At the crack of dawn, Alfyn went to see his mother's grave one last time before he was to leave. The bluish sky contrasted beautifully with the green of the surrounding nature awakening to morning's light.

"Hey, ma," He smiles fondly as he places a small bloom on the ground before the tombstone, "I'm leaving Clearbrook today, and going out to the big wide world. Hehe, I can hardly wait...! I have my new friends, Therion and Prim to thank for helping me save Nina. Oh, and Sadi. He's so funny, and the things he says...! I think you woulda liked 'em, ma."

There is only a slight breeze in response. It tugs slightly at the tails of his green vest.

"Alf!"

The dirty blonde turns around to see a smiling Zeph trot up to him. He seems loads better now, like a great weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

"Heya, Zeph!" Alfyn grins, "Good t' see yer well again!"

"Well, it's all thanks to you."

"Aw shucks," Alfyn rubs the back of his neck, "Is Nina up an' about?"

"She's bored at home," Zeph chuckles, "But she and Lily are doing swell now. I still can't thank you enough Alf..."

"Hey, a job well done is its own reward! Didn't I say?" Alfyn chuckles along, "You guys are family."

"Heh... haa..." Zeph puts his hands on his hips and looks up towards the sky, "So, you're setting out then?"

"... Yeah. I'm gonna go and help cure people across the realm. Don't get me wrong, I love all of you guys here. You, Gretas, Figgs-"

"Alfyn, I get it," Zeph cuts his rambling short with a knowing smile, "You'd do a lot more good out in the world. I just know it."

Alfyn is momentarily stunned. Slightly flushed, he grins at his best friend and rubs the back of his neck, "Shucks... thanks, Zeph..."

"Don't think you'll get away without everyone hounding you about leaving though."

"Hehe, I would figure! Ol' Goren's gonna be pretty mad I broke that old ax he gave me..." Alfyn glances to the side, towards a new tombstone that was recently erected.

"...Fred's calmed down now, y' know?" Zeph traces his gaze and rests his eyes on the new grave as well, "That fighting musta done him some good."

"Yeah..." Alfyn murmurs quietly, chewing on a blade of grass tucked between his teeth, "I just wanna be sure I'm strong enough that … no one else ends up like she did."

"You'll be fine, Alf," Zeph looks back to the other's face, suddenly a bit sheepish as he draws a breath, "Listen I... I know everyone thinks that just because I was the old apothecary's son and I was born the month of Dohter that I'm the brains behind the whole operation here..."

Alfyn tilts his head a bit as he looks to Zeph to finish.

"But the truth is... you're the real apothecary, Alf. All I can do is watch your back with our expenses and all," Zeph laughs, slightly blushing, "You're amazing at what you do Alf. Don't ever doubt that."

Alfyn stares a bit at Zeph's words. Without warning, Zeph feels enveloped as Alfyn wraps his arms around him in a tight embrace in response. Zeph's eyes grow wide at first. Then he settles into the hug and returns it, burying his nose in Alfyn's scent.

"... You need to use more soap when you wash your clothes, Alf..."

"Heheh, thanks Zeph," Alfyn maintains the hug for a bit longer before letting the other go, but keeping his hands on his shoulders so they both face each other. Both their eyes are a little red-rimmed, "I'll be back! And I'll be an even better apothecary by then!"

"Don't think I'm gonna slack either...!" Zeph wipes his nose indignantly, "I'll be watching over Clearbrook until you come back... and I'll be better by then too!"

They both break into smiles. Zeph surprises Alfyn by taking off his satchel and handing it to Alfyn.

"Eh? Zeph..."

"You remember what my dad said right? Dohter made it the symbol of apothecaries to carry these satchels around. We were both like darn fools, smiling all week after we got these..." Zeph smiles fondly at the memory, "I want you to take mine, Alf. Take it with you. It'll be like I'm always beside ya then."

Alfyn felt the immense weight this action held. Hells, this was made by Zeph's old man. It was his own back in his younger days. He grasps the old leather and stares at it, unblinking, with a somber air.

"Zeph..." Without thinking, he unslings his own satchel and hands it to the other, "Then take mine!"

"Huh?"

"What, you wanna be an apothecary with no satchel?" Alfyn grins, "Plus, this way a bit of me stays here with you guys!"

Zeph takes the satchel in a similar manner as Alfyn did his. Clutching it to his chest slowly, he looks up at Alfyn with a soft grin. "Thanks, Alf."

"Hehe, plus, I bet mine has all the best pickings since I spend all that time out gathering..."

"Oh, showing some pride now, Alfyn?" Zeph playfully punches his shoulder. Alfyn returns that by giving him a few noogies. They play around for a few amid the graves. Meryl strides up to them with her hands on her hips, which is when they finally think to stop.

"My goodness, the two of you are like children!" She huffs. In her hand is a small bucket of rags for her daily chore of cleaning the graves.

"Hehe, last day in Clearbrook, Mer..." Alfyn sits up from the dirt where they were play-wrestling, "I'm gonna miss you guys."

"Well..." Meryl's features soften slightly, "I always knew futures lay outside this backwater village..."

"Ouch, I didn't mean it like that, Meryl! Sheesh!"

"I'm happy for you Alf!" Meryl sighs exasperatedly, "You're traveling with those strangers from last night, aren't you?"

"They're my friends," Alfyn rubs the back of his neck, "If it wasn't for them, I mighta never gotten the courage to step out."

"Well I hope they know how lucky they are, having one of our best apothecaries go off to join them..." Meryl adds the next bit cheekily, "Even if he may wear a hole in their purses."

Zeph laughs as Alfyn stutters for a response.

"Be safe, Alf."

"Shucks, don't hafta tell me twice!"

…

Alfyn spent all of the following morning saying his goodbyes to everyone in Clearbrook. First was the watering hole where Ulinor was starting a new day.

"You'll be back soon, you'll see!" The widow waggled a finger in his face, "The world's just not safe these days!"

"Well, I'm still young, Ulinor..." Alfyn chuckles nervously.

"Hrmph! And in such a hurry to run into danger!"

Next, he went to the bar, where he had spent more than a couple of lonely nights at. Magg had gone to restock after the huge party last night, but Figgs was present.

"I guess we got one less fisher 'round here," Figgs gives a defeated smile.

