Important Announcement: There's been some very important changes to the story. I have made the decision to scrap everything after Chapter 5 and have taken this story in a different direction. Please read my Author Notes for my full thoughts

Mitchell hit the ground, his weapons clattering as they slid past him from the inertia of his desperate leap. For a moment, he was disoriented–the blinding light had yet to subside. But just as quick as it came, the light vanished as if nothing happened, allowing the hunter to look up.

He quickly found Arriet and Zullie in the crowd, clear expressions of disoriented confusion on their faces. He didn't realize how tense his body was until he saw that they were okay, and his muscles relaxed almost involuntarily.

'Thank fuck, I made it,' he thought, letting out an audible sigh. Arriet noticed him as he was pushing himself off of the ground. Almost immediately, her expression shifted, mirroring how he felt.

"Oh thank goodness…!" the former hero breathed quietly as she hurried over to him. She looked about ready to tear his clothes off to check for injuries, but seeing him moving okay, merely settled for helping him up.

Hearing Arriet's hushed relief, Zullie whipped her head in their direction. Upon seeing Mitchell, her eyes widened. Without a word, she made her way over.

"Holy shit, I made it," Mitchell marveled, getting to his feet. Zullie took a moment to look him over in much the same way Arriet currently was.

"And it's a very good thing you did," Arriet added. Once she was fully satisfied with her inspection, she grabbed his arm and pulled him along. "Come, we need to head outside."

'Outside?' He looked around, his eyes widening as he noticed his surroundings. The three of them were on a raised podium centered near the far wall of what Mitchell assumed to be, on first inspection, the interior of a grandiose cathedral. The room was greatly decorated and ostentatiously designed, reminding him of the Basilica back in his world. Long pews lined both sides of an aisle that stretched from the podium to the large double doors leading to the building's exterior. As if to point them in the right direction, an ornate red carpet rug led to the exit.

Unfortunately a sermon of some sort was in session, and it seemed that their arrival had interrupted the routine. People sat confused in their seats, looking around anxiously at the proceeding events.

Mitchell also noticed a line of people being led outside by a rather incensed priest. He frowned as the situation dawned on him. "Ah, okay. Lemme get my stuff real quick."

"Here, I'll help," Arriet offered, reaching down to pick up the hunter's crossbow.

Mitchell stepped over to pick up his fallen rifle, slinging it over his shoulder. He took the offered crossbow gratefully. "Thanks."

"Mhm," Arriet hummed in acknowledgement. She looked over to where Zullie was, only to blink in surprise. Mitchell did exactly the same. Zullie was nowhere to be found.

"Um, Zullie?" He asked, looking around uncertainly. 'How the hell? She was right here just a moment ago!'

Arriet took his hand again, shaking her head as she pulled the hunter towards the steps. "No matter, she can handle herself. Let's head outside with the others before we invite trouble."

"Uh, aight then," Mitchell replied, deciding to just go with it. He was sure Zullie could handle herself, wherever she went. He saw they were starting to get some attention—Arriet mostly, so it might be best to get outta there.

He followed Arriet as she led the way outside, tailing the crowd that had left them behind. Once they stepped outside, the sight of a vast city square was revealed. Surprisingly, the square was sparsely walked, aside from the crowd of Toulouse townsfolk standing off to the side of the cathedral entrance.

A number of guards could be seen speaking to the crowd. One of them turned when the pair got closer. He started making his way over with an exasperated swing of his body.

Arriet released Mitchell's hand, looking back at him. "If they ask you anything, be truthful. Just don't mention Miss Zullie."

Mitchell nodded, his lips thinning. "No need to tell me twice." He realized that the implications of showing up with a mamono might not look good for them.

"Are you two the last ones?" The guard asked gruffly, looking them both over. There was recognition in his eyes upon closer inspection of Arriet, and Mitchell could see the man's expression twist in disdain for a second.

Arriet merely nodded in reply, her face schooled in a neutral expression. "We are. Do you happen to know what the city intends to do with us?"

The guard shook his head, huffing like the question annoyed him. "Not sure yet. It's not like we have much room here in the city anyway with more and more people seeking refuge from the Demon Lord's encroaching forces."

'Dang. The situation must be worse than we thought,' Mitchell thought, looking over at the townsfolk huddled together under the guards' watchful eyes.

"I see," Arriet muttered, her lips dipping into a thoughtful frown. She glanced towards a street that led deeper into the city. "In that case, may I make a suggestion?"

The guard raised a brow, his expression still flat. "And that is?"

For a moment, a conflicted look flashed across Arriet's face. "I have a friend that resides in the southern sector of this city. If I can speak to her about the situation, she might be willing to take some of these people in."

The guard seemed to mull over the idea. "...I'm afraid this decision doesn't fall on me. I'd need to bring this up to my sergeant."

"We would appreciate it," Mitchell commented, if only to help Arriet out with his input. Arriet nodded in agreement.

The guard sighed, readjusting one of his gloves. "Fine." He pointed over to the crowd of townsfolk. "In the meantime, go join the others. I'll let my sergeant know what you have in mind."

