The sun crept over the horizon slowly the following morning, bringing gentle light to the clouded skies of the Highlands. H'aanit rose with the sun as usual, and she found herself just outside the inn. She breathed in carefully to try and steady herself for the long journey ahead. The path to Saintsbridge was bound to be arduous, but she knew that she had to press onward. It was the next step of the group's adventure, and that meant that it was the next step she could take towards rescuing Z'aanta.

H'aanit still didn't think she had recovered from seeing her mentor turned to stone in the Spectrewood. She had done her best to pull herself back down to reality, but it always seemed like something was keeping her from fully settling down in light of her recent discoveries. Talking to Ophilia and Primrose had helped her out, yes, but there was a lot that she still found herself struggling with. Ophilia had insisted that it was alright to struggle, but H'aanit was still having a hard time convincing herself of that. The idea was certainly a shift from what she was used to, and grappling with that was a unique experience, to put it simply.

Slowly but surely, the other travelers rose as well, and about two hours after the sun came up, they were ready to set out for Saintsbridge. They would be heading to Wellspring first to activate the Warp Staff so they could return there when the time came to investigate the black market auction. Plus, they would be able to check out a potential shrine location on the way there before making their way to Saintsbridge in the afternoon. H'aanit welcomed the distraction; it meant that she would be focused on the journey rather than thinking about everything that had happened to Z'aanta over the course of the last year. The last thing H'aanit wanted to muse on was Z'aanta's encounter with Redeye, so she was more than happy to focus instead on the shrines ahead.

Tressa was the one who led the typical final supply check that day, looking through everything the group had with a smile on her face and a tune on her tongue. Her excitement over the shrines had practically multiplied after she spoke with Cyrus in the Stonegard library the day before, so she was perhaps the most prepared of all of them to set out and see what was waiting for them next. H'aanit had to admit that Tressa's glee was infectious, and it was certainly a relief to see after how difficult the last day had been for her. Before H'aanit knew it, she found herself smiling as well, and she couldn't object to that in the slightest. She needed all the encouragement she could get at this point.

"Alright!" Tressa exclaimed as she tucked her supply notebook back into her bag. She adjusted the feather sticking out of her hat before gripping at the straps of her backpack. "We should be ready to go. Assuming there are no other objections, let's get on the road to Wellspring!"

H'aanit nodded, and she began to trail after the other members of the group. Linde remained at her side just like always, though H'aanit could tell that Linde didn't want to leave Hägen behind. They both knew that Hägen would be alright and that he would look after Z'aanta well, but that didn't change their wish to bring him along. Still, Hägen had made up his mind, and there was nothing they could do to change it now.

"H'aanit, wait!"

The sound of a familiar voice had H'aanit pausing, and the rest of the group stopped along with her. The huntress turned to see none other than Natalia standing behind her on the stairs not far from the town's exit. "Natalia?" H'aanit questioned softly as the woman descended the steps to stand beside the huntress.

"I'm so glad I caught ye," Natalia said with a small yet relieved smile. "Here. This is for yer journey."

She handed H'aanit a small bag, and as soon as H'aanit had it in her fingertips, she realized it was filled to the brim with leaves. H'aanit blinked a few times in pure shock before glancing up to meet Natalia's gaze. "There was no need for thee to..." H'aanit murmured, unsure of what could even be said. Something about Natalia's iron determination told H'aanit that she wouldn't be accepting the coin back no matter what the huntress tried, much to H'aanit's chagrin.

Natalia shook her head. "It's a trifle compared to what ye and Eliza are doin'," she told H'aanit firmly. "Z'aanta was a good friend to me after my husband passed away and all. Now I can't go fightin' no monsters like you two..."

H'aanit took a small step forward. "Yes, but-"

Natalia was quick to cut her off, still refusing to hear any objections. "So the least I can do is help ye on yer journey. Let me do that much at least," she whispered, voice so full of love and gratitude that H'aanit barely knew how to respond. Everything about Natalia's posture bled sympathy and care, and H'aanit couldn't help thinking that she understood why Z'aanta had been drawn to her. She truly was an incredible woman.