"Hehe, Gretas was always sure I kept the biggest for myself anyway..."

"Yeah, he's a real sourpuss. Betcha he'll be complainin' about you leavin' tomorrow!"

At the lumber house, Alfyn thinks back to when he had first even picked up the weapon. Yes, he had spent many a day chopping wood alongside the other men before he was allowed to go off on monster-ridden trips to the surrounding wilderness.

"Hmph! Well of course you wanna leave, dontcha? Got those silly city people tellin' you all sortsa wacky things," Gretas grumbles with his armful of lumber, "Go on then, git! Forget alll about us here that watched ya from when y' were a babe!"

Goren blows an exasperated puff of air up to ruffle his bangs, "We'll be missin' ya, Alf. An' ya better get some replacement fer that axe ya broke!"

"Ehehe, I'll pay ya back when I return-"

"Not fer me, ya twit! It's a dangerous place out there!" Goren folds his arms and looks down at the young man, "And ya need yer weapons t' face all them monsters these days, gods know."

"Hmf, ye'll get snapped up like a twig anyways," Gretas mutters loud enough to be heard, "Yer always too busy takin' care o' everyone else under the sun thatcha don't even-"

Goren laughs boisterously, "He means good luck and be careful."

Alfyn grins, "Gotcha."

As he passes the bridge, he espies Magg setting up the nets with the mayor and his wife nearby on the riverbank pier.

"Heya, Magg!" Alfyn runs over, "Early bird gets the fish?"

"You bet! Though these be mighty shrimpy catches," Magg snorts at the poor pickings.

"Heya, Henry, Ysabel," Alfyn looks to the mayoral couple.

"Alfyn, good to see you, my boy," Ysabel pinches his cheek like a grandmother might, "Morning run?"

"Naw, I'm just saying goodbye."

"Whatever for?"

"I'm gonna be leavin' Clearbrook for a while. Not forever, though," Alfyn takes a slight breath, "I'll be back a better apothecary after I've helped more people."

"... Tis a fine dream, Alfyn," Mayor Henry nods, "Try not to get eaten by the wild beasts eh?"

"Good luck to the beasts who try!" Magg laughs, "Ol' Alf here has the strength of an aurochs!"

Alfyn then makes his way to Elnora's. Nina and Lily are still asleep, the former having stayed the night. He gives the both of them a hug in their sleep before whispering his good-byes to Elnora, and making his way to Fredger's.

The man's house was empty when he knocked. No one answered. The windows showed no light. Alfyn pauses outside his door and puts a pensive finger to his chin. Where could he be?

"Alf? You're still here?"

He turns to see Meryl. She's already done with her grave duty.

"Well I wasn't about to leave without sayin' goodbye t' everyone!" Alfyn points at the door, "Y' know where Fred is?"

"Fredger? Oh, I saw him coming up the hill by the time I was done…"

"Alright, thanks, Mer!" Alfyn throws her a smile before running off back to the grave hill. She sighs and shakes her head slowly as she goes to return home. Something comes down by the river that catches her eye, glinting off the morning light.

Meanwhile Alfyn trots along back full circle to the graves. Zeph has already gone to do his rounds by now. He finds Fredger standing there at the new grave. In his hand is the silver halberd, now reduced to just the metal top part. The wooden end had snapped amid the fighting. He does not turn at the sound of Alfyn approaching.

"… Hey, Fred."

"Oh, Alfyn," The older man turns with a tired face to the apothecary, "Did you need something…?"

"Naw, jus' sayin' goodbye t' everyone in the village," Alfyn spreads his hands to his sides, "I'm leavin' today."

"Really? Where to? You've nary stepped foot off the Riverlands…"

"I know! And soon I'll be in the Sunlands! I can hardly wait! Hehe…" Alfyn rubs the back of his neck as his eyes rest once more on the new headstone, "… So, how're you holdin' up, Fred?"

Fredger manages a sad smile as he also looks to the name etched on the face, "… I miss her, Alfyn. Terribly."

"… Yeah. We all do. She was probably the bravest one o' the village girls here…" Alfyn lifts his eyes to peer at Fredger, "…You think you'll manage?"

"…Oh I'll manage Alf," Fred chuckles, "I always manage to. Somehow. I'm not sure if it's some cosmic joke but… I've always managed."

Alfyn remains quiet for a little. Fred never married, but he had a sweetheart. She died before he could propose to her, from the pestilence. Malleus lost his wife in the same way, leaving him with Fiona. Since he was on the village watch, Fred ended up caring for Fiona a lot. When Malleus died, Fred grieved in the same way as when he'd lost his lover. And now for him to lose Fiona too…

"You helped me after all. It was your presence and words."

Wordless, Alfyn goes up to stand before the stone, next to Fredger.

"…Ah, I never quite thanked those friends of yours, Alf," Fredger draws a slight sigh, "They were instrumental in this, weren't they…"

"Don't discount yourself, Fred!" Alfyn gives him a rough smack on the back with an encouraging grin, "Magg said you were a total beast in the caves!"

Fredger chuckles at the compliment, lowering his eyes, "I was just so angry. In the same day… to lose Fiona and for Zeph to lose Nina as well? I couldn't fathom it… I couldn't have that happening … my hands were shaking with rage then …"

A soft breeze blows by, lightly teasing both their ponytails.

"… And now, I feel nothing," Fredger looks to his hands, one with the silver weapon, "I have murdered those monsters and their nest. But Fiona will never return."

Alfyn reaches an arm up his back and heartily pats his shoulder, giving a firm shake. He grins and looks to the tombstone, "Heya, Fiona. Jus' came to say goodbye here."

"Y' know we miss ya. An' Fred here's all broken up about it. So much, that I'm 'fraid he can't take care o' himself no more!" He continues the casual conversation to the grave, "So, I say he should smile a bit more, right? Else, how're you gonna pass peacefully? Hehe… Watch over 'im fer me until I get back, 'kay Fiona?"

He looks to Fredger with a smile. The older man's eyes are slightly wide and watery. He seems to sniffle a bit as he struggles to gather his words. Another breeze blows by, carrying with it some leaves and stray blades of grass. One leaf sticks to Fredger's head before fluttering onward. His eyes gaze at the leaf as it flutters away.

"Alf…" He murmurs breathlessly.

"Hehe, I think you'll be fine, Fred."