Without giving them time to respond, the guard marched away. Mitchell swore he heard the guard mutter 'Apostate wench' as he left. A flash of anger surged through Mitchell.

There was a brief silence as he glared at the man's retreating form. Of course, he decided it was better not to act on his desire to punch the man in the nose.

He only looked away when Arriet Ahem-ed, giving him a look of inquiry. "I wish to ask you, Mitch, but if they allow it, would you like to come along?"

Mitchell didn't even have to think about it. "Yeah, sure. I'm kinda curious as to who your friend is."

"I've mentioned her already actually," Arriet answered, her lips curling into a smile. Her expression shifted to something slightly more mischievous. "Care to guess who I'm talking about?"

"Uh." Mitchell looked up thoughtfully, recalling the conversation he and Arriet had a day or so ago. "...You talkin' about Miss Fullmoon?"

Arriet's smile widened. "That I am. I'm happy you remembered."

"Yeah, me too," Mitchell readily agreed. Just because he could, he gave her a thumbs up. With just those few words, he could feel that the simmering anger he felt for the rude guard had abated.

The harpist seemed amused, but she kept whatever she might've wanted to say to herself as the two joined the crowd. Mitchell took a quick look around for Zullie, but once again, he couldn't see her anywhere. He could only assume she was staying out of sight.

The hunter was pulled away from his internal musings by the sounds of discussion amongst the gathered townsfolk. He saw Guard Captain Iosef speaking to a number of people, a couple of which Mitchell could see were guardsmen, the carpenter, and the butcher. Everyone seemed to be looking at each other or around at their guard detail for answers, wondering what was going to happen next for them. Mitchell felt much the same.

He felt a tap on his arm and turned to Arriet. "I'll go let everyone know what I have in mind. If you want to join in on this discussion, you're welcome to."

Considering her offer, looking back over at the slightly more animated discussion. After a moment of silent debate with himself, he returned his attention to Arriet, shaking his head a little in apology. "Nah, you go ahead. I don't have much I think I could contribute anyways. I should probably go find Melissa an' let her know I'm alright."

"Very well then," Arriet replied, reaching down and readjusting her belt. She looked back at the hunter. "I'll come and let you know when we can be ready to leave if they let us."

"Sounds like a plan," Mitchell nodded. He repaid her tap on his arm with one of his own. "See ya in a bit."

Her lips curling into a small smile, Arriet acknowledged him with a hum as she turned and made her way over to the discussion being held. Despite the sobriety of the moment, as the young woman got farther and farther away, Mitchell failed to tear his eyes away when he noticed the way she moved. There was a natural sway to her hips that he somehow hadn't noticed before. For a moment, the unwittingly alluring motion captivated him.

His eyes ventured a little lower to explore her barely exposed thighs, only for him to suddenly realize what he was doing. 'Not the time, Mitch, not the time.'

Choosing to be more productive with his time, Mitchell set out to find Melissa amongst the crowd.

Mitchell only made it a few steps into the crowd before he heard Melissa's voice.

"Oh, you're here!"

The hunter turned just in time to see Melissa gently side-stepping one of the few guardsmen that had made it through with them. She approached with quite a relieved expression.

Mitchell stepped over, a smirk beginning to form on his lips. "That I am."

Melissa huffed. "And here I thought you'd been left behind." Her eyes narrowed at him. "And that stunt you pulled. Please don't ever scare me like that again."

Mitchell quickly turned sheepish. The feeling of the gun bucking in his hand returned as he remembered Mari's death. Flexing his hands to rid himself of the sensation, he raised them in surrender. "Hey, I didn't know what else to do at the time."

"Anything was better than that," the librarian scolded. Her expression softened as she sighed. "But it's no matter now. I'm just glad you're safe."

"Sorry," Mitchell apologized, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. It's been awhile since he'd been chastised like this. "I'll try to not do that again."

Melissa reached up and patted his shoulder. "That's all that I ask." With that, she gripped his arm and began pulling him further into the crowd. "Now come on, let's join the rest."

Mitchell's brows creased in confusion. "The rest?"

He received his answer when Melissa pulled him through a group of people. The tailor he'd saved earlier, Christine, and Brett Waller, the man he'd fought alongside, were in the midst of a discussion.

Brett turned to regard the new arrivals, only for his eyes to widen. "Well, I'll be. Glad to see you made it."

Mitchell shrugged as he and Melissa joined the group. "Cut it way too close for comfort in my opinion. Probably took a whole year off my life."

Brett snorted. "I'll bet. I feel the same way about that entire battle."

"We're very lucky we all made it through that ordeal," Christine spoke up quietly, fidgeting with her torn dress. "I thought for sure all hope was lost once the Tenth Born appeared…"

Melissa shook her head. "Let's just be grateful that we all managed to make it out unscathed. That's what's important."

Her eyes suddenly widened in realization before turning to Mitchell. "Ah, that reminds me, where's Miss Arriet and…" Her voice dropped to a low whisper as she leaned in, her eyes glancing around for any city guards, "Miss Zullie?"

