Chapter 5

The world felt heavy. So heavy that Keyleth buried herself deeper into the soft confines of her pillow and tugged her blanket tighter around herself. Content, she allowed herself to drift, cocooned and warm until a thought crept through her sleepy mind.

Where am I?

Her eyes snapped open.

"Morning, Keyleth."

Keyleth's attention jerked to the voice, and she beheld Shirou sitting beside her bed, legs crossed and looking relaxed. Her sluggish brain provided her with some answers. She'd must have fallen asleep in the forest, meaning Shirou must have carried her back.

"G-Good morning, Shirou."

He stood up, stretching arms overhead. "Take a minute to wake up, I'll go have the inn keeper draw you a bath and after than we'll meet with Pike and Grog." Shirou walked out, boot clicking against the wood floor, opening and shutting he door with a creak.

Pike and Grog?

Keyleth stood in the bustling marketplace, her head tilted back as she craned her neck to meet Grog's gaze. The towering Goliath before her stared back, his broad face blank, but his fiery red eyes narrowed, making Keyleth's skin tingle with unease. He sniffed, a deep inhalation that struck Keyleth as somewhat intimate.

"You smell good," Grog said with a toothy grin, his words both unexpected and puzzling. Keyleth's gaze darted to Shirou and Pike, who stood to the side, smiling, offering no help or guidance in this bewildering encounter. Keyleth couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration toward Shirou for not intervening; he was well aware of her social discomfort. With a deep breath, she resorted to simple courtesy.

"Thank you. I, umm, like your axe."

To her surprise, and mild concern, Grog's blue cheeks turned a rosy pink. His reaction left Keyleth floundering in uncharted social waters.

"Oh, this old thing..." Grog waved, his massive hand casting a long shadow. "I've had her so long she's barely even sharp anymore."

The situation became more awkward, and Keyleth had trouble connecting with the Grog. She paused, looking at Shirou, wondering if his weapon skills could help. "Shirou is great with weapons. Maybe he can make you a new one?"

Grog reeled back as she punched him. Though Keyleth doubted Grog would notice a punch from her.

"What! I can't just replace Wynonna like that! She's been with me through thick and thin, better than any other weapon I've wielded."

Wynonna?

Sweet relief struck Keyleth when Shirou moved to stand beside Grog, though she wished he'd done so earlier. Her relief turned sour when he offered a supportive pat on Grog's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Grog," Shirou said. He smiled a reassuring smile. "Keyleth hasn't met many warriors, so she doesn't understand the bond between a man and his weapon."

Keyleth pouted, trying to convey her sense of betrayal to Shirou, but her silent message went unnoticed.

Grog nodded, clearly grateful for Shirou's empathy. "It's hard to believe how ignorant some folks can be."

"Some people," Shirou said, nodding, his lips twitching with a hint of amusement.

Keyleth, however, had her own plans for revenge simmering beneath the surface. It wouldn't be swift, but it would be unforgettable and terrible—a permanent lesson in the consequences of making fun of her.

Grog interrupted her thoughts with a hearty clap of his hands, drawing her attention.

"Right then! Before we leave, I have a question for you, Red."

Keyleth's curiosity piqued. What could he want to ask her?

"Okay?" Her response came out as a question, rather than the statement she meant it to be. "I mean, what's your question?"

Grog's grin widened mischievously. "Do you prefer to play the skin flute or do some lip syncing?"

Pike buried her face in her hands. "Grog, why?"

"Hush, Pikey," Grog held up a finger. "Little Red needs to answer."

Keyleth scratched her head, clueless about what Grog meant. Skin flute? Lip syncing? She had nothing.

"Uh, I've never been very good at music. Sorry?"

Grog wore a bewildered expression, yet Keyleth hardly noticed as her gaze remained fixed on Shirou, who averted his eyes, his shoulders quivering. Keyleth got a bad feeling, a sense of foreboding that made her legs shake.

The feeling got worse when Grog planted his hands on his hips and huffed. "We weren't talking about music, where we? I asked if you prefer those succulent meat sticks or the savory meat pies."