After another long moment of hesitation, H'aanit nodded and tucked the bag of leaves away with the rest of her supplies. "Of course," she murmured. "Thanke thee for the gift."

"And, er, one more thing..." Natalia began to say after a brief pause. "Promise me ye won't do anythin' foolish now, will ye? Even for Z'aanta's sake."

H'aanit knew the truth that hung heavily over their conversation, though she truly wished that was not the case. There was nothing either one of them could do to guarantee H'aanit would return safely. As long as a beast as dangerous as Redeye was involved, they were going to be dancing on uncertainty. The fact that Z'aanta had been turned to stone already made that much clear, and there was nothing H'aanit could say to make the truth of the matter change for the better.

However, she didn't want to be the one to say it out loud, so she simply nodded. "I will be cautious," H'aanit assured Natalia, and she wished with everything she had that it was as simple as that. Perhaps she wouldn't have found herself in a situation like this in the first place if it was really so easy. "After all, I'll be of no use to Master if I get myself killed."

Natalia nodded, her posture visibly relaxing with H'aanit's words. "Exactly," she confirmed. H'aanit's words weren't entirely full of promise, but it was seemingly more than enough to calm Natalia's fears. She waved with a small smile on her face, all of a sudden seeming much older than she had any right to. "Good luck to ye, H'aanit."

H'aanit nodded as well. "Thanke thee. I promise that I will returnen and with Master at my side," she announced, and when she said it out loud, H'aanit started to believe it despite her previous fears. It was alright that she was afraid; that wasn't going to stop her from finding a way to return Z'aanta to the light.

She knew what had to be done, and nothing was going to stop her now.

H'aanit started to walk away from there, and the rest of the travelers followed her. Natalia offered one final fleeting wave before her hand fell back to her side. She stood there at the entrance of Stonegard until the group had vanished on the horizon, and she watched for a short while afterwards as well. "I believe in ye, H'aanit," Natalia whispered simply, and with that, she turned around to retreat back to her home, heavy hope soaring in her heart.

H'aanit continued to focus on putting one foot in front of the other as the group continued in the direction of Wellspring and Saintsbridge. Tressa was at the front of the party with Cyrus not far behind her. Both of them were studying different maps, though Cyrus' was the one the group had picked up from Barham back in Noblecourt. H'aanit would have normally preferred to be a bit more active in her attempts to stay focused on the road ahead, but given how much had happened within the last twenty-four hours, she was fine with letting the others take the lead for a short while.

"Hey, H'aanit."

The familiar voice of Alfyn pulled H'aanit out of her daze, and she glanced over to him as he went on. "Hunting ain't an easy life, is it?" he questioned simply. It was clearly his attempt at trying to make conversation, not that H'aanit was particularly complaining on the matter.

She shook her head at his words. "I am still but a prentice, not a hunter true," H'aanit replied. She did what she could to help others with her work, but she was still nowhere close to being on Z'aanta's level. It was that very insecurity that had her so terrified of what was going to happen when they ran into Redeye. There was no way that Eliza would be able to fight against the beast alone if it had managed to defeat even Z'aanta. H'aanit wasn't going to stand much of a chance either, not that she was going to let it deter her. Not yet.

"Tell me, is your master a good man?" Alfyn asked. A small smile began to spread across his features. "Mine is." He fell silent for a beat, thinking about his words before awkwardness began to flourish on his face once more. No matter how emotionally intelligent he was, his skills with words were still somewhat lacking when he needed them most. "Well, he's not my 'master,' per se. Just someone I look up to more than anyone. I haven't met him in years. Still, if I knew he was in danger, even vicious fiends couldn't stop me from rushin' to his aid." Alfyn quieted before glancing up to H'aanit and meeting her gaze. He winced for a moment before shaking his head and staring down at the ground once more. "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend. I'm just sayin', I think I know how you feel, that's all. Anyway, just remember I'm here to fix up any wounds you suffer on the way so you don't have to hold anything back in your quest to save him!"