"Heya, Fred!" Ulinor and the local upstart Tommy come up, "There ya are! Oh, an' Alf!"

"Huh? Oh, what's up, guys?" Alfyn and Fred turn to meet them.

"Well, nothing for your ears, since yer leavin'!" Tommy turns his nose upward at Alfyn, "Me mum's jus' thinkin' o' invitin' Freddy here t' dinner!"

"I wanted to see if you were keeping up your house right, but the door was closed," Ulinor says sternly to Fredger, "Alephan knows, you aren't the best of housekeepers."

"Uh… T-Thank you…" Fredger is quite tongue tied at this point.

Alfyn grins. The village would care for him. They always did for one of their own. His job was done. As he made himself scarce and turned to go, Fredger stops him and thrusts the silver halberd head in his hands.

"E-eh?"

"Take it. Your own ax broke right? I'll reckon this'll serve just as well," Fredger smiles and now pats Alfyn on the shoulder, "Take care."

"…Shucks…" Alfyn can feel a lump in his throat build already. He grips the weapon shaft, feeling it to indeed be very similar to an ax. And then he just hugs Fredger.

"And I suppose I should be keeping watch over your house as well whilst you're gone, Alfyn!" Ulinor sighs and shakes her head, "Gods, I should have become an official housekeeper..."

They share a laugh. Another breeze blows and rustles the grasses with a gentle noise.

…

Therion munches on the apple that someone actually gave him this time. It tasted the same. He leans back on the wooden fence looking out to the field where rabbits were coming out of their warrens as it neared midday. His hand flutters a bit under his poncho to feel for the handle of that dagger Primrose had given him last night. This morning had been rather leisurely for him. While Alfyn was out running like a mad man saying his goodbyes, Therion just went to the local blacksmith. Indeed, he learned, Primrose had gone to see him while the thief was still recuperating. She'd managed to provide materials from an existing dagger to make this one, thereby reducing the cost.

Ridiculous. This entire village should be the ones paying them after that fiasco.

He picks out the stem before popping the core into his mouth. As he munched, Primrose saunters up from the town square. Sadiq follows behind her, saluting like a scout as they approach.

"Almost time to go," Prim lightly curls a lock of hair around her finger, "We should be able to reach the Sunlands much faster this time around. And easier."

"The idiot's been running around like a chicken without its head," Therion scoffs slightly, "It'll be a miracle if we even get to leave before dinnertime."

"That's just the kind of person he is," Prim shrugs with a helpless smile. She was pretty much broke now, having spent all her leaves on the dagger, and then food and water, which Sadiq is carrying for her.

"It's funny," She chuckles, twirling the lock of hair, "Who would have thought you would be so on board to travel together? Especially after you were so adamant that our destinations are different."

"Different destinations, same general direction. Happy?" He grunts somewhat irritably. She merely laughs.

"Hey guys!"

They both turn to see Alfyn running up to them with armfuls of parcels. A silver ax is strapped on his side alongside his dangling satchel. He pauses to catch his breath when he finally approaches.

"… What, did you sell your house and buy all this stuff?" Therion looks at the stuff with an appraising eye. A lot of it was rations. There's a woven blanket, a scarf, spare waterskins… "That's a lotta crap to carry."

"Nonsense, Therion," Primrose smiles, "These are gifts, aren't they?"

"Hehe, yeah, from all the folks wishin' me off," Alfyn grins, "We're well prepared now!"

"Let Sadiq help you with some of that… Sadiq?"

"Oh, thanks a bunch, Sadi," Alfyn chuckles as the old man takes some of the burdens off his hands, "So, we ready t' go?"

"We were waiting for you," Therion sighs and gets off the fence post, readjusting his scarf. He starts down the road out of town.

"Hehe, whoops!" The apothecary scratches his head sheepishly. Therion rolls his eyes.

"Shall we then?" Primrose follows after the thief.

"Yeah!"

They walk down the road out of town. As they near the limit, they pass the overturned wheelbarrow where they had first entered. It was where Prim had found Fiona that night. Alfyn pauses to place down something by the roadside. It's a waterbloom whose petals have frozen to make a beautiful flower of ice.

He straightens and takes one more glance back at the town where he was born and raised, seeing the rooftops where he'd pulled many a stupid prank as a bratty kid. The town where Melody's stubborn grandfather would still be smoking his pipe, and Zeph would have to take care of his cough; where Ulinor would always be telling her exaggerated tales, and Gertas always finding something to grumble about; where Meryl would probably weave flower crowns with the youngsters when she wasn't doing chores… The town where the hill with the graves rises before the caves in the distance. Up on that hill, on the tombstone… beside his mother's name…

"Hey, Alfyn! Don't get left behind!" Primrose calls to him from down the road.

"Oh, coming!"

He runs down the road to join the others and does not look back again.

…

Therion was already feeling a bit of regret at their decision to take this apothecary along. He talked a lot. He also loved to stop along the road to examine some plant or other that could have medicinal properties. Luckily, there seemed to be less frogs around this time around as they walked, so there weren't as many creatures trying to catch them unawares.

"Whew, those river wasps were somethin' weren't they?" Alfyn wipes some sweat from his brow.

They had just run into a small swarm of the bugs, supersized by the pristine breeding environment and abundance of food. They shared a similar weakness for heavier weapons like the assassin bug, but they could freaking fly. Therion is slowly rethinking his original idea about the assassin bugs being a bigger pain.

"Ah, Twin Falls!" Alfyn points at a mountain formation deeper near the woods. A raised platform of rocks leads off the trodden path and past some trees to where the cave entrance should be.

"Hm, have you been there, Alfyn?" Primrose tosses a rather uncaring glance there.

"Naw, but we heard a lot about nasty stuff happenin' there t' travelin' folks."

Therion grunts. They were nearing the bridge where the giant salamander was. He hoped it remained asleep like it had been a few days ago.

"H-Help…!" A voice calls out from the direction of the Falls.

Therion almost wanted to kick himself when Alfyn immediately goes running in the direction of the cry. Primrose follows him, and Sadiq with her. The thief finds his own feet moving to run after the apothecary.

"This could be a trap…!" He growls.

"Someone needs help!" Alfyn says in response. What a saint.

