Shadow decided to keep an eye on the barrier blastia while Deesh watched over the girls recovering. Estelle had been monitoring Rita's health this entire time, not giving herself a moment of sleep or rest. Yuri wanted Estelle to rest after what happened, but she wouldn't, as her concerns were on Rita's recovery.

When Rita finally awoke, she found the sleeping Estelle laying her head on her bed exhausted. "Geez…you went and pushed yourself…"

"Look who's talking…" Rita was caught off guard by Yuri's little call out as he walked out of the shadows.

Aile claimed to have been fine despite being knocked back hard enough to break part of the battlement. So she took a chair in the room to do some maintenance checks over her body. Seeing Rita awake, Aile closed the panel on her arm, "You don't have to be so hard on her. I remember being that reckless a few times. Some might say I still am…" That seemed to drudge up bad memories for her.

Deesh finally got up from sitting on the floor, "You're both lucky. If it wasn't for Estelle's strange magic, the two of you could have been worse."

"You especially," Yuri was looking to Rita. "She's been looking after you this whole time."

"Yeah, I will."

Yuri was expecting her to yell at him, "Oh? You're being awfully meek."

"Am I? Though…" she smiled as she brushed some of Estelle's hair away from her face, "I guess that's true. I wonder if it's because of her."

Estelle finally started to wake up from her nap, though she wasn't expecting to see her patient sitting up already. "Rita! You're awake! Tell me if it hurts anywhere," holding her hands out to heal her, "I'll heal you right away."

Rita smiled as she shook her head, "No, I'm fine. And you don't have to keep pretending to use your blastia."

Yuri pointing to her ornate bodi blastia on her wrist, "Yeah, that you can use healing artes without a blastia is pretty amazing."

Aile turned to her, "I am curious about the strange energy reading that significantly differs from you and everyone else who utilize blastia. A bit on the high end if my sensors are reading this correctly."

Estelle fell silent for a moment, "E-everyone…how did you…"

Deesh stood beside Yuri, "After seeing these blastia emit a glow whenever an arte is activated, it wasn't difficult to see that yours never glows."

There was a strange roaring noise that came from the balcony before it exploded. Deesh rushed over to use her back as a shield for the others as the embers fell around them. Aile quickly shifted to green armored form, "What the hell was that?!"

Yuri quickly drew his sword now as he turned toward the charred patio, "Clearly someone doesn't know how to knock before coming in."

Rita was ready to rush from her bed, "Oh, I know who it is. There's only one person who can cause this much trouble, isn't that right Dragon Freak!" The Dragon Rider was hovering there with the dragon as imposing as ever.

Aile jumped over, "I can give chase if needed, but I might have a problem if they're faster than me."

Rita hopped over too, "Forget chasing, this is the perfect chance to shoot him down!"

Estelle wouldn't allow Rita to go far, "Rita, you mustn't push yourself. For both sickness and injuries, the most dangerous time is when you think you're healed."

Estelle started to heal Rita again, much to the latter's embarrassment, "Wh… I'm not a child!"

Seeing Estelle heal Rita seemed to have changed the Dragon Rider's mood. Instead of fighting they pulled away before blows could be traded. Deesh moved to examine the charred wood. "Odd… They couldn't have known about how I can force a dragon to land. I wonder, perhaps…" glancing back to Rita and Estelle.

Rita was just hopping mad. "Damn it! Why'd he come at all?! We were in the middle of an important conversation!"

Yuri turned to Rita, "Let's leave it here for now."

"That's fine," Rita was focused on the hand Estelle was healing, "I have a general understanding of it, anyways." Rita started walking away, "B-Besides that, your soft-hearted personality…shouldn't you do something about that?" Rita could barely look back to Estelle, "I'm not saying it hasn't helped me out, but, you should think before you act, Estelle. Jumping in to save people without thinking is going to get you in trouble somed—"

"Rita!" Estelle jumped Rita, knocking her to the ground, "Just now, what you just said… Could you say it once more?"

Rita was turning redder by the second with Estelle in her face like that. "Eh… You should think before you act…?"

"No, after that!"

"E…E…E…"

"Yes?"

"Este…lle?"

Estelle hugged Rita now, "Rita! You finally called me by that name!"

"Estelle, calm down…"

While they were distracted with that, Yuri, Aile, and Deesh excused themselves from the room. Aile looked around, "Say, where's Karol?"

Yuri looked toward the entrance, "I think I have an idea where."