H'aanit continued to watch Alfyn for another long moment, gathering her resolve and her words. He tilted his head to the side, his frown and nerves starting to get the better of him. "Hm? What's the matter?" he asked, anxiety clear with every syllable he spoke.

"I was merely waiting for my turn to speaken," H'aanit assured him, and Alfyn immediately relaxed from pure relief. "And now that it has come, allow me to thanken thee... From the bottom of mine heart."

Alfyn smiled at that, no doubt glad that his words had struck their intended effect. He seemed to be resting easier than he had been when the group was still in Goldshore, and for that, H'aanit was relieved on his behalf. He deserved that much even if Vanessa had tried to push for the contrary. "We're all here for you no matter what happens. Even if times get rough from here on, we'll look after one another. I think we work well together..." His gaze shifted ahead to where Cyrus and Tressa were standing, and he eyed the Tundra of Tomes hanging off Cyrus' hip and the Tempest Spear where it rested with the remainder of Tressa's supplies. "And I'm not just talkin' about what the gods want us to do."

H'aanit couldn't help smiling at that, and she allowed her eyes to slip shut. Redeye's presence seemed to be the warning of a great calamity on the horizon, but H'aanit was going to do everything she could to fight it. She had no idea if it was the same tragedy that the gods had spoken of when they entrusted the travelers with their strength, but it mattered little in her mind. She knew what had to be done, and as long as Z'aanta's safety was on the line, nothing was going to be able to stop her.

Before H'aanit could stop herself, she found words tumbling from her lips once more. "Alfyn... Dost thou believen in destiny?" she asked softly. This had never been a matter of contention for her in the past, but she couldn't help her musings now. When she stood on the edge of a dangerous path, her mind wandered to anything that may comfort her in some form or another regardless of how ridiculous it seemed.

Alfyn thought about it for a moment before he shrugged. "I've always believed in the gods... And I guess I was right to do so, huh?" He shook his head a moment later to dismiss the thought. "I like to think that fate is in our own hands though. Other people don't get to say what we accomplish. We make that choice for ourselves, and... I like to think that all of us have chosen to fight together even if it's part of some destiny too. Even if fate does exist... I don't care much for it. I want to exist on my own terms, not anybody else's whims."

H'aanit nodded her agreement. In all honesty, she felt much the same way. She was comforted by the knowledge that she could accomplish anything she so desired as long as she worked towards it. She didn't want to hear that fate was set in stone, not when Z'aanta's appeared to be so overcast and tragic. H'aanit was going to do everything she could to change the truth of his petrification, and it had nothing to do with what the gods did or did not instruct of her.

"I agree," H'aanit told Alfyn. "This life is mine to liven. I wouldst not taken kindly to others attempting to controllen where I will go next. I seeke the strength to free Master from Redeye's clutches on mine own terms. This path is mine to choosen, and I have doubtless chosen the right one."

Alfyn smiled at that and nodded once again. "I'm glad you feel the same way," he murmured. His expression began to sober, and he kicked a small rock along the path before speaking once more. "I'm here because I want to be. This is my journey, and I'm going to do everything I can to help people along the way... Whether it be you, the others, or anyone outside of our group. That's what I swore to do when I decided to become an apothecary, and nothing is goin' to stop me now. I'm not gonna let that happen."

"Thou art a good man, Alfyn," H'aanit said next. "It taketh strength to healen others rather than only hurt. We could all use a bit of your knowledge in the days to come. Of that much I am certain."

