Louise let out a long groan of relief as she lowered herself in the warm water of the academy's bath. The mage closed her eyes as she enjoyed the feeling of the hot water against her skin, relieving her of the day's fatigue.

Besides her, Bug and Sib both merely stood in the, comparative, neck deep water.

The two Vessels were staring at the other students in the room, all of which were staring at them back.

"Is she still bringing her Familiars here?"

"Those things creep me out."

Louise opened her eyes slowly, pink eyes glaring at the ones that said those words. Unfortunately, the ones that did already shut up and had turned away from her direction.

Some of them were still whispering to each other, though none of them were loud enough for her to hear.

The only one that was still looking at her was Tabitha, the blue haired girl was already in the bath when she had arrived and she had been staring at her from the moment she stepped in.

She softened her glare and instead looked at the water she was in. Gently she cupped her hands and took out a handful.

She had been practicing her spells, as much as she could call it 'practicing'. She was supposed to be a Void Mage, but in so far all the spells she could use were of the four elements. The only difference was that all of them were tinted black.

And while it was a nice to actually be able to summon a stream of fire when asked, even if it came with the cost of nearly knocking everyone out with the heat she generated from it, it wasn't exactly Void Magic.

Even if she didn't what Void magic actually was.

She sighed and ran the water over her face.

Bug and Sib turned to her, before facing the water.

Bug lifted his arms out of the arm and rubbed its head with its arm. Bug pulled away its arm and then looked at it.

Sib however just pulled its arm out of the water and splashed both itself, Bug, and Louise with the water.

Louise hear a giggle from across a room. The source was a brown haired student with a hand over her mouth "I don't mind them being here," she looked around smiling "I think they're cute."

"I just wish they don't play with the water so much," another one complained.

Almost on cue she heard, and felt, the water splash beside her. She pulled away as she watched the two Vessels face each other, both of them splashing each other as fast as their tiny hands could possibly allow.

Which was surprisingly fast for their little size.

"And there they go."

[Scene]

She stood in front of her throne, her head held high as she reveled in the cheer thrown her way.

Her ever faithful companion sat by her side. The dragon looked at her with a bored expression, blue hair falling over the glasses.

All around her castle she saw the small creatures run around, their pink hair and pinks eyes making them endearing to look at.

She walked down the throne room, her footsteps clacking against the glass floor. Around her salamanders breathed plumes of fire into the air, directing her away from her throne and to the world outside.

Then when she stepped out of the building, the sun shined down on her.

Immediately her gaze was drawn to the sun in the sky. It was majestic, splendid.

As bright and blinding as the sun should be.

For a moment she was transfixed, all of her attention focused on the sun.

She blinked, for a split second she closed her eyes.

And then the sun was gone. Instead the sky was aflame, the orange flames swallowing the star.

[Scene]

Kirche opened her eyes. She blinked once, then twice. She turned her head and saw that the sun was rising.

It wasn't even noon yet.

She looked away from the window and thought to herself 'Last class I remember was Fire Class, Louise nearly killed everyone in the room with the heat, so that means today is the Day of Void'

She brought her hands to her face and pressed the heels of her palm into her eyes "That means I shouldn't be awake this early."

Flame lifted their head when their Master let out a groan long enough and loud enough to rouse the salamander from their slumber.

[Scene]

Louise paused as she was about snap the reigns. She looked around confused as the sound seem to echo around her.

She looked at her Familiar that was seated in front of her "You hear that Bug?" She asked.

It tilted its head back, paused for a moment, and shook its head.

I HEAR NOTHING

She turned her head over her shoulder where Sib was holding her by the waist "What about you Sib?"

It didn't reply for a moment, but then also shook its head.

I Do Not Hear Anything

Louise pursed her lip "Hmm…" she turned her attention back to the road in front of her "Must've been my imagination." She lifted the reigns once more "Alright, make sure you two hang on tight. I don't want any of you letting go until we get to the town."

She felt them nod, and with a "Hiyah!" She snapped the reigns and she was off.

To their credit, even as the horse underneath her took off with the speed as expected of its breed, neither of them were jostled and hung on as if they were experienced riders.

Bug was shifting its weight with the horse as it pounded against the ground, while Sib was keeping a tight grip on her.

"So what kind of bed do you two want?" She asked them.

Bug tilted its head back to look her in the eye.

"I am buying one for you two," for a moment she was tempted to look behind her but she figured it was better to focus on the road "So do you want a small one? A big one? Separate beds?"

Neither of them replied, the trip passing in silence.

She looked down at Bug "Well come on, don't just stay quiet. Say what kind of bed you guys want."

WE DO NOT KNOW

Bug replied.