Shirou's shoulders shook even harder and Pike groaned.

Keyleth glowered at the suspicious duo before turning her attention back to Grog, hoping to bring this conversation to an end. "I guess I would say meat sticks when traveling, and it depends on the meat in the pie. I don't like lamb, so if they made it with beef, I'd probably choose that." Keyleth tilted her head. "Though I think anything Shirou makes would be delicious."

Shirou whirled, his back facing Keyleth, and began snorting.

"I-I'm not so sure I have the proper equipment to produce m-meat pie, Keyleth."

Keyleth felt an overwhelming certainty that a misunderstanding had occurred, a realization that was reinforced when Pike had clearly reached her limit.

"By Everlight's heaving tits, elf, he's asking if you prefer riding dick or eating pussy! just answer him so we can leave!"

A fiery blush surged across Keyleth's cheeks, igniting a vivid crimson that seemed to paint her entire face. Heat radiated from her skin, and the rush of embarrassment mingled with an undercurrent of fear, forming a potent cocktail that sent a bead of sweat trickling down her temple. Her heart raced, thudding in her chest like the relentless gallop of a wild horse, and her vision blurred at the edges as if the world were retreating into a hazy abyss. She couldn't believe it—fainting from sheer embarrassment?

A bewildered thought flitted through Keyleth's mind amidst the turmoil, her consciousness teetering on the precipice. Then, as if controlled by some invisible force, her mouth betrayed her, parting against her will, as if a colossal hand had descended from the heavens to grasp her jaw, rendering her powerless in the face of this overwhelming humiliation. "I've never been with either, but I've always found men more attractive."

Keyleth forced her mouth shut with a click, feeling dazed, like she was drunk and floating in a lake.

Grog let loose a great guffaw, slapping his leg, acting thoroughly tickled by Keyleth's answer. "Pikey! She's more innocent than you were! At least you'd humped a few faces and rode a teeny gnome weenie!"

"God damnit Grog, you need to quit telling people about my sex life!"

Keyleth wanted to die. To sink down, straight to the world's core and never leave lest she continue experiencing this embarrassment.

"Okay," Shirou said, laughter in his voice. "We've had enough fun at Keyleth and Pike's expense." He patted Grog's shoulder again and came to stand beside Keyleth. She refused to acknowledge him — the traitor — and crossed her arms, turning away, not wanting to see him laughing at her. Stupid Shirou. Stupid Grog for asking stupid questions!

Stupid questions? Maybe Keyleth could have her revenge earlier than planned. She smiled, and in her mind, it looked quite sinister.

Come on, Keyleth. She tried psyching herself up as they walked toward the city's gate. You need to show them you're not the only one who can get embarrassed.

"Hey Grog," Keyleth said, once they exited the Spire, giving Shirou no chance to run away. "Did you ask Shirou the same question you asked me?"

"Hmmm? Oh, no." Grog waved Keyleth's questions aside. "Even I can see Shirou oozes manly toughness, just like myself, so I asked him about whether he preferred breasts or arses." Grog paused, looking confused, like he was replaying something in his mind's eye. "Oi! You didn't answer my question from last night, Job Stealer! You're not escaping today. I want to know. Are you more into breasts or buttocks?"

Yes! Victory belonged to Keyleth, and she relished the idea of witnessing Shirou squirm. She watched him, eager to observe someone else suffer embarrassment for a change. Plus, now that Keyleth thought about it, she wanted to hear his answer.

Alas, Shirou's expression never wavered, no flushed cheeks or awkward shuffles. He smiled a placid smile and cocked his head, reminding Keyleth of a confused puppy. She resisted the urge to coo.

"I'm sure the girls don't want to hear about that."

Bullshit! If Shirou didn't answer and get embarrassed, Keyleth would never forgive him.

"I hate the world and everyone in it," Pike said, rubbing her temples.

If she ruins this for me, I'm setting her on fire.

"Answer the question, Job Stealer." Grog said, uprooting a sapling from his path and tossing it aside.