"Arriet's over there discussin' stuff with some other folks," Mitchell responded, pointing a thumb in the direction he last saw her. Taking a cue from Melissa, he leaned in a bit, his voice also dropping to a whisper. "An' Zullie up an' vanished not long after we showed up here. No clue where she's at right now."

Melissa breathed a quiet sigh as her body seemed to relax a bit. "Okay, thank goodness she had the good sense to hide herself."

Mitchell's brow raised at that. "I kinda figured that she'd be in trouble if she's seen, but it's not that bad is it?"

"Are you serious?" Brett asked, his voice low as his brows creased. "I'm not sure how things are where you're from, but mamono aren't tolerated in Order territories. They're killed on sight usually."

"Oh." Mitchell felt foolish for even asking. His lips dipped into a small contemplative frown. "But, uh, y'all didn't seem to have too big a problem with Zullie though? Heck, I even saw a dog girl in the town square a couple a' days ago."

"Ah, you must've seen Cassie," Melissa remarked, perking up a bit. She looked around again before continuing. "She's a kobold who found our town about a year or so ago." She paused, before giving off a small sigh. "Well, our old town."

"She was a really sweet and kind-hearted girl," Christine added. "One of the boys in town, Aaron, offered to take her in and, well, they grew close."

Brett snorted, a smirk threatening to break out on his lips. "'Close' indeed. I can't tell you the amount of times I've heard noise complaints from their neighbors."

Mitchell caught Melissa rolling her eyes at that. Christine smiled for the first time since Mitchell had seen her in the day, shaking her head at Brett. "But we all pretty much expected that, didn't we? She did make things a lot more lively in town."

Mitchell's interest in the topic grew. "So was she y'all's first real mamono resident?"

"Yes, she was," Melissa answered with a nod. "Cassie was a real eye-opener for a lot of us." She gave a sheepish shrug. "I guess you could say that it's one reason I decided to give Zullie a chance."

Mitchell hummed. "Oh, okay. That's actually a nice thought." He gave another cursory glance at the surrounding crowd. He didn't recall seeing the dog girl amongst the crowd now or earlier. "But I haven't seen her around anywhere. Do y'all think she an' her friend made it out?"

Christine and Melissa grew downcast at the question. It seemed this was something they already thought of. "Knowing Aaron, he would've reported to the wall for the defense," Christine muttered. She looked between Brett and Mitchell. "You two didn't happen to see him there, did you?"

Mitchell thought back to the young man he'd seen with the dog girl a few days ago. He didn't recall seeing him at the wall where he was stationed. But then again, he was pretty preoccupied at the time.

"I'm afraid not. I didn't see him there at least," Brett replied, crossing his arms. "He most likely was posted at one of the other gates. An' we know Cassie hardly goes anywhere without him, so she was probably with him too."

'Which meant they probably got left behind,' Mitchell thought. He felt bad at the thought. Suddenly, he felt a sense of regret for not taking the time to meet the young couple when he had the chance.

Christine's expression twisted in a minute grimace. "Well, perhaps it's…for the best…" She gave the surrounding city a knowing look before her gaze fell on one of the city guards. "I'm not sure coming with us would've been any better for them…"

"Damn it. Why did this have to happen?" Melissa sighed quietly in pained resignation, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear.

"Because Druella deemed it so."

A new voice answered Melissa's lament, causing everyone to turn and see Arriet drawing near. Her boots clicked off the smooth cobblestone street as she approached, her visage set in a resolute stare.

"Pardon my interruption, but do you mind if I borrow a bit of Mitchell's time?" She asked politely, her expression apologetic.

Melissa shook her head. "No, of course not. We were merely passing the time." Brett and Christine both nodded their affirmations respectfully.

"Oh, that's good to hear. Thank you," Arriet thanked, nodding with a small smile. She turned to regard Mitchell. "I received permission to leave just a few moments ago. Shall we go? We've been given only two hours before the city officials decide for themselves what to do with us, so we should hurry."

"Aight then," Mitchell drawled, stepping forward. But just as he did so, he had a sudden realization. "Oh yeah. Melissa, here's your rifle back."

The hunter had just begun to unsling the rifle from his back when Melissa raised a hand to stop him. "I appreciate the thought, but please keep it with you. I can live without having it for a while longer."

Mitchell paused at that. He decided not to press the matter, choosing to return the rifle to his back. He didn't miss the intrigued look that Brett gave the weapon though. "Sure. I'll return it when all this is said an' done."

Melissa nodded wordlessly, and with that, Mitchell joined Arriet as they made their way out of the crowd. As they began making their way down one of the main streets leading into the city, Mitchell spoke up curiously. "So. What were y'all discussin' back there, if ya don't mind me asking?"

"We were mulling over our options mainly," Arriet replied simply, tilting her head with a hum. The corners of her lips dipped in dissatisfaction. "I was told that if this plan doesn't work out, we'll likely be made to live outside the city."

"Wait, what?" Mitchell blurted, appalled. He looked at her incredulously. "They're just gonna send us on our way, with nothin' to our name practically? Just like that?"

