Three Elves & a Fae

By Zam

Chapter 1

Deep within an overgrown forest in southeast Tristain, three unusual figures could be found. Of course, if one looked, all that might set them apart from any other local was the knife-like ears adorning their heads. Rather mundane compared to say wolf sized spiders, but more dangerous all the same.

A ragged, squeal of pain and sliding steel filled the air only to be followed by an unceremonious thud as the dead husk of a giant green and grey spider lay crumpled on the ground, surrounded by the trio.

"I've never heard tell of human forests housing monsters like this," muttered a copper-eyed elf as he cleaned his blade with well-practiced ease before returning it to its sheath beneath a sandy cloak.

A shorter haired elf in form fitting leathers knelt before the creature, a frown adoring his squared jaw as he inspected the corpse, "Lihan, I have never heard of such creatures at all."

Their final party member clutched her falcon tipped staff and slowly opened piercing blue eyes, only to mutter, "I sense nothing familiar in this place; the spirits remain confused and… Vague, even now."

"Well, that is bloody marvelous," Spat Liihan, "I've never heard of anything, Irfran doesn't know anything, and even Asila cannot sense anything."

"You're the one who wanted to use the forest, it will be easier you said, faster you said," Sniped Asila, lazily waving her staff at the man.

"I was wrong, but in my defense, who knew humans were cultivating monsters here."

Irfan turned their attention back from the creature, "You think the barbarians made these creatures?"

Asila snorted, "Would we not have seen some sort of guards then, mages or the like?"

Lihan shrugged, "They are humans, I could see them losing control of their own monsters; it would be typical of them."

"Maybe," Irfan conceded, "But we cannot jump to conclusions, besides, there is something else that could be blamed."

The trio turned their eyes from the beast to the tree-line and through it spied in the distance a faint outline of ivory reaching into the clouds.

Asila hummed thoughtfully, "You think that monuments arrival caused the spiders to mutate?"

"Perhaps, I have not heard nor scene another animal in these woods since we arrived, meaning they were removed, scared off, or…"

"Devoured," Lihan added.

"Exactly."

"Let us not again jump to conclusions," Asila reasoned. "We still don't know the origin of that... Thing, it too could be a human creation, as could the spiders, or perhaps something entirely alien. But either would be disastrous or at least dangerous if unleashed nearer to the heart of our territory.

Her companions' expressions grew dour at the thought as she continued, "Come, we cannot dally. Lihan, check for any more threats and then we'll be off," she said, pointing to a nearby tree.

Bowing his head, the swordsman did as ordered, and flicked back his cloak to reveal light tan armor adorning his athletic frame and he began to climb and vault his way to the top of the tree.

From his vantage point atop the tree, long hair blowing in the breeze, Lihan could see the sun beginning its slow descent from the midafternoon skies. 'We can make it somewhere suitable to rest before dark at least.'

Performing one last final rotation, as much out of curiosity at the distantly drifting island as it was to assess threats, Lihan stilled at the sight of a small figure flying over the treetops.

Twin ponytails of bushy red, almost pink hair sat atop a youthful frame, adorned in a red and orange lined uniform of leather, complete with a hefty looking dagger hanging from their belt. What stood out most however were the semi-transparent crimson wings and sharply pointed ears.

"Asila! Irfan! You need to see this!" Both elves startled at his cry and began climbing the tree, much slower than their companion.

"What is it?" Irfan called.

Lihan watched the strange entity closely even as he spoke, "Remember Bariasha?"

Asila slowed in her climb, "The one who blew up his own workshop while trying to prove that human and elves come from a common ancestor?"

"Him," Lihan said, tugging Irfan up to the highest branch at his side, "I heard tell he once sought to convince spirits to craft him wings that he might fly like a bird-elf."

"So?" Asila grunted, as she was pulled up to join them.

"Well, I see an elf with wings," Lihan said mutely,

"Lihan, did you get bitten and refuse to tell… Us…" Her words failed as she and Irfan followed his index finger and caught sight of the spectacle.