They luckily needed not go far from the path. Leaning against a tree is a young man with light blonde hair in a ponytail, dressed in a dark blue cape. He is pale and sweating, panting harshly. At the sound of their approach, he looks up blearily at them. Behind him, Primrose sees a cave opening. In the air is perhaps what may be a trick of the light, appearing to be silvery dust floating about.

"Ugh…"

"Hang on, we gotchu…" Alfyn quickly throws the strangers arm over his own shoulder as he lets him lean onto his side, "You wounded?"

"N-no, my legs just… suddenly wouldn't move…"

"Alright, let's get you by the river to take a look," Alfyn looks to Therion, "Can you take his other side?"

Therion opens his mouth to object. Then he acquiesces and takes the stranger's other arm. His dexterous hands graze over the clothes under the cloak. This guy's a pauper, nothing worth stealing. Therion sighs inwardly.

"Thank you…"

"No problem. What's your name?"

"I'm Kit…"

"Neat! I'm Alfyn!"

As they make their way out of the side path, Primrose tosses one final gaze at the cave opening and the silvery stuff hovering in the air near it. If she listens closely, there is the sound of what might be the beating of wings inside. Her eyes turn reddish slightly and pierces the darkness. A pair of large, magenta compound eyes like that on a bug stare back at her. She turns and goes to follow the others quickly.

Back at the riverside, Alfyn and Therion lay Kit in the grass. His body is now completely limp and he seems to be having trouble keeping his eyes open. His breathing is also rather slow. Alfyn looks over him with an expert eye. Therion, Primrose and Sadiq stand by.

"… Aha…" He traces a finger along Kit's clothes, inspecting residues, "Powder… numbing, most likely. Yer lucky y' didn't inhale more of it. This stuff really paralyzes the central nervous system…! From the color … I'd say it was like the monarch's?"

The apothecary takes out a dusty tome from inside his messy satchel. Therion glimpses a mess of vials and herbs inside. The book Alfyn opens has "Zeph" scribbled on the inner cover.

"…Yep, monarch numbness scales… You'll be fine, Kit. We'll just need to give you a bath and wash all this stuff off your clothes…" Alfyn says reassuringly, "I guess that's what's in the cave. A monarch."

"Unh… Ok… I shouldn't have… gone in the cave I guess…"

"Hehe, well, hindsight's the best vision, eh? Alright, let's get you cleaned up…"

The party spends the few minutes or so undressing Kit's outer layers and washing them in the stream. Primrose notes silently that some fish floated up when they finally got all that dust off the cloak. As for Kit himself, Alfyn splashed his face with icy water, which seemed to shock him awake well enough for the rest of the cleaning.

"Hehe, there we go! Y' should be regainin' some feelin' in your body now."

Kit sits up and smiles sheepishly, "Thank you so much for your help… I don't know if I would've survived a night paralyzed like that."

"Here," Alfyn gives him something that looks like a chunk of ice with something green inside.

"What is it?" Kit takes it and looks at it apprehensively.

"It's a healing grape leaf I put on ice! Ya can suck on it a bit and it should help with aches and pains."

"…Thank you Alfyn…" Kit looks to the others, "And you all as well. Thank you for your help."

"Are you traveling alone, Kit?" Primrose looks the young man over. He was probably a bit too young, honestly, "It's not that safe going alone these days."

"Yeah, you want to come with us?" Alfyn grins.

Therion could have done a cartwheel hearing Kit refuse.

"I shan't take your time any longer, but I have a ways yet to go, and for now it seems I must go alone," Kit sighs, "But perhaps we may meet another time in this Realm."

"Oh. Well alright, Kit," Alfyn smiles anyway, "You take care of yourself alright?"

Kit nods. He picks up his wet cloak and waves as he proceeds to go down the road, in the direction the party had come from. Alfyn waves and scratches his head. Therion gives him a good conk on the back of it, much to his surprise.

"Therion!" Primrose chides.

"Ow! W-What was that for, Therion?" Alfyn whines.

"Don't just go running off like that, idiot!" Therion growls irritably, "What if that was a trap?!"

"Well I can't just ignore a call for help! That defeats the purpose o' me comin' out to the world!"

"Great, just try to think a bit next time before we land in a nest of bandits," Therion rolls his eyes, "And don't just go around asking if people want to come along. We aren't baby-sitters."

Alfyn pouts. Primrose puts a gentle hand on his shoulder as she playfully swats at Therion's bangs with her other hand. He gives her a stink-eye in response, which she brushes off with a clear laugh.

"Come on you two, this wasn't the worst outcome. We helped someone and we aren't far from the Sunlands at all. If we reach there by night, we'll have to push on ahead. Night is when its most bearable in the sands after all."

They resume walking. The pout on Alfyn clears up rather fast when Primrose asks him about the grape leaf he had given Kit.

"Well, it's from the same plant I got essence for the oats for, y' know? 'Fore we left, I made sure to get the whole thing pulled up, as well as all my medicines, cuz ya never know what ailments are on the road!"

"Uh huh… I noticed that book you had in there wasn't yours," Therion mentions offhandedly.

"Ah, yeah, Zeph an' I swapped satchels so we'd always have a piece of each other's company on the road, hehe…" Alfyn rubs the back of his head and smiles fondly, "'Course I'm well prepared! We both have a lotta the same basic ingredients, but I just got a bunch more… and we aren't even outta the Riverlands yet!"

He has a healthy mouth at least, Therion thinks.

Alfyn pulls out his book, filled with Zeph's neat notes. Apparently, they were from Zeph's father. Alfyn begins listing off numerous tonics and brews from the pages swimming in words, whether the others listened or not. Therion tunes him out while Prim occasionally nods. Sadiq is busy watching out for butterflies.

"And this is addlewort," Alfyn points at a pressed specimen, "If y' ever feel dizzy, it'll clear up yer head real quick with a swill!"

"How useful."

"'Course ya should always also have some mugwort in case ya feel fatigue! Sometimes takin' the right medicine leaves ya real drained as ya recover! And there's even this herb…"

… Maybe too healthy, Therion now thinks.

When they come to the bridge, Therion nearly forgot about the salamander amid Alfyn's enthusiastic banter. A low groaning alerts him to the danger under the wooden boards.

"JUMP!"

