousand times over in bravery just today and I take it all back. I was just upset that you were jealous and I was reacting because your words were spiteful."

Ochako watched the interchange with fascination, but stayed quiet while Shoto scowled.

"You were hardly the person at fault for defending yourself," Shoto shook his head, "I accept your apology, but you have to accept mine too. I've stayed bitter with you since then and that's been more unfair than your reaction. It's not easy for me to watch you live the life I wanted, but that's not your fault."

"Well to be fair I could lose that status too if we aren't careful," Izuku shrugged, trying to lighten things again, "If even a hint of where I've been the last month gets back to the Synod I'll never see the Center Magesterium again."

Ochako made a tsking sound and Izuku heard her mutter that it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Oddly enough he smiled at it. Their opinions on the Synod may have been clashing, but after everything they'd been through today and the scare Ochako had faced of almost losing her mother, it was strangely comforting to hear something so very normal from her as a scathing opinion of his profession.

"So we're all agreed then?" Shoto squared his shoulders.

"No questions and everyone goes their own way as soon as we finish pandering to the nobles," Ochako smiled, "I can agree to that…"

"Same here," Izuku nodded.

"Then come with me, we should inform the others," Shoto jerked his head towards the encampment.

He started moving and Izuku and Ochako fell in step beside him, their path resolved.

"What sort of people are these companions of yours," Izuku asked, "They seem rather mismatched."

"Nana is a Renegade Mage," Shoto said blandly, staring straight ahead.

Ochako's head jutted out ahead of Izuku, eyes wide on Shoto. "Really?"

"How-?"

"We agreed on no questions," Shoto cut him off.

Izuku laughed through his nose and shook his head. "I guess that explains why protecting Ochako wasn't a big deal for you. And the rest?"

"Denki is a Solstice elf, he's Nana's nephew," Shoto went on, "If you ask him he won't explain it like that; from what I can tell, elf customs are strange. Mina is a Moondancer and the two of them apparently got kicked out of their respective tribes for what I can only assume is arson or forbidden love...it wasn't exactly clear. They've proven to be useful, even if they are somewhat sly and a little...handsy."

Shoto's cheeks went pink and Izuku mirrored him, thinking how his new friends were also a little more physical than a Synod Mage was used to.

"I'm...familiar with the type."

"I've never met a Moondancer, she really did catch me off guard," Ochako marveled, "So strange, but almost alluring. Those dark eyes make you scared to look at them, but you also don't want to look away."

Shoto gave a quick nod in agreement and continued.

"Kyouka is a bard, she has a history with the elves," Shoto said and then hesitated, "She brings her own abilities to the table, but she and the Captain don't get along and they won't say why."

"And the Captain?" Ochako sounded a little put off when she asked and Izuku felt much the same. There had been less than a stellar first impression between them.

Shoto's mouth turned down at the corner. "He's good at what he does. The rest of the time he's a pain in the ass. Hopefully you won't have to get used to him."

"Have you?" Izuku asked almost as a joke, seeing the annoyance Shoto was trying to hide.

The little dip in his mouth momentarily turned to a full frown and then his expression leveled out again as they got close to the encampment.

"I'm alive because of him," Shoto said plainly, touching the scar on his face that Izuku knew hadn't been there when he left the Magesterium, "And as a Dawnfelden Captain I respect him. But I also want to kill him most of the time."

With some direction from a frazzled sergeant the three of them managed to find where Denki and Nana had been sent, a small tent separating them from the rest of the chaos, but dropping them in the midst of it at the same time.

Inside the tent they found the rest of Shoto's party crammed into the small space. There was a single cot that the older woman and the bard sat on, legs hanging over as the older woman scarfed down food like she hadn't eaten in months. She didn't look so near death as he'd seen her before and life was steadily returning to her cheeks.

The two elves were in each other's laps on the ground beside them, already proving Shoto's comment about being handsy, and the Captain stood near the entrance, his head scraping the top of the tent which was not really made for socializing as much as resting.

The Mages were assaulted with instant curiosity and questions the moment they entered, but Katsuki hissed at all of them to be silent.

"We're in the middle of the fucking encampment and these aren't exactly walls," he bit at them, throwing a hand at the canvass surroundings.

He had a solid point and their voices dropped to whispers.

