With the soft sounds of clinking beads on her forehead,Micha entered the assembly tent which is occupied with the other elders.

  "How is it,Micha?"

  They apprehensively asked.Micha is smiling softly and also humming which makes them more curious.Micha was the most worried of them all and she came back like this!

  "You won't believe this!"

  Micha told them what her and Sae talked about.

  "If that's the case,then it wouldn't be trouble if we let her in the vilge,"the scrawny old man said.

  "Ehem,and besides she knows her consequences if she tried any unsavory tricks again,"Micha said with an approving smug smile.

  "I'm gd that this was the case,although I feel bad for the outsider,"the sweet old woman commented while settling down a cat.

  "What do you mean by that,Tina,"Micha pouted,"That young woman brought that upon herself.She should not underestimated my boy in the first pce!"

  "I get what you mean,Micha,but she isn't comfortable at all or pressured in this,right?,"the sweet woman asked.

  "Why are you worried about her?She seems to have accepted her fate anyway,"Micha answered.

  "I-its just that,she looks haggard..."

  "Micha,what do you think about her?"

  The cautious elder asked.

  "In some strange way,I think I understand why Amallis trusts her even though she betrayed him.I can't say for certain but my gut feeling says,we can trust her,"Micha procimed.

  "How about the others?I think there will be no harm.If anything goes awry,Amallis will be able to take care of her,right?"

  Asked the scrawny elder.Micha nodded.

  "Hmph,I think otherwise but if Micha says so then I reluctantly agree,"the cautious elder answered.

  "I agree,"the sweet elder said.

  "How about you,Kuru?"

  They all turned to a tall elder in the side,he is wearing a garment draping all over the floor.He steps into the light,he has green eyes and a calm smile.His long bck hair reaching to his back.

  "Majority wins,"he said with a slight nod.

  ...

  The grass softly rustles as Amallis and Sae walks in the forest.Insects chirp for their mate as sunlight went through foliage,making patches of warm light.

  Amallis walks in thought.He thought back to the conversation he overheard.

  "They couldn't be talking about me right?They didn't mention any names so I cannot be certain.Which is good and at the same time makes me think.But...I can't shake the feeling that it's about me."He thought.

  His fault...

  He looks atop the branches.

  "Strange,I can't hear any birds,"he thought.

  "Aaaaa—"

  He said while he nearly fell down,he tripped because of a root.

  He took a few hasty steps forward to bance himself and to avoid nding on the ground.

  "You seemed out of focus,"Sae said.

  "Just thinking...,"Amallis answered.

  "Also,"Sae crossed her arms,"Where are you going?"

  Amallis innocently looks at Sae,"Where you're heading,"he answered.

  Sae tched,"You know you don't have to."

  "I decided I have to."

  "Why?"Sae asked.

  "Because,"with his index pointed up and with a smile,"2 heads are better than one,"he answered.

  "Not when one is a liability,"she annoyingly grumbled.

  "Are you saying that I am a liability!"

  "Yes and?"

  "Well,I am here to watch your movements!,"he snapped his fingers,"Yes,exactly that,you betrayed me once already."

  She scoffed,"As if you don't have wind spies on me."

  "Why would I bother the spirits for that when I can do it myself?,"he said with his eyebrow raised.

  "You think the spirits mind?,"she asked.

  "Spirits also have thoughts and feelings,"he answered.

  "Well,whatever,"Sae turned around and started walking away.

  "He—hey!"

  Amallis hurried to catch up.

  "So,what will you do next?,"he asked.

  "I'll go and visit the town's bestiary and try to make an agreement.We'll prepare for the next attack tonight,"Sae said.

  "Also,"she turned around to Amallis,"You'll be more useful if you go carry my stuff to the vilge."

  "You're only saying that to get rid of me,"Amallis said poutingly.

  "Well, it's convenient,"she said,"I'll see you ter."

  She waved.

  "Fiiiiiiine!"He said turning away with a stomp.

  Sae entered the bestiary and asked for Liam,the vice owner to have a chat.

  "Hi,miss,how's the hunt so far?"

  "Liam—"

  "Wait,how do you know my name?I don't even know yours."

  "Keeran,and you can call me Sae."

  She answered.

  "I thought I will never know you're name,anyways please continue."

  She told him about how she got into a deal with Amallis and a new agreement about the traps.

  "There are already 2 that are killed,you can have them but I will take the heart,"she said.

  Liam sighed,"Didn't I told you to stay away from him?"

  "Well,I was desperate at that time,gotta do what I can.

  You didn't even eborate why I should,"she said."Is it because of his powers?You know that he isn't malicious,right?"

  "I heard that he almost massacred his vilge 9 years ago,"he answered.

  "That's...hard to believe,"Sae blinked her wide eyes.

  "I don't know the details but it's the truth,"Liam said.