Primrose, as quick of reflex as the thief, pulls Alfyn with her as she dives for the other side of the bridge. Therion and Sadiq make the jump as well, just as the bridge center is smashed into splinters with a large flailing tail from the water. The rounded head of the giant salamander peeks out and it gives a wide yawn. However, it does not come out of the water to pursue them.

"W-woah…" Alfyn can only gawk as the amphibian slowly slides back into the waters.

Therion sighs in relief and takes his hand off his sword, "…Let's keep going."

…

By the time they reached the bridge marking the Riverlands border, it was indeed nighttime for a while already, as Primrose calculated. Across the bridge, they could see the shadows of the dunes against the night sky and feel the change of atmosphere into a drier climate. Primrose yawns a bit, as does Alfyn. Therion barely rubs his eyes.

"Careful you don't get a mouthful of sand," Therion draws his scarf about his head and makes sure to partially cover his face.

"Ah, I got a scarf in here, if anyone needs…" Alfyn digs around his bulging satchel.

"I'll be fine, Alfyn," Primrose chuckles slightly, "I have lived here for about ten years after all…"

Sadiq walks on in silence. A strange look had come over him as they returned to the land of sandy winds. But it did not seem to be lucidity. It looked like a man stranded at sea had just returned home for the first in a long time.

"I don't think we'll be able to span the whole thing in a night," Therion says as they walk about the shifting sands, "We'll be traveling at night, when the critters are out. Maybe three days at least before we even reach the Highlands."

"Ain't there a town or city nearby we can stop at?" Alfyn stands atop a dune briefly to gaze about before hopping down. He yelps a bit as the soft sand gives away under his feet and he rolls to the base. Therion smirks a bit.

"… Yes. Sunshade," Primrose says barely above a whisper, "We can pick up supplies there."

"…You sure about that?" Therion side-eyes her. He himself is not too worried about going, since he can keep a low profile. But this flashy princess dancer would be recognized at a glance, having danced at the tavern full of gazers for so long. The city could be full of regulars. And with the fat man dead… well, who knows what's changed or what they may have assumed from her coincidental disappearance? Did they ever even find all those bodies from that bloody night?

Primrose does not meet his eye, instead jumping off the dune and walking onward. In the distant horizon, the slightest glimmer of light is visible. She knew it was not the sun, but the light of Sunshade's night life.

It did not take long for the party to stumble upon the familiar opening of the catacombs. The wind seems to have blown away and shifted any signs of blood. However, even in the dark, Therion could glimpse silhouettes of something like armor half buried in the sand by the moonlight. There is also a stench that the wind cannot dispel. These bodies have been baking in the sun for the last few days, exposed to the elements. Primrose could see the marks in the sand where the local monsters had happened upon the carnage and likely feasted.

"Uah-!" Alfyn trips blindly over something. Therion catches his arm before he topples over.

"Thanks…"

"…Watch your step," Therion does not look to that half-buried bone sticking out of the sand.

"Gee the stars sure are nice out here, hehe…" Alfyn looks up appreciatively as they keep walking. He points to the nearer light drowning out the cosmos, "Hey, a town! Izzat Sunshade?"

Primrose pauses in step. She looks around and sees it: the mound. Wordlessly, she diverges from them a little to go to it. She does not kneel before the pile of sand, instead standing in front of it quietly. Therion watches as she is still as a statue, save her dress fluttering amid the desert night wind. Alfyn glances over as Sadiq goes to join her.

"Huh? Prim? Sadi?"

"… Ah, just a minute, Alfyn…" Prim says softly.

Therion bites back his words to just wait as Alfyn walks to the two before the impromptu grave. The moonlight illuminates the unnatural mound's presence to him. Once he is closer, he finally seems to understand.

"… Are you alright, Prim?"

"… Yes, Alfyn. I'm fine."

"Was this someone … a friend? A family member?"

"A friend," Prim smiles a little to herself, "…My best friend in all of Sunshade. Her name was Yusufa."

"Gee, I woulda liked to meet her. M' sure I woulda liked her too," Alfyn smiles softly and places a hand on the dancer's delicate shoulder.

"Yes. You are very much like her, after all," Primrose laughs a little, "You are both very kind."

"Aw shucks…"

Sadiq had been standing rather motionlessly, staring at the grave with a lost expression. Primrose puts a hand on his back and rubs gently.

"Do you still remember her, Sadiq…?"

"… Yes... but just a little."

…

Therion insisted that they not go straight into town just yet. Primrose leads them to a place called the Whistling Cavern just east of the city, where they could take temporary refuge whilst they plotted their course of action. Eventually, it was decided that Therion and Alfyn would go into town and buy supplies while Primrose and Sadiq stayed by the cavern mouth since they were probably more at risk of being recognized.

"Ya sure ya don't wanna come, Prim?" Alfyn grips his satchel strap, "Could be mighty dangerous 'round here at night."

"I'll be fine, Alfyn... I just don't think I'm... welcome to return there," Primrose sighs and rubs her eyes, "You know what I need right?"

"Yep! We'll be back in a jiffy!"

"Alfyn... do be careful," Primrose looks to the thief with a tired but firm expression, "Stay by Therion."

Alfyn nods and he and Therion begin walking away from the cave. He didn't like the idea of leaving Prim and Sadi back there. The cave mouth gave him a bit of the creeps. True to its name, the desert wind would make whistling noises as it blew in and out of the place. But there was also sounds of other things in there.

"She'll be fine. Sadiq has the strength of a beast," Therion says as they shuffle about the sands. Dawn's light is already upon them.

"I just can't believe she can't go back in her hometown!" Alfyn sighs and half-yawns, "I mean, that's gotta be … well..."

"Remember what I said? She worked in the brothel here. Not exactly pleasant memories, I'll bet," Therion recalls the ugly fat man and the work the dancers had to perform.

"I-I guess..." Alfyn swallows slightly, "Makes me wonder what kinda city this is..."

"Just keep your bag about and follow me. Don't make a scene, and don't go to the tavern."

"Ok, ok… Ya seriously ain't even the least bit tired, Therion?" Alfyn yawns again, "Boy I could use a bed at the inn right about now..."

"Well too bad. You get used to sleepless nights on the road."