"Never heard of a red headed elf, or one with wings," Irfan mused, "Some bird-person mutation perhaps?"

Asila's gaze sharpened as wind and moisture coiled before her eyes to form a telescope, "Look, more of those spiders."

"She won't see them," Irfan said.

And as the child's shadow passed over the canopy, silken webs burst from the tree, entrapping the would-be elf and sending them shrieking into the undergrowth.

"Come on!" Asila cried, air surging as she leapt from the treetop, her companions' mere seconds behind.

With the winds beneath their feet, it took less than a minute for them to reach their target.

The elfanoid was surrounded by three spiders, one nursing a bloodied leg and burns as it clung to the tree above her, while its companions pressed in against the child from the ground.

Chest heaving, it was clear an arm had been broken or dislocated, and fear filled the child's eyes as their tiny form quaked beneath the clinging webs.

The spiders seemed content to take their time, awaiting their preys fall to exhaustion rather than risk another injury, and it might have worked, if not for their arrival.

"Take the beasts, I have her!" Asila cried, leaping through the air, and enclosing the child in her arms, the winds curling around them in a violent shield as they stiffened and then near instantly went limp in her grasp.

Not idle, the beasts lunged for their prey, only for Irfan to draw his spear from his back and with a host of little spirits suffusing it, the weapon stuck true, embedding the injured spider on the tree.

Lihan was a violent blur of slashing steel, bisecting the first spider and elegantly pirouetting around the seconds web and striking its brain.

And like that it was done, a quick scan of the woods showed more webs but no giant monstrosities and so the blade wielding pair turned to their companion.

Asila laid the girl out on the ground, head resting on her own knees as she plucked the web away, cringing at the strange, almost draining sensation she felt at their touch that left her fingers feeling cold and tingly.

'No wonder she passed out, these webs, it is like they sap away one's vitality!'

"How are they?" Irfan asked, dropping down to pull away more of the web while Lihan continued to be on lookout.

"Alive at least, but she fell unconscious, it is hardly a wonder given all of this."

Irfan fondled some of the web in his grasp, scrunching his face up in veiled disgust, "Whatever this little one is, they're tough to have survived."

Lihan glanced down at them, "I don't think it's an elf."

"It's a child, and not a human at that," Asila countered.

"True," the man said, hands up in mock surrender, "But if we're discovered there will be problems, we aren't even meant to be here."

"Someone had to leave the border to look into this and we were just fool enough to volunteer," Irfan chuckled.

"Still though," Lihan muttered.

"Finding out what happened in this land is too important not to take risks on," Asila countered. "Besides, this one looks like an elf but clearly wasn't trying to hide; something has happened here and we won't find the truth just wandering aimlessly."

Lihan stroked his goatee, "It certainly wasn't trying to hide, but given how humans are any sort of alliance seems… Unlikely."

"But not impossible," Irfan countered with a smirk, before his glee fell, "Do you suppose these creatures know whom they are dealing with?"

"That's a thought, some as of yet unknown firstborn's being led astray as we once were?" Asila murmured.

Lihan stiffened, "If that is true, this one may see us as an enemy rather than their seniors in the Great Skein."

Pressing her hands over the child's chest, Asila called upon the spirits and felt the power of the Grand Purpose suffuse the air, "We must ask this one questions, if they attack, I can knock it out and they'll not know us from a nightmare."

She did not like the way Lihan was staring skeptically at that remark, hand still on his sword, but she couldn't ignore her duty either, even for a child. 'If worst comes to worst, maybe a prisoner? We aren't barbarians after all, there's no need to kill someone so young because they might spill a few words.'

With her wounds healed, surprisingly quickly Asila thought, the child began to stir, life and color returning to crimson touched skin.

Ruby like eyes flashed before them in a rapid succession of blinks as the child stiffened and scrambled up, hand flying to their empty sheath as they scanned the woods.

"You are safe here," Asila soothed, only to be met with a confused stare as the redhead rounded on her, rubbing their head.