"Nana, Denki, have they filled you in?" Shoto asked.

"Yeah, we're dining with kings!" Denki raised an excited hand and Mina clapped her own hand against it.

"No," Shoto corrected, "We're being held overnight at the Tarlson Keep until the Lord Commander finishes speaking to us. We'll be more like being pampered prisoners than guests."

"You should be used to that by now," Katsuki curled his lip at the Mage.

Shoto chose not to respond and instead shifted in the low ceiling environment to step aside and make the two mages with him more visible to the rest.

"Everyone, this is Izuku and Ochako," Shoto introduced them.

"Mages?" Kyouka asked.

Izuku nodded to her.

She reached into the bag on her waist and retrieved a small notebook and graphite, immediately jotting things down. "Interesting development."

"Just what we needed, more mages" Katsuki grumbled.

"We aren't staying with you so you can keep your pants on," Ochako wrinkled her nose at him.

"What sort of Mages are you?" Nana tilted her head at them, her eyes lighting up with a curious smile.

"I know Izuku from the Magesterium," Shoto explained, "And Ochako is a Renegade, like you, that he has been protecting."

That got everything's attention and Nana's eyes especially held a fond intrigue on Izuku.

"A kindred spirit of yours, I see," she smiled at Shoto, "Since when did protecting Renegades become so popular among Synod Mages?"

"It's really not a popular opinion," Izuku rubbed his neck nervously, feeling under inspection, "Ochako saved my life and I'm returning the favor."

It hurt a little to say it like that, to disregard that it was as much for the friendship they had formed as for repaying debts, but truthfully, Izuku was still on the same path as before. He would still have to separate from Ochako and Eijiro once their safety was confirmed and pretend none of this had ever happened once he was within the walls of the Magesterium again. All this would be was an extension of their time together.

He felt Ochako's stare harden on him and she shifted uncomfortably at his side.

"I had to vouch for them to the Commander and the Headmaster," Shoto went on to explain, "Until Tarlson decides to butt out of what we're doing they will believe that Ochako is my apprentice and Izuku is one of our party. Once that's out of the way, we will go our separate ways."

"That's a real shame," Mina pouted, "Think what we could do with four mages!"

"We don't need to involve more people than necessary," Nana shook her head at the girl, "I still don't think the two of you should even be anywhere near this and I'd send you home if your father would still take you; you're too young and immature for what is the come."

Denki scoffed, "Come off it, I'm older than you are!"

Offhand Izuku was taken aback at the statement, but quickly recalled that age was not exactly the same for elves as humans. The human woman's experience was clearly greater than that of the youthful elf and she showed it by the disbelieving narrowness in her eyes that made him quiet down only seconds later.

"Do they know what we're doing?" Nana's voice grew dark, looking back to Shoto.

He shook his head. "No, and we're going to keep it that way."

Shoto directed pointed stares to the elves, who he made agree to watch their mouths from here out. He didn't make the Captain or the bard agree, but they didn't seem the types to need such a thing reiterated with them.

With that established and agreed upon, the Captain wasted no time getting back to business.

"We need to be ready to ride as soon as the Commander finishes establishing base," he moved to stand where all eyes were on him, "They found our horses and brought them back, but they need to be watered, fed and made ready for travel. Nana, you need to be on your feet by then; we'll tack your horse, but that's all I'm doing for you. And you," he looked to Ochako, "finish any business you have left here, Renegade. You may not be back for a while."

Captain's Katsuki's tone was somehow chilling and sincere at once. Just the fact that Katsuki didn't seem to believe that this jaunt would only be an extra day of their time was unsettling, but the fact that he recognized Ochako's position in this situation was surprisingly aware. He hadn't expected the guy who acted as though everything pissed him off to take someone's personal needs and family ties into consideration. But he was a soldier...he was perhaps more acquainted than most with taking people from their lives and families; knew the importance of final words with loved ones, the relevance of clearing distractions before setting off for war. This wasn't war for Ochako, but it was dangerous and Ochako deserved the chance to see her parents beforehand, so Izuku gave a solid agreement.

"If you want to see your parents, then we need to be careful," he touched Ochako's shoulder with a nod, "Let me go with you…"

Ochako's face was constricted. "I do need to see my father and make sure mom is alright...but I don't know if you should come with me, Izuku. My father may try to kill you."

