noticing that the girl was lagging behind just like earlier.

without looking back, chilchuck held his hand out for her to take, his cheeks dusted pink. he had only done this with his daughters, so it's a little embarrassing to treat other people like this. he didn't like showing his caring side that much.

but in situations like this, he'll have to put in some real effort.

"c'mon, i don't want you falling behind while we're walking. hold my hand so we don't get separated from each other."

chilchuck waited, feeling a little humiliated the more he had to wait for her to take his hand.

when she finally did, he couldn't help but grin victoriously. ah, finally. he's making progress.

'we're in this camping trip to get along in the first place... ugh, this is what i have to do. so i have to stop complaining!'

chilchuck shivered a little when he felt how cold her hand was, and he began walking once again, leading the way.

"geez, your hands are as cold as ice. you scared?"

he joked, before chuckling nervously.

"don't worry, no shame in being scared. to be honest, i'm a little scared too."

a few more seconds passed by as they walked the path without steering away from it, and chilchuck started to grow frustrated. he knew [name] can't last that long when it comes to walking.

"don't let them know."

this made him stop completely.

chilchuck didn't recognise that voice, and he sure damn doesn't plan on looking at whoever said that.

all he knew is it came from behind him and [name]...

chilchuck gulped, his legs shaking as he stood there, refusing to look behind the two of them as his grip on [name]'s hand tightened.

it didn't help that they were radio silent the whole time, which added to chilchuck's fear ever more.

chilchuck counted from five in his head, slowly going down and hoping that [name] gets the memo and follows after his lead immediately as his breathing got heavy.

five, four, three, two... one...

and he's out of there, trying his best not to let go of [name]'s hand while bolting away, not caring if some of the things inside the bag he was carrying was spilling out.

the half-foot ran and ran until finally, the path started to clear up. the fog was slowly going away.

much to his relief, he found himself in the same entrance he and [name] came from earlier, and he could've sworn he thanked all of the existing gods in the world despite not really being the religious type.

he survived. he's alive!

after calming down and fully catching his breath, chilchuck finally remembers that he was with someone else.

"[name]!!"

the half-foot ran towards the girl, literally throwing his arms around her and crying out pathetically. cut him some slack, he's just glad they're alive at the moment!

[name] seems to be out of breath too, her eyes closed for a short moment before she glanced around frantically.

"chilchuck..."

"i was so worried! are you okay? no injuries?? there was someone following us while we were running!!"

he panted, using his knee to prop himself upright while [name] pushed him off of her lightly, looking confused.

"huh? what do you mean? i ran all the way back here alone... i got lost while trying to search for clay. i was trying to look for a way back to you, but ended up here in the entrance just now."

the exact moment she said those words, chilchuck could feel his heart drop in the depths of his stomach, his feet growing numb.

'what do you mean you were lost the whole time?' was the question repeatedly running through his mind, trying to process the words she had just said.

"clay was the last ingredient i needed to complete the manifesto. i found a perfect amount by the pond nearby, but could not find my way back to you so i ended up running around, calling for you. somehow, i found my way back here and fortunately- found you here too."

her expression shows her confusion as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"did you not hear me, shouting your name?"

"n-no... wait, but... who was that? and... you did complete the manifesto... and brought clay back... i'm... confused?"

chilchuck made hand gestures, his eyes wide in disbelief. he looked out of it.

[name] tilted her head, her brows furrowed in concern.

"well, yes. that is correct. i completed the manifesto, but in a different location. but... i was not with you, as far as i am aware."

"no way... then who..?"

[name] shook her head and began pulling chilchuck out of the forest and back to where the camp is.

"let us head back first, alright? and then we will discuss it."

chilchuck only nodded, sighing heavily. he's convinced that he had a whole fever dream, but.. it all felt too real to be a mere fever dream.

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"do we just... act like nothing happened?"

"for what?"

just as the two reached camp, they stopped.

correction- chilchuck stopped. he turned to look at [name] with furrowed brows.

"what do you mean 'for what'?"

"i meant exactly what i meant. what are we doing that for, chilchuck?"

[name] asked in a more firm tone this time, adjusting her hold on the strap of her bag.

he found it ridiculous, thinking this is another one of the forest's ploy to drive him insane, but it wasn't. this was actually the real [name], asking him what the hell he was talking about, confused and looking at him as if he was crazy.

"we literally almost got killed by... i don't know, something?! i'm not sure what it is, okay? but it's not human! it pretended to be you for god's sake!"

"...i do not understand this joke of yours. frankly, i find it rather unamusing."

[name] deadpanned, huffing.

"we came to the forest together to gather materials i needed, harvested said materials together, and left. am i wrong? because i am most certain that is the correct order of how we went about our task."

"wha- what are you saying?? certainly no-"

chilchuck stopped himself. wait, maybe that was it. maybe that's what really happened? and his mind was just playing tricks on him.

yeah, maybe. he's probably just super paranoid which made him hallucinate while gathering materials in the forest.

chilchuck won't deny that he's been pretty tense ever since they started hiking up this mountain, and he did have a few sips of alcohol while walking.. so...