'Is the language of the First lost on this one?'

"I said you're safe," She tried again in the human's tongue, though it hardly seemed necessary as the tension was already fleeing the youths frame.

The words came out in a breathy, high pitched cry, "You saved me!"

"That we did, the spiders are dead," Asila assured, "Oof!"

The child hugged her tightly, "Thank you! I thought I was gonna die!"

'Well this is a good start,' she mused, motioning for Irfan and Lihan to stay quiet, as she returned the child's hug.

"I have never been so grateful to see other fairies, thank you!" The redhead said fervently.

'Fae, are there not stories of such creatures?' She thought, wracking her brains for that dissertation on barbarian culture she'd mostly tuned out while attending university.

"Of course, my dear, I am glad we were able to make it in time," She gently pulled the child back and smiled, "I am Asila, and these are Lihan and Irfan," She added, motioning behind her where the two men smiled weakly and waved.

Swallowing, the child jumped up, clasped her hands and bowed, "Thank you all for saving me, my name is Rasha, I owe you my life!"

Asila rose to her feet and seeing the girl bow again she mimicked the gesture, "Its only natural that we help one another, but what were you doing out in these woods? They're quite dangerous after all."

Patting a small leather pouch attached to their back, Rasha sighed in relief, "I'm a courier, I know I miss instant messaging people too," She added with a sigh. "I was on my way to the Spriggan's capital and may have uh, taken a shortcut!"

If Rasha's skin was not already red, Asila imagined it would be quite flushed right now.

The child blinked owlishly and felt her arm, "You healed me as well"

"Of course," Asila said, hoping these fae' had some manner of healing knowledge lest her cover be blown.

The ensuing bear hug said she was right, "I- I can't tell you how grateful I am it hurt so much and… Thank you!" She emphasized with a squeeze.

Asila ran a hand through Rasha's hair, 'Such a sincere child,' she mused, "Now, now, I think we need to get out of this forest before we can be at ease."

"Right, yes, we need to move," Rasha said, pulling herself from the hug and snatching up her fallen dagger.

"Don't just sheath it," Lihan groused, stilling Rasha's hands.

"Oh right, right, my bad, its so easy to forget but I really shouldn't after all those safety lectures," Rasha answered, pulling out a thick, rough looking cloth and began wiping down the dagger.

"Is your destination nearby? We can escort you," Asila said, ignoring the slight stare from over Rasha's head she was getting.

"Mhmm, the nearest landmark is a small town called Chambery, it should be north of here," Rasha explained.

"Then let's get going. We have a lot of road ahead us," Irfan said, rising to his feet with a stretch.

Rasha seemed to tense and then deflate, "Um.. Eheh, you see…"

"Is something wrong?" Asila asked.

"Those webs, they sapped all my stored sun energy," rasha said.

'The sun, these fae have spiritual contracts with a celestial body?' Asila thought, hastily rewriting her mental portfolio.

"It'll be a while before I'm ready to fly again," the girl finished, blushing adorably.

"Ah," Irfan said, wiping off some stray web and looking thoughtful, "Us too, those webs are damned dangerous."

"They really are," Rasha enthused.

Asila repressed a sigh of relief, their disguise was still intact.

As the day stretched on, the sun began to hang low on the sky, though it could not yet be called evening.

"I think we have another hour before we reach the town," Rasha said.

"Right, right," Irfan said without thinking as he pulled out a bandanna, Lihan doing the same and drawing a stare from the tiny fae.

'Bloody fools!' Alisa wanted to shout.

Rasha perked up, "Oh, right the ears, some people can be really weird about those," She said, revealing her own purple bandanna, neatly folded in her pack. "Apparently we look like elves or whatever."

"Yes, quite troublesome that," Asila said, turning her ring on her finger as she eyed Rasha speculatively.

The redhead noticed the ring apparently and stared wide eyed, "Ooh, is that a magic item?"

