In the end, they hadn't gotten to their next stop on time. The bandit attack and meeting Usada Pekora had stalled them for too long, and as the sun finished its descent and there was no sign of human activity on the horizon, having to camp out was looking to be inevitable.

I'm glad Marine brought a tent. Noel thought.

She was fairly certain that they wouldn't all fit inside now that Pekora had joined their group, but at least some of the members of this duo-turned-quintet wouldn't have to sleep outside.

The fact that the rabbit hadn't given up on the idea of traveling with them despite Marine's creepy attitude had surprised Noel. Their kind was known to be capricious and change their minds at a moment's notice, so she'd expected her to leave even before they resumed their trip, but...

She glanced at the new passenger. Pekora was staring at the woods with a bored face. Even though those ears were definitely the real deal, it was still difficult to believe a bonafide moon rabbit was accompanying them.

Noel coughed.

"So, miss Pekora…"

"Pekora is fine-peko." She replied without turning to face the knight.

"Pekora, is there any particular reason you want to go to Hololive?"

The rabbit pondered for a moment.

"Not really. I don't… I can't go back to my hometown, and I've heard that this Hololive place isn't bad."

"Is your hometown where moon rabbits come from?" Noel couldn't stop herself from asking.

She looked back at her with a frown.

"It's where I come from."

The dry reply stunned the knight for a few seconds. She was curious about it, but this was clearly a topic to avoid discussing.

"So uhm… Is your scarf… alive?"

"Oh, Don-chan! Yeah, he's kind of like my pet. He's a bit rowdy at times though." The rabbit changed her expression almost instantly, smiling and caressing the strange fluffy creature who opened its mouth in a yawn in response. She'd never seen anything like it.

I wonder if all moon rabbits have one.

"Noel!" Marine called. She'd been steering the carriage ever since they'd left the bandits, both to let the knight rest and to keep the captain away from Pekora.

The knight jumped out of the halted vehicle and approached her.

"Yes?"

"It's getting dark. Where are we gonna stay?"

It wasn't an easy question. Stopping in the middle of the road would leave them exposed to any passersby, but the carriage wouldn't fit through the denser parts of the woods. Their best option would be to find a clearing, but she doubted they'd be able to locate one before it became pitch black.

"I'm not sure. I'd like to get to a meadow or something, but I don't know this forest at all."

"I don't really like the idea of wandering through the woods at random". Marine frowned. "Maybe we should just stop by the roadside?"

"Hmm. Isn't that dangerous? Even if those bandits won't come after us anymore, we don't know who else is passing through here.

"We can just take turns night watching. Plus, if Rushia can summon that creepy thing again, I think we're safe from anything short of an army."

"Ehem!" Noel fake coughed, hoping the approaching Rushia and Flare hadn't heard Marine's comment. True, she had called the necromancer's summon much worse names in her head earlier, but the last thing she wanted to do was offend the person that saved her life.

Considering how she acted toward it earlier, I don't think she sees that monster as creepy at all…

"Why did we stop?" questioned a yawning Flare.

"We're not sure where to stay for the night. Marine thinks we should keep by the road and take turns sleeping. I'd like to get a full night's rest, but…"

"I suppose we don't know the inside of the forest, huh." Flare mused. "Not straying too far from the main path is the best option, I feel."

"Umm… There should be a lake close by." Rushia timidly raised her voice.

"Really? How do you know that?" Marine asked.

"Ah… A spirit told me this morning." Her gaze was glued to the ground, almost as if she wasn't sure if she should admit it.

"Do you know where it is though?"

"I should be able to ask…"

With those words, Rushia took a step back and closed her eyes. Soon, a faint glow started to emanate from her body, and sweat beads formed on her forehead.

"Woah, are you okay? Do you need to-" Marine closed her mouth at the glares of both Noel and Flare.

It didn't take too long for a strange, round white figure to show up. Noel had never really given much thought to how a spirit would look like, but she sure didn't expect them to be so… simple. If it wasn't for its pupils, she could have confused one for the mochi dessert she sometimes ate in the capital.

"Miss Rushia!" the specter gushed. "Good evening!"

"Hello." Rushia managed to utter between pants. "Sorry to summon you so far from the city."