'yeah, this is just the side effects of the alcohol. maybe i was just daydreaming the whole thing.'

he sighed, rubbing his face.

"...sorry. it wasn't a funny joke, i'll admit."

he forced a chuckle, and [name]'s stern gaze softened slightly. she hummed in acknowledgement before shaking her head.

"maybe it is a little... amusing. you looked quite genuine."

"haha, yeah. guess i'd make a pretty good actor."

"hm, sure. if you were acting for the role of a crazy maniac warning everyone about doomsday, then yes. i agree."

chilchuck didn't even realise that the girl had thrown in a joke of her own and when he did, she had already walked away.

"uh- did i really look that crazy? wait, hey! don't just leave me hanging!"

with the previous events brushed off, the two walked off and back to their campsite.

he may be unsure, but his guts are telling him that he wasn't going crazy at all.

after all, they are not alone. those eyes gazing from the darkness of the forest are enough proof.

after a few minutes of just sitting around, being questioned by their companions as to where they've been for a whole hour, their feast was finally ready.

"here, [name]. you can have the best part- the stomach!"

laios places down a plate of roasted cow meat in front of the girl who merely stares at it. he grins, waiting for her to touch her food like an excited puppy.

"...cow stomach?"

"yeah, it's really good you know!"

"i do wonder how you've acquired such a unique sense of taste, laios."

"hm? everyone has a unique taste though, right?"

laios asked, then pulled out out a book from inside his armor, flipping through it with a little smile on his face.

"did you know? there are plenty of beasts who can only taste one thing, so they only hunt a specific prey? like this..."

[name]'s eyes flickered back and forth between his face, and the book he held. it really is such a wonder, how laios could muster up a cheerful smile no matter the situation.

"i think you're very similar to this monster, [name]. although it's more commonly known as a deity on the south."

"similar to me?"

[name] narrowed her eyes at the drawn picture of the monster on the book, a serpent with giant wings.

"i don't see the resemblance."

"there is a resemblance, though! look, you have the same face shape and all."

"ha ha."

"...it wasn't a joke."

"oh."

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"what are you doing?"

"hm? oh, it's you."

the deadpan in her voice didn't really bother [name], as she sat down next to namari.

it was clear that namari is not the type to be friendly with newcomers, especially with elves, given her reaction when she found out that not only will marcille join their group, but also [name].

she had her reasons. one, she'll earn less money from the expeditions since they'll have to split their funds with the new members, second, she doesn't trust new members due to the fact that their previous group had fallen apart from romantic concerns, and finally, she just doesn't trust elves generally. why? [name] doesn't know.

"i'm sharpening my blade, obviously. if anyone tries anything with us in these woods, they'll have to face my little friend."

namari shows off her sword, a smirk on her face as it glinted under the sun.

[name] hummed, tilting her head to the side as she analysed the weapon with narrowed eyes.

"hm... is it heavy?"

"why don't you try holding it?"

at namari's offer, [name] held her hands out expectantly only for her eyes to grow wide once she actually held the sword. she almost fell forward.

"it is heavier than me, i assume."

"definitely. it may not look that big, but it's definitely not light."

[name] tried to swing the sword around, almost throwing it away at the process.

"woah there, careful with that. you're gonna chop someone's head off- and when i say someone, i meant me."

namari took the sword, sliding it back in its hilt and tucking it under the pillow on her sleeping area.

"you've got a strong physique, namari."

[name] commented, which unbeknownst to her, made namari internally flustered.

'is she trying to flatter me? is this flirting?'

"uh, well... of course i do. most dwarves are quite strong, considering most of us are either blacksmiths, miners, or cave dwellers."

"i think that's a very useful trait to have. i lack strength, which would've been useful for carrying all my belongings wherever i go."

"huh, you do carry a lot of stuff for someone who looks pretty fragile."

the redhead commented in amusement, gesturing to the cauldron not too far from them.

"leaving without taking my cauldron with me is like a turtle walking around without its shell."

"right..."

"i need to be strong. so please, do teach me your ways. so i would be less... "fragile" as you like to call it."

namari couldn't help but smile a little, scoffing as she turned to face [name] ever so slightly.

"well first, we gotta work on your diet. then...."

on the other side of the camp, marcille and falin were just about to prepare for a bath by the river nearby, when the tallman suddenly came up with an idea.

"hey, marcille? why don't we invite namari and [name] with us?"

"huh? oh, well you know i'd actually like that but i think [name] specifically asked for a private time with namari just now."

"hmm? a... "private time" with namari?"

marcille paused from falin's knowing tone, and she then groaned.

"you know that's not what i meant, falin."

"i didn't say anything though."

the tallman giggled, and marcille couldn't help the pout that made its way to her lips. she really doesn't like thinking about [name] being alone with anyone else.

"you've got your walls up, and for what, i wonder?"

"you're being nonsensical, falin. i'm not being defensive about anything... i just... get worried, that's all."

"but why do you get worried? it's just [name]. or rather, it's just our friends with [name]."

"your friends, falin. not mine."

falin paused, then frowned.

"it's pretty obvious they don't welcome me. maybe they welcome [name], but i don't care. i just... don't think i belong here."