Tension uncoiling from her shoulders, Alisa nodded, "It is, it has a nifty little trick, you see I do this," She close her hand around the ring to obscure her prayer and the bubbly orb in the silver ring flared. In a flash her elven form was cloaked in blessed spirits of water and air, dulling her hair and rounding her ears.

Rasha stared at her hopping around as if to observe her from several angle before bouncing on her feet, "That is so cool, it must be from Spriggan territory, right? Or maybe a Leprechaun made it?"

Sealing those terms away, she ruffled Rasha's hair, "I made it, I am quite well travelled you see," Her companions looked like they had eaten something sour, but Rasha seemed both unaware and unconcerned.

"Wow, high level healing and crafting, you're amazing Asila-San!"

'San?' Smiling down at the girl she said, "Why thank you dear, now let us be off, before it gets dark."

"Yup, let's go!" She cheered, racing ahead just a little.

"You're taking a risk?' Lihan whispered.

"Oh hush, its calculated," she assured, and that was mostly true.

"You two coming?" Irfan called back as he and Rasha pushed ahead.

"Coming," Alisa sang.

"So," Lihan said as they came together again, "You said something about elves?"

"Its so annoying right? I hear barely anyone's ever seen an elf and all these people do is mumble about 'heathen' magics or whatever." Dismissiveness mingling with blatant annoyance as they pressed on down the dirt road.

'Well at least these Fae have some taste,' Alisa mused.

Everything seemed to be going according to plan, Rasha suspected nothing and with her as an unwitting guide they would be able to collect information easily while avoiding bringing the sweet girl to harm.

However, as the town faded into view, Asila couldn't help but feel something was amiss, like smoke drifting in the shadows, as the scent of ash touched her senses, and something flickered in the woods. Her companions were less attuned but could sense something was 'wrong' in the air and sensed her wariness.

"Do you know of any other Fae in this area?" Asila asked.

"Well, we're a day or so away from the Spriggan capital, So there's probably some skulking around looking for mobs the clearing squads missed."

Rasha shuddered, "I guess they missed those Terrorantulas, we should probably put that in the report once we get to Muiska."

That helped more than Rasha knew as Asila added another piece to the puzzle that was this changed land. 'The monsters, these 'Mobs', there are more of them, but they are being culled as we speak but it is clearly no simple thing.'

"Given the danger, should someone so young really be acting as a courier?" She asked.

Rasha let out an embarrassed, keening whine, "That normally never happens, I just got too relaxed cos things have been calming down lately."

"No need to be embarrassed," She soothed, "My companions and I are only faring so well because we help one another after all. Still," She pressed on as Rasha was staring at her a little quizzically, "What are you taking to Muiska, if I can ask."

Rasha shrugged, "No clue, I know its got the symbol of someone high up in Tristain; its probably orders for a garrison or local lord to make them actually help out. A lot of them are still being really stubborn," she huffed.

"Do you carry a lot of orders for nobles?" She asked, trying to make her manner more clipped and less proper to keep step with Rasha's style of speech.

"Sometimes, if they don't see the mark of their queen or someone else important, it's near impossible to make them do anything useful!" She threw her hands up theatrically. "Honestly, its lucky General Eugene met the Princess right after everything went nuts. If he hadn't, I don't even want to think what would have happened..."

Asila hummed in mock agreement as she continued to put the pieces together.

'This species has managed to establish somewhat stable relations with the barbarians despite their resemblance to us. There is a general, so they have some form of army and he met with this kingdoms princess, was that luck of or a planned operation?'

Looking at Rasha, it was hard for Asila to see these Fae as creatures of guile, but perhaps her party had merely been lucky to find her?

'Still, something went wrong, judging by her tone, around or just before that encounter, could it have been to do with their arrival here and if so…'

She cast her gaze towards the giant tree in the far distance and waved her staff lazily. "We have been on the road for a time, do you know what is going on there?"

If Rasha noticed anything out of the ordinary she did not mention it, tapping her chin as she spoke, "Well, I know Ladies Sakuya and Alicia met up with Lord Mortimer and are still in the middle of negotiation with the royal family. From what everyone's saying its going OK."