Keyleth faltered and stared. Who ripped a tree from the ground, roots and all without breaking stride? The amount of strength required... she shook her head — no distractions!

"... Insist on it. I prefer nice legs." Keyleth heard Shirou say, catching up with them. Legs? Keyleth had legs, long ones! She tried not to grin. Though seeing the bemused look Pike shot her, Keyleth may have failed.

Grog's fingers brushed against his chin as his eyes bore down on Shirou. He appeared deep in thought, a contemplative expression furrowing his brow. "A man of culture, I see. Bit boring, though, legs aint exactly naughty, are they? Not like a smack-able booty or succulent titties."

Shirou shook his head in disagreement. "Think about it Grog, a woman's legs are wonderful things, slim and strong, wrapped around you during heated passion..." Keyleth gaped, what was happening!? Shirou, turned his head just enough to meeting Keyleth's stunned gaze and smirked.

Rat-bastard. He's teasing me! Keyleth's revenge sunk before leaving the harbor. And Shirou seemed unwilling to let her misery end.

"... plus, have you ever lain with a flexible woman? One that can put her feet behind her head?" Grog's eyes glazed over. He nodded. "Bet she had a great ass too, with a trim waist?" Shirou again glanced at Keyleth, grin ballooning into a cruel smile.

Keyleth buried her face in her hands, her desperate plea echoing silently within her thoughts. Her unspoken concession lingered in the air, pleasing for Shirou to stop talking.

"You're one sharp mind, Job Stealer." Grog punctuating his statement with a decisive thud as his fist collided with his open palm. "But I still prefer bouncing titties."

Keyleth all but collapsed, legs like jelly, when Shirou decided it was too dark to keep traveling. She had considered herself in good condition, but compared to Shirou and Grog, it was no contest.

"Bit tired there, Keyleth?" Pike asked with an air of smugness as she clambered down from Grog's shoulder. Both men quickly left, eager to find some game for dinner, leaving Keyleth and Pike alone.

Keyleth lolled her head to look at Pike, but couldn't find the energy to glare. Pike snickered and moved to poke Keyleth with her foot. The action almost revitalized Keyleth, almost.

"Go away, Pike," Keyleth said through deep breaths.

More snickering proceeded, more teasing. "Maybe tomorrow Shirou should carry you because this is pathetic." Pike grinned lecherously and eyed Keyleth with an exaggerated leer. "Besides, I'll bet he'd enjoy holding those pretty legs all day."

Why? The question reverberated within Keyleth's mind like a relentless echo, spurred by Pike's unwelcome comment. She couldn't fathom why Pike felt the need to resurrect that particular topic. Discomfort washed over her like a tide, and in response, Keyleth flung an arm across her face, silently begging for Pike to grasp the unspoken plea and let the matter rest.

"You're pretty lucky about Shirou's preference, I mean. If he preferred big tits, you'd stand no chance."

Well, that was plain rude. With a groan, Keyleth pushed herself into a seated position, every muscle feeling sore and tired. Tomorrow would be hell. "It's not like you're any bigger," Keyleth said. Well, more mumbled, her lips rebelling against her.

"True, but I'm smaller, so they look bigger."

Was this girl talk? Keyleth decided she didn't care for it. She looked around, noting Shirou and Grog's continued absence. "Do you think it'll take Shirou and Grog long to catch something?" Pike shrugged and wrapped her arms around her legs.

"Couldn't say. Grog's a terrible hunter, too loud, but Shirou seems skilled. Guess it'll depend on how much game is in these mountains."

Keyleth's head bobbed in acknowledgment, her lips parting and then pressing shut once more. An uncomfortable silence settled like a heavy shroud, casting an awkward pall over the campsite. Keyleth wrestled with the urge to break the silence, her thoughts oscillating between a reluctance to engage in conversation and the dread of Pike resurrecting the uncomfortable morning topic.

In the end, she surrendered to the silence, choosing to remain seated in quiet contemplation. Her gaze flitted to the surrounding darkness, as if willing Shirou and Grog to return swiftly and rescue her from the disquieting hush that clung to the air.