"They are, indeed," Arriet sighed. She adjusted the sword on her belt as they traversed the now somewhat busy street. "Apparently, they have been taking in many refugees already and have been accommodating them. The inns in this city have been filled to capacity, or so we've been told."

Mitchell closed his eyes, rubbing his face in discontent. "Well…dang. I guess we better hope this works out then. I mean, I'm pretty used to livin' outdoors myself, but I'm not so sure about the rest."

"I'm reasonably sure it won't come to that," Arriet asserted confidently. "Sasha isn't one to turn away from others in need." A mixed expression flashed across her face for a moment. "I hate to impose on her like this, but I'm not sure what else I can do."

Mitchell felt an urge to reassure her. "I'm sure she'll understand your position. No one could've expected this to happen, after all."

"I suppose you're right…"

Mitchell saw that she didn't seem quite sold on the prospect, so he decided to go the extra mile. He made a sudden easygoing gesture with a hand. "But hey. Let's wrack our brains a bit, shall we? We should at least have a fallback plan in case our current endeavor falls through."

Arriet raised a brow at him in surprise. "I am actually inclined to agree with you on that. What do you have in mind?"

"Well, first I'd like to get your input on this." Mitchell met her gaze, hoping to convey his seriousness. "Aside from Miss Fullmoon, does any other places we could go come to mind for ya?"

The harpist opened her mouth to respond, but paused. After a moment, Mitchell saw a conflicted expression cross her face. "Yes. There is."

Her lips twisted into a small grimace as she closed her eyes. "But I would prefer not to think of it, if possible."

Mitchell frowned, wondering what this could be about, but he decided not to press her. "Aight then." He looked up as he considered their potential options. "Hm. Do ya think we could try our luck with one a' the cities nearest to this one?"

Arriet pursed her lips in thought. "It's doable, but the nearest major city from Salvarision is the city of Duscae in the Kingdom of Ricarys to the northeast."

Both of them ignored the sharp metal clanks coming from a blacksmith's shop as they walked, immersed in their thoughts. Unbeknownst to them, they both received odd looks from pedestrians as they passed.

Arriet crossed her arms. "I will admit that I'm used to long travels thanks to my…previous work, on foot or otherwise. However, I'm quite certain the same could not be said of the others, especially as they have a number of children with them."

"So ya reckon we're gonna need somethin' to help them along?" Mitchell questioned. He slid his hands in his pockets. "Like a carriage or two?"

The harpist nodded. "Essentially, yes. Hopefully we will be able to acquire one if necessary. But even that may be optimistic given our situation."

Mitchell huffed at that. 'Of course. I highly doubt anyone thought to load up on cash while on the way outta that clusterfuck in Toulouse.' He brought his palms up in a 'what can you do' gesture. "Well, all we might need is one honestly. We could always have folks take turns ridin' if we have to."

He continued. "I have experience in travelin' long distances in rough or unknown terrain. So y'all won't have to worry about me too much."

"Truly?" Arriet asked, a gleam of interest in her eyes. "How so, if I may ask?"

Mitchell blinked, a bit caught off guard by her interest. "Oh, uh." He shrugged sheepishly. "I served time in the military back home–the Tenth Mountain Division. We were trained to navigate and fight in rough terrain."

"Oh, I see," Arriet responded, raising a brow. "I had wondered if you had a background in the armed forces, but didn't want to assume. You do have the countenance of a soldier."

"Thanks," Mitchell replied. He rubbed his neck, a bit embarrassed. "Basically, what I'm tryin' to get at is that I wanna help out how I can. I mean, I can help hunt an' all if we're in need of food on the road."

"That would be helpful," Arriet smiled. She batted his arm in a friendly manner. "And if you need company, just say so. I wouldn't mind taking part."

"Sure thang," Mitchell drawled, returning the smile with one of his own. He suddenly laughed as a thought struck him. "Watch us be worrying over nothin' an' we get to stay anyway."

The harpist smirked. "That would solve our concerns, wouldn't it? Oh, wouldn't that be nice."

There was a brief pause before a laugh was shared between them. The moment, small as it was, was enough to lift their spirits as they continued through the bustling city.

After a half-hour of navigating the streets of Salvarision, Mitchell and Arriet finally laid eyes on their destination. They saw a fairly large church that was attached to a two-story building behind it. Numerous dilapidated and weathered buildings around it—some of said buildings in worrying states of disrepair. Hell, one of the building's top floor roofs had caved in.

Mitchell frowned. Since the moment he and Arriet set foot in the southern sector of the city, living conditions had taken a nosedive. Arriet had not been kidding when she said the residents of Salvarision outer district had been living in squalor, that much was plain to see. He had already seen multiple instances of dirty, destitute people going about whatever business they had.

"This place hasn't changed a bit," Arriet muttered softly. Her gaze seemed reminiscent as she stared at the church. Before Mitchell could ask anything, she shook her head. "Come. Let's not waste any time."