"General Eugene and the mob clearing squads have gotten a lot done now that the Tristain army is getting used to us; they've cleared most major roadways and areas around them."

"Save for spots like the forest," Irfan said gamely.

"Yeah," Rasha said head drooping, "the deeper woods are still a death trap. As for everything else, um… Oh I heard the Imps elected a new leader!" She chirped, "But besides that I got nothing, sorry if you wanted to hear about new Puka, I just don't know..."

"Not at all dear, that was very helpful," Asila intoned, drawing a pleased smile from the girl.

'It sounds as though there is triumvate that deals with politics, but other factions too, these Puka, Spriggan and Imp. Perhaps even the Leprechauns she mentioned earlier as well? And they practice elections?' The thought intrigued her a great deal.

Given the girl expected them to be curious, Asila could only assume that whatever had her mistaking them for elves, meant these Puka resembled their own people greatly.

"Look there!" Lihan snapped, and from the tree-line blurred a black clad figure, light armor obscured or lining a silver trimmed black cloak that flickered in the wind. A matching silver helm styled akin to a hunting bird shone in the evening light and twin swords, one black and one white rested on the figures back, while ears nearly twice as long as an elves jutted out from the approaching Fae's side.

'Black wings, rather than red, and that skin, so ashen,' Asila mused.

Rasha did not seem afraid, so Asila motioned for her companions to stay their blades.

Not seeing or not caring about the silent exchange the figure clasped their hands and bowed, "Good day to you miss, Rasha I presume?"

'They're still in the air, and the sensation of smoke and ash is still coiling in the air…'

"I am! Were you sent to escort me?" She asked.

The spirits were tense the air moved unnaturally.

"I was," Was the gently, amicable reply, "But before we go, I must ask. How did you come into such company?"

Asila felt the growing tension snap, Lihan and Irfan shouted weapons singing, but before she could even think to act an alien hand closed around her mouth and a dagger rested on her throat.

"Let her go!" Irfan bellowed, leveling his spear at whoever held her.

Lihan grasped his blade but looked torn between charging the Fae and whoever held her.

"What's going on!?" Rasha cried.

The floating figure seemed to almost physically cringe, "I was not meant to be seen, I am sorry, but I must know. What these humans want with you."

"They're Fae, they're just disguised!" Cried Rasha.

Asila motioned to her companions and swiftly and with only one hand so they remained armed, they tore off their bandanna revealing their ears.

The Fae snapped back as if struck and she felt the form grasping her turn liquid and immaterial, like mist and smoke it faded into shadows like it had never been there and tension fled her frame just as swiftly.

"Asila!" Lihan cried, rushing to her side.

"Are you OK?" Lihan snarled, facing down the Fae.

"I am fine, I'm fine," She stressed. Rasha was in front of her, a worried pout on her face, so Asila affirmed again, "Nothing happened."

The black clad Fae tore off their helmet to reveal a sharp, cherubic face, thick dark hair sat atop their head in a tussled array and wide eyes looked truly horrified as the Fae dropped to their knees and bowed their head low.

"I am so sorry, I mistook you for humans and needed to be sure you wouldn't hurt her, I didn't detect your disguises, I'm sorry for my foolishness!"

The sheer level of contrite submission was a rather staunch departure from holding her life in his hands; under other circumstances Asila might have found it almost amusing, save for the fact someone had snuck up on her!

'What magic are these Fae using to slip by even the spirits!?' She was sure, certain even, that with time she would be able to counter act it, but if she had died here then the next elf would have been equally ill-prepared. It was a harrowing sensation, to feel even the slightest bit vulnerable before a nonelf.

Lihan was still standing between, his sword drawn and teeth grit, "You could have killed her, I should-"

"Enough, Lihan," She stressed, grasping his shoulders, "I'm fine."

"You almost weren't," He countered.

"Why did you do it?" Irfan cut in, leaning 'almost' casually on his spear, but still ready to move.

