shining

Who's there?

Excuse me, we're just passing mercenaries. The rain's getting heavy, so we'd like to shelter here for a while. Would that be alright?

You can head on over to the village inn.

We'll only be here until the rain clears up. We can't stay long anyway.

Anyone else with you?

Just my friend. She can't walk very well.

Sarkaz?

We mean you no harm.

Your kind isn't welcome here, devil. Get lost.

A longsword is pointed at her neck.

I'm not gonna repeat myself.

Then, please... at least allow my friend to rest here.

What's her problem?

The same as you, good sir.

Infected?

You said you're a merc, yeah?

Correct.

Stay right here by the door, and don't go wandering off.

Thank you.

Dad, do we have guests?

Nothing you need to worry about. Head back inside.

Okay...

Ngh...

You're awake, Liz?

We were fortunate enough to find a place to rest. It won't be much longer until we're out of Victoria.

Thank goodness...

You make sure to get some rest too, alright?

Thank you. I'll do just that.

Ma'am, do you need a towel?

Thank you very much.

From afar, the owner of the home watches his daughter approach the Sarkaz, and he reaches subconsciously for the hilt of his sword.

But what he'd feared did not come to pass.

Shining accepts the towel and helps Nightingale dry her hair. After painstakingly tending to her companion, she then wipes down her own long, dripping hair.

Did you need anything else?

N-No, I was just thinking of something to say...

Chirp, chirp.

A small blue creature pops out from Nightingale's pocket and lands on her shoulder.

Whoa, a fowlbeast!

Can I pet it?!

Mhm.

Nightingale raises her hand, and the fowlbeast hops from her shoulder to her fingertips.

I've never seen such an obedient fowlbeast before!

Heehee~ Hello there~

Where are you from?

The fowlbeast chirps, as if replying to the girl's question.

Little fowlbeast, little fowlbeast, do you want to play a game?

My dad made me a lot of toys, but the other kids in the village don't like playing with me.

Game? What kind of game?

Do you wanna play too, ma'am?! Give me a sec!

The girl hurries back into her room to search for something.

After rummaging around for a while, she comes back with a small cardboard box.

I have a lot of really fun stuff. My dad carved them all out of wood!

My favorite is this one—

Huh...

The girl digs through the box, pulling out a wooden block or two every now and then.

Everything's fallen apart...

Is there anything I can help you with?

Oh, yes, thanks.

Can you help me take all the blocks out? Then stack them up in groups of three. First horizontally, then vertically, and repeat.

Alright.

Shining helps the child dig through the box and pick out all the wooden blocks.

Your horns are so beautiful! Are you an Elafia?

No, I'm a Sarkaz.

Oh, that makes sense... You don't have those fluffy ear tufts.

I heard you're gonna leave Victoria after this when I was in my room.

Is Victoria... bad?

No, it's just...

This country isn't for us.

Shining picks up some of the wooden blocks she had dug out from the box and begins stacking them on top of one another.

After only a few layers, the colors before her eyes already seem to be coalescing into a kaleidoscopic blur.

It has been a long time since she's experienced an environment so replete with warmth. As she relaxes, drowsiness starts to wash over her.

Her thoughts spin through the air along with motes of light.

Shining can already see the light coming from the exit.

And behind her, piled high in the shadows, are the bodies of Confessarius guards.

She simply pats the person strapped to her back — and does not turn around.

Nightingale is still not fully awake, and subconsciously clings tight to Shining.

Hang in there a bit longer, Liz.

There they are!

We need to leave this place.

...Though to where, I couldn't say either.

There may be no place for us in these lands.

But at the very least...

I refuse to leave you behind here.

The daylight flashes by from within the cave, leaving its vestiges on the supporting pillars and rocks.

Before Shining emerges, a blue fowlbeast has already darted out, flying impatiently towards the sunlight.

That sound just now — did it come from over there?

That's where they fled to.

I'll give chase. You report to the leader.

What's going on?

The cave entrance is about to collapse! Retreat, now!

W-We won't make it in time—!!

Owwww!

A yelp suddenly snaps Shining back to reality.

The girl had accidentally knocked over the nearly-completed tower of wooden blocks, sending the pieces scattering everywhere.

You're not going to rest a little more?

I'll manage.

Ugh... Now I have to start all over again.

There's nothing wrong with starting over.

Can I... help too this time?

Yeah, of course! The more the merrier!