Mitchell wordlessly nodded as he joined the harpist at the door. Taking a breath to collect herself, Arriet knocked at the door. After a couple of moments, they both heard faint footsteps approaching. It opened slowly, revealing a small girl with pigtails.

"Um…hello?" The girl asked quietly, her expression visibly uncertain as she looked between the two.

"Hello," Arriet greeted with a smile, her demeanor instinctively becoming friendly at the girl's nervousness. "I'm Arriet Archaletta, and this is my friend, Mitchell Marlowe."

"Hey there," Mitchell spoke up with a small smile and a wave as Arriet introduced him, hoping to seem friendly. He couldn't help the warm feeling at being called a friend.

"Would Sasha Fullmoon happen to be here by any chance?" Arriet continued politely, leaning down to the girl's level.

The girl glanced warily at the sword hanging from Arriet's belt, then at Mitchell. "Ah, um…yes. She isn't in trouble, is she?"

Arriet shook her head reassuringly. "Oh no, not at all. We would merely like a word with her. " She placed her hands together, as if asking for permission. "Could you go and get her for us, please?"

"Mn, okay. I'll go get her," the girl acquiesced, closing the door. Her faint footsteps could be heard, her voice calling out as she moved away.

Mitchell looked over at Arriet inquiringly. "Can I ask ya somethin'?"

Arriet met his gaze curiously. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

"I recall you sayin' you've been here before, right? That girl just now didn't seem to recognize ya."

The harpist nodded at the question. "It's been a year or two, but yes. Sasha had set up this orphanage for the children she'd come across during her time as an Order hero." She pursed her lips in remembrance. "I've only been here a couple of times. I'm not surprised she doesn't remember."

"I'm kinda surprised she set up her own orphanage here," Mitchell marveled in open wonder. He chose not to comment on their dubious surroundings. "Not many would go that far. She must be a saint."

"Mhm, she's very good with children, as well as people in general," Arriet smiled fondly. She rested her hand on the pommel of her sword. "It's one reason why I felt she would be willing to help us. She's quite the kind-hearted person."

Mitchell nodded with a hum. He couldn't help but recall Arriet's caring nature with the kids of Toulouse. "No doubt. Same could be said for you."

Arriet turned to him in surprise, a tint of pink in her cheeks. Before anymore could be said, they heard someone hurrying to the door. The door swung open to reveal a beautiful green-haired woman in flowing priestess robes, her sapphire eyes wide in shock. "Arriet?"

The harpist nodded, a soft smile curling her lips as she met the shocked woman's gaze. "Hello, Sasha. It's been awhile, hasn't it?"

Having recovered from her surprise, Sasha returned the nod slowly. "Indeed it has." She glanced at Mitchell curiously. "And who is this?"

"Pleasure to meet ya, ma'am," Mitchell greeted with a nod. "I'm Mitchell Marlowe."

"The pleasure is all mine," Sasha replied, smiling at the hunter's politeness. "I'm Sasha Fullmoon."

With that, Sasha moved out of the doorway in invitation. "But before we continue, do come in. There's better places to catch up than on my front doorstep."

Accepting the invitation, Arriet stepped inside the building with Mitchell following right after. As Mitchell stepped inside, he thought he smelled a hint of lavender. Turning around, he saw Sasha close the door behind them.

Shaking his head to rid himself of the odd occurrence, Mitchell took a look around the interior. Immediately, it became apparent that the church had been converted into a living area of sorts. An array of church pews had been converted into makeshift beds, with a small kitchenette off to the side with a closet for storage. A doorway was at the far end of the room, presumably leading to the conjoined two-story building.

At the far end of the room, a group of children were busy with their own devices. They all turned to regard the newcomers with innocent curiosity. Sasha turned to the duo. "Come with me. We'll take this someplace more private."

As Sasha led Mitchell and Arriet towards a door at the far end of the room, a young girl with brown hair and nun attire spoke up tentatively, the book she had been reading temporarily forgotten. "Um, Miss Sasha? Who are they?"

Sasha shook her head with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Lisia. I'm just going to talk with an old friend of mine for a bit." Arriet gave the children a friendly wave.

Sasha looked over the assembled group of children. "Be good while I'm gone, okay?"

"Yes, Miss Sasha," the children chorused.

Having received the childrens' affirmations, the woman led the duo through the door, revealing a hallway. Mitchell noticed a couple of doors on the right side with a staircase further down on the left leading up to another floor. Sasha headed inside one of the doors on the right, leading them into a living area, with a small couch and a couple of chairs situated around a table. A desk sat against the far wall, with an inkwell and some books lined across it.

Sasha closed the door behind them and gestured to the seats. "Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Mitchell went over to grab one of the chairs and slid it over to sit at the table. Placing his rifle and crossbow beside him, he sat down with a sigh. Finally, it felt good to just take a seat and relax a bit. "Thank ya, Miss Fullmoon."

"Yes," Arriet concurred, unstrapping her sword from her belt and leaning it against the coach as she took a seat. "But unfortunately, while I would love to take our time and catch up, we're on a bit of a time constraint at the moment."