Alfyn immediately flushed, red creeping into his features suddenly and mercilessly. He rubbed at the back of his neck, a nervous habit that he had possessed since long before H'aanit joined the party. "Aw, shucks..." he muttered, unable to fight off his embarrassment in full. H'aanit's eyes remained just as piercing and firm on him as ever. "Thanks for that, H'aanit. I'm glad that you're here with the rest of us too. I don't think I've ever met anyone with as much skill with a bow and arrow. This group's real lucky to have you... And not just for your fightin' strength."

H'aanit couldn't help the tender smile that spread across her face at those words. "I thanke thee," she murmured, unsure about what else could even be said in that moment. She hadn't realized just how much she needed to hear that until she finally heard it, and while those words couldn't erase the burden the last day had put on her shoulders, it was a step in the right direction. She needed all the benefits the world was willing to give her, and she was more than happy to accept Alfyn's kind words despite the tumultuous tempest her life had become.

Alfyn fell silent soon afterwards, but his smile could be felt for ages after the fact. H'aanit was beyond glad once again that she had this incredible group at her side. She had no idea what she would have done had she been alone throughout all of this, and now, she didn't need to imagine it. She would never be on her own again as long as the others had something to say about it, and she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Together, they could accomplish anything. Together, they could find a way to save Z'aanta.

As the day crawled on, the stones of the Highlands gave way to endless sands indicative of the Sunlands. Primrose would have been lying if she said that she was enthused about being back here. She hadn't known anything of the Sunlands aside from Sunshade, and while she knew it wasn't fair to take out her rage towards Helgenish on an eighth of the continent, she couldn't help wishing that the group's path didn't have to take them this way.

Still, it wasn't as if she had much of a say in the matter. Even if the group went around Wellspring to get to Saintsbridge through use of the Warp Staff, the fact remained that they would have to come back there eventually. The black market auction wasn't set to take place for a while yet, but Primrose knew that there was no way any of them would be able to escape the inevitability of their return to the Sunlands. This way, they could save some time later when the auction for the dragonstone drew closer, and they could cross off a potential shrine spot along the way.

Primrose reached for her dagger and began to twirl it over her fingers. The monsters had been growing stronger ever since the group first arrived in the Sunlands, not that she was surprised. She had known for ages that the Sunlands were dangerous, the riskiest land of any on Orsterra to try and travel through. Every region had monsters, but the Sunlands were comparatively unexplored territory. Helgenish had said multiple times that nobody under his thumb would survive if not for his kindness, and he wasn't just talking about poverty. Running away from Sunshade alone was a recipe for disaster. Either they'd be caught in an adjacent town or be left to rot as a corpse in the wilderness of the Sunlands. No matter what, he won and maintained his perpetual control over the dancers who worked under his command.

Primrose couldn't help but feel as if she was rebelling against him by returning to the Sunlands. He was dead and gone, and she was proving to his corpse that she had what it took to survive without him. However, it wasn't as perfect as she would have wanted it to be. The longer she traveled through the Sunlands, the more her mind drifted back to Yusufa, a constant looming threat she couldn't escape no matter how fast she ran.

The good thing about being on the road constantly since Yusufa's death was that Primrose didn't have to think about everything that had happened. She didn't know what she was supposed to do, and it had already been a short while since Yusufa's murder. Primrose knew that she had to push forward in the name of the friend who had suffered so much for her escape, but at the same time, the guilt that weighed over her mind was beyond suffocating.

It was her fault that Yusufa had died. Primrose had been sloppy, and Helgenish had taken advantage of that weakness to exploit her vulnerabilities until there was nothing less. He knew what would hurt her the most because that was his foremost desire. He wanted to make sure that the people under his command knew that he was the one in charge, and if they stepped out of line, he wanted them to suffer. He always waxed poetic about how much he had done for Primrose, but when push came to shove, Helgenish wanted to hurt her just as much as everyone else, if not more so.