The apothecary groans and nods. They come to the town entrance's dusty steps as the morning sun is beating down mercilessly. Therion scans the morning crowd as he passes in. Still no guards at the gates. People dressed with headscarves and covers walk about like last time. The bazaar ahead seems to be picking up for morning sales. So far, the same. Alfyn is looking about like some wide-eyed toddler in a candy store. He'd never been to a place so big with so much. It woke him straight up from his sleepiness.

But then he sees the women. They were dressed in those drab green dresses, meaning they were dancers. There is a line of them being led by someone in that armor Helgenish's lackeys wore. The dancers all have a rope collar about their necks that connected them to the other. They look absolutely miserable. Alfyn stares with disbelief as the procession is led past them, his previous starry-eyed expression gone.

"...I can't say for sure that's new," Therion mutters, "C'mon, don't stare. I wanna be out of here soon."

"W-what were they doing with them like that?" Alfyn follows the thief as they weave through the goers on the streets to the waking bazaar, "That looked goshdarn awful..."

"None of our business. We just came to pick stuff up for the road," Therion sighs as his eyes go to vulnerable pockets. He instantly nabs an apple from the fruit seller and munches on that for breakfast.

"T-Therion!" Alfyn gawks slightly as he pulls the other aside, "W-what was that for?"

"What. I like apples," Therion nonchalantly munches. He is slightly surprised the apothecary actually was able to catch him in the act.

"Ya stole that!"

"Quiet, idiot. Do you want the guards on us?" Therion hisses back, "It's just one apple, relax."

"I'm gonna go pay for it," Alfyn starts back for the seller. The thief pulls him back.

"No, you don't. You saw how they work here. A little thievery is the least evil thing on these streets," Therion tries to reason with the man, "Plus, you don't have the leaves and the prices are super inflated."

Alfyn frowns. This left a bad taste in his mouth. Therion had to come up with a compromise.

"Ok look, this is all I'm taking," Therion munches on his ill-gotten treat, "We'll pay for whatever else we need."

Alfyn sighs and looks around, "I'm holdin' ya to that, Therion. These folks don't need any more trouble from the look of things..."

The thief merely rolls his eyes. They resume perusing the marketplace. Alfyn regains some of his earlier excitement, seeing a variety of exotic plants and ingredients.

"Hey, what's that? Cait scat? What can ya tell me about where it came from? … Oh, I see... Well, what's it do? … Oho! How much? … Ah, well, nice chattin' with ya!"

Therion eyes some glittery scabbards for ornate daggers and oriental knives. But since Alfyn caught him once, the apothecary hasn't let him off his radar at all. Therion picks a few pockets for the loose change, but not anything major.

"Ooh, fireweed!" Alfyn's eyes light up, "Ya know, this stuff is a great fire starter? And if yer ever cold, chewin' it'll help ya feel warm but also feel like your mouth's on fire!"

"...Why would I want that," Therion says, bored.

"Clears up the sinuses!"

Therion scoffs. When they near the end of the market, he ushers Alfyn to stand by the city gate.

"I'm gonna go refill the waterskins. Do NOT go anywhere or get in ANY trouble. You can forget about me bailing you out if you do," Therion says firmly.

"Hey, you can trust me, Therion! But you better hold up on your word!" Alfyn pokes Therion on the chest with a smile.

Therion goes off. He ducks behind a small crowd here and there as the number of people on the street grow with the daytime turning to later noon. Once sure he was out of Alfyn's range, he has his fun with a couple of purses. There didn't seem to be as much pompous rich men around this time. Most of them didn't have too much on them. At the end of the dive, Therion had netted only about 30 leaves, some silken handkerchiefs, and someone's old scarf.

He sighs and makes his way to the local pawn stand. The shrewd looking old woman looks up at him from her sitting position. She takes a drag from her hookah before addressing him, blowing residual fumes at his face.

"...Buy or sell?"

"Sell," Therion dumps a load of whatever useless things he stole on the rug before her. There is a mess of empty coin pouches, hankies, rope trinkets, a child's toy... He was an unadmitted kleptomaniac.

"I'll give you fifty leaves for all of it."

Therion makes a small noise with his teeth. He never haggled because he never could figure out how. It usually just ended up with him being chased out by the guards. He sighs and nods, holding out his hand for the money. The woman takes the rubbish aside and slaps a handful of coins in his hand.

"Pleasure."

He grunts and now makes his way for the city well. It smells due to the proximity to the stables, where camels and horses are pinned up. Those long neck desert llamas spit as he passes, and he luckily dodges their shots despite the slicked floor from accumulated mucus. Once at the well, he waits with a few others to refill their vessels. After that, he dodges the camel fest again and makes his way back to the gate. The apothecary is not where he last left him.

Oh my fucking gods that idiot...

He scowls and starts peering about for a glimpse of the dirty blonde. Where could he be? He did not want to search this entire city for that one bumpkin. Yet, his feet start darting by the alleyways and nooks as his eyes rove.

Then he finally spots him.

He's standing by a portion of upper city, where the ground is raised above the earthbound clouds outside the low walls. Here, one can look out along an upper rim and towards the wide desert outside Sunshade. Alfyn is there with an older woman and a young girl leaned against the barrier wall. He seems to be talking to the girl, who looks rather sickly. Therion thinks better of barging in and hangs back a little away, listening.

"...'ll be fine, ok, Marjorie?"

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" The older woman says profusely, seemingly near tears, "We were so lucky you happened to be passing by..."

"No problem ma'am!" Alfyn gives her a grin before looking back to Marjorie, "Hey, why the long face? Does something else hurt?"

"Ah, she's just sullen because the dancer in blue she saw the other day is no longer performing... She was her favorite to watch."

Dancer in blue? Yusufa was the only one who wore that color, as Therion recalls. It's great she had an admirer and all... but he could not believe this lady actually took some underaged kid into that kind of tavern environment. Judging from her clothes, they seem to be of noble descent.

"Aw that's too bad..."

"I hate being sick..." The little girl, Marjorie, pouts, "Can't ever go outside enough..."

"You've been fightin' for a while, eh?"

"She cannot go much of anywhere, I'm afraid. She is only allowed a few hours a day outside at best, lest her lungs act up..."

"Shucks... Y'know I was once sick too, Marjorie. A good laugh always made me feel better. In fact, wanna hear a joke?"

Therion drags a hand down his face in mortification as Alfyn tells some weird story about a slug and something called an anemone in the depths of Middlesea.