Vessels Don't Require Sleep

Sib added.

"Uhuh," she glanced over her shoulder with an unconvinced glare. "Look just tell me what you'd feel most relaxed with," she turned her attention back forward "That way, I can get you guys a proper place to sleep." She muttered under her breath "I might as well get rid of that haystack while I'm at it.

Both of them were quiet for a while.

Louise felt a tug on her hand, she looked down and smile "You finally think of something?"

Bug nodded.

A BENCH. I RESTED ON THEM BEFORE YOU SUMMONED ME HERE. WILL YOU BUY ME A BENCH?

"Sure, I'll get a-" The horse let out a whine as her grip on the reigns suddenly jerked to the side. The horse moved to stop, but she snapped the reigns again and it kept moving. She glared down at her Familiar "I'm not getting you a bench Bug. I said I'll get you a bed so that you can sleep more comfortably, not get you something that makes you look like a homeless bum."

Bug tilted its head forward.

"Don't look so disappointed at not getting a bench!" She scolded it. She sighed "What about you Sib, what did you used to sleep in?"

Wooden Planks. It Provided Shelter. Will You Buy That?

"No!" She exclaimed, looking more shocked "I'm not buying wooden planks for you either. The purpose is to make you feel more comfortable, not less."

Oh

"Don't you start sounding disappointed either," she growled. The young mage shook her head "Nevermind, we'll see what you guys want when we get there."

The rest of the trip happened in silence.

[Scene]

Bug looked back as they left the Stag like beast in the 'stables' as its Master called it, before it facing forward once more.

It did a remarkable job running for three hours. It wasn't as fast as one, but it would've made the Old Stag proud with its stamina. It had told it that it was getting much too old for its age.

"Make sure to hold onto my hand," Its Master told it "I don't need you two to end up wandering about and getting lost."

She offered her hand, which Bug took as per her orders. Its Sibling reached out for the other hand.

Its Master looked at her hand for a moment, before she gave a sorry look at its Sibling "Sorry Sib, but I need a free hand just in case." She smile and gestured to her other hand "Why not hold Bug's?"

Sib looked at her for a moment, before it followed her orders. Bug held out its hand, and Sib grabbed it with its own stubby hands.

"Good," she nodded her head "Hold on to each other until we get there."

She began walking. Bug and Sib followed behind her. Bug made sure to hold on to her hand, while Sib held onto Bug's.

As they entered the city, both of the Vessels looked around. Both of them had never seen so many people in one place before, at least not so many people that also weren't hostile.

Every so often one of them would walk close by, and Sib would reach for its Nail, only to let go when they simple passed by.

Bug looked around, already it was drawing out the path and layout of this city.

It was a rather small city however, most of the buildings didn't seem to reach higher than two floors. An odd thing to see sure, but maybe the City of Tears was just special with their buildings as tall as the main tower of the academy.

Around them they could see multiple signs. Each one on a different building, with different people coming in and out of it.

The building that had a big cross on its sign had people in armour exiting and entering the building. Another building had a large metal pot, not unlike the one its Master had used for spell practice a few days ago.

Then there were some of them simply selling things on the side of the road, calling out for others to buy them.

"Fresh apples, get your apples!"

"Salted meat, kept fresh for days edible for months!"

It was very noisy.

At one point they passed by a stall that was selling Lumafly Lanterns, the stall owner was wearing a heavy cloak that covered the entirety of their body, while the hood hid their features. Some of the lanterns hung on the hooks, glowing their white glow. While others were displayed on the stall.

It had few customers, all of them looking at the lanterns on sale. Whenever one would buy one, Bug could see the insect like fingers poke out of the sleeves to hand the lantern and accept the gold.

A sign hung by the edge of the roof of the stall. "Sloven's Stall" was written in its Language.

Bug stopped, as did its Sibling, to stare at the merchant. Their stop nearly pulled their Master to her feet when she couldn't pull it along.

"Argh, Bug Sib!" She stumbled and yanked her arm forward, forcing it and its Sibling to move "Don't just stop like that."

The two of them followed, watching the cloaked figure for a moment longer before simply following her along.

"Let's see, it should be around here someone" Louise said out loud, looking at the sign of the buildings.

Bug looked around once more, and then spotted a building that had what looked like a Nail on the sign. It tilted its head, a weapon shop?

[Scene]

"Wyrm, is that you?"

Allen looked up from the book he was reading. He looked around the store that he owned, with a raised eyebrow. Pulling the pipe out of his mouth the store keeper called out "Hello, Is anyone there?"

Silence returned his words. The man shrugged "Must've been my imagination."

