The soldiers followed Arata through the woods attentively with a slight sparkle in their eyes. Murmuring and giggling like a bunch of kids. After watching Arata and Morgan stay back to fend off the alraune, there was no further work necessary to set up Arata in his hero facade. Especially since a day has passed since Arata's reunion with the soldiers, enough time to foster motivation in his abilities.

  Maybe I am the hero. There aren't many options for mirrors in this world, I wonder… how closely do I resemble justice itself? Arata was given Morgan's cape in order to make him stand out in the front of the group. Just that small addition was enough to make him his own biggest fan.

  Chive decides to be the first to point it out, “Hey, can't I get some credit since I saved your life? Also what's with that smug expression?”

  Arata retorts, “When in trying times our men require bold men to arise, heroes to grant security among our ranks.”

  Chive shouts back, “Why are you even talking like that?! You know we're in said trying times because you had the genius idea of cutting through the woods! If the fog meant to mislead travelers was still up in these woods, everyone would be dead!”

  “What exactly is the fog?”

  “The elves and fairies both cohabitate the forest, among them is the grand fairy meant to protect the forest through the means of a pacifist. The mist serves to impair the senses to make people unable to observe their destination and otherwise show them hallucinations.”

  The Dryads were connected to the trees and the Erlking was connected to the Dryads. Arata's plan was devised before he figured that out. Just this first day of travel had almost resulted in 10% of the soldiers dying or going insane.

  Luckily, there was a rest point in the middle of the forest, an abandoned lumber mill. The Dryad's ability extended to wherever there were trees; luckily, the selected area was barren enough to allow a day for recovery.

  Arata stops for a second, praying in order to summon Ravenna. “Hey wake up angel, it’s time for scouting.” Arata barks at Ravenna who comes tumbling out of thin air, still in her pajamas when she tumbles to the ground.

  “Aaauuu, why’d you gotta wake me. I hate this job! I’m going to unionize! Long hours of just looking are soooo annoying.” Ravenna groans.

  Arata tries his best to explain, “Chive’s men can help us cross while avoiding the enemy but no one else in the camp got sleep either. We’re all running on low battery so if we get ambushed, everyone here dies. Only a short bit left until we reach a rest point.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Chive and Morgan whisper to each other, the two girls got along surprisingly well, as though they could relate to each other’s struggles.

  Yet above all else, Morgan seemed very sympathetic for Chive's struggles, treating her now like a precious little sister.

  Chive after being rescued from the Baku found herself awoken in a completely unfamiliar world. Presumably, the Erlking wasn't a thing yet before she went to sleep.

  Despite all of that, she served as the resistance’s few guides to navigate the forest and receive guidance and the fairy’s blessing.

  Chive speaks up, “I want to give you some credit… we fairies are born to withstand eternity, we were never supposed to remember the length of our own lives. Even if I lost some things in my mind to the dream, I remembered you. I decided I wouldn't live by letting life pass me by.”

  Chive continues, “more than that… even though Morgan told me you were from another world, you and that other girl- I dunno how to say her name…”

  “Rachamah?” Arata comments.

  Chive finally manages to finish her thought, “Yeah, Rachey. Back in the tea party, we’ve had visitors but never two at the same time and when you appeared, it was shortly after Rachael. Almost like you’re a guardian angel? I mean angels have halos but the halos can also become their own entities according to human texts.”

  Seriously, the halos on angels are detachable? Arata turns to Ravenna, tugging on the halo slightly before being slapped in the face. “Yea no… I dunno about that one, I’m not an angel though, I’m human and an angel wouldn’t lie about something like that.”

  Back in the Ripping I showed up after Rachamah? I also showed up for Selena. Maybe they’re onto something. I dunno the trigger for it but from the sound of it, appearing in other people’s dreams isn’t a normal occurrence. Arata then suddenly hears an uproar of excitement from the soldiers.

  The trees begin to clear as it appears to be an entire flatland was carved out of the section of the forest, only a few buildings stood erect in the clearing. It ran past a freshwater river where a water wheel used to turn. The soldiers rushed over to get a drink of fresh water as Arata decided the best course of action was to investigate the cabins.

  Inside, he sees where the workers used to sleep, the building’s state made it clear this place was only abandoned recently and suddenly, Arata notices Lyra enter behind him. “Hey, Lyra… mind telling me about this place’s history?”

  “Well, I get what you’re trying to ask. This place was abandoned because our people tried to revolt against the Erlking. The workers rose up, yet the Erlking’s ambitions extended far beyond these woods. He didn’t need our people, only this land. When the workers rose up, he just killed them all, that was the end of it… no more use for a place like this.” Lyra slowly recounts, her voice pained by her knowledge.

  With a nod, Arata decides that the best course of action is to leave it at rest tonight. He heads back out as camp begins to be set up. Arata, getting his own tent set up, decides now is the best time to get some shut-eye.

  Lying down in his sleeping bag when he is about to sleep, yet a figure approaches, a girl with a rabbit head stitched on.

  A ringing noise sounds against Arata's skull, his vision goes lopsided as he feels the palpating heartbeat of his own pillow.

  Arata quickly moves, attempting to grab his sword but the figure vanishes and Arata begins to feel the exhaustion set in. His face collapses into his pillow, which causes the noise to go silent.