"Um, Lady Cynthia? Who is this?"
Selina swallowed nervously. Her eyes shifted from Felix to Koga as her mind tried to figure out how to fully explain what had happened. She hadn't taken into consideration what Felix's response to Koga's appearance would be. Especially now that she got a good look at the undead in the sunlight.
Everything she had seen in the Dream was still there. His height, his posture, his purple skin and the bluish flames in his eyes. All was as it was. But now she could get a better look at his clothes. His shirt was reminiscent of a Hunter's. A single black cloak fluttered over his shoulders, a black jacket covered up his torso, and within that was a single white shirt with a black bow-tie. Instead of pants he wore a strange, eastern looking garment that protected his legs. He said it was a "hakama" when Selina asked him about it. At his hip wasn't a single blade but two, one shorter than the other. The white bone armor was still on his arm, a dull azure light emanating from the end of it.
Selina looked to Felix, wincing as she beheld the young man's nervous glances between her and Koga. She cleared her throat and spoke up, "Um, Felix. This is Koga. He is...um...he is..."
Selina found her words dying in her throat time and time again. How exactly was she supposed to explain this? That she had absorbed the soul of a Mamono, somehow managed to undo it's monsterization, turned it into a male, and then summoned it to this world? At his own behest at that?
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Selina didn't have to explain anything. Koga walked over to Felix, then performed a Hunter's Salutations towards the man. He spoke in a even, polite and respectful tone, "Good Morning, Felix. My name is Koga. I am an Ochimusha who has been given a second chance at life through the magnanimous nature of the Good Hunter. I have already been made aware of the current situation, and assure you that no harm will come to you while I draw breath."
"Oh...um...I...see," Felix let out a nervous chuckle. He glanced at Selina, hoping for confirmation of the Ochimusha's words. His legs were shaking and he was genuinely considering bolting for the wagon even with Tina currently on his back.
Selina clicked her tongue then walked over to Koga. She bade him rise and explained, "He speaks the truth, Felix. To put it simply, I used the same power I used to restore your wife on him. And this...was the result."
She waved a hand at the Ochimusha's form. Koga stood up then turned his attention to the horses and wagon, "I shall get the wagon prepared for our journey, Good Hunter. Please excuse me."
Koga headed towards the equines, leaving Felix and Selina to stand there and watch him. As he approached, the horses immediately became on edge. One remained still while the other began to whinny and shake his head in a clear display of discomfort. Felix sent an unsure glance at Selina, "Lady Cynthia...he said he was a...monster? And you used the same thing that you used on Tina on him?"
"Indeed," Selina nodded while keeping one eye on the Ochimusha.
"And...you're certain he is...well..."
"Trustworthy?" Selina finished for Felix. The former Order Scribe swallowed nervously. Then he slowly nodded, his attention turning back to the undead...monster was the best word he could come up with. Koga had managed to calm the second horse, but didn't bother getting into the drivers seat. Instead, he hopped into the wagon itself and sat with his back to the right side.
Selina took a moment to answer. She rubbed her chin with a hand before saying, "I...believe he is. Or, at the very least, he appears to be someone who takes his ideals of honor and oaths made towards others extremely seriously. Thus, I don't believe he will make any attempts to harm us."
Felix was silent for moment. Then with a sigh and shake of his head, he started to walk towards the wagon, "Alright. I shall trust your judgment, Lady Cynthia."
Selina followed the man over to the back of the wagon. She helped get his wife into the back then him as well. He made a not so subtle attempt to sit as far from Koga as he could manage. If the Ochimusha noticed, he didn't react to the action. Instead he crossed his legs and arms, then closed his eyes with his back against the side of the wagon. Once she was sure everyone was as comfortable as they could manage, Selina made her way to the driver's seat. With a single, swift movement she got into position with the reigns in her hands.
She cracked the reigns and began guiding the horses towards Pran. If memory served her right, it took her previous group at least five days to reach Vinvers from Pran. That was taking into account how they made at least three stops to camp and rest up. Currently, they were one day out of Vinvers. Meaning they should have four to go before they reached Pran.
However, they had a few things going for them that the Inquisitors didn't. For one, neither she nor Koga required food, drink, nor rest in the same manner as normal humans. The two of them should be able to operate even without any of the basic necessities for a long time. The exceptions to this were, of course, Felix and Tina. But an advantage of the wagon was that the two could rest within it while Selina kept their journey moving along. It wouldn't be comfortable, especially if it began to rain, but it would get ensure they didn't spend as much time traveling as they normally would.