  "How are you certain that it's true?,"Sae asked.

  She finds it hard to believe that Amallis would do something like that,let alone a massacre!

  "A former vilger relocated here because of it and he warned everyone about him,"Liam answered.

  "And you believe that?"

  "Based on your experience,you don't believe that he's capable of murder?,"Liam asked.

  "I—he's indeed dangerous if he wants to but—,"she continues in thought,"He's principled."

  She was deep in thought,searching for her memories with him.Could it be she mischaractered him?No,it couldn't be.His personality stayed consistent all through out.The only thing she can think of is that he could possibly have lost control.Why though?

  She thought back to the time where he glowed in the cave with his tattoos.At that time,she thought that his mana will be depleted and on top of that it's also leaking while glowing.However,he didn't seem exhausted after and even had enough mana to put up a fight.

  "Is it because of that?,"she thought,but excessive mana without any catalyst won't be enough to trigger a massive incident,let alone an attempted massacre.

  "Or could it be..."she trailed away in thought and shook her head.Now's not that time to think about that.

  "So what do you say,Liam?,"She asked.

  "I am afraid you will rely on the bestiary if I agree to lend the traps,"Liam answered.

  "I understand but will you actually sacrifice profit.It would be a waste,you know,"she said.

  Liam sighed,"Sae,please give me an hour to think about it."

  Sae nodded.She left and will return after an hour.

  ...

  Amallis was carrying a rge leather bag on his back alongside holding a stack of jars on his hand.A jar fell and rolled away.He sighed knowing that it will be hard to retrieve it with his own.

  Then,a small child came and picked up the jar.

  "Hey kiddo!,"Amallis called out smiling,"Could you do me a favor and help me with that?"

  The kid went and pced the jar on top of the others,"Thank you,say what's your name?,"excitedly asked Amallis.

  "My name is—"

  "RUKU!"

  A woman's voice shouted.She hurriedly snatched the kid away from Amallis.The kid looks back at him,confused.

  Amallis kept walking,passing by children pying and adults talking.He can hear their hushed tones because of the wind.

  "I understand that he's Rama's child and Micha's grandson but shouldn't someone like him be exiled already?"

  "Come on,to be honest he was only a child."

  "Still,how can we be sure that it won't be repeated again?You know how terrifying it is to be in the same pce as 'him!'"

  "How can he still live and ugh after all that happened?"

  Amallis can't help but frown even though he's trying his best to not get affected.

  "Just...keep walking,"he thought.

  ...

  Sae entered the bestiary.To her surprise,she saw the receptionist talking to someone.Judging by the man's physique and leather boots and the location,she can only assume that he's a hunter,which is rare nowadays when it shouldn't be.

  She saw the man raised his arms,he seems to be agitated.He sharply turns around and walks towards the door.He has a frustrated expression.He saw Sae and tched before leaving.

  The receptionist sighed.She saw Sae approaching and adjusted her demeanor."I'll call Sir Liam right away,"she said before leaving.

  Moments ter Liam came back with a determined expression.

  "We have come to a conclusion,Miss Sae.We are willing to let the vilge borrow the traps but any shadow fiend bodies should be transported here the day after.Also,please maintain the traps as well,that's part of the deal."

  "Understood.And Liam,may I ask to reserve one heart,please,"Sae asked.

  "What for?,"Liam raised a brow.Needless,to say he's curious.

  "Personal reasons,"Sae answered.

  "Oh,"now he understands why Keeran is absolutely curious,"Sure."

  Back to the vilge,inside the assembly tent.

  "Elders,"called a young man,"You have to see this,it's the outsider."

  The elders all came out of their assembly tent and went to the outskirts of the vilge.They saw men dressed like townsfolk carrying carts of metals and Sae alongside them.

  "I'll talk to her,"Micha volunteered.

  "Sae,what is this?,"she asked.

  "I made an agreement to the town's bestiary to have them lend their traps in exchange for the shadow fiends that will be killed,"she answered."Speaking of which,where are the dead shadow fiends?"

  "We burned them,my apologies.So it's safe to say that those will be used against the fiends tonight?,"asked Micha,pointing to the carts.

  "Yes,we will prepare for tonight."

  Micha returned to the other elders to expin while Sae turned to the men to tell them to return tomorrow.

  Sae looked around the vilge,children pying and adults walking but she can't see that familiar face.

  "Strange,where could he be?,"she thought.

  ...

  In the middle of the forest,an area where rge stones covered with short moss grasses and sunlight peering softly through the shades,sat Amallis.The winds are pying with his braid while the pnts all lean towards him.The moss tickled him which made him giggle.

  He holds out his hand and the other pressed to the moss,the winds are dancing on his fingertips while the moss softly grazes his palm.He smiles softly.

  He sighed,"It's hard to forgive, isn't it?"