The Fae looked up and ducked their head, "I am sorry, I only intended to place my double behind you to make a move if you proved dangerous. I've not met many mages yet who can see through our more advanced illusion spells and I had to be sure, if you meant to do Rasha-Chan harm I could stop you without risking her safety."

"That doesn't explain anything!" Rasha cried, stamping her boot, "We're meant to be working with the Tristains!"

The Fae nodded, "You're right, we are, and yet…" Dark eyes seemed watery for a moment, and the swallowed something back before speaking again, voice forced to be level. "By the Order of the Fae Lords, all couriers are now to have at least one escort, in case of… local hostility."

That drew Rasha up short, as she quietly asked, "Has something happened?"

The Fae shrugged and sat up, but remained kneeling, hands folded in their lap, "There have been incidents. Paranoid townsfolk, disagreements spilling into violence born of zealous religious beliefs, and… Yes, there have been some deaths."

Rasha gasped, "How many?"

"Any is too many," The Fae said hotly. "At least a few but that's only in this area, it likely reaches into a dozen or more cases."

"I can hardly see these humans as much of a threat to us," Lihan groused, and quietly Asila, agreed; for this Fae who almost killed her to fear the primitive humans felt wrong.

A serious frown spread across the Fae's face, "We don't know enough about their magic to know what they're keeping from us and even with as powerful as we can become, that doesn't mean anything if you aren't willing to fight back. Or worse, don't get the chance."

"Assassination?" Lihan asked, arching his brow.

"Nothing so organized," Their attacker said hastily, staring at the ground, "But someone goes for a drink with some human soldiers from a Mob Hunting Squad and suddenly they're alone and not on guard. Or you fall asleep in the wrong inn and the owner might sell your room number to a mage that wants you for parts."

That, disgusting as it was, made more sense, even an elf, if they left their spiritual wards unattended could be killed in their sleep after all.

The Fae looked at Rasha, and then at them, biting their lip before pressing on, "So imagine how it looked when a pretty young Fae was being followed by three humans. Terrible things can happen to pretty girls in the company of men, and there are mages who seem ready to cut up anything as a specimen."

Rasha looked shaken and a little sick, Asila felt a kernel of anger roiling in her gut at the thought of that and said, "I understand, I do not like it, but I understand." She rested a hand on Rasha's shoulder, "However, I think that is enough."

Long eyebrows and ears twitching the Fae eeped, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to distress you!" And bowed again.

"Its… Fine. I'm not a kid, its just… Disgusting," She muttered, looking askance.

"It is, still, that doesn't forgive my hostility to fellow Fae, my name is Kuro, and I am truly sorry to all of you, but especially you miss…"

"Asila, and my companions, Liha and Irfan, don't mind then, they can be protective," She said with lazy waves at her friends.

"I'm glad you have such good friends, Asila-San; this world isn't exactly safe for anyone, least of all our people," The Fae said.

'World?' Asila wondered.

"If you would welcome me, I would happily escort all of you to where you are going as well as Rasha-Chan, and pay for your lodgings for the night," Kuru said, revealing a bag of coins on their belt.

"You want us to stay in a human town, after all that?" Irfan asked.

Kuro smiled, "I have stamina potions and Searching Tracers, I will keep watch all night and ensure no harm comes to any of you and if worst comes to worst," The Fae shrugged. "I have the skills to cover your escape without turning it into a... Messy diplomatic incident."

The confused mass of information from worlds to the Fae's behavior and manner, left Asila's mind racing as she tried to try and understand what had transpired. The only other world she knew of was the one led to by Shaitan's Gate, but the Fae and these beasts seemed so truly strange and unfamiliar. She had to wonder if perhaps another lay somewhere in this kingdom.

'If there, is we need to find it and report it to the Senate!'

"We had no real destination in mind," She said carefully, "We just wanted to explore this place."

Kuro looked almost distressed by her words, while Rasha murmured, "Maybe if its, ah, so dangerous it would be best if you came with us to Muiska?"