Of course that still left the issue of food and water. However, if they could manage to keep moving for the rest of the day, Selina was certain they could come across a solution for that exact problem.
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"And that's the last of it," Domonous said as his son placed the last bag of foodstuffs into the wagon. His stomach had filled out, indicating better eating, but Selina still recognized the wild white hair that hung around his shoulders. He hunched over, one calloused hand shaking Selina's gloved one. He smiled up at the Huntress, "I still can't thank you enough for what you did. If it weren't for you, our Village wouldn't have been able to purchase the grain we needed to feed everyone this year."
"I am happy to hear that. But, how could that be? Did you truly lose so much to the Inquisitors when we first arrived?" Selina asked while climbing back into the driver's seat. A glance over her shoulder showed Felix taking one of the five full water skins they had gained and holding it up to Tina's lips. He made sure to hold her in a way that she would drink, but not drown from the liquid pouring down her throat. Koga remained sitting with his eyes closed and arms crossed.
The old man nodded grimly, "Yes, unfortunately. Our harvest wasn't very...plentiful this year. The supplies we gave to you came from the emergency stock we keep in case we need it. With it gone we were liable to see many of our own starve. Some still did."
He shook his head and a smile that reached his eyes came over his features, "But, thanks to your lessons on how to make our gold last, we managed to gather what gold we had left without completely emptying our pockets. One trip to a neighboring village later, and we had just enough food to last us until next harvest. Those of us who remain will forever be in your debt, my Lady."
He tilted his head as a sign of respect, which Selina returned with a nod of her own. She sighed with relief, "That is good to hear. Unfortunately, I cannot stay to offer further assistance. I have my own duties that I must see to, post-haste. I hope you understand."
"Of course. Far be if for me to keep our village's savior from her own tasks. Just know that you will always be welcome here if you ever need us. Goodbye," Domonous waved as the Huntress cracked the reigns of the horses once more. The wagon trundled its way out of the village, wheels leaving tracks behind them as they exited into the forest.
Once they were a good distance away, Felix placed the water skin down and turned to the Huntress, "Lady Cynthia, that man said you had taught them how to make their gold last. Do you, perhaps, have some form of formal education? Or experience as a merchant?"
Selina laughed while shaking her head, "No, no, Felix. Nothing that lucrative nor complex. Just simple lesson I had to learn while I was a child. How to make a three coins last for three weeks. How to make stale bread and cheese someone threw in the garbage last me for a week. And numerous other lessons that I took into my adulthood."
Felix gaped in awe at the Huntress. He stammered out a reply, "Th-that sounds horrible, Lady Cynthia. I'm...I'm so sorry."
"It is in the past, Felix. There is no need to worry about it," Selina deflected while focusing on the road ahead, "In truth, I am simply glad they did not ask about Koga's situation. Nor pay any real attention to what he is."
Felix looked over at the undead warrior, "Oh, yes. Why is that? He's hard to ignore...no offense meant Sir Koga."
Koga opened on of his eyes and shrugged, "None taken, Felix. And it is likely because The Good Hunter was there. They were so focused on helping their savior, that they didn't notice me. Or perhaps they simply chose to ignore me. It is better than asking uncomfortable questions or possibly drawing the ire of one such as I."
The grin Koga gave Felix made the man shake in fear. He spoke up while hugging his wife closer to his chest, "I..um..I see. Anyway, Koga, I've been meaning to ask. Why do you call Lady Cynthia 'The Good Hunter'? Is there a specific reason behind it?"
Selina flinched at Felix's question, dreading the clarification he would no doubt ask for. It took a moment of silence before Koga replied, "It is the title she has bade me address her by. She does not appear to enjoy it when I hail her by other names."
"Ok. But what does it mean? Where did she get it and what for?"
"I shall answer that to the best of my ability, Felix," Selina said while keeping her eyes forward. She took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself, "It is the title I gained from my...profession. One that I carried with me to this land. It is what we called people of...exceptional skill in my land. The closest approximation would be your Heroes. People able to perform impossible deeds through powers given to them by circumstance. 'The Good Hunter' was given to me by a...a very close friend who I respect very much. It to meant to show that I am both an exemplar among my kind...and a close personal friend to them."
"Ah, I understand," Felix didn't push for more information. Mainly because he could tell the mood had soured somewhat since he first asked. He could see Selina hunching over in her seat while Koga had his eyes closed once again. Felix coughed into his hands and adjusted Tina in his lap, "So, how much longer until we reach Pran?"