"No, no! Making us spirits appear this far out is difficult, right? I'm the one who's sorry. Are these the people you talked about earlier today?"

"Ah… yes…"

"Hahaha! I'll have to tell the others that Miss Rushia has finally found herself some friends!" The spirit let out a hearty laugh,

"M-more importantly!" Rushia's face reddened into a ruddy color. "You told me you knew a place to rest in the woods, right? Can you tell us where it is?"

"Oh, the lake? Let me see…" The spirit floated to and fro the dirt road.

"So uhh… Who is she talking to?" Marine whispered.

"Huh? The spirit, of course." Noel replied.

"Oh, I get it. It's one of those things that you can't see, only feel. Reminds me of my time as a nun."

"No, I can see it just fine. Flare?" Noel decided to not even entertain the idea that this woman could have ever taken a holy vocation.

"I can see it too. It's like this round, squishy thing. It's right there now." Flare pointed to the spot where the spirit was carefully inspecting a tree. However, no matter how much she squinted her eyes, Marine couldn't discern anything but the trees and shrubs that had been surrounding them for hours now.

"Are you guys pranking me?"

"Umm… I believe some people can't see the spirits." the necromancer interrupted in a nervous voice. "Teacher said you need at least some magic aptitude to perceive them."

"Huh? Why can I see it then? I can't do magic." Noel cocked her head.

"You must have some potential." Rushia smiled. "Maybe you just haven't found the type you're skilled in. I can barely do anything outside of necromancy."

"But I'm hopeless at all of them, eh?" Marine looked up. "I suppose that's fine. I'll just have to keep trusting my little girl here." the captain opened her coat to reveal a holstered gun in the inside pocket.

"That's right! Since when do you have one of those?" After everything that had happened, the knight had nearly forgotten about it. Handheld guns had been invented a few decades ago, but despite their high power compared to traditional weapons, the price, ammunition cost, and difficulty to master made it so they were popular mostly among curious nobles and eccentrics.

I suppose Marine utterly belongs in that second category.

"I always carry it with me. A woman needs to protect herself! You never know when a tall, burly, muscled man corners you in a dark street while you're alone, and tries to slip his hand into… " Marine moaned.

"Alright, I get it." sighed the knight. "I'm just glad you at least know how to use it properly."

The spirit came back and looked pensive for a few moments.

"...If memory serves me, it should be no more than ten minutes away. I'll guide you there. There's a nice glade, and the water is clear." He ultimately declared.

"Really? Yay!" cheered Rushia.

"What did they say?" Marine quizzed.

"They know the way to a clearing. It's close by, too."

"Oh? That's good news."

"It's through here. Come on, before it gets too dark for your companions." the spirit called.

In front of them stood a large, circular lake, which seemed to sparkle as it reflected moonlight. Surrounding it was wild grass that grew up to their calves, with patches of rainbow-colored wildflowers dotting the ground as droplets of paint dripped on a canvas by an inattentive artist. The girls stopped to take in the scene, and their silence was filled with the cries of a myriad of insects.

"Woah…" Noel couldn't help but let out.

She could have scarcely imagined such a beautiful site had been this close. If it wasn't for the dark forms of the trees behind them, she would have been hard-pressed to believe they were still in the same forest. It was as best of a place to stay for the night as they could ask for.

"This is so pretty! Thank you so much!" Rushia giggled and pet the round spirit.

"Well, I'm just glad you all like it. It used to be my favorite place to rest back in my traveling merchant days. I'm happy it still retains its beauty."

The spirit disappeared after being showered in thanks and goodbyes, and the five quickly got to setting up a campsite.

It wasn't long until all were gathered by a crackling fire, enjoying a simple stew cooked by Noel using the ingredients they'd bought in the morning. Night had completely fallen now, and only the celestial bodies and the wavering flames illuminated their surroundings.

"Ahh…This is nice. Only missing a good beer." Marine sprawled on the vegetation, hands held behind her head.

Noel rolled her eyes. "Have you forgotten how you were feeling earlier?"

"I might have exaggerated a bit yesterday, but come on! You have to admit a nice drink would feel great now."