"You wish you sorry excuse of a shop keep," The voice called out again, this time it was from the barrel of swords by the door "Like you'd be creative enough to make up something like a voice in your store."

Allen winced "Brimir damn it!" He turned a glare towards the barrel "Derf, you piece of rust metal I thought someone had broken into the store!"

The voice in the barrel cackled "Who would break into your shitty store, you sorry sack of meat?"

"You never know!" Allen snapped back. He grumbled and shoved his pipe back in his mouth, the man chewed on the end of the wooden piece "Could've been a fairy or one of those damn talking insects that's been roaming the city."

"Like you'd be important enough for a fairy to show up," the voice drawled out "And what's your beef with those insects anyway?" The voice asked "I mean it ain't like they're doing any harm."

"The hell they are," Allen growled "Suddenly these things pop up and start putting commoners out of business with their stupid machines." He took a drag from his pipe and blew it out the corner of his mouth "Now they're starting to encroach in merchant territory."

The voice was silent, before it spoke again in a quiet tone "Why not take me outside then?"

Allen paused, his eyebrows furrowing as he stared at the barrel for a good long while. He shook his head "I said I don't like 'em Derf, don't mean I'm gonna start going out to chop them to pieces." He raised an eyebrow and bit into his pipe "Even if I was, I ain't using your rusted edge to do it."

"Eh worth a shot?" The voice replied, losing the tone. "But since your already here,"

Allen raised eyebrow remained raise.

"Mind pulling me out of here so that I can get from fresh air?" The voice continued "I mean, no offense to your store Allen, but it's so dark and damp in here."

The store keeper let out a scoff "Why would you need air?" He asked "You're a sword for goodness sake!"

"A sword that's been stuffed in a barrel!" The voice replied back "You sell swords, you gotta know what happens when a sword gets mistreated like this!" A sob could be heard "I'll never be able to go out to battle."

"You ain't supposed to," Allen drawled out, eyes turning back to his book "Only the truly desperate would buy you, and if they buy you they'd probably die the moment they come into contact with someone."

"Pshh, spoilsport!" Derf grumbled "But seriously, can you at least bring me outside?"

"Why should I?" He asked absentmindedly, not even looking up from his book this time.

"Because unlike you flesh bags, I don't have lungs." Derf replied "You wanna guess how loud I can sing and how long I can do so?"

Allen blinked, he looked up "You wouldn't da-"

"Ohhh, bury my mother, pale and slight," The sword began to sing, very loudly "BURY my father with his eyes shut tight!" And very off-key. "Bury my sisters, two by two, and then when you're done, let's bury me TOOOOOO!"

"Alright alright!" The man slammed his hands against his counter, teeth gnashing against the pipe in his mouth "Stop fucking singing!" He growled out.

The sword went silent with a clink.

He shook his head and walked out of his counter "Of all the songs you had to sing, did you have to sing that one?"

He reached the barrel and grabbed the handle of one of the swords.

"What?" The grin was almost audible from how Derf asked the question "Can't handle good music?"

Allen rolled his eyes and pulled out the sword from the barrel. It was a single edge broadsword that did not stood well against the test of time. From the tip of the blade, until all the way down to the hilt of the blade it was covered in brown rust. Not a single inch of metal was spared.

"Ahhhh~" The hilt of the blade opened, letting out a long satisfied groan as soon as it was pulled free "Feels nice not to be crushed."

"Yeah?" Allen glanced at the sword's direction before walking towards the door "Don't get used to it, because I'm shoving you back in there the moment I'm done with this."

"You're so cruel Allen."

The store keeper pushed open the front door of his store, and held out the sword in front of him. A few of the people walking near his store paused to stare at him, but continued walking when he didn't do anything else.

Allen felt stupid, standing outside of his store holding out a rusty sword. To him it was basically him advertising to the world that his stock was trash, and it wasn't.

Derf on the other hand was quiet. In fact, Allen had expected the blade to start talking up a storm the moment he stepped outside. He looked at the blade in his hands, a curious look on his face as the sword was completely and utterly silent.

Then it chuckled "Well Wyrm, either you got smaller or you actually decided to pass on your legacy."

Allen raised an eyebrow "What?"

"Nothing," the sword quickly said. "Hey can you just hold me a just a bit higher?"

Allen rolled his eyes and did so.

"HEY YOU THERE WITH THE PINK HAIR!"

Only to jerk his arm back at the sudden shout.

The small crowd in front of his store paused.

The store keeper eyes darted around, hoping to find who the stupid sword was calling out to.

"YEAH YOU WITH THE CREEPY CREATURES, WANT A SWORD?!"