Izuku bit his cheek thinking about how that had already happened. Eijiro had managed to talk him down, but that didn't mean there was no bad blood left and if her father lost his cool again it could draw unwanted attention and questions. But Ochako couldn't go out there alone either. What if a Battle Mage stopped her? What if someone saw her speaking to her parents and made the connection of their relationship?

"I'll go with you," Shoto said, taking them both by surprise, "Izuku, get a couple horses ready for you and Ochako and we'll meet back here within the hour."

It wasn't ideal; Izuku didn't quite trust anyone to protect her properly, but Shoto had already proven himself to have everyone's best interests at heart. For all of their sakes Izuku would have to let go.

"Thank you, Shoto," Ochako swallowed, her distant eyes saying she was already mentally on to her parents and what she would say.

She gave Izuku's arm a quick squeeze, assuring him that she appreciated his offer, but then nodded to Shoto that she was ready. They slipped out of the tent without another word, leaving Izuku with the colorful cast.

There was no opportunity to get further acquainted, though, before the Captain took instant command and directed everyone, save Nana, to follow him to prep their horses for the short journey.

"I promise I'll be fine, dad...I'll be back before you know it."

Ochako sniffled as her father tucked her even closer under his arm, petting her hair, loath to let go.

Shoto watched with narrow curiosity from the doorway of the mostly half crumbled home that they were hiding in. There were a few others inside, all injured villagers and their families resting off the trauma they'd experienced. They were apparently close friends of the Urarakas or at least knowledgeable of the girl's situation since the girl and her father spoke openly in front of them. Most didn't seem to be listening, though, preoccupied with their own horrors.

Ochako's mother was one of those recovering injured. She laid beside Ochako and Kintsu on makeshift bedding, unconscious once again. She had managed only a few words to her daughter after Ochako had applied another healing spell to her wounds before she quickly passed out.

Shoto didn't have a mother himself, but he couldn't imagine that coming that close to losing one was anything but horrifying. But Ochako showed great strength amidst it, even though her face was red with tears. She didn't waver in what she had to do and assured them that once the village was back on its feet and the army was gone, everything would go back to the way it was before, that she'd be home and they would get right back to tilling and planting the next season's crop.

But her every insistence drew Shoto's mind to Nana's words, her voice swirling in his head, repeating her story and the horrors she'd lived through. Mages weren't meant to have families for a reason and as long as Ochako tried to be a part of these people's lives she was putting them in danger, both from herself and from the Synod.

Shoto tried not to linger on it. There were much bigger problems afoot and, unless he and Nana defeated the Archdemon, the risks that a young Renegade was putting her family in wouldn't matter. If the Archdemon broke through and the Summoner wasn't stopped then even this horrible battle would be like a tiny skirmish in comparison to those consequences.

Feeling Kintsu's eyes burning on him, Shoto lifted his gaze to meet it with steeled resolve, grasping instantly the challenge in her father's stare. Shoto confidently nodded agreement to the wordless threat; he wouldn't let harm come to Ochako if he could help it; he'd made a promise with Izuku after all.

"Ochako, be careful...I don't trust Synod mages," he muttered, "They tried to take you from us once before and I promise they will do it again."

"Not these Mages," Ochako pulled back from him a little, "You're all alive because of them and they've risked a lot to make sure I'm safe from the Synod. That's about as much as they can do to prove themselves."

She leaned back in for a last tight squeeze and then quickly slipped free from his arms.

"I'm going to miss you so much…" Ochako's eyes were red with tears and before she could hesitate and change her mind, she spun on her parents and walked quickly to the doorway where Shoto waited.

"Ochako…" her father whispered after her, voice cracking.

"We need to go," Ochako said quietly to Shoto when she reached him.

He completely agreed and he swept out behind her as she went, creating a barrier between her and what she was leaving behind, not allowing her to look back. She couldn't be allowed the opportunity to change her mind and do something brash.

Her sniffling was audible and he viewed her critically once he leveled her pace at her side.

"Dry your tears, it'll look suspicious," Shoto said stiffly as they moved out into what remained of the village, striding along what had once been the main village road, now just a well trodden path through charred remnants.

Ochako's hands batted against her eyes, sleeves wiping away what they could, the redness still stinging despite her best efforts.