"I don't think it was just a bit…" Noel rebuked, but she had to admit Marine had a point for once. There were few occasions more appropriate for drinking than a warm night spent outdoors.

She gazed at her colorful companions. In just two days, what had started as her and Flare's runaway voyage together had turned into her spearheading a five-woman party with a destination set to Hololive. If things went well, they'd be sharing a boat for months.

Flare aside, I'd like to get to know everyone better…

Staying in an enclosed space for so long was bound to cause some friction, so she wanted to make sure they were all on friendly terms with each other. She wouldn't have to worry about Marine, and Flare was surprisingly sociable for someone who'd spent her whole life in the same village, but Rushia and particularly Pekora might be a cause of concern. Rushia was very shy and reserved, but Noel was hopeful she'd open up to them over time. The moon rabbit was a different story. Noel had no idea what was on her head. She didn't seem the timid type, but she rarely spoke unless talked to, and Noel couldn't decipher her expressions. One moment she seemed listless, only to seconds later let out a sweet smile to her pet scarf.

I wonder if it is because of Marine…

She'd made her apologize to Pekora earlier, but that had been quite the unfortunate first impression.

I just hope she doesn't resent us for that… Then again, who knows what moon rabbits are thinking. What does peko even mean? Noel sighed.

"I wonder how many people are going to Hololive." It was the half-elf who interrupted the silence that had established itself ever since they had begun eating.
Her low voice made Noel doubt anyone else had heard her, but Marine immediately replied.

"I know of at least one."

"Really? A friend of yours?"

"Sort of. There was this sweet beast girl who used to play on the streets where I lived. Every day, she'd be there, plucking the strings of her harp. She was pretty good too, and popular with children, though she was constantly butting heads with the guards. I'd stop by and have a chat every once in a while."

"And I'm sure there were no ulterior motives in those conversations." Noel jeered.

"Well, she was really cute and fluffy." Marine admitted with an impish smile. "Not too long before the rumors of war started though, she told me it would be her last day there. When I asked where she was going, she mentioned she'd heard of this utopic place called Hololive and she'd be setting off in the hopes people there would appreciate her music more." she closed her eyes in reflection. "Sure enough, I never saw her again. Sometimes I wonder if she's already made it."

Oh? I was expecting more of a joke from her. I guess even Marine can be serious. Noel thought.

"I actually saw someone too." Rushia sheepishly raised her hand.

"Oh? Who?" Flare asked.

"Before I met you at the inn, I overheard two girls discussing their trip to Hololive. The street was so crowded I didn't see them too well, but one of them was wearing a maid outfit, so the other one must have been someone important. And..:" Rushia hesitated. "She also had a lot more magical power than the average person. About as much as Flare."

In truth, the stranger had had more magical prowess than Flare, but Rushia didn't want to offend the half-elf who had been so kind to her. Though her master was stronger, she had been quite surprised to spot a sorcerer of that level.

"I honestly didn't expect to even find any others who would want to go to such a distant land." Noel admitted.

"Well, rumors are a powerful thing. If half the things people say about it are true, then I understand why many would want to travel to Hololive." replied Flare.

"It seems it's also attracting a bunch of weirdos, though." Pekora snickered.

"Are we that odd?" Flare frowned.

"Oh, I don't mean you, though having a necromancer in your party is weird enough. I've just happened to see quite unusual figures passing through the kingdom's roads lately."

"What do you mean?"

I'm pretty sure you're at the peak of unusual… The thought popped up in Noel's mind.

"Beastkin, more than usual. I've seen cats, dogs, wolves and some exotic species I pekon't even know the name of. There was a tall dragon lady, too."

"Dragon?! Are you sure?" Noel exclaimed.

"Hm? Of course I'm sure. She may have been in human form, but you can't hide from these eyes."

I suppose to a moon rabbit, there's nothing too crazy about a dragon…

To say dragons were rare was an understatement. Noel's parents hadn't been born the last time one had been spotted in the kingdom, and you would have to go back centuries to find the previous reports of a dragon mingling with humans.

"It's like our village legend." Flare cheerfully chimed in.

"Oh, you mean the pink dragon one?"

"Pink dragon?" Marine asked, propping herself up.