Selina straightened up and replied, "Well, if we don't stop and go through the night, I believe we should reach there within a day or two. Maybe the afternoon of the second or first day?"
"That sounds great. I can't wait to see your home, Lady Cynthia," Felix said, happy that the mood had improved. He briefly glanced over to Koga and spotted the Ochimusha grinning at him once more. But this one was more...genuine.
Felix returned it with a smile of his own.
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"We have arrived," Selina said as the walls of Pran came into view. Her assumption had been accurate. They had managed to reach Pran within the span of a single day. In the back of the wagon Felix yawned while stretching his arms to the sky. Koga straightened his posture and opened his eyes completely. The two of them gazed upon the the approaching town walls.
Felix looked down at his wife and pushed a strand of hair out of her face, "We're almost there, Tina. Just a bit farther now."
Koga, however, frowned as they began to approach. He looked over the side at the gate to the town...only to see three spear wielding guards standing in their path. Their conical helmets and the tips of their spears glinted in the afternoon sun. He watched as a fourth guard appeared from within the town, walking forward with a blade sheathed at their hip.
"Good Hunter," Koga warned while shifting in place.
"I see them, Koga. Remain calm and allow me to speak to them," Selina replied as they approached the gate. The sword armed guard stepped forward and held a hand out to them with their palm up.
"Halt! State your business!" he shouted, stepping into the wagon's path. Selina pulled on the reigns and the horses slowed to a stop. The guard moved to stand next to the wagon. His eyes, shadowed somewhat by his helmet, narrowed as he beheld the Huntress and her passengers.
"Good afternoon, sir. My name is Cynthia Albion. I am returning to Pran so that I may get to my home and see my children. The three in the wagon are under my supervision. Might we be allowed passage?" Selina asked, waving at the gate.
The guard's head shot to her, "Wait, did you say Cynthia? The Captain told us to watch out for your return. We're supposed to lead you to your home when you made it back."
"Truly?" Selina narrowed her eyes, "And what does he wish to speak me to me about?"
The guard bit his lip, "He said it was something that you had to discuss in person. I'll let you in but...those three. Are they all alright?"
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He pointed at Koga's back, unable to see the undead's full features from where he stood. Selina looked between the guard and her companions. With a sigh she shook her head and said, "It would likely be better if we take care of this now. Please give me a moment and then we will disembark."
The guard, slightly confused but not willing to go against his Captain's orders, stepped to the side while Selina guided the wagon to the side of the gate. She pulled to a stop, handed the reigns over to one of the spear guards, then dropped from the driver's seat. She immediately strode to the back and helped Felix drop to the ground with his wife on his back. Koga was grabbing the bag of food and water skins. Once he had them all, he hopped over the right side of the wagon and landed on the ground.
Within moments the guards had their spears pointed at the undead.
"What the hell is that?!" the sword wielding guard shouted, one hand going to his blade, "Is that...is that a monster? What's it doing with you?"
Despite the circumstances, Koga remained silent and kept his hands far from his blades. Selina, with zero hesitation or fear, stepped in front of the circle of spears. She held a hand towards Koga and spoke, "This is Koga. He is a former Mamono that I...changed. I know how that sounds, but please, understand. He is not an enemy and he will bring no trouble to Pran."
"And what guarantee of that do we have?" the sword armed guard asked, eyes flicking between the Huntress and the Ochimusha.
"None, save that he has sworn as much to me and that should he prove to be dangerous, I shall handle it myself," Selina responded without a hint of fear in her tone. Felix stood nearby completely stunned at the turn of events. He was torn between stepping forward to defend the Huntress, and staying hidden to keep Tina safe. Swallowing his nervousness he took a step forward, only to see Selina hold out a hand for him to stop. He did so and waited while the Huntress stared down the guards.
The two groups stayed like that for who knows how long. Eventually, the sword wielding guard clicked his tongue and answered, "Fine."
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"We're here," the guard, now known as Hector, said as he stopped in front of the Huntress' manor. He turned to address her, Felix, and Koga, "The Captain is waiting for you inside. I'm going to head back to the gate. Make sure you keep an eye on...that."
He jerked a thumb at Koga. The Ochimusha didn't react. He simply stood tall with the water skins on his waist and the half-full bag of foodstuffs slung across his shoulder. Hector shuddered before walking off to return to his post.