She took a sharp inhale trying to overcome her emotional state. "I'm fine. I'll just say you kicked dust in my eyes for being a disappointing apprentice."

Shoto turned a scowl at her.

"That's not something a Master would do," he corrected her, "Discipline is a lot cleaner in the Synod. You shouldn't say anything like we agreed."

She rolled her eyes, falling into an even step with him as she tried to blink out the redness. "It was a joke. Do you understand jokes or is that banned by the Synod too?"

"I understand jokes," Shoto frowned at her, only truly catching the satire now that she mentioned it, but too prideful to admit it, "That just wasn't a very good one. Synod Mages are not prone to crying, especially not where others can see them. I'm just trying to keep you from drawing attention."

Ochako glared at the ground in front of them. She held herself close as they passed through Landsleave and neared the part of the village that had been reduced to unrecognizable ash , much of it not even intact enough to be called ruins.

Something compelled them both to stop when it opened clearly in front of them. It was heavy with a dreading aura and even Shoto couldn't propel his feet to keep moving when he came face to face with the real results of what the Major Demons had inflicted.

The girl shivered and Shoto couldn't blame her. Commander Tensei's forces were still too busy seeing to the living and quartering off the area to have addressed this part of the village yet. People still lay where they had died, where minor demons had caught them, where a gust of fire had burned them to smoldering heaps. The stench of rotting humans and burned flesh lifted over the places that had once been homes, shops, taverns, and staples of human life. And there was no time to do anything about it, no time for them to lend respect to the dead by helping bury them or change anything about this horror before them. The soldiers and villagers would take care of it when they were able, but for now the battlefield, no, the massacre remained as one devastating moment frozen in time.

And what was worse, for Shoto, was that everything about this place felt so much like the Dawnfelden front had. The smell, the littered corpses that they could do nothing about and the ever poignant weight of the ether hovering close stung with the sharp stab of memories that had made him unable to sleep at night.

He had to physically shake himself, rubbing his hand down across his face to sober up. He couldn't let himself linger on the memories, could allow the crushing force of the enemy's influence to shake him from his path.

Shoto turned to Ochako, primed to demand that they get going, to leave this place, to escape the dark memories that were all too distant and all too recent, but her expression caught him. Her face was streaked with a few fresh tears and her eyes were fixed shakily on what was in front of her.

"I've lived here my entire life," she said quietly, watching the still wafting smoke twist upwards, "These people are my friends and family and these places are everything I've known. If...if we'd come yesterday or...or if we never tried to save Izuku in the first place, maybe… If we'd just been here!"

Shoto stared at her in silence. He had no talent for comfort and in all honesty the things she said were a little too familiar for him to be comfortable with.

Ochako shook her head though and slapped both of her cheeks in her hands, waking herself up rather violently. She wiped her face against her arm again and tried once more to force it all back down.

"Can't change the past, can't change the past," she took a shaky breath and then turned up brown eyes to Shoto's watchful expression.

"We need to leave this place," Shoto met her gaze evenly, pushing down all of his own compromising feelings. There was no time for this.

Believing that he'd had the final say, Shoto attempted to walk away, but he got no more than a pace before Ochako had taken his wide sleeve and pulled him to a stop rather suddenly.

"Wait! I need to see Red before I go… He won't know what to do if I just disappear without telling him."

With a confused raise of his eyebrow, Shoto looked around them. "It's not wise to bring an entire dragon out in the open. He should stay away if you don't want him found."

"No, he won't be seen," Ochako shook her head and pulled him along, already moving in the opposite direction of where they needed to go, "Trust me, no one will know."

Shoto ran along after her, left with little other choice since he wasn't supposed to let her out of his sight. "Where are we going?"

"If we get separated we always meet up behind the butcher shop," Ochako explained fondly, "He'll be there, I promise."

Shoto followed her across the street and up the village a ways, then around a half collapsed building. It stank of spoiled meat, confirming it to be the butcher shop despite its storefront a collapsed heap and its sign a charred wood slab, hanging on it's last nail.

Right as they skirted the corner of the shop's back, Ochako let out a surprised sound when an intercepting hand grabbed her arm and pulled her in.

Shoto went right into an attack position, but they both dropped their fear the moment they saw who it was. Izuku had called him Eijiro and Shoto realized he'd nearly forgotten about their red haired friend who had been so adamant about finding Ochako before.