Primrose still shook when she thought about Helgenish. She didn't want to admit that he still got under her skin even in death, but there were a thousand tiny needles that assaulted her the instant he entered her mind. First, she thought about Yusufa, the first friend she had found since her father's death, and how she had died for the sake of Primrose's escape. Second, she thought about everything she had suffered at Helgenish's hands, the constant violence that continued to live on in her mind even when the bruises faded from her body. Third, she thought about how much she had been forced to sacrifice in order to push on towards the future.

Revenge was all that Primrose had known for so long. It was her only option for a decade, and it continued to be her only choice now as well. That was the only reason she had put up with Helgenish for so long: it furthered her own purposes. But was revenge truly worth it? Vengeance had cost her Yusufa because she had gotten sloppy and let her weaknesses show long enough for Helgenish to push them both into submission. Primrose hadn't felt that burning pulse of revenge much as of late. When she did feel it, the sensation was much weaker than it had been in the past.

She knew why that was. Primrose was fully aware of why she didn't care about revenge anymore, and it had everything to do with the company she had come to keep. Imperfect as they were, the travelers had brought her out of one of the darkest parts of her life. Stepping away from Helgenish was like finally feeling the sun fall on her face once again after being hidden in the shadows for years upon years. They were the ones who showed her that freedom was possible, that freedom was something she deserved.

For a long time, Primrose had been sure she didn't understand what love was. She had lost all connections to it when her father was murdered, and it got to the point that she didn't understand the depth of Yusufa's care until it was too late. However, when she fought and spent time with the other travelers, Primrose found herself consumed by a love so deep and endless that she felt like it would give her the power to fly if she closed her eyes and believed hard enough.

But she always seemed to come back down to earth in the end. She couldn't escape her need for revenge forever the same way she couldn't escape the guilt that assaulted her mercilessly in desert sands. Primrose wished she could soar above all of these desolate dunes and arrive somewhere that would allow her fears of her past and present to be banished once and for all, but she knew better than to believe that was actually going to happen. For the time being, she had other work to do, and unfortunately, that meant pressing on through the sands near Wellspring.

Out of the corner of Primrose's eye, she saw something scuttle across the sand. Her eyes narrowed, and she concentrated her energy into a blast of dark magic that sent the small beast flying backwards. Tressa stopped walking for a moment to look over her shoulder to see what the noise had been, but Primrose didn't look up to offer an explanation, instead simply continuing to twirl her dagger over her fingers. Tressa frowned before turning back around, seemingly willing to leave the subject alone, at least for the time being.

Primrose could only hope that she and the other members of the group were able to finish their business in the area quickly so they could leave. She would rather fight one of the gods than be forced to sit alone with her own thoughts any longer than she already had been, though she supposed that was a given. Of course she didn't want to think about what was happening elsewhere in the sands. Sunshade was still so close, and Primrose couldn't seem to pull herself away from its lingering threads no matter how hard she tried.

"Here we are."

Primrose didn't know how much time had passed since she attacked the monster when she came back to reality, but she was sure that it must have been a while. The other members of the group had stopped walking, and when Primrose glanced up, she could clearly see why. Wellspring stood tall and proud in front of them, and she let out a heavy sigh. They were one step closer to being able to leave this place behind, and Primrose couldn't have asked for anything better. She was tired of being here, and it hadn't even been that long since they got the Sunlands to begin with.

Cyrus gestured for the rest of the group to follow him into the town. Primrose shuffled along from the back of the party, relieved when she realized just how little Wellspring had in common with Sunshade. Wellspring was a tired little town that existed far from the eyes of others, but it wasn't anywhere near as cryptic or criminal as Sunshade had been. Even if there was a black market auction slated to happen there within the next few months, Primrose was willing to take it over the terrible ring that she had found herself in when she arrived on Helgenish's doorstep. Anything was better than having to see something like that again.

Cyrus didn't linger for long. He pulled out the Warp Staff and examined it carefully. Primrose had no idea how he was able to check that the Warp Staff had internalized their arrival in Wellspring, but she watched him regardless. He seemed to be satisfied after a few moments, and he tucked the staff out of view again soon afterwards. "Alright. That should be all the business we need to take care of for the time being," he announced.