Selina didn't pay him any attention. Her eyes were focused solely on the purple manor that had become her home. She took in a deep breath, enjoying the smell that wafted from the well kept lawn in front of the steps. Not a single thing looked out of place. The windows were still intact, the door was still on its hinges, and she couldn't see a single hint of a struggle from where she stood.
Though not concrete evidence that nothing had gone wrong, it did slightly relieve the anxiety she had towards the whole situation.
"So, this is your home?" Felix asked, his eyes locked on the manor before him. He adjusted Tina on his back, "It looks nice."
"As expected of The Good Hunter. She deserves only the finest of abodes to live in," Koga said while taking up position at the Huntress' right side.
Selina sighed but smiled, "Thank you both for the compliments. Come along, now." She waved for them to follow her as she led them up the walkway and to the door. She knocked twice before taking out the key she kept in one of her many coat pockets. She unlocked the door and opened it in the same movement.
The first people she saw were Horace and Gloria rushing towards her.
"Ms. Cynthia!"
The two squealed while they threw themselves into her open arms. She knelt and caught them as they jumped at her, hugging them close as she stepped into the main hallway.
"Hello, little ones. I've come back. Just as I promised," she let the two nestle into the crook of her neck. Behind her she heard Felix and Koga enter, followed by the door being closed by someone. She guessed it was Koga judging by how it sounded like it was kicked closed.
"We missed you so, so, so much!" Gloria's muffled voice spoke into the Huntress' collar, "I...I thought that you...that you wouldn't..."
The girl went silent and just kept her face buried in the Huntress' collar. Horace pushed himself away and smiled up at Selina, "I did my chores just like you said! And I got a bit stronger! See?"
He let the Huntress see his right arm, flexing it a bit to show off the tiny bulge of muscle beneath the skin. The Huntress smiled and nodded at the boy's display, "Indeed you have. I am so proud of you, Horace. So, what did the two of you think of Jet, Sentinel, and Blitz? Did you like them?"
"They were nice," Horace frowned as he remembered the night before, "But, they had to leave to help big brother Nick and big sister Maggie take care of a bad man."
Selina frowned at Horace's words, "Did they? What exactly do you mean by that?"
"I think we can answer that."
Selina stopped right at the threshold to the living room. There she counted six people all hanging around the main room of her house. Four she expected to be there and two she didn't. Jet, Blitz, and Sentinel were all on the right side of the room. Jet and Blitz were sitting on her couch while Sentinel had draped his arms over the back of it. On the left side, Guard Captain Felix sat in his own chair with two familiar faces standing at his sides.
On his right was the Dhampir, Teresa Scarlet, a nervous smile on her face as she greeted Selina with a wave. And on his left was the one armed Kuniochi, Akuri, who glared at the Huntress with a fiery rage in her eyes.
"It's good to see you back, Cynthia. We've got a lot to talk about," Felix said while leaning forward in his chair.
"Lady Cynthia? Is something wro-," Felix went quiet as he made it to the threshold and beheld the gathering of people in the room. The sight of Akuri and Teresa made his breath hitch in shock.
But that was nothing compared to the reaction everyone had when Koga came into view.
The mercenaries and Guard Captain immediately went on guard. The mercenaries had their weapons out and ready for a fight. Blitz was the first to speak, "What the hell is that!?"
"It...it looks like a monster. But...is it male?" Sentinel asked, his surprise and shock only increasing as the moment dragged on.
"Not just male but completely different from how most Mamono look. Where did you find it, and what's it doing with you, Cynthia?" the Guard Captain said, one hand on the hilt of his blade.
However, while the humans were on edge, the Mamono in the room were completely floored. Teresa and Akuri stared at Koga with wide, shocked eyes. Teresa's gloved hands were covering her mouth, while Akuri was slowly walking towards Koga with her single arm outstretched. The Kuniochi stopped an arm's length away from the Ochimusha. She looked into the blue lights he had for eyes and felt her heart skip a beat. She tried to mumble out a response but every word turned to ash in her throat.
Koga, for his part, simply stared at the two with curiosity and a bit of interest. He was the first to speak, "The two of you look...familiar. Hmm. Are your names Akuri and Teresa, perhaps?"
The Dhampir and Kuniochi took a step back in shock. Teresa spoke up, "You...you know our names? How?"