"Oh?" Sasha inquired, joining Arriet on the coach. "How so?"

"Well," Arriet began, sharing a look with Mitchell. "I'm not sure how to put it delicately, so I'll be frank with you, Sasha. Toulouse has fallen."

Rather than react with surprise, Sasha sighed at the reveal. "Ah. I figured as much. So the whispers of Druella's march into Lescatie were true…"

"You don't seem surprised," Mitchell remarked, leaning back in his seat.

"The refugees from Rondell arrived here in Salvarision not long before you," the priestess answered. "I had heard that the King sent a full detachment of soldiers to retake the city, but we never heard back from them."

She looked at them both in grim resignation. "And judging from what you said of Toulouse, I can only assume that they were taken by the mamono."

"You would be correct in your assumption," Arriet affirmed, resting her hands in her lap. She looked at Sasha knowingly. "You remember Rogier Armaud, right?"

Sasha huffed at the name. "How could I not? That man was insufferable to work with at even the best of times."

Mitchell spoke up, feeling like contributing to the conversation. "He helped the mamono take over Toulouse."

"He what?" Sasha's eyes widened with shock as she regarded Mitchell. She turned to Arriet. "Is this true?"

Arriet nodded, a hint of irritation showing in her expression. "It is. And considering that he seemed quite keen on me when he confronted us when we were making our escape, I believe I know the reason why."

"Oh," Sasha muttered, wincing in sympathy. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "To think he'd go so far…"

"But we won't have to worry about him now," Arriet assured, looking over at Mitchell with a faint smile. "Mitchell saved me the trouble of dealing with him."

Unknowing of what to say to that, Mitchell could only give a light, embarrassed shrug. Arriet returned her attention to Sasha, who was looking between the two with a raised brow. "And that brings us to why we're here. Currently, the remaining people of Toulouse are in the cathedral square at the moment." She met Sasha's gaze resolutely. "I wanted to know if you were willing to help. We were only given two hours before the city officials made a decision of what to do with them."

Sasha sighed, looking down at her lap. "Goodness, Arriet..."

"I'm sorry for springing this on you, but I don't know who else to turn to," Arriet lamented, apology lacing her voice. "I understand if you can't, but I had to try."

"No, no, I don't blame you," Sasha assured, looking up to regard her friend. Mitchell couldn't help but feel like an awkward third wheel in this conversation. "You're doing the best you can under the circumstances you were given."

The priestess's lips pursed in thought. "I'm just…trying to think of how I could go about it. I can't let so many people stay here, as it would overwhelm the children…"

"It doesn't even need to be here, it could be anywhere ya think could work," Mitchell supplied, pitching in to help. "Right?"

"Yes," Arriet nodded gently. "Anything would help."

For a moment, all was silent in the room as Sasha deliberated to herself. Then, an idea seemed to hit her. "A couple of the buildings around us have been empty for a couple of months now. The previous residents all left for various reasons, so they've been left abandoned. Perhaps they could suit your purposes?"

"Honestly, it's probably the best we can get under short circumstances like this," Mitchell admitted. It was better than he was expecting, if he were being honest. He looked over at Arriet. "What's your take?"

"It's indeed a stroke of luck," Arriet concurred, nodding with relief. Her expression grew thoughtful however as she glanced at Sasha. "But are you certain these buildings have remained unused since they were left empty? Any unsavory characters?"

Sasha nodded firmly, her visage set in a serious expression. "Of course. I made sure of it myself. I will not allow any such people around the orphanage, you know that."

"Ah yes. That was foolish of me to even ask," Arriet conceded with a sheepish smile. She bowed her head to the priestess. "Thank you for hearing us out, Sasha. I knew I could count on you."

Sasha smiled, laying a hand on Arriet's arm. "I'm simply glad that I could help in some way." She rose to her feet. "Now, while I would like to continue this conversation, I'm afraid I have to get back to the little ones. I can't leave them alone for too long."

Mitchell gave the caretaker a thumbs up, relieved things had worked out. "No worries, Miss Fullmoon. By all means." He looked knowingly at Arriet as he stood. "We should probably be headin' back, yeah?"

Arriet pat her legs as she got to her feet. "We should. There is no guarantee that they'd decide to wait for us, after all." She stepped forward to give Sasha a warm embrace, which the priestess readily returned. "It really is good to see you again."

"Likewise. I have a feeling it's been a rough couple of years for the both of us," Sasha mused. She pulled away before gesturing to the door. "Come. The day is still young."

Mitchell silently followed Arriet and Sasha after they collected their things, but he noticed Arriet look down at the nearby desk as she passed. The harpist snorted quietly, looking at Sasha in amusement. Curious, the hunter studied the desk and noticed an unopened book lying on it. He couldn't make out the words on the cover since he was still learning the language of this world, but he managed to recognize a very obvious and elaborate heart on the front.

Sasha cleared her throat, her face beet red to her ears as she hurriedly slid the book to the back of the desk and out of sight. "Don't start," she grumbled. "You're no better."

