"So you said you wanted to talk again, Lorreabry?" I asked the blonde girl after we had suddenly approached her.

"N-Now? It's a bit sudden..." she questioned as she looked back at the group whose conversation I had interrupted.

"This is your only opportunity." I told her so she clearly understood the limits of my patience.

"Right, uh, sorry you lot, I'll be back later!" she told her team or friends as she suddenly got up with some items and joined us.

"So now what?" Seigunfrei asked as he glanced up at me.

"We get to Liada's bakery and have something there, it gives us something to do and I can go on out when I need to." I explained to the pair as we headed for Suhurlodst's exit.

"So, Lorreabry, you fitting in alright?" Seigunfrei asked her as we went under the grand arch I once climbed up on to taunt from. It was a joyous, happy memory for me even if I did get shot at when it happened. But, finding out you were going to not be executed certainly had a way of making one ignore the bad things about life.

"Yes, everyone has been very helpful and very interested in speaking to me! But, I suppose I have you to thank for that amongst other things, don't I, Dark Crow?" she answered before she sent a sweet smile my way.

"Amongst other things?" Seigunfrei picked up on and I had to admit, it made me curious as well. If only because she was speaking to me with a degree of familiarity even back during the exam. Or, maybe, that was just a facade of professionalism she needed for her desired job.

"Well, I think I brought it up somewhat, but... I have been really wanting to thank you for what you did for me a year ago."

"A year ago?" I questioned as I stopped to look back at her.

"Y-You... You saved my life when I was kidnapped by..." she nervously admitted as she began to shake a little.

"It was just a job, don't think too much of it." I told her as I started walking again.

"You might not think much of it, Dark Crow, but... For me, it was a chance for me to see my family again. I was able to live because of you, you saved my life!" she went on before she reiterated her initial answer.

"You should cherish those moments as much as you can, then." I explained to her as I looked down with hidden misery. My family was gone and so was my home, the people I thought could fill in for my lost family were also gone too. Some were still around, but even Liada seemed to be struggling to handle what I have been doing these past few years.

And, strange as it was, I feel like I would be happy if she left as well... One less person to hold me back, I could focus purely on that monster. No more odd jobs for rent and risking the chance that I might miss getting back in time. Just me and him, my righteous fury and his hideous smile.

"I have, and I wanted to thank you as much as I could for that opportunity."

"Wow, cold and callous Nin has got himself a fan!" Seigunfrei chuckled, much to Lorreabry's continued embarrassment.

"I can understand being thankful, but it was just a job." I repeated as her reaction seemed to be a little potent for what it was.

"No one accepted the job listing my father posted... He begged everyone all day and night for someone to help... But he couldn't offer much because taxes and bills just got called in and..." she started to tearfully let out as she explained further.

"I didn't accept the job because I felt moved by his plight."

"You still accepted it! You still accepted a job from a man who had nothing to save a girl who mostly meant nothing..."

"Nin, maybe try and ease up a little here." Seigunfrei cautioned as he tried to comfort her.

"Even if you can't see it that way or accept it that way... I just wanted to let you know, Dark Crow, that, no matter what others say, you are still my family's hero, my hero!" she loudly declared and I came to a stop once again when she let out that final word.

"Hero?" I repeated as the word bounced around my mouth awkwardly. It was strange to hear such a term, more so since it was directed at me, someone who has only ever been known as a monster.

"Yes, you are my hero. The man who came in and saved my life when no one else would." she told me with a sniffle at the end before she tried to compose herself.

"I don't think he knows how to take that." Seigunfrei remarked towards her as I stewed away in silence.

"No, no I don't." I confirmed before I pulled back my arm all of a sudden and launched off towards the walls of the city. With a sudden bang, I hit the metal-covered battlements and I stayed up there so I could enjoy the solitude.

Hero, Champion... Friend.

"Why do I struggle with this?" I asked myself before I heaved up onto the wall so I could perch from it. And as the other two tried to catch up with Seigunfrei's magical power, I pondered to myself. Once again, I was referred to in a heroic manner, but, I had trouble accepting the claim to fame. But, this time, it wasn't because I contended why, it was just because I couldn't see myself as such.

I have tried so hard for five years to save the greatest friend I have ever had and I have gotten nowhere. Every day I trained and fought to get better so I could go into the next night to try and save her from him. But I failed, every night I failed, and I would fail again this night when the moment came, it has been pointless. I wasn't getting anywhere no matter how hard I tried...

No matter how often I was presented with a chance to learn...

"Everyone who has depended on me has been let down by me and I have failed them." I realised as I looked over towards Suhurlodst. Then, I pulled out Liada's talisman and stared long and hard at it, I've let her down too, haven't I?

"Hey, Nin! Don't just run off like that!" Seigunfrei called from down below after he had put Lorreabry down. Yet, as I continued to stay up on the wall, up here in my head, they were approached by some guards and looked over.

"Just... Follow me, we'll be at the bakery soon." I called out to them before I suddenly flipped over the wall and into the street on the other side. I then stood there as they made their way through the security checks, something Seigunfrei found annoying.

"Oh, come on! He doesn't have to be inspected and we're with him!"

"Working with Thrurstradtur's City-Guard grants him special privileges." the armoured man told him, much to the delight of his colleagues.

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"Intrusive, prickly cogs." Seigunfrei swore as he shoved them away at the last moment, and were it not for me being here, I felt like he would've been reprimanded.

"If you didn't react the way you did, they wouldn't have to have been as pushy as they were." Lorreabry explained to him after she made it through with little effort.

"Of course, the sweet blonde got through without issue." he huffed in annoyance as she gave him a smile.

"So, which way to your friend's bakery, Dark Crow?" she asked me once she was done teasing my sparring partner.

"Hold on, give me a moment to figure it out." I told them as I looked around at my limited view of the city. I was way too used to just swinging on over there and having a relatively birds-eye view of the place.

"Doesn't even know the way to his own home." Seigunfrei scoffed bemusedly before he was tutted at by the girl.

"This is quite a vast city, they even have magic that alters the perception of reality to allow ease of travel."

"Yes, yes, magical wonder of the world. But it doesn't mean much if I can't stuff myself with cake now, does it?" he dismissively told her before he came up to me to lament the lack of sweet treats.

"Alright, I've figured it out." I said to them before I started to walk through the city.

"Despite coming from here, it still amazes me just how many people actually live here." Lorreabry commented as the pair stuck behind me so my intimidating stature could be used as a plough.

"Millions upon millions upon millions all the way down." Seigunfrei recited with a sing-song tune.

"Until you reach the core of the mountain home!" Lorreabry added on with a giggle.

"And they better all not be heading to Liadanann's bakery." he then grumbled as I heard him pat his belly.

"Despite how famous she is around the city, she gets a manageable amount of customers." I explained to them as we took yet another turn.

"It would be impossible for everyone to go there as well, the government is quite strict about mobility around the city for just that reason. Which I assume must be quite the contrast for you, Dark Crow." Lorreabry explained before she brought me into it.

"By Smiling Jhurack's word I get no interference." I grumbled as I seethed in anger at the thought of that thing.

"So the rumours say..."

"So how much of this exactly is going into your next news tablet?" Seigunfrei asked her whilst I used a city map to reorientate my sense of direction.

"None