His eyes landed on who the sword was talking to. His eyes widened further when he saw a girl with pink hair, a cape, and even from where he was standing, a brooch with a pentagon engraved on it.

"I MAY BE RUSTY, BUT I SURE CAN CUT THROU-"

"Shut up, you stupid sword!" He hissed, his free hand clamping the part of the hilt that acted as its mouth. He didn't care he cut the edge of his hand with the blade.

He turned to give the girl Derf was screaming at an apologetic look "I'm very sorry about that." He laughed nervously "I was just," he hesitated as he tried to think of an excuse, as well keeping a tight grip on the shaking hilt "Just very excited about selling swords you see!"

The girl's neutral face slowly morphed into a disgusted scowl, without another word she walked away from him. Two child-like… whatever those were following after her.

As fast as he could Allen stepped back into his store. The door slammed behind him, and that was only thing louder than his throwing the rusty sword in his hand into the side of the barrel where he had pulled it from.

"Ouch!"

"What in the name of Brimir were you thinking Derf?!" Allen demanded. He gestured to the door "That was a Noble, do you have any idea what you could've done?!"

"Get you a customer?" Derf replied in a bored tone.

Allen narrowed his eyes "That's it," he grabbed the sword by the handle "I'm putting you in storage."

[Scene]

"I still can't believe neither of you answered my question about what bed you want."

The two Vessels walking behind her didn't reply.

Louise glared at them "I hope you two aren't still disappointed at not getting a bench, or just getting scrap wood for your bed."

Once more the two didn't speak.

Louise turned away from the Vessels trailing behind her, and kept walking forward. As she did, her eyes caught onto something she had missed.

The mage stopped in front of a stall, her eyebrows furrowing at the sight.

The hooded figure behind it waved a hand over their wares "Ba fha-" they coughed into their hands, interrupting their own words. "Forgive me," They started again "Welcome to my stall."

Louise, for the most part, ignored the greeting. She lifted her free hand and pointed at the sign at the stall "This says 'Sloven's Stall' doesn't it."

The hooded figure pulled back slightly. It turned to the sign and then nodded their head "Indeed it does." It faced her once more, the hooded head tilting to one side "I am surprised that a Noble like you, would understand my language."

Louise blinked, and the mage realised that she was able to read the scribbles and nonsensical symbols. At least enough to understand those two simple words. She turned to the hooded figure and blushed "I got some practice."

The hooded figure let out a giggle "Well I am flattered that you would do so." Once more they waved a hand above their wares "Well, since you are here. Would you like to buy something from my stall?"

The mage looked down at the spread, and the blush and smile dropped into an unsure look "I'm not interested in a Lumafly Lantern," she told the stall owner.

The hooded figure nodded their head "I suppose so." Then they leaned forward "But," they whispered "Since you are kind enough to learn my language, I might as well say that I have a secret selection." They pulled back their hand, and for a split moment Louise could see the decidedly non-human fingers pointing below the stall "A little bit of Hallownest away from Hallownest."

Almost in response, Bug suddenly released its grip on her hand and jumped. It landed on the stall, forcing the owner to reel back in shock.

The Vessel reached for its cloak, and before she could say anything, quickly drew something on the piece of paper with its quill.

She was about to scold her Familiar, only for the stall owner to let out a… sound. Their hands clapped together once more and then said something that she couldn't understand at all. They nodded their heads, and the ducked down.

A moment later they re-emerged and placed two… well the only way she could describe them were hooks.

They were white, with a bone like texture to them. The tip of the hook looked sharper than some of the swords she'd seen in her life.

Once again the hooded merchant made some kind of sound she couldn't understand. They turned to her and flinched "Oh forgive my lady," they bowed "I was simply, excited at the prospect of seeing something so close to home."

Louise turned to her Familiar, who had reached into its cloak and…

"Bug where did you get that money?!"

Soon after she was walking to the city stables. Behind her Bug and Sib were looking at the hooks that her Familiar had bought. Or at least Sib was looking at the hook, Bug still needed to hold both her and Sib's hand.

She glanced over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes "I still can't believe that you needed to buy that."

Bug looked up at her.

SHOULD I NOT HAVE?

Louise sighed "No," she shook her head "I'm not going to scold you for buying things." She turned away and looked in front of her "It's just, why do you need that anyway?"

And then Louise found herself looking at the sky, where the sun was still shining far above them.

"You need it to reach the sun?" She asked, a laugh almost escaping her throat.

YES.

Louise smile "Well I suppose I can't begrudge of that." Then a serious look came over her, "But make sure you don't get hurt," she turned her head and pointed at Bug with her free hand "And keep Sib safe as well."

Bug nodded.

VERY WELL.