"How come you pekon't know it? Don't you all come from the same place?"

"Me and Flare come from a village a day east of here, next to the border. We just met Rushia and Marine yesterday."

"Ehh? There's a village there?"

"That's what I asked!" said Marine. "I thought the town we met at was the easternmost point of this kingdom."

"I'm surprised you remember anything from yesterday…" Noel commented.

"It's a really small place. We rarely get visitors."

"And so? What's this pink dragon legend about?"

"The old man… the village elder used to tell me this story about how hundreds of years ago, not long after our village had first been established, it was suffering from a drought. The river was all but dried up and people had to start rationing water. Worse, it just so happened that the summer that year was particularly arid, causing even the most resilient crops to slowly die." started the half-elf.

Noel had heard this tale from Flare's mouth a couple times before, but she felt strangely proud seeing her tell it to a new audience.

"Many even went so far as to abandon their homes and flee elsewhere, and the ones who stayed were in a truly dire situation. Just when they were reaching their limit though, a dragon appeared. It was of bright pink color, unusual even amongst the kaleidoscopic creatures. At first, everyone panicked. Not only were they suffering from a terrible drought, it now appeared their houses were about to be destroyed by a raging dragon. And yet, when it made its descent and approached the village, the dragon's face was one of curiosity, not anger. The village elder at the time gathered his courage and approached the dragon, who took the form of a tall lady with horns. He didn't know what to expect; there was nothing the village could give that it-or she, rather-could not obtain by herself. So you can imagine his surprise when she offered to help them."

"Oh? There aren't many stories of dragons helping humans."

"Exactly. And as it turns out, the river had not completely dried up. As the dragon flew towards the source, she found a landslide in the forest that had caused some large rocks and dirt to block off the water flow. She easily moved the debris out of the way, restoring it to normal." Flare continued.

"The villagers were overjoyed. It would still be a harsh summer, but they'd be able to survive. The elder thanked the dragon profusely and offered to give her anything in his power." the half-elf paused for a moment. "The stories differ on what the elder ended up offering her. Some say it was an ancient artifact passed down through generations, others that it was the finest wine, and others even swear that she didn't wish for any reward. Ultimately though, the dragon left before the sun rose the next morning, and no one saw her again."

"That's a nice legend." Marine commented.

"I know right!" beamed Noel. "It's also said to be the reason why the village ended up being so sparsely populated since most of the people that fled never came back."

"Isn't it just because it's out of the way?" murmured Pekora.

"Do you think it's the same dragon you saw?" Noel asked

"I pekon't know." The rabbit shrugged. "They live long enough that it could be."

"Still, to think there might be dragons in Hololive…"

"Not just dragons-peko. Even creatures of the night, the kind that doesn't usually let itself be seen, are suddenly popping up and moving west. Princesses and humans from lands I haven't ever heard of, too. I've never seen this many odd people travelling to the same place at once."

"Well, they do say everyone is accepted there." Flare smiled.

"Hm. I sure hope that's true." Pekora stared at the fire.

She sure is mysterious…

An audible yawn came not from any of the girls, but from Don-chan, which prompted the moon rabbit to place her now empty bowl on the ground.

"I'm going to sleep-peko. Is it okay if I take the tent?"

"We should go too." Noel stood up and stretched. "How about you three stay inside? Flare and I are used to sleeping outdoors."

"I don't mind at all!" Marine immediately replied.

"Actually, I think I'll be fine outside." stated a dead-pan Pekora.

"Aww, don't be like tha- ow."

Marine massaged her head.

"You didn't need to hit me…" she pouted.

"Don't go scaring off Pekora. Or Rushia, for that matter. Are you okay with sleeping in the tent, Rushia?"

"E-eh? I don't mind…" Rushia looked as if she'd forgotten there were people around her.

"It's decided then." Noel proclaimed.

Noel rested her head on Flare's chest. It wasn't a cold night, but cuddling together would make sure they were warm enough to sleep well.

"Hololive sure seems exciting, huh." she said, extending her hand to the starry night sky.

Flare placed a kiss on the knight's scalp.

"Yeah."

"I wonder if we'll truly be able to live together there…"

A shooting star made its way through the firmament as the two fell asleep.