"...and then he says, 'With friends like these, who needs anemones?'"

There is an awkward silence.

"Hehe... get it? Cuz it sounds like 'enemies?'"

"...What's an anamoree..." Marjorie looks to him, confused.

"...Y' know I don't actually know either..." Alfyn shrugs helplessly, "Magg said some seaman told him that joke. It was funnier when he told me..."

"... Heehee, you're weird..." The girl giggles at his expressions.

"Hey, you're smiling!" Alfyn grins warmly.

The mother sighs in relief.

"Well, have her take this juice once a day in the morning with some breakfast. It should help with strengthening her breathin' and hopefully get 'em into decent shape," Alfyn hands the mother a small bottle of something as he stands.

"Oh, thank you so very much..."

"Hehe, no need. It's what I do!"

"Are you going to stay in town?" The little girl stands and tugs at the hem of his vest hopefully.

"Ahh, probably not. I have someone waiting for me. And he's probably pretty worried by now actually..." The apothecary seems to come to a slight realization, "...Well, I should get going! Take care, y' hear?"

Alfyn waves to the mother and daughter as he walks away towards Therion's direction, whom he didn't see. The thief pulls him aside once he's near.

"Awp- Eh, Therion?" Alfyn blinks at the thief.

"Idiot! Do you know how long I've been looking for you?!" Therion hisses, gripping the other's arm.

"W-well I jus' heard someone lookin' for an apothecary cuz someone collapsed an' all," Alfyn laughs nervously at the thief glaring daggers, "No need to be so upset!"

"Tsk..." Therion sighs. There's no helping this idiot with a heart of gold. "I got the water. We can go back now."

"Eh, but Primrose wanted us to get some makeup for her!"

"We browsed already. Let's just go and tell her they were all too damn expensive. Not sure why the hells she needs that anyway on the road," Therion mutters.

"Maybe it's something important from here. Anyway, I'm gonna go buy it, maybe find it from a cheaper seller."

The apothecary starts to walk off. Therion pulls him back, "You don't have the money even for the cheap stuff."

"Maybe not," Alfyn pulls back, now dragging Therion with him, "But you do!"

Therion could not believe the strength this guy has as he's lugged with him back into the bazaar.

…

Sadiq spears down another overgrown horse fly. Its guts splatter on the cave floor behind me. The place is infested with monsters. But I knew that already. I look out to the cavernous opening, out to the desert in the day from where I sit. My eyelids are heavy, wanting sleep. But I cannot oblige. I need to keep vigilant. So I occupy myself with old thoughts.

This cave was once connected to the east of the Sunshade wall, intended to be an escape route in times of siege and war. Since the infestations of monsters, it has been sealed up. But I had happened upon it on one of the nights when Helgenish had let us peruse the town. The old barrier had collapsed due to erosion. Me and Wilk had fancied that it would be a way to freedom. Of course, then, I could not have left yet.

Still, the monsters here are not too numerous. I haven't stepped into the innards, but other than a few bug and flies, there haven't been things like lizardmen here at all. Perhaps it is a sign something else lurks, but I am too tired to contemplate moving elsewhere.

"... Woof!" Sadiq barks suddenly.

I turn, half expecting him to be up to some silly antic. I see he is facing a man with a torch. A familiar face speaks with a familiar voice.

"...Primrose?" He glances at Sadiq, "And... the crazy old timer..."

"...Wilk?" I shift slightly on my rock seat and stand uncertainly. What was he doing here?

"Primrose, it's really you..." He looks back to me and steps closer. I see him in different clothes. He's wearing the armor that is Helgenish's lackeys' uniform.

"Wilk, what are you doing here... and in those clothes..."

"Eh, oh, oh, yeah..." He looks down at the armor, "Stole 'em off a guard. They've been a bit lax I guess, heh... What about you, what're you doing here? You vanished into thin air! And Yusufa too!"

"... She's dead," I say bluntly. I almost felt myself wanting to even say that I killed her.

"... Oh. Prim, you..." Wilk squints at me and he nears cautiously, "You left that night and Helgenish also disappeared... And now Yusufa's dead...? What happened?"

"Nothing you need to get tied up in, Wilk," My gaze is level and steady, "...So Helgenish is gone, finally... How is it without him running the town?"

He doesn't quite buy my guise of innocence, "...Not the best. The brothel and cabaret are in shambles pretty much. One of Helgenish's associates picked up the financial management, but the lackeys pretty much run everything now. They like to do as they please with the dancers and patrons alike. Business just... hasn't been the same."

"...I see," I suppose I should feel bad for leaving a mess in my departure. I'm not sure I fully do.

"So... You ran off to greener pastures didja?" He has a bit of a bitter smile.

"I had nothing left there, Wilk. So I left," I sigh, "What are you doing now?"

"Surviving. One good thing is the guards cleared out a good deal of this cave and are planning to expand apparently. Make this their new base... I've been using it to sneak out of town from a tunnel in the back."

"... I see."

"... What did you do, Prim..." His voice hardens slightly with a reluctant tone, "What happened that night... that it all went to hell..."

"Wilk, just please don't ask. You don't want to know," I say almost softly, "Just forget you ever saw me back here. You won't need to see me again."

"Prim, did you kill Helgenish…?"

A silence. He had actually asked.

"...Yes," I find myself answering, "And I don't regret it."

"...Cravens... Prim! He was living scum, for sure... But..." His face contorts with mixes of emotions, from anger to sorrow, "You... You cut off a lifeline for us you know..."

"Were you content living like a dog, eating scraps out of his hand?" I cannot help but be curt about it. I thought Helgenish's death would be something more celebrated.

"For some of us, that's all we had! Maybe we're just buzzards, feasting on whatever leftover bones society threw us... but does that mean we don't have a right to live?" Wilk looks to me a slightly pained look, "Did you even think of that? How the rest of us would flounder after what you did... Or did you just not care?"

Perhaps I didn't. I could say Yusufa's death might have numbed me... but that's just an excuse. I barely gave the future of Sunshade a second thought after I saw the man with the left arm tattoo. So I do not answer.

"... You've gotten cold Prim... or were you always..."

"Wilk, did you really steal that uniform?" I ask emotionlessly. Something about this conversation was beginning to bore me. I could feel impassive responding, like I could not be bothered to entertain him any longer.