"Ah, I see. So, you were the ones I knew in my previous life. Then allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Koga, formerly known as Kogero. With this new life, I now serve the Good Hunter as whatever she needs me to be," he waved a hand at Selina. Teresa joined the humans at staring at Selina with a growing combination of shock, awe, and complete confusion.
Akuri, meanwhile, couldn't seem to decide whether she should stare at Koga and take his entire form in, or attempt to glare a hole into the Huntress' head.
Selina looked around the room. She took in each and every person that was staring at her, waiting for her response.
Then she sighed.
She adjusted her children in her arms, walked over to the empty chair at the far end of the room, sat down, and stared at the rest of the room.
"I believe we all have a lot of things to say to each other. So, let us begin."
And so they did.
Selina explained everything that happened to her at Vinvers. The attack on the Mamono camp (without the part where she returned from the dead), the fight against the Demon, the circumstance that led to her running from the Order with Felix, and what truly happened to Kogero that night. When she was finished, Jet explained everything that had happened in her absence. Montgomery, the Vipers, what happened to Nick and Maggie, and why the Mercer siblings were all upstairs in a single room right now.
During the explanations, Felix was guided upstairs to put his wife in a bed by Sentinel. The old man returned a few minutes later, letting everyone know the task had been done. Koga had moved to stand at the Huntress' right. He didn't miss how Akuri couldn't seem to take her eyes off him. Or the blush that she tried to hide whenever he returned her gaze. The Huntress kept adjusting Horace and Gloria in her arms, taking a few moments out of the conversation to place the two of them in her lap. Idly she began helping Gloria style her hair as Guard Captain Felix's explanation of what happened to Montgomery came to an end.
"So, yeah, that's what these lot told me happened. Normally, I'd placing these three in a cell for killing an innocent merchant. But taking into account that he was supposedly working with the Vipers, and what Teresa has said is coming our way, I'm willing to over look it," Guard Captain Felix said with a shrug.
Selina looked up from braiding Gloria's hair into a pony tail. She frowned at Felix, "What do you mean?"
Felix looked up at the Dhampir and waved for her to explain. Taking a deep breath, Teresa spoke, "Corelia, the Dark Mage that managed to escape when Akuri and Kogero broke into your home, managed to reach Lescaite. She informed the White Lilim Druella of what happened. Now, Druella is getting a force ready to invade Pran to get to you. It'll take her seventeen days from now to get her forces ready to march."
Teresa went silent. Everyone watched the Huntress, waiting for her response.
Selina let out a long, frustrated sigh, "I see."
"Yeah, figured you would say that," Felix nodded to the Huntress.
"Honestly, I'm surprised," Sentinel answered with a shrug, "I figured you'd be screaming your head off. You fight an entire camp's worth of Mamono, are forced to run from the Order, and you finally make it home only to hear that some of your friends were put in danger, and that one of the most dangerous Mamono on the planet is going to attack your home in less than three weeks."
"If you were to ask me, she should simply give herself up to Druella," Akuri said, disdain for the Huntress clear in her voice, "If she doesn't wish to bring any harm to this town, that is."
"Watch what you say, Akuri," Koga glanced sidelong at the Kuniochi. His left hand was gripping his sheathe, with his thumb on the guard of his sword, "I will not suffer insults to The Good Hunter's honor."
Surprisingly, Akuri's disdain quickly disappeared. In its place was something more akin to bashfulness. Her voice took on a lighter tone as she replied to the Ochimusha, "Y-yes, Koge..um...Koga. I apologize for that."
The four humans looked at the Kuniochi with clear confusion. Akuri's only response was to start playing with her hair.
Teresa, on the other hand, hid a smile behind the back of a hand. She could tell what Akuri was feeling right now. And while she did think it was strange, she wasn't going to get in the way of her friend finding someone she loved. Even if it was a morphed version of one of her other friends.
After a quiet giggle she turned back to Selina and continued, "While I do think Akuri spoke out of turn, she is right in a sense. I have never met Druella myself, but I have heard the stories about her. She has a tendency to gravitate towards people she deems 'interesting'. When she finds someone she likes, she goes out of her way to track them down and 'make them hers'. Usually this means corrupting them and making them her servants. That's likely how she feels about you right now."
"But considering how Cynthia is immune to corruption, won't Druella just be wasting her time? Wouldn't she let Cynthia go once she realizes that?" Blitz posited.
The Dhampir shook her head, "Not if the stories are anything to go by. Most likely outcome? She'll keep Cynthia trapped in Lescaite, using every method she has at her disposal to find a way to corrupt her. If she fails, she'll probably turn her over to the Sabbath to see what they can find."