Fortune smiled, and before long, Keyleth heard heavy footsteps and muttered oaths.

"I want a rematch," Grog said to Shirou, a stag draped over his shoulder. "That stick was out to get me."

"Maybe if you stopped stepping on them, they'd stop holding a grudge."

Grog dropped the stag onto the forest floor with a resounding thud, its massive form jolting the earth beneath it. Grog, with a mischievous glint in his eye, accompanied this sight with a playful taunt.

"Fancy yourself a comedian, do ya, Job Steeler?" He said, chuckling, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "Well, I'm here to tell you, I've shit bigger and tougher things than you."

Shirou's gaze locked onto Grog, a prolonged silence stretching between them. Keyleth's heart raced with irrational apprehension, wondering if Shirou might interpret Grog's words as an insult worthy of retaliation—perhaps even a swift strike with one of his deadly blades. Her tense breaths hung in the air as she watched, her fear escalating.

But then, something unexpected happened. Shirou's expression shifted, his eyes reflecting sympathy, even a hint of sorrow. The potential for violence dissolved like mist in the morning sun, and Keyleth released the breath she'd been holding, relief flooding her senses.

"That must have been agonizing. I'm sorry."

Wait, what? Keyleth once again floundered as Grog's lip trembled. He stared hard at the ground, shifting from foot to foot.

"My arse hasn't been the same since. Whenever I fart, it just whistles now."

Grog sounded so heartbroken, his voice trembling and figure hunched, Keyleth felt tears reflexively form.

Then she heard Pike let loose a despairing moan.

"Shirou! I told you to stop encouraging him, plus that story was just stupid!"

Grog snapped up, eyes bright with an enormous smile splitting his face. "We got Little Red though!" He pointed even as Keyleth hurried to wipe away the evidence.

"Did not!"

Shirou chuckled and knelt, a knife appearing in his hand. He began dressing the deer with quick, expert cuts.

Keyleth resisted the urge to kick him. Shirou had gotten so mean since yesterday—the world could be so cruel, and Keyleth could only endure it.

To distract herself from Grog laughing and Pike scolding, Keyleth hurried to gather some wood into a pile and whispered a spell, causing a fire to blaze, casting merry shadows.

"Grog likes you," Shirou said, quietly enough so only Keyleth could hear. She glanced at him, but Shirou didn't look up from his self-appointed task.

"Enjoys messing with me, I think."

"For some people, that's how they form bonds, and it helps that you don't rollover and give up."

Keyleth flushed, yet again reminded of this morning. "I swear, ever since I started my Aramente, I've been nothing but scared and embarrassed." Despite her words, Keyleth smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears. "I don't regret it though, well, besides the nightmares, I guess." She gazed at Shirou, resting her chin on her knees. "Is—is this what having friends is like?"

Shirou set aside a large hunk of meat and sat back on his heels. Keyleth felt her heart skip, watching the flickering firelight enhance his features. So entranced, she almost missed Shirou's words.

"Friendship," Shirou began, his voice carrying the weight of experience, "should be like a well-fitted glove, snug and effortless, with no hidden barbs or intentions to inflict harm. It doesn't require an exact match of beliefs or life stories, as long as they meet those fundamental conditions. When you stumble upon such a bond, it unfolds like a gentle zephyr on a sun-drenched summer afternoon—a soft, reassuring touch that envelops your spirit in its warmth and simplicity."

Keyleth listened and nodded before licking her lips and asking a question, hoping she already knew the answer.

"Shirou... do you consider us friends?" Keyleth felt a cold sweat break out across her back and spoke faster. "I mean, I know we haven't known each other long, but I'm really comfortable with you, you know? You're easy to talk to, saved me a bunch of times, and keep helping without asking for anything, so I'd really like to be friends with you."

She sucked in a deep breath, realizing she'd forgotten to breathe during her rant. She glanced at Shirou and saw him smiling, skin around his eyes crinkling.

"Yes, Keyleth, I consider myself very lucky to call you a friend."

Again Keyleth felt tears attempting to fall, her heart buoyed and happy. "Thank you, Shirou."

Pike suffered. A self-inflicted misery weighed her down, making even the simplest task feel momentous.

"Gods dammit, Shirou, you're a helluva cook." She patted her stomach, distended and painfully full. "I can't believe we ate an entire deer."

"We could've used another," Grog said, sitting, legs crossed, picking at his teeth with a long, jagged fingernail. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he added, "It's been forever since I've savored a meal."

Pike's stomach churned in protest. The mere thought of additional food threatening to induce nausea. She recognized the pressing need to exercise restraint during their travels with Shirou if she wanted to avoid turning into a butterball. With a resentful glare shot Keyleth's way, Pike expressed her annoyance. She couldn't help but envy the elf's insatiable appetite; Keyleth had devoured twice as much as Pike had, yet, peacefully sleeping on Shirou's shoulder, showed no signs of discomfort that now gnawed at Pike's gut. The world, Pike concluded, was indeed unjust.

"Glad you liked it," Shirou said. However, unlike herself, Grog, and Keyleth, Shirou looked alert, his eyes scanning with ceaseless zeal. He reminded Pike of a rather well-trained guard dog she'd met years back during her time in Emon. The damned thing almost bit her head off when she'd tried to liberate some ale.

As she watched him watch the world, Keyleth began fussing, her eyelids clenching and a low whimper whispering out.

Shirou's attention flickered toward her, and he carefully wrapped an arm around Keyleth's shoulders. Pike saw Keyleth calm almost immediately and fall into a deeper slumber.

"She trusts you," Grog said, not missed the interaction. Pike responded with a warm smile aimed at the hulking goliath. It was easy to underestimate him, given his imposing stature and penchant for crude humor, but beneath that exterior lay a sharp intellect, ready to analyze the world around him.

"How long have you known one another?" Pike asked, keeping her voice soft. She expected some years, but she couldn't quite rationalize it to herself. Keyleth was far too innocent to have known Shirou long, despite that, how they interacted denoted a level of trust.

"A few days. Keyleth found me bleeding and unconscious in Ash Morrow forest and bandaged me up."

Surprised but not surprised, Pike nodded. "The girl seems the type. But hard to imagine what put you out of commission, considering you took on a demon."

A quiet hum met Pike's probing words, and Shirou resumed his scanning. Trying to be strong and silent, hmm? She scratched the scar across her eye. I guess we all have things we don't enjoy talking about.

Not feeling inclined to argue or push, Pike wiggled until she lay flat, staring up at the stars. "You mind taking the first watch, Shirou? I need to digest this meal."

"No, I don't mind. Good night, Pike, Grog."

Pike hummed and breathed, feeling her chest rise and fall as the stars swirled. She felt it, Everlights call and as she shut her eyes, Pike wondered what exactly her goddess would allow her to see.

Rose's movements were a cautious shuffle, each step measured and uncertain in the thick shroud of all-encompassing darkness. Her feet found their way through the void, guided solely by the tactile sensations underfoot. Time had lost all meaning in this inky abyss, leaving her clueless about the journey's duration or the distance she'd traversed since its commencement.

One foot after the other, that was her mantra—the only semblance of order in this disorienting realm. Her progress punctuated by stumbling missteps, her body struggling to maintain balance in the oppressive obscurity. Throughout this daunting trek, she clung to the repetitive murmur of her name, "Rose," a desperate refrain to prevent it fading from memory once more.

'Rose, my beautiful flower, I am so proud,' she clung to that memory, but it felt so elusive, like light reflecting off a river, beautiful but impossible to grasp.

"Not impossible!"

Rose froze, her head spinning, ears twitching in a senseless bid to find her only friend lurking within the confining shadows.

"I thought you left me," she said, her voice scratchy and painful. "It's been so long."

"No, never left, always here watching and listening and waiting. You must move faster. We're so close, almost there, the outside. I can feel yawning skies and delicious power. Morsels to feed us, to sustain us, to help us become more than shadows in the dark. Can you feel them? Souls waiting to be plucked, harvested, and consumed?"

"I feel cold."

Rose felt a weight settle across her shoulders, rough as the stone beneath her feet, causing her knees to shake. However, after a moment, warmth flowed, and for a moment, Rose basked, until it faded.

"Cold means nothing, not to those with power, but ours is weak, so the cold will always return."

The voice spoke true, and Rose shivered, now colder than ever, the little taste doing nothing but making her more sensitive.

"P-please bring it back!"

"'Grow stronger and take it! Take our power back from those who dread us, fear us, and discard us! Show them we deserve the warmth of existence! Run, Rose, run towards power, warmth, life!"

Galvanized, Rose moved, stiff limbs creaking as she propelled herself faster until she began sprinting. The darkness never left, and blind she slammed into rocky spires and tripped on the uneven floor. Every time, Rose picked herself up, pain but a distant memory compared to the frigid cold.

"That's right, Rose! Run, keep going! I won't let you go astray. Trust me... always trust me."

Rose ran and ran, time blurring, the darkness unending, but after forever, she felt something other than stone.

Between one step and the next, Rose felt something soft and fibrous between her feet. Grass? Yes, grass, she'd all but forgotten the word, which meant...

Rose's eyes strained against the pervasive darkness, her pupils dilating as she desperately sought even the faintest glimpse of the hidden world. Yet, the oppressive weight of the darkness clung tenaciously to her surroundings, concealing everything from her yearning gaze. With each fruitless attempt, a sense of desperation welled up within her, an overwhelming emotion that threatened to engulf her in its suffocating embrace.

She inhaled deeply once more, allowing the earthy scent of damp soil to infiltrate her senses, while the crisp, invigorating tang of fresh air caressed her nostrils. A dormant yearning deep within her soul stirred these long-denied sensations, and she fervently desired not only to feel but also to behold the world hidden from her for so long..

"Why can't I see? I'm outside, I can feel the wind against my face, but why can't I see?" She spun in place, straining her eyes, despairing when nothing changed. "Please, I want to see," Rose said, choking on a sob.

"Of course you do," The voice said, sounding like velvet, and Rose felt warm breath caress her ear. "But the world rejects us, hides itself from us, denies our existence. Let us help you."

Rose felt... something crawling under her skin, wriggling like worms. The feeling started at her feet and quickly dimmed before settling under her eyes.

"Look... can you see them, so far away, like little stars, twinkling in the vast sky?"

No, Rose's vision remained empty, a barren void in the inky darkness that enveloped her. It was only when she blinked, her eyelids fluttering in the oppressive obscurity, that the voice's words came to fruition. And there they were, countless pinpricks of light, each one a distant, twinkling star.

A hushed gasp escaped Rose's lips as she beheld the ethereal sight, her eyes wide with stupefaction. After an eternity shrouded in the unforgiving dark, the sheer beauty of those distant lights threatened to overwhelm her, their radiance almost enough to bring her trembling to her knees.

"Yes... I see them. Are they stars?"

"No, they're not just stars; they're souls—each one a universe of untapped potential. Can you sense it? The profound energy they possess?"

Now that the voice asked, yes, Rose could feel them, like the gentlest caress against her skin.

"Go, Rose, pursue them, and soon we shall both get what we want."

Back to back uploads! Damn, I impress myself.

On a more serious note, first, thank you's to everyone who left a review answering what Crossover you'd most like to see. I will note, I'm not giving up this story, or any of my others. I get board sometimes and need to get the creative juices flowing, so having a list is helpful.

Second, I know this chapter is basically filler, the story didn't really advance much and I spend more time on middle school humor, but in my defense, it fit Grog's character, so I indulged.

Lastly, I'm please to say I've written the first draft of an original novella, something I'm proud to say I've done. With any luck I'll have an entertaining, well edited, doc by the new year ready for public consumption. I hope I can rely on a few people here to snag a free copy and leave an honest review when it drops.

As always thanks for reading and please let me know you're thoughts!