"Well, this is home, honey. I never did ask you for your name, if I do remember rightly."

"I'm Chayce Adalwolfa, daughter of Mizar and Ceres!" However, the Archer knew these were not her parents' names; she had none. She had not a clue of who they really were, only the parents that were within her mind, the names she had created to replace those of ones the Archer had long since forgotten, or never known to begin with.

"Ooh. I'm Raeka Noring! And that's Recene over there. I don't know his last name; he never bothered to tell me when I came and joined him and Malik in their little group," the Sagess explained, continuously returning her eyes to the Assassin Cross in front of her, hair masking the Archer's face that he had slung over his back.

"Why?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe he doesn't exactly trust us yet. I've been with this group for a couple years now," Raeka said, shaking her head in deep thought, "and Malik has said his last name, but Recene hasn't. It's kinda like he's afraid to, that we might judge him for it. Or maybe he just doesn't have one. It doesn't surprise me, but why would anyone care if he never had one?"

"Maybe he's frightened he'll feel different."

"Oh, he's different, all right."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see soon enough, Cha-Cha." With a smile at her well picked nickname, Raeka looked forward as a few tents came into view, rather large but easy enough to carry between all of them, and a Peco tethered to a nearby tree, currently grazing for earthworms. "Well, this is our makeshift home."

"Ooh. It's very…nice."

"You were expecting a real house, weren't you?"

"Kind of." With blush creeping over her cheeks, Chayce looked up to the pretty girl. "I mean, I'm sure this is your home as much as any real house could be. But isn't it kind of weird…to be stuck with two boys?"

With a giggle, Raeka's smile widened as she said, "I figured you would ask about that." Her eyes followed to Recene for a moment, as he entered one of the tents, now cradling Alexalyn in his arms. "It is kind of awkward sometimes. Malik finds anything womanly disgusting or disturbing, though Recene is curious enough to ask questions, no matter how revolting it is to his gender. He's the better of the two, really."

"So, who is this Malik guy?"

"Malik is…a hot-tempered, arrogant jerk, so to say. He's the leader, well, usually. He's younger than Recene, and not as strong, though they're pretty equal, but Recene always has that advantage somehow."

"How old is Malik, then?"

"Malik turned eighteen a few months ago. Recene is nearly nineteen now. Actually, in a few days, he will be. I'm already making something for him that I hope he likes. He's hard to think for, though, since he's a lot more calm and collected, so it's hard to understand what he's really like. We'll go with…mysterious."

"Oh." Chayce glanced towards the tent Recene had just entered with uncertainty. "So, he's not a rapist?"

"A rapist? Valkyrie no! He's the exact opposite; he's a perfect gentleman. Malik wouldn't have cared if he saw either of you, but Recene came into action right when he saw you and your friend there."

With a rapid pace towards one of the two larger tents, as there were only three since one was smaller and for supplies, Raeka tapped on the flap, asking permission apparently for entrance.

"What," said Chayce with a rather blank look accustomed to her, "are you knocking for?"

"Permission, of course." Raeka saw a tall figure inside nod, and looked back towards Chayce, unzipping the flap and beckoning Chayce to follow. "Come on, he won't hurt you."

With a spring in her step, the Archer bounded forward as the Sage disappeared into the tent, the younger girl nearly slamming into the figure inside.

"Malik, no!"

Suddenly, Chayce realized exactly what was happening; the one dubbed Malik, easily recognized as a Stalker, had grabbed hold of her Archer collar, and was holding her a few feet above the tent flooring, darkened eyes of violet drilling into her own. Soft silver locks with thin highlights of chestnut fell to the small of his back, though a rubber band of black around his wrist probably told that his hair was either tied back or into a braid usually, though Chayce found it slightly amusing that he had a Cherry Hairpin threaded through his locks at his right temple, usually a hairpiece only for girls.

His garb was of original colouring, though his had a rather silver tinge to it, and the brown shirt underneath the small purple jacket all male Stalkers wore had been removed, showing his bare chest, as were the sleeves, making it only appear as a light lavender vest.

"Let her go!" Whipping out her Arc Wand, she held it threateningly, twirling it a few times at he side.

Malik ignored the Sage's orders, though Chayce thought of it as a game, as she swung back and forth, letting her legs occasionally smack him in the knees. With a rather grave expression, the Stalker pulled out a Grimtooth, holding it to her throat.

However, his expression soon grew flat and rather annoyed as Chayce just grinned at him, still swinging in his grasp.

"So, whatcha doin', Mal?"

"…Mal…"

"Don't like that name?"

"Don't call me Mal! You don't have permission to!" Watching her quiet up, Malik grumbled, "Well?"

"Well what?"

"You do know what I'm doing isn't a game, right?"

"…Uuuh…Nope!"

"You idiot! You're just a naïve child! You didn't even realize it looked like I was going to kill you! Why are you here?" demanded he, addressing Raeka as she coughed quietly.

"Well, you see, we found her attached to a Peco by force. There was another girl, too. She looks about ready to become second-class. As you can see, Chayce—"

"Is that her name?"

"Yes. Chayce Adalwolfa."

"…Mm…" Setting her down softly, he sighed, crossing his arms across his lean chest. "Your name…means 'Hunter She Wolf', correct?"

"Does it?" asked Chayce, amazed. "Really? That's so awesome!" With a squeal of glee, she bounced out of joy, and as she did, Sage's hand gripped onto her shoulder with force that seemed rather unladylike as the hand pulled her behind Raeka, fending her off.