Now that she recognized him, Ochako dove into his waiting arms, both of their grips exuberant and excitable.

"I knew Izuku wouldn't let them hurt you, but I was so worried Ochako! Are you alright? What happened?"

Ochako pried herself free from his strong arms and took his wide eyed face in hand, holding him still from bouncing out of his own skin with nervous energy. "Red! Relax, I'm fine."

Shoto looked around them, taking a full turn of the area, seeing no one else. His head tilted at them in confusion. "I thought you said the dragon's name was Red?"

Bright red eyes popped up from Ochako's face, only then seeming to realize Shoto was there.

"Mage!" The boy turned unreasonably excited and Shoto took a cautious step back, a little afraid that this boy might be inclined to the same indescrepencies as Izuku.

"I'm glad you're here," he beamed a smile, but stayed by Ochako, "We should really talk about what happened out there."

Ochako scowled up at Eijiro and then back at Shoto. "What happened?"

Eijiro met Shoto's gaze directly and Shoto lost his grip on reality for a moment at the notion he suddenly got, staring into those eyes that were almost human but not quite.

This kid couldn't possibly be…?

"He understood me," Eijiro explained, arms moving around expressively in his excitement, "And then he talked back to me, not even with his voice. Somehow we connected!"

Shoto blanked while Ochako turned a confused look back to the other mage. He was staring almost dead eyed at Eijiro now, taking his time coming to the conclusion he didn't quite understand, but couldn't deny after that statement.

"You're...the dragon?"

The boy nodded, flashing big sharp teeth.

"But I thought humans can't speak dragon," Ochako's eyes went wide on her feet and then she narrowed them at Shoto, "Did you use a spell?"

Shoto shook his head. "I've never even heard of such a spell."

Eijiro gasped on the revelation he had and was hardly able to hold still when he asked. "Wait, are you a dragon too?"

"What? No!" Shoto blinked, taken aback, "I don't even understand how you're a dragon!"

"Magic," Eijiro shuffled a little closer to Shoto, looking him over closely, "A shapeshifting spell that a Bog Mage taught me so I could communicate with Ochako and hide among humans. You could easily be the same thing. You /are/ a pretty strange looking human."

The boy, who was apparently in reality a dragon, pursed his mouth and cocked his head at Shoto quizzically. "Your spell may need some work. You look human and all, but the rest of your features are kind of weird to pass normally."

Shoto had never been exceptionally sensitive about his appearance or given it much thought, but he knew the perfect part of his hair mixed with unmatched eyes made him a genetic oddity. An oddity, not some freak of nature that couldn't be considered human.

He turned a harsh glare on Eijiro, unable to help that he was a bit offended.

"I'm not a dragon," he insisted, "And if anyone should work on their shapeshifting spell it's you. Your teeth are way too sharp for a human and your pupils aren't round enough. I don't know how you've survived this long without anyone being suspicious."

Eijiro's mouth dropped open to defend himself, but he ended up frowning at the ground while Ochako turned a fitful glare on Shoto.

"That's really rude, mage," she bit.

"What's rude is letting him go around impersonating a human and not even making sure the spell is completely convincing."

Ochako looked about ready to blow her lid at him, but then Eijiro's head popped up and he blinked a few times, shaking his head a little, while flecks of light danced down his cheeks.

"How's that?" he opened his eyes wide for Shoto to inspect.

The mage was taken aback. The eyes were perfect. Perfectly human, all traces of dragon suddenly gone.

His mouth opened in a grin to show off his flatter, human teeth and Ochako grabbed his face to look at it more closely. Her eyes were wide with surprise.

"Red, that's amazing," she gasped, "Why didn't you do that before?"

He shrugged as she let go of his jaw, "I didn't realize it didn't look right until the mage said something, it's not like I see my own face very often. Thanks, mage!"

Shoto pulled into himself a bit. He'd just yelled at the boy in a rather petty show and the kid had taken his yelling as advice and followed it. It made him feel incredibly sheepish, but he put on a show of confidence, when he dropped a soft nod.

"It's Shoto," he corrected.

"I'm Eijiro," the red haired boy responded, "I wish you were a dragon, though. That'd be pretty amazing."

"He's not," Ochako said, "He's a Synod Mage."