Therion hummed at that before looking out at the rest of the town. "I can certainly see why people behind illegal dealings would come here to sell their wares," he muttered. He didn't elaborate on it any further, though Primrose was fine with that. Any town could be as criminal as it so chose as long as it didn't cross the same line that Sunshade and Stillsnow had. If anything, it was a relief to Primrose that Wellspring's illicit activity came nowhere close to the tragedies that she had witnessed in Sunshade and Stillsnow. Perhaps seeing that Wellspring was a normal town for the most part would be her first step to erasing the damage that Sunshade had done to her psyche. She couldn't say for sure, but she was willing to go along with it.

"We can worry about that later," Olberic told Therion. "For the time being, we need to try and get to Saintsbridge by sundown. If all goes well, we should be able to travel to the nearby potential shrine location and see if it has what we're looking for. If not, then we'll simply keep going in the direction of Saintsbridge and get an inn room before beginning the next step of the Kindling tomorrow."

Ophilia and Tressa had come to stand on either side of Cyrus as he examined the map Barham had given him. "Hm... It seems as if the shrine isn't far from here. We didn't run into it given the path we were following, but the shrine should be nearby regardless," he murmured. He nodded before tucking the map away and glancing to Ophilia. "Do you believe you will be able to get us where we need to go if we can get close enough?"

Ophilia nodded. "I hope so," she replied, one hand drifting to where the Ember rested at her hip. "For now, we should try and see what we can find just in case the lanthorn doesn't take us where we need to be... Though I somehow doubt Aelfric is going to let us simply pass a shrine by."

Primrose nodded her agreement, her mind flashing back to Ophilia's past encounters with the goddess of the Sacred Flame. Primrose shook off images of Ophilia possessed by Aelfric's influence before taking another step towards the entrance of the town. "Let's get to it then," she declared. Even if she was feeling better after seeing Wellspring for herself, the lingering anxiety from her past yet remained. The best way for her to resolve it was to leave entirely, and she was most certainly willing to do that.

The other members of the group trailed after Primrose, and Cyrus took to the front of the group to lead them in the right direction. Once again, Primrose allowed her thoughts to drift away from the situation at hand, and her mind replayed images of Sunshade again and again on an endless loop. She couldn't even bring herself to respond to the cruelty of her memories though; she was too focused on the task at hand even if it certainly didn't seem like it to her or anyone else.

Primrose continued to focus on putting one foot in front of the other as the sands ahead continued to stretch endlessly. She let out a careful sigh, her mind lingering briefly on how soft Yusufa's hands had been when they touched what felt like a lifetime ago. Primrose did her best to not feel sick from the idea that she would never be able to experience that again. Not anymore.

When all of this was over, Primrose was going to visit Yusufa's grave. It was the least she could do for her first true friend.

And so we get ready for the next leg of the journey! Woohoo!

With the travel banter with Alfyn at the beginning of the chapter, we have successfully wrapped up H'aanit's chapter two. Next up is going to be Ophilia, albeit after we get through the Sealticge and Dohter fights. I'm looking forward to them, I must say, and I'm incredibly excited to mix up the routine for a while by showing off the next two gods. It's been a while since we've had something different like this, and I hope you're all just as ready for this as I am.

I really liked being able to flash over to Primrose for the latter half of the chapter too. I knew that I didn't want the group to reach the shrine yet, so I gave Primrose a bit of time to reflect, most notably on what happened to Yusufa. I figured that being back in the Sunlands would remind her of Yusufa's death, so I gave her the space she needed to work through that, at least to some degree. Poor Primrose. She really can't catch a break in this story or in the game. She deserves better.

Next time around, we'll get started with the Sealticge fight. Until then, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Feedback is appreciated as always. Have a nice day, everyone!

-Digital