"Why are you protecting that stupid girl?"

"She's a Purifier, can't you tell!"

"…What, you can?"

"That Peco was inflicted with the plague! The disease we've been looking for!"

Suddenly, his interest caught grasp. "Did you destroy it?"

"Recene did, yes."

"Good. That's one down. But, how do you know she's a Pure?"

"She wasn't hurt, was she?"

"What does that matter?" inquired Malik, rather irritated. "Couldn't she be lucky?"

"She isn't lucky. She grew up in an orphanage. She has no parents. She has no life, and there hasn't been anything good in it."

"Hey, I have parents!" Chayce protested, shaking her head. "L-Like I said, Mizar and Ceres! They were my parents!"

"Who is this friend of hers? Where is this friend?"

"She's in the supply tent. Recene is tending to her now. She looks pretty—" With a glance over her shoulder towards the innocent eyed Archer, as Chantelle settled onto her head, meowing and purring, Raeka sighed, and gave a small smile, finding sudden reason to protect the little girl's feelings, to not cause her such sorrow as to hear the truth.

It may have not been the right thing, to lie about such a very important thing, but the Sage couldn't help it; she didn't want to see the little one begin to fuss and sob.

"Pretty well off, for what she's been through."

"You mean, she's—"

"Yes, I believe so."

"…Well…see to that Recene takes care of her."

"All right. But meanwhile, can Chayce stay, please?"

"…I guess. But not for too long; we'll be pulling out in a day or two, and then she'll have to return to wherever she came from. We can't be babysitting a kid!"

"Thank you, Mal!" Wrapping her arms around his neck, Raeka pulled herself close to him in an embrace, closing her eyes and resting her cheek on his chest, nuzzling gently. However, Malik obviously became embarrassed, as he noticed Chayce's attention veer away from the cat, which stared blank eyed as well, and with a blush, pushed her gently away.

"Yeah, yeah, just get going. See if Recene needs any help. He's a good medic, but he's no Priest."

"All right." Pulling slowly away from the Stalker, Raeka took Chayce's hand and exited the tent, Chantelle yowling in protest as her rest was suddenly disturbed, being jostled about on top of Chayce's head, managing to sit right between the two Angel Wings for protection and holding.

Striding towards the supply tent, Raeka knocked once more on the tent flap, awaiting permission to enter.

After a few moments of waiting, a deep voice echoed out.

"Enter."

Obeying, Raeka, Chantelle, and Chayce slipped in, zipping up the tent before resting their eyes upon Alexalyn.

"She—"

"Her condition is relatively stable as of now, but it may change drastically overnight. I've done what is in my ability to; Valkyrie look upon us now that the child will live."

"She isn't a child, Recene. She's nearly my age."

"And I look upon you as a child as well, Raeka." Stepping aside as Chayce moved towards her best friend for a closer look, his eyes, hidden by bangs, settled onto the floor. "I look upon Malik as a child as well, but I look upon him as an infant for his recklessness and stubbornness of a bull."

Chayce gently pulled down part of the blanket, revealing that Alexalyn wore no Archer gear or clothing, except for her undergarments, the attire folded neatly beside her pillow. Thick, white bandages were bound around her thin waist, slightly damp with crimson droplets of blood that reminded Chayce of the red wine the Overseers often drunk at gatherings, getting tipsy and occasionally throwing tantrums at the silliest things, whipping the orphans from their clouded minds.

"S-So…She's going to be okay, right?" the Archer asked, gazing up to the Assassin Cross with large, grey eyes. "Right?"

"As I said, time will be the test. A few of her ribs are broken, and the wounds may not heal properly. Infection may break through the forces and bring their wrath, blotting the cuts with puss and inflammation. When that is to come, there may be internal damage. But if infection is to come, I will have to say, she has no chance of survival."

"B-But they're not here, are they?"

"No. They are not. There is still hope."

"I'm not a child, Recene. And Malik is nearly your age. You're the oldest, but I'm only about two years younger than you, because of your birthday."

"Ah, correct. It is rather…appreciative that one knows of my date of birth." With a soft smirk, he tossed his head, and for a split second, red eyes glowed softly before locks of hair masked them.

"Why do you speak so much like that?"

"How so?"

"You speak like a Bard. Like a poet, though not in a sing-song sort of tone."

"I have been accustomed to such tone of speech. And a Bard is relatively a poet; though Bards tend to sing our their poetry like elves."

Raeka blinked, puzzled. "There are no elves in Rune Midgard. Only elf ears. And they're fake."

"Ah, but is that true, little Raeka. Who else could have taught the Minstrels and Bards such beauteous words and melodies?"

"Um…Their Sensei?"

With a shake of his head, Recene curled his upper lip, emitting a chortle of laughter, fangs protruding from his jaws as he closed his lips once more.

"And that is why I look upon you as a child; you are so very naïve. You do not know of more than what you see. Perhaps that is of all Sage class? Of course, your reading skills are excellent, but not like those of Creators and Scholars. When you become a Scholar…soon, perhaps…you may inherit this ability to see farther. Not with enhanced eyesight…

"But with an enhanced mind." And with that, he bid the two farewell with an acknowledging nod, and left the tent to join Malik.

"What was all of that about?" asked Chayce, looking towards Raeka as Chantelle bored, dozing. "He does speak like a really smart person, though."

"Mm. Its just Recene's way of thinking. I've got a few questions for you, like why you were bound to a Peco."

She added, "And why you're in Game Master clothing, too."