"that's not true, marcille..."

her hand touched the elf's shoulder, and marcille released a heavy sigh. she didn't want to acknowledge it, but it's getting harder to ignore the dirty glances and judging stares she'd get from the rest of the party.

"forget it, falin. i... i'll go ahead and set up a protection spell by the river."

"marcille..."

before falin could say anything else, marcille was already off to the path towards the river, carrying her own basket of personal necessities.

'no, i am definitely not jealous! shut up, self.'

she huffed, stomping through the grass as she finally arrived at the river, setting her basket down on a huge slab of stone and grabbing her staff that had been attached on her back.

"should've expected it from a group like this... they probably don't like each other anyways."

marcille took her sandals off and stepped foot into the water, the once clear surface getting a tad bit murky from the dirt and sand below.

marcille walked until the water was up to her knees, and she raised her dress up with one hand to prevent it from getting soaked.

with her other hand, she drew some sort of symbol on the sand in the water, chanting something under her breath.

however, something made her stop.

there was a splash nearby, and she almost jumped out of her skin, looking around, the slightest hint of anxiety clear on her expression.

then, after a few seconds of just glancing around her like a cornered animal, something emerged from the water- or rather, someone.

"oh cra- falin! i didn't know you were here already! how'd you get here so fast?!"

falin's figure emerged from under the water, still in her clothes. strangely enough, she didn't turn around when marcille called her.

"falin...?"

marcille tilted her head, slowly approaching the tallman who was floating in the deeper part of the river, her back turned to her as if she's purposefully ignoring her.

"fal-"

"marcille! did you already have a towel? i brought some incase you didn't!"

she froze, hearing falin's voice from the distance where she had originally come from.

all of a sudden, the water seems a little more murky than it was earlier. it seems as if it was slightly colder now too.

'wait... falin's voice? if she's there then-'

she turned to glance back at the figure, but it as gone. marcille quickly made her way back to land, which was pretty quick since she wasn't that far deep in the water.

"already taking a bath without me?"

falin joked, and if it weren't for the fact that the elf had just been spooked to death, she would've been blushing right now.

"uhm, falin...?"

marcille gulped, trying to calm her heart down as she contemplates if she should tell falin about what she just saw or not.

"what's wrong, marcille? you look like you've seen a ghost."

falin's comment almost made her shout 'well duh! it's because i did see one!' but she kept her composure, inhaling deeply and sighing out heavily, shaking her head.

"no... no, i'm fine. probably just exhaustion getting to me."

"i'm sure relaxing in the water would take a little bit of tension off your shoulders."

marcille laughed sheepishly at falin's comment, and decided to ignore what just happened a few seconds ago. yeah.. maybe she's just imagining things.

"you're right... oh, wait! i haven't even casted the protection spell properly!"

"i'll help you with that, marcille."

whatever she saw earlier, marcille didn't want to acknowledge it any further. maybe it really was just a figment of her imagination.

she sure hopes it's nothing malicious.

"so you are saying... i should eat more and work out to gain muscles... and i should do more lifting? lifting what? rocks?"

"er... i guess rocks are a good start for you."

"alright, i will remember every single piece of advice that you have given me. thank you."

"sure... you're welcome."

despite how random and strange namari found [name], she felt her lips tug up in a small smile, watching her walk away with a newfound determination.

"guess she's not half as bad..."

[name] quickly rushed to her tent that the boys had previously set up and dug through her bag, before pulling out what seems to be an old-looking journal.

"to-do list.... lifting rocks... and... changing diet..."

[name]'s lips straightened into a tight line at the second one, not really too thrilled at the idea of consuming anything.

"hmph. what rocks should i even lift? these rocks?"

she glanced at the rocks on her table as she cupped her chin in thought.

"hm? [name]? what are you doing here? i thought you came with falin and marcille to take a bath by the river."

out of nowhere, toshiro came up to [name]'s tent, curiously looking around, spotting the countless materials and trinkets she had sprawled all over as if a hurricane had just wrecked havoc inside.

"nope. i was with namari."

"ah, is that so? well, i think you should join them. they were waiting for you."

"what about you guys?"

toshiro paused, looking at her as if she had just grown two heads.

"uhh, what do you mean...?"

"don't you guys want to take a bath too?"

"...we... can't really..."

his face turns red, and [name] narrows her eyes at him, not quite understanding why he's acting strangely.

"ehem, i don't think it's a good idea for us all to take a bath... in the river."

toshiro cleared his throat, and [name] nodded her head.

"well, if you say so. i'll get going now then."

"oh uh, sure! uhm..."

he thought of offering to walk her there, but decided against it, not wanting to have any awkward encounters with the other girls.

before he could say anything else though, [name] was already sauntering away with a towel in hand.

"...what an oblivious girl."

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'why am i suddenly embarrassed?'

marcille's initial anxiety was long gone, and was now replaced by utter embarrassment and bashfulness as she sunk deeper into the water, trying to cool her warm face.

why, you might ask? well, not too far from her was falin and [name], swimming around with literally nothing on.

how they're so casual about it was baffling to marcille. she can't even look