Helping Rasha had truly paid dividends, 'If we play this right, we may see a Fae city and access official channels to understand what happened here.' It would be dangerous of course, but they were soldiers, and this was important, she determined, steeling her shoulders.

Kuro bowed again, "I can assure you, Muiska is safe, Morgiana-Sama is a good woman and if you don't wish to stay it will be the safest place to plan a route to the other capitals from."

"Maybe it would be for the best," Asila said slowly, as if considering, looking to her companions meaningfully.

"We'll be safer in a large group anyway," Irfan shrugged, while Lihan just nodded, sour expression still on his face.

Kuro's grin was blinding, "That is wonderful, I promise you won't regret this!" Snatching up their helmet the Fae saluted, "I swear on the honor of these swords, I shall protect you with my life!"

"Enthusiastic aren't you?" Asila chuckled, drawing a blush from the Fae.

"Ah, maybe a little, but still, we should get going, night Mobs are a real hassle, can you fly?"

"We got hit with some web and lost our flight power," Rasha said softly.

Kuro looked stricken, "I see, I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner Rasha-Chan."

"Its fine, these guys saved me, so it all worked out in the end," the girl argued.

Kuro nodded, though didn't looked terribly thrilled so much as anxiously worried, "You three were very brave, thank you for saving Rasha-Chan."

"Of course, we need to look out for each other in this world," Asila tried, likely sending Lihan into heart palpitations.

But Kuro just smiled, "That we do, Asila-San. Shall we go?"

Drawing a nod from each of them, Kuro donned their helmet and turned away, motioning for them to follow, as grey tinged lights drifted through the nearby woods.

'More Fae magic,' Asila mused.

"Speaking of look out for each other," Lihan said as they caught up, "What have our leaders been doing about these attacks?"

Kuro jolted a little and ducked their head, "Ah, well, besides assigning escorts and changing up orders, there is little they can do themselves. Fights and the like can be addressed by local commanders, but the... The really bad stuff usually happens when no one is looking, and evidence is scarce. We don't think its something organized, but we have to be cautious and try to find those responsible where we can." The Fae's black gloves squealed as Kuro balled her hands into fists.

"That's all?" Irfan asked.

Kuro shrugged helplessly, "No one wants to start a war and there's no proof its sys-temi-ic," She announced slowly, "So for now its mostly try and work on prevention."

"With people like you?" Asila chimed in, trying to profile the Fae.

"Yes, people like me who have… More experience with this kind of danger," Kuro said levelly.

"Oh, Kuro-San, those swords… Were you- Sorry that is rude of me," Rashsa said quickly.

"Its not rude," Kuro said kindly, looking over her shoulder and smiling with her eyes, "I was an SAO Survivor, I was no Clearer, but I know what it means to fight with my life on the line. Its why I and others like me who are coping with the prospect of fighting, people" She halted a little. "Have been separated from our Mob Hunting Teams for a short time until the new partner system for couriers and such is established.

Rasha nodded hastily, as if eager to be done with the topic.

Kuro meanwhile cast another glance back, "That is a truly impressive disguise spell, Asila-San."

"Why thank you," She flashed the ring, "It is a very rare creation."

"Ah, special item, that makes sense," Kuro hummed absently, as the town faded into sight and they began donning headscarves once again.

"The owner of the local inn is difficult but may treat you well Asila-San if he mistakes you for a human and her guards. I'm not sure what to do about Rasha-Chan, though I've a room prepared." Kur didn't sound terribly enthused by the prospect, likely having wanted to find Rasha and leave with no human intervention.

"Ah, I- I think I'd like to stay with Asila-San if I can," Rasha stammered.

"Of course," Kuro said, guileless, "We can hover around the foyer while she books a room, if that is OK with you three?"

"Perfectly fine with us," Asila cheered, mind already plotting out the next stages of their investigation.

"Very well then, let's go and meet the neighbors, I suppose," Kuro chuckled, as she began drifting into the village on ashen wings.

'Yes,' Asila mused, eyeing the Fae, 'Lets.'