"... I told you I was surviving. I thought you wouldn't like that I joined the guards who run Sunshade now... But it seems I shouldn't have cared...!" He says bitterly, "You didn't give a damn about the consequences for the rest of us!"

"Wilk, you knew what they have done for so long."

"And now I know what you did too! You need to turn yourself in and see for yourself, Prim. How hard it is now...!"

Turn myself in? In a place where the law is no more, these words are laughable. And so I laugh lightly, "Wilk... there's no way I'm going to do that."

He seems to grind his teeth in frustration. Then he turns to go back into the cave briskly. I assume for reinforcements. And I can't have that.

It felt like a natural movement, darting up behind him with my dagger drawn in hand. Before he even registered my hand on his chin and yell, my blade already made way into where his vocal chords should be, severing them. The blade slips in deeper and I know this feeling. It's the same as when I killed Helgenish. The feeling of cutting off the lifeblood to the head...

"I'm sorry, Wilk..."

I let the body spasm as it drops like a stone at my feet. The smell of blood momentarily floods the cavern opening until the next wind comes. And then it is gone with the whistling sandy air.

I had said I was sorry... but I feel nothing. Just hollowness.

…

When the thief and apothecary finally return, it is in the mid-afternoon, and the sun's rays are scorching the land. The dancer is huddled still where they had left her. Her eyes are reddish from lack of sleep, she says. Therion notes some red blood on her hands, but it could be from some monster. Sadiq seems to be sleep-sitting again. A bit of drool hangs off the corner of his lips. They set up camp for the day and plan to rest until it is cooler to keep moving.

"Gee, I gathered a buncha neat plants today!" Alfyn grins, "And most of it was free!"

Therion sighs loudly, "We could have died of dehydration with you stopping at every single cactus..."

"Aw, don't be like that, Therion..." Alfyn says as he organizes his bag, "Besides, in the worst-case scenario, I can always churn up some ice for us!"

"You're not much better of a Gate than I am," Therion mutters. His stomach growls and he hides his face in his scarf.

"Ok, let's have dinner eh? I have some smoked fish and dried berries!"

They have a decent meal composed of rations and water. As it was still daytime, they did not need to make a fire. Outside however, a sandstorm begins to gather near dusk, obscuring everything in sight.

"...Shit," Therion peers out of the cavern cautiously, "We're asking to be skinned alive if we go out."

Primrose purses her lips in annoyance. There's no telling when the storm may die down. They were stuck until further notice. The sands howl unceasingly outside, and it is soon dark. The whistling becomes like a moaning through the cave. With the temperature dip, Alfyn sneezes.

"Achuu!" He shivers a bit and pulls out a blanket Elnora gave him, "Hey, cuddle up, guys…"

"In your dreams…" Therion leans back, snuggling in his heavy poncho. He closes his eyes, "Wake me when the storm stops."

"Hehe, I guess he was tired…" Alfyn yawns a bit himself.

"… You can sleep, Alfyn," Primrose says a bit tonelessly, "Me and Sadiq can keep watch."

"You've been watching all day! Ain'tcha tired?" Alfyn looks over to her with a bit of a sleepy look.

"I'm fine. I can't … exactly sleep anyway…"

"Ehe, well, me neither…"

"Alfyn, you're yawning…"

"Er… well, a bit then! But…" He looks down a bit, "Today we saw those girls being led around with collars… and it… kinda scared me…"

"Ah, I'm sorry you had to see that, Alfyn…"

"No, don't be… I started thinking about what they… what they did to them there. And then … that ya were also like that once… Well, I just couldn't stop quakin' in my boots then! I mean, where's decency when ya need it?"

Primrose gives a soft smile, "I'm glad you feel so strongly about that, Alfyn… You're a better man than most in that city… if not all."

"I mean, shucks. I'd never been in a brothel or nothin', even… 'S jus' my ma always raised me better, I guess. But that's always jus' been common sense t' me!" He sighs and rubs his eyes, "But yeah… not sleepin' quick after that!"

She chuckles, "Alright then… let's stay up together for a bit."

The storm outside lessens from a roar down to a low hum. It was still much too sandy to walk, Primrose could tell, but the moonlight was at least present now. She leans a bit on Alfyn.

"Hm? You tired, Prim?" Alfyn yawns for about the fifth time now.

"… Not exactly… Say, Alfyn… you've spoken to us about your mother… what about your father?"

"Oh," Alfyn awkwardly tries to find the next words, "Uhm… I don't exactly… like talkin' about my old man. He wasn't … well, let's jus' say you'd rather hear about my ma than him."

"Ah… I'm sorry."

"Nah, it's fine. He was a tough old ass. Loved to drink. Townsfolk told me plenty that I got my drinkin' skills from him."

"… Alfyn, when you were bathing… those scars on your back…" Primrose feels him stiffen at her mentioning, "…Did he give you those?"

"… Yeah."

"… I'm sorry."

Alfyn sighs, "He drank a lot and cussed a lot… broke a lotta stuff sometimes. Thank Dohter he never laid a hand on ma. On me, I couldn't care less… Then when the pestilence began, we both were sick as dogs. I lived… but he didn't. Folks say he was tryin' t' atone on his deathbed. But heck if I knew…"

He looks to the dancer, "Ah, sorry, I rambled a bit, din't I? I shouldn't be sayin' all this, since ya also lost yer father and all…"

"… It's fine Alfyn," Primrose closes her eyes, "Family can be complicated."

"You said it."

As the storm slowly subsides, the thief's eyes flash open. Of course, he hadn't really been asleep. The conversation was... a bit interesting this time.

"…Seems good to go now."

"Ah, alright…" Alfyn stows away the blanket and yawns, nearly falling over. Primrose supports him, "Oof, thanks…"

"If you want, we can keep resting."

"We are burning moonlight here," Therion says with annoyance.

"It's fine, it's fine! I'll just have a niiice big nap once we're in the next town! Which is… er…"

"Cobbleston."

"Right," Another yawn, "Cobbulstun."

Therion rolls his eyes and walks out of the cave. Alfyn follows sluggishly. Prim rouses Sadiq and looks back to the darkness of the cave. She had dragged the body towards the back so it wouldn't be found soon. Something like a murmur rises to her lips before she turns and leaves with the grizzled spear man at her side.