A knowing smirk from the harpist was Sasha's only response. Mitchell couldn't help but feel amused at the sight as well. 'Must be a cheesy romance novel or something.'

The priestess led them through the orphanage and past the children, who once again stopped what they were doing to stare at the newcomers with curious eyes. As Sasha opened the front door for them, she spoke. "Take care, Arriet. Don't be afraid to stop by anytime."

"Of course," Arriet answered, inclining her head gratefully.

Mitchell gave the priestess a parting wave as they began their trek back to the main square. Once the two were out of earshot, he smirked over at her, "Told ya we were worryin' over nothing."

Arriet merely rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

Mitchell sighed as he stared at what was to be his new home away from home. He ignored the noise all around him with the thirty or so remaining Toulouse townsfolk who went about setting up residence around Sasha Fullmoon's orphanage. None had looked terribly pleased with their current arrangements, and judging from the grumbling from a few of the townsfolk, they had no issues making it known. Thankfully however, some blankets and bedrolls had been supplied to them courtesy of some kind-hearted citizens of the city who'd heard of the townsfolk's plight.

He didn't blame the townsfolk for still bemoaning their situation though. This part of the city they'd moved to was little more than a slum, and the buildings showed it, seemingly shoddily made yet still considered livable. If anything, they were probably pretty lucky that buildings of this size were left abandoned. The couple of two-story buildings he'd seen were already claimed by the majority of the refugees, so he'd settled for a smaller, humble abode suitable for two or three people instead. He saw a number of men setting up a fire pit in the middle of their makeshift refugee camp for cooking.

'Well, enough time-wasting. Better see what I'm working with.' Leaving the hubbub behind, Mitchell shifted the meager bedroll in his arms and opened the door with a noticeable creak. He frowned. 'No lock? Already a bad start.'

As he stepped into the building, the hunter scanned the interior. Immediately, it became apparent that the building was empty and downright spartan. There was nothing of note in the living area, with windows being the only points of interest. No furniture. Making his way further into the abode, it became clear to Mitchell that the building had likely been picked clean by prospecting scavengers and thieves. Not even the kitchen area has anything of use besides the counters and sink.

Mitchell grimaced as he headed to what he guessed was the bedroom. 'Man, I really hope I don't have to sleep on the floor.' Pushing the door open, he surveyed his last remote hope of comfortable living.

A small dresser sat against the wall on his left, with a window on the wall perpendicular to the dresser. An old weathered bed frame sat lengthwise against the wall to his right with a window right above. A simple bed stand sat beside the bed. It somehow managed to be even more spartan than the room Melissa had given him, but it would do.

He sighed in relief. "Aight, I can work with this." Walking over to the meager bed, Mitchell set his crossbow up against the wall, placing the Springfield rifle beside it. He unceremoniously dropped his pack of belongings onto the floor.

It was as he was rolling out the bedroll over the bed frame when he'd noticed something. He smelled lavender again. 'Again?' He turned to search for the source of the scent–

"Damn–!" Only to jump upon seeing Zullie standing in the bedroom doorway.

Zullie sheepishly waved at him at his animated reaction. "Hello again…"

"Geez, Zullie." Mitchell's body released the sudden tension built up from the sudden scare and he exhaled in relief. He looked at her curiously. "But it's good to see ya again. Where've you been?"

Zullie stepped into the room, giving a cursory glance at her surroundings. "I haven't been far…actually. I needed to…conceal myself with…magic…so that I wouldn't…cause you and the others…trouble here." She met his eyes with a knowing look. "This is…an Order city…after all."

"Ah," Mitchell drawled, drawing out his response in realization. "So that's why ya vanished so suddenly when we first got here." Another realization suddenly hit him. The scent of lavender he'd smelled earlier–was that her? "Wait, you're sayin' you followed us?"

Zullie nodded, appearing a bit surprised. "I did. How could you…tell?"

Mitchell gestured with a hand. "You wouldn't happen to have a preference for lavender perfume or somethin' would you?"

The Dark Mage's eyes widened in realization. "Oh. I do…yes."

"Mhm," Mitchell hummed with a small smirk, tapping his nose with a finger. "There ya go. Good choice, by the way. I like it."

At the man's words, Zullie smiled, blushing a lovely pink hue. "Thank you. I like it…too."

Mitchell shared a smile with her before a pressing thought crossed his mind. "Oh yeah, do you have anywhere to stay?"

Zullie's expression shifted to something more hesitant and sheepish. "Concerning that…I've been meaning to…ask. I don't wish to…impose…but do you mind…if I stay here with…you?"

Mitchell's brain flatlined for a moment. "Uh…"

Zullie hurriedly clarified, "I-I'll use my teapot…don't worry. I merely…need a place…to put it."

For the briefest of moments, Mitchell was suspicious of the request, especially considering what little he knew about mamono. But when he actually thought about it, what was the harm in it? It wasn't like he had no room, and he trusted Zullie to mind her boundaries—she said she'd live in her teapot anyway—so fuck it, why not. He could say he shared a room with a beautiful woman, at least.