It sounded a little bitter, but that didn't bother Shoto, just reminded him that they couldn't keep lingering.

"Ochako we need to leave. The others will be waiting on us soon enough."

Ochako's face dropped and Eijiro grabbed her arm again before she could go anywhere.

"You're leaving?"

"Just for a couple days at most," she shrugged away from him gently, "It's not safe for you to come with me. I need you to stay here and look after mom and dad."

That boyish exuberance vanished and when she tried to step away he jerked her back in place, eyes darkening. "No! I can't protect you if I'm not there and you're a hundred miles away."

"You don't have to protect me," Ochako ripped her arm from his hand and his shoulders slumped, "Sometimes you need to protect yourself too! You can't risk being found out."

Eijiro huffed hot air from his nose, his stance planting stubbornly, "I can stay in this form as long as I have to."

"And if something did happen to me, then what?" her voice was equally stubborn, but laced with concern, "Are you going to shift back into a dragon in the middle of the Tarlson Keep and fight an army on unfair footing? You'd be dead before you can flap your wings. Look, Izuku will be with me and Shoto agreed to cover for me as well, I promise I'll be fine."

"I can still fight with this human body!" he demanded, "I'm still strong, stronger than any of you humans are! You've always said that you don't trust Synod Mages and now you're trusting them more than you trust me?"

"Eijiro, please," Ochako took his hands, looking into the now truly human red eyes that had turned so sharp with rage. Despite how perfectly convincing his new form was, his dragon spirit was bleeding through in his anger.

The girl tried to appease and calm him to little avail, but even as his lips parted in another argument, a nearby shout cut off their conflict.

Shoto looked down the street where they'd come from and stiffened on the sight of a pair of corporals trying to flag him down, running their way, calling out to him.

"Master Shoto!"

The mage cursed and struck intense eyes on the girl and the dragon boy who had begun to lightly panic.

"You have to leave right now," Shoto snapped at Eijiro through his teeth.

Eijiro grabbed Ochako's arm tightly again, looking at Shoto with a fearful upset. "But-"

"Now!" he sounded almost angry, but it was truly just desperation.

He didn't want to see the boy get hurt or caught up in this and if he was seen conversing with two Synod Mages behind a decimated building he would be instantly involved. Shoto had agreed to protect him too when he'd spoken to Izuku and Ochako earlier and even without that he definitely owed him his life for the fight with the Inferno earlier. He couldn't let the kid act foolishly.

Ochako's head whipped back and forth between them and finally she shoved Eijiro away forcefully. "Red, go!" She said through grit teeth.

He obviously had much more that he wanted to say and the rage in his eyes at losing his last few moments with Ochako was clear, but the two stubborn mages demanding him to leave forced him to pull away and run. The soldiers were almost on their position and Eijiro only had time to duck around the other side of the building before the two men came to a halt in front of the mages.

They gave a brief salute and Shoto mocked one in return, not used to returning military salutes even in his time at the fronts; it wasn't practice for Battle Mages.

"Master Shoto," one of them said, "Commander Tensei asked us to retrieve you. The second messenger hawk returned and you have been ordered by the Lord Commander to leave immediately for the Keep. He would like to meet with you before nightfall."

Shoto clenched his jaw in annoyance, but gave only a short nod to the corporals, before jerking his head at Ochako to follow along. She centered herself impressively quickly. There was still red in her eyes and he knew there was a lot of pain and regret swirling through her head, but she did her best to keep it off of her face.

Her impression of a detached and focussed Synod Mage didn't stop her from peeking over her shoulder, back in the direction of where they'd left Eijiro, as they went, and even Shoto couldn't help indulging in a few backwards glances with her. They didn't see anything or anyone, though. Apparently, Eijiro really had listened and left. Ochako was seemingly upset not to see him, but Shoto knew that was for the best. They could only serve to hurt him at this point.

The corporals led the way back and Shoto made sure they were following more than a few paces behind, keeping distance. It wasn't his strong suit to be positive, comforting, or personable, but he felt compelled to whisper to her what was perhaps an empty encouragement.

"Keep your head up. You'll be home before you know it. He won't be waiting long."

Ochako drew a critical gaze over him, holding on the scar on his face. He could feel the boring intensity of her eyes, but he kept his own straight ahead.

"I hope you're right."