The next day, after collecting the reward and eating through half of Frankenstein's food, the six kids left the mansion. Things were a lot quieter after that and almost everyone was happy about it.

"Tao, why don't you go terrorize travelers or something?" said M-21.

The Balrog had been restless and bouncing off the walls for the past hour, and Frankenstein wasn't the only one annoyed by it.

"Yes, Tao. More data on the moral development of Humanity would be helpful," suggested the landlord.

"But we found some worthwhile people already. Rai got to meet them and see that not all Humans are narrow-minded. We even got the cross back. Now we've got nothing to do!"

"Why don't the three of you go practice hand-to hand combat? We'll be fighting against the Union again soon."

Tao considered that.

"Right. Let's go, Takeo, '21!"

Takeo complied easily enough, and Tao dragged him outside. "Come on, hurry up!" he called back to M-21.

M-21 closed the book he'd been reading, and got up to follow them. He showed no sign of annoyance, save for the song he was humming: a little tune he'd picked up from the Human children.

"Watch it, Shinwoo!" yelled Suyi, as the swordsman sidestepped a fireball.

"Thanks!" he called, before moving forward to parry with one of the enemy.

The fight had been going well, if fights could ever be said to go well. Regis and Seira were participating only minimally in this one, because they were unfamiliar with using nonlethal force.

They were bounty-hunting this time, and were up against a group of five magic-users. The spells were nasty, but once you got close enough to them, they had practically no armor on.

With Ikhan and Yuna supporting them, they'd managed to back the five of them against a cliff-face and forced them to surrender.

Since they hadn't done anything up until that point, Seira and Regis were put in charge of restraining them and making sure they didn't escape while the party took them into town.

Two hours later, the six of them had a bag of gold, and some downtime before they were going to take up a new quest.

They had chosen to kill a good portion of it by seeing a local theatre troupe, as Regis and Seira hadn't seen Human theatre before. Suyi had managed to get them seats together mid-way to the front. The four of them had sat quietly though the whole thing, something Seira and Regis had been surprised by.

"You went two hours without speaking," he marveled, after it was over.

"We're not that bad!" protested Ikhan.

"Yes, you are," said Seira.

Suyi smiled. "Well, what did you think?"

"The protagonist died."

"It was sad," said Seira.

"It's supposed to be sad," said Ikhan. "But 'tragic' would probably be better word. I mean, sure, Elra died, but she sacrificed herself to save her people. If she had to die, at least it was a meaningful death."

"There's no no greater death than to lose your life for the sake of someone else," said Yuna.

"They wouldn't understand about that," said a voice from behind them. "Elves don't know what it is to die."

The six of them turned to look at the newcomer. He was an old man with a refined air about him.

The four Humans turned back to walking, and proceeded to ignore him, but the man wanted to keep talking with them.

"I'm Crombell the Gray," he said. "I understand you four are the ones who caught the highland mages."

"The six of us," corrected Yuna.

"Ah, yes. The six of you. But I do wonder whether you'll remain six for very long? Do the four of you know anything about Elven culture? Those two are only in the Human realm because they've got no other choice. Once they've served their time here, they'll go back to their forests and never set foot outside them again. Do they really deserve your protection?"

"Who are you, wizard Crombell, to question our choice of party-members?"

"I? No one much, really. I simply represent a group of Humans sworn to protect our race: the Union. Perhaps you've heard of us?"

Their eyes widened. Everyone had heard of the Union.

"The four of you would make good members of our organization," he offered. "But you're still a bit naïve about this world and Humanity's place in it. Once you find your Elven friends have abandoned you, come join us."

Ikhan was angry at this. "I don't think we will, sir," he said.

"Suit yourself." With that, Crombel turned a corner, and they were again alone.

For a few minutes none of them spoke.

Then, Regis sighed.

"He's right, you know. Seira and I are only out here because we have to be. I'm counting the days til I get to go back home."

He was expecting them to be angry or saddened by his words. And it hurt him to admit it, because he really did like the four of them... but the truth was the truth.

He didn't expect it when Suyi laughed softly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"So what if it is true?" she asked. "That doesn't mean he has the right to say it. We're the ones who have to put up with you day in and day out. We're the only ones allowed to complain about your motives."

"But I won't be around forever."

"Again, what does it matter? Just because you don't want to be here doesn't mean we aren't still friends. If you're only going to be with us for a few months more, then that's fine. We're grateful for the time we've got together. Didn't we ever tell you about Holly?"

"No."

"She was a swords-woman from Ura. She was exiled for manslaughter. Couldn't go home for a year, so she was part of our group during that time. She hated Escoria, couldn't wait to get back home, but she worked very well as part of the team, and we enjoyed her company, so that was all that mattered. It's like an unofficial rule of party-formation: be accepting of temporary members, because more likely than not, you'll be one someday. That's something Crombel doesn't seem to understand." Suyi thought about it. "Your case is even more clear-cut than Holly's was," she mused. "You haven't even done anything wrong, and you even seem to like our home."

She smiled at the two of them. "So don't worry about him; he's an idiot."

Regis looked at them, as though not quite able to believe their words. He didn't say anything, because he didn't feel able to speak.

But theirs was a party formed on mutual understanding, so he didn't really need to say anything.