"Sure, go ahead," Mitchell said finally. He met her gaze as he rubbed his neck, feeling a bit unsure. "I'll admit this is definitely a first for me, so let's just respect each other's space, okay?"

Zullie's eyes widened in surprise, her expression quickly brightening with gratitude and happiness. "Of course. Thank you…Mitchell."

Seeing the woman's earnest gratitude and joy attacked Mitchell's heartstrings with a vengeance. Seriously, it really wasn't fair how cute this woman could act when she wanted to. And what's worse for him is she didn't seem to realize she was even doing it.

As Mitchell lamented his weakness, he watched as the woman made her way over to the dresser and gently placed the teapot down. To take his mind off of things, he decided to inspect the teapot in finer detail. It was a pure porcelain white with a clean sheen, with a gold embroidered cloth sleeve over the handle. But what was so surprising to Mitchell was that the teapot was clearly of Japanese make. A Japanese-styled house was nestled beside a small river flowing through a forest, beautifully painted around the entirety of the teapot. He could tell the art style was Japanese as well.

Zullie noticed his curiosity. She gestured to the teapot, her lips pulling upwards into a teasing smirk. "Curious?"

Mitchell nodded, raising an intrigued brow at her. "Yeah. I haven't said it before, but it looks amazing. Did you make this?"

Zullie barked an amused laugh. "Oh goodness no…the enchantment on this…is well beyond…my power." She gave a slightly rueful smile. "Whoever crafted this is…no one…to be trifled with."

Mitchell's eyes widened at the certainty in Zullie's voice. "Uh, yeah, I'll bet if they can just casually slap a pocket dimension on a tea set like that. I take it that the magic on this teapot ain't exactly normal?"

"No. It's not…" Zullie answered lowly. "Dimensional manipulation…is something…only the most powerful…mamono are capable of." She paused, looking at the teapot. "Or gods…"

Mitchell stared at the teapot, silent. 'Holy shit. This is some real high fantasy Lord of the Rings type stuff. This thing must be insanely valuable...'

Growing ever more curious, Mitchell turned his gaze back to the Dark Mage. "If that's the case, then I bet ya had to go through some crazy journey or somethin' to get this, huh?"

Zullie smiled in amusement, shaking her head slowly. "You would think that…but it's…quite the opposite really." She placed her hands on her shapely hips, shifting said hips to the side. Mitchell found the sudden action cute. "I happened to…meet a merchant…traveling from the…Land of Zipangu…during my days in…Vamore."

The Dark Mage's amused expression shifted to one of exasperation, giving a small huff. "The man had…no clue…what he had in…his possession. I had to…have it…if only so someone…who knew how to use it…could appreciate it."

Mitchell snorted. He couldn't help but share her exasperation at that level of obliviousness. "Wow."

"Indeed," Zullie concurred, a small smirk gracing her lips. She traced a finger gently across the teapot's surface. Mitchell couldn't help but find the action rather sensual. "His loss…certainly became…my gain."

Mitchell met her smirk with his own. "Well, good on ya. It sounds like ya made out like a bandit."

Zullie grew sheepish at that, raising an arm to rearrange her hat. "Yes. But I'll admit…I'm not usually…the best at bargaining…or haggling. I think he…simply happened to…not know…the value in what…he had."

She shrugged lightly. "I guess you could say…I lucked out."

"Yeah, I guess ya did," Mitchell agreed easily. He reached down and retrieved the rifle. After arming himself with his knife and revolver, Mitchell turned to regard Zullie. "Well, since I'm all situated, I better go see if I can find Melissa so I can give her stuff back."

Zullie brightened at his words. "Ah. Want me to…come along?"

Mitchell would have to be blind to not see the hopeful look in the woman's eyes. Jesus, this woman could somehow be both adorably cute and sensual. And damn if it didn't make a dangerous combination. "Sure, if ya want."

Mitchell chose that moment to make his way to the door, trying to hide the blush that crept up his face. "Now let's head out, shall we?" As they left the room, the hunter suddenly spoke up. "Oh yeah, hey Zullie? It's good to have ya around again."

Met with Zullie's warm smile, the hunter had to admit, he definitely liked the sight.

A/N:

Okay. So, as I'm sure you've all realized, this story has undergone some important changes. I'm sure y'all are wondering why this update took such a long time for me to put out there. I'll admit to you that for a while now, I had this weird unsatisfied feeling concerning this story for a while now, but couldn't figure out what it was about.

Then I realized what it was. Everything after Chapter 5 felt super forced. So I scrapped it and decided to rewrite what happened with what happens after Chapter 5. I'm really sorry for anybody who's a fan of Micaiah in this story, but I don't think I handled this well. I'm embarrassed that I'm rewriting a part of my story again, since it seems I didn't quite learn my lesson the first time I tried my hand at this. I completely understand any frustration y'all might have with these rewrites and slow progress for the story, but rest assured, I still intend on sticking with this story 100%. Y'all have been extremely patient with me so far, and I'm very grateful for that. Thank you.

But with that info-dump out of the way, please let me know what y'all think of this chapter. I always look forward to your thoughts.