"The Sabbath?" Selina spoke up, "Who are they?"
"They're another Faction of Mamono. Primarily the Research and Development one," Akuri began to explain, "They're led by one of the oldest and most powerful Baphomets in the land, are filled with the most powerful magic using Mamono in the world, and tend to be responsible for all the magical equipment the Mamono wield in combat. They've had a close relationship with the Extremist Faction ever since Druella took charge of it."
"Wait...aren't they the ones who talk about," Jet took a moment to find the right words, " 'Spreading the love of little girls.' all the time?"
"Excuse me?"
A chill went through the room at those two words. All in attendance felt a shiver go up their spines as they turned to look at the Huntress. Selina currently had her arms wrapped around Gloria and Horace, covering their ears as she stared daggers at Akuri and Teresa, "What is this about 'the love of little girls'?"
Teresa and Akuri shared a pleading look, hoping the other would take over for them. But, eventually, Teresa was the one to fold. She nervously looked the Huntress in the eyes and began to speak, "Well...um...you see...all the members of the Sabbath are women and Mamono who happen to look like...well...children. Girls, specifically. And they believe in spreading the idea of loving little girls...in...all meanings of that word."
With every words she spoke, Teresa found it harder and harder to breathe. The Huntress' anger seemed to grow as the seconds ticked on. The Dhampir took a deep breath and tried to finish her explanation in one go, "But most of their members are not corrupted children! They are older women who drink potions to look ten years old for the rest of their lives!"
The weight on her was gone as soon as it came. Teresa fell to her knees as she tried to regain her breath. Akuri went to her side, patting her back with her single arm when the Dhampir started to cough. Selina looked at the Kuniochi, her anger cooled but still there as she asked, "And are their ranks only filled with these types of women?"
Akuri bit her tongue and turned away from the Huntress, "N-no. Only mostly. There are some Mamono among them that were once regular little girls."
"...I believe it goes without saying that I will not be giving myself to Druella," Selina said, finally releasing her hold on her childrens' ears.
"Then that only leaves us one option; Fight," Felix said with a determined nod, "I'm guessing you'll want to be apart of this, right?"
Selina was silent for two minutes. Then she spoke, "Guard Captain Felix. I have been away from my children for far longer than I wished to be. I have had very little time to be a real mother to them. And every time that I finally have a chance, something tears me away from them again. But, I will not allow that to happen this time."
"What are you...?" Sentinel asked, completely confused by what Selina was saying.
Selina looked the Guard Captain in the eyes, "Four Days. Four days to look after my children. To care for them. To be a real mother to them. Once those four days are up, I will join the defense of Pran. No sooner, no later."
"Are you serious?!" Blitz shouted in complete shock. She angrily pointed at the Huntress, "This whole situation is your fault, and when it's time to accept responsibility for it, you're trying to kick it down the road? Where do you get off?!"
"Probably off how she's trying to be a mother to children, Blitz. Unless you'd rather those two grow up without a real parental influence in their life," Sentinel explained to the pink haired girl. She clicked her tongue and turned away, anger still clear on her face.
Selina shook her head, "No, she's right Sentinel. I know she is. Druella is coming here because I'm here. She's coming because of my own actions. Because I wasn't quick enough to stop that Dark Mage from escaping. I am well aware that I have no right to ask this of you all."
She looked down at the children in her lap. At some point, the two had fallen to sleep. They held each other's hands while the others were gripping the Huntress' cloak. Gloria was smiling with her hair falling around her peaceful face. Horace snored and fidgeted a bit, but he never let go of his sister's hand.
"But," Selina forced herself to say, "but still I ask that you allow me at least four days. Please. I...I want to be there for them at least once."
The room went silent.
The only sounds were Horace and Gloria's snores and Teresa getting to her feet.
Then the Guard Captain sighed. A hand went to his head as he shook it in frustration, "Damn it. Fine. But, the moment those four days are up, I want to see you helping us. Got it?"
Selina breathe a sigh of relief, "Yes. Of course. Thank you so much."
"Meh. I kind of owe you for taking care of that Order business anyway," he shrugged with indifference.
"As you say. Now, if you all would excuse me," Selina stood up from her seat and began to walk out of the room. Koga got up and followed her.
"Where are you going?" Jet asked as she stared after Selina.
The Huntress turned around and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, "Where else? To put the children to bed."
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