The three of them found Karol sitting out in the rain, and Strider was lying next to him. Repede though was smart enough that he was watching them from under the awning and out of the rain. Aile was about to go to him, that was before Yuri stopped her and he went out himself. "So…what are you doing out here? You'll catch a cold, sitting out in the rain."

"It's fine. I'm already…" Karol was shaking, but it wasn't from the cold, "Nan was right. The truth is, I can't do anything. Back in Halure, and Caer Bocram, and today, too. I couldn't do anything."

Deesh stood before Karol. "Not true. At Halure, who was it that had the knowledge about the panacea bottle? Even if it was Estelle who healed the tree, in the end, none of us had any idea on how to help the tree. I helped defend the town sure, but had another army of monsters marched onto us we would have been overrun. I can't say anything about your actions at Caer Bocram…" knowing full well he ran away before attempting to fight the monster.

Yuri smiled, "It's natural you were scared today. Even the commandant was helpless."

Aile added, "All I managed to do was add to those injured. Not really helping anyone there, huh?"

Yuri offered Karol a hand, "Don't worry about it. There are plenty of times even adults can't do anything."

Karol looked up, "Even you?"

Aile smiled too, "Yeah, even us."

Karol finally stopped shaking then took Yuri's hand. "…I get it. The world really isn't simple. By the way, Yuri…would you make a guild with me?"

"A guild, huh…" Yuri smirked, "Yeah, that's an idea. I'll think about it."

"R-really?!"

Yuri almost seemed insulted by the insinuation, "What, you're surprised?"

Karol fidgeted a little, "I thought you'd say 'No way! I've been in enough messes already!' or something."

"Not all adults think like that, you know."

Aile joked, "So I guess you don't want me, Deesh or Shadow to help with this guild of yours?"

"W-well I thought you guys would be focused more on finding a way home. And being part of a guild isn't just something someone does on a whim."

Deesh turned back to inside the inn, "He's right. We shouldn't make obligations to those we will probably never see again. Now we should rest until Estelle and Rita are able to leave again."

The next day the rain was coninuing just as it was before. Everyone had gathered in the lobby to discuss their plans. Estelle was doting on Repede as he quietly sat near the inn's entrance. When Estelle finally had her fill of petting Repede, she turned to the others, "So, what will you all be doing from here on?"

Deesh started to rub Strider's back, "I find my way home. Usually, a path will present itself soon enough. I'm hoping that killing Barbos and Zagi will be part of it."

Aile looked around. "Not much for me to work with here to figure what happened and how to return. Though I can't simply ignore that Barbos or Zagi and the strange Biometal."

Shadow was still stretching out her arms, "Well, whatever happens, this sounds like one heck of an adventure to tell later on."

"Yeah. All of this has interrupted my hunt for the Blood Alliance…" Yuri looking to a few knights.

"In that case, we should go to Dahng—" Karol tried to stop himself, quieting himself to a whisper, "—rest is not a good idea…"

Karol started muttering to himself as he tried to keep it quiet. Aile's ears weren't so easily fooled, "Karol, what's Dahngrest?"

"Ah, yeah. Dahngrest is the city of the guilds, so I was thinking we could learn all sorts of things there…"

"Okay, let's check it out." Yuri's rather positive response caught Karol by surprise, "If we're gonna make a guild together, we should take a look at some references."

That cheered Karol up significantly, "In that case, let's go!" Already though, Karol was boosting to Estelle, "I'm gonna start a guild with Yuri!"

"Really?"

Yuri arguing back, "Hey, I haven't agreed to anything yet."

Karol grabbed Estelle's hand, "Oh, I know! Estelle, why don't you come, too!"

"Well, I wonder if I could?"

"It's worrying when you say unreasonable things such as that," Estelle froze in place as Commandant Alexei and his aid arrived behind her. "It is imperative Lady Estellise return to the capital. Now then, Rita Mordio," turning to her as though the matter of Estelle's departure had already been settled, "We would like you to investigate the forest of Keiv Moc. There have been reports of plant abnormalities and large outbreaks of monsters. We're sending you to examine the area."

Rita quickly brushed even Alexei off, "My specialty is blastia, not plants."

Alexei just as quickly countered her argument, "Consider their connection to the aer. That should be within your specialty."

"Besides…" Rita glanced toward Estelle for a moment, "if Estelle is going to the capital, I'm going with her!"

That only seemed to make Alexei even more upset, "You are an Imperial researcher. You're under contract to go where we wish."

Estelle finally spoke up, "Um, then if I may, there wouldn't be any problem if I went along with the investigation of the forest is there? And if an escort is necessary, I would request Yuri, Aile, Shadow and Deesh. Please, Alexei, I want to be of some help as well!"

"But, in that case—"

The elf-like aid turned to him, "Excellency…"

Alexei nodded, "It's just as Flynn predicted."

Yuri quickly asked, "What about Flynn?"

"Flynn left you a message: Take care of Lady Estellise."

Yuri smirked as the Commandant left them, "Figures he would."

Deesh turned to Yuri, "So, I take it we're continuing as a group?"

Aile smiled, "I don't mind. This has been a very interesting group."

While they started off toward Keiv Moc, Alexei walked up to a pillar near the knight's headquarters, stopping just next to the door where a shadowed figure had been watching everything. "I have a job for you…" the figured nodded, "Keep an eye on the princess and that girl with the strange armors. They are crucial for my plans."

His subordinate simply bow, disappearing to allow Alexei to be alone in his office where another was waiting for him. The Model W was glowing intensely, You had her in your clutches and you let her go?!

"Both Ioder and Estellise pardoned them of all crimes, if I tried to challenge them now it would cause undo suspicion that I don't need right now. Not while I'm dealing with internal strife from infuriating nobles and rebellious pawns."

And how long will it take for this 'plan' of yours to get started? I've waited centuries for my revenge, and you don't have that kind of luxury of time, human.

"Don't fret. I've assigned my best agent for the job. He will succeed, don't you worry about that."

He'd better. I can easily find another who might be a better fit to use the Model W instead.

On the road again, Strider was running ahead chasing a few small animals as Aile looked back to Repede, "Sorry to drudge this back up if you guys already talked about this, but just out of curiosity, why does Repede fight with a weapon instead of his fangs and claws like Strider or your…uh…?" uncertain what the three lamprey-necked creatures Deesh had in her bag.

Estelle smiled, "That's because Repede is Repede."

Aile only seemed more confused now. Yuri patted her shoulder, "Don't worry. Just remember that Repede doesn't see himself as a dog or a human. He just happens to be on four legs."

Shadow piped in, "Makes one wonder how smart other animals might be, right?"

Deesh tried to ignore them, "Deepstalkers are wild creatures. Mine just happened to be tamed enough to follow simple pack orders." She turned toward Karol. "Map bearer, how far is Keiv Moc from Dahngrest?"

Karol pulled out his map, circling the area, "The forest of Keiv Moc is pretty far west of Dahngrest."

"It's that far?!" much to Rita's surprise on her destination.

Karol thought back to the frightening events of Heliord, "Now that I think about it, the plants in the forest look like the plants that grew because of the aer going out of control."

Rita couldn't care the slightest, "I just want to get this investigation over with…"

Shadow tried to reassure Rita, "Don't worry. That just means we get to travel together for that much longer. Isn't that what you want?"

Deesh was fixing her cloak, "And if the Hunting Blades and Blood Alliance are any indicators, I'm going to have to really remain anonymous while in this city."

Karol ran closer to Deesh, "Not all guilds are fighters. Though…there are plenty of people with weapons in the city…"

"Not helping…"

Aile was petting Strider, "I'm sure they'll back away when this big boy shows how lovable he is." Strider happily panting, wanting to scratch herself while walking and not really working out well for her.

Deesh snorted, "I'm not sure if I should feel concern, dread or fear that my life now rests in her paws."

Estelle tried being optimistic about the situation, "Don't worry Deesh, I'm sure Dahngrest isn't as bad as we're making it out to be."

Deesh quickly turning back, "So says the princess who hasn't left the castle's grounds until a few weeks ago. I know the darker sides of human nature, and it's few good points, but when they come across someone like me, they're usually ready to kill at any sign of aggression."

"B-but you aren't stopped by the barriers, so that should prove you're not a monster."

"Not the point, child. I look like some of the monster your people fight against, correct? Logic is often forgotten, and they'll assume I'm some kind of freak of nature that needs to be killed out of principle to prevent a new breed of barrier immune monsters."

Shadow laughed, "Then they'll have to go through me first. Which they'll never be able to."

After a few days of traveling the group reached Dahngrest, crossing the massive stone bridge into the city Rita seemed rather impressed by the bustling guild city, "So this is Dahngrest, huh? Looks like a pretty lively place."

Aile seemed rather happy, "It's no Cinq Ville, though I can't fully compare given the technological gap here. But it definitely shares a similar vibes."

Shadow was nodding her head, "Yeah, I get the same feeling as parts of the Last City. Though to think a barrier blastia could look like a giant flail."

Deesh shrugged, "I kind of like it, aesthetically."

Karol seemed rather proud of this city of his, "It's the second largest city, next to the Imperial Capital. And it's run entirely by the guilds…"

Yuri couldn't help blatantly comment now, "I'd thought it would be darker and danker, you know? Like a den of villains."

Karol seemed used to outsiders' prejudices, "That's just a prejudice people have about the guilds."

Deesh hissed, "No doubt the Blood Alliance and other guilds like them who hold such terrible reputes project such an image to the masses."

"Yeah. Jeez, Yuri. You make it sound like I'm a villain."

Rita pointed at Karol, "If you're a villain, what does that make him?"

Yuri shrugged, "Point taken."

Aile watched her step as the crowds continued across the open market area, "So, any suggestions on how we find Barbos?"

Karol quickly chimed in with the answer, "The best way is probably to stop by the Union and check there."

Estelle gave another textbook definition for everyone, "The Union. A guild collective run by the five so-called 'master guilds'… Right?"

"Yeah. The Union also serves as the city's government."

Rita didn't seem as confident, "But, how is this gonna work? Isn't Barbos' Blood Alliance one of the five master guilds?"

Shadow openly pondered, "So does that mean we'll be turning this whole city and the Union against us?"

"Not necessarily." Deesh looked around, "If Barbos and his Blood Alliance are not cooperating with the Union or pushing for more power, we might even get the Union's blessings to hunt down Barbos. Hell, they might even fight at our side if we're lucky."

Aile stopped Deesh, "But we won't know anything until we ask the Union."

Karol added, "And the Don."

Just from the name Aile could guess his rank, "The Don is the boss of the Union, is he?"

"Yep. Don Whitehorse, leader of Altosk, the most powerful of the five master guilds." Karol was especially proud of this little tidbit.

"All right, let's go see what the Don has to say then." Yuri glanced down, "You know the way, right Karol?"

"Hey wait, he's not the kind of person you just meet… I don't really know if…"

"Please?"

Karol couldn't deny Estelle's pleading, pointing through the crowd, "…Union headquarters is in the north part of town."

As they proceeded through the marketplace, Rita noticed Karol being rather clingy to Yuri, looking around everywhere. "So why are you acting so shifty?"

"W-what do you mean? I'm not…"

"Hmm? Well, well, if it ain't little Karol?" Karol suddenly froze up when he heard that voice.

Two brutish looking characters approached them now, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Coming back with your tail between your legs, huh?" the pirate-looking thug mockingly looked around while tooting his short sword out in the open, "By the way, I don't see Nan around."

"So, she finally dumped you, huh?" The bruiser with the heavy hammer looked to the others, "So are you the latest guild to take him in? You could do a lot better than that loser!"

"All this kid can brag about is the number of guilds he's joined! Oh, right, that's a bad thing." The two brutes then started to laugh at Karol.

Rita glanced away as she yelled, "…Karol, you've got to start associating with a better caliber of people." Much to Karol's surprise, especially after everything that he's done, or rather lack there off.

"I agree!" Estelle pointing at the two, "I doubt you are a quality acquaintance!"

"Watch your mouth…!"

As the two sides seemed almost eager for a fight, Shadow stepped in, "Alright, cool your heads everybody," purposefully knocking her robes back to flash her hand cannon strapped to her hip for the thugs to see, "If we start trouble, we will end it too."

However, Repede and Strider both started looking around before a bell started to ring. Without hesitation, the two brutes who were toying with Karol glanced to one another and left, "Hey, let's go!"

Karol looked up too, "The alarm… Monsters are coming."

"Monster?" Estelle looked down to her feet, "…Wait, is this shaking the monsters' footsteps…?"

"If so, they've brought quite an army." Despite the danger, Yuri actually sounded impressed.

"…It's been like this, lately. But, we'll be fine. The barrier blastia here is strong. The guilds take care of the monsters outside—" there was a strange noise before suddenly the barrier disappeared, "The barrier! I-is gone! T-this has never happened before how—"

"Damn it, why do things like this always happen to me, no matter where I go?"

Rita couldn't seem to understand Yuri's luck either, "You gotta be cursed."

"…Maybe."

"Yuri…"

Yuri nodded to Estelle, "Yeah. Let's go."

"Wha?! Go and do what?"

"What? Isn't it obvious?" Aile smiled to Karol as she pulled out two of her Biometals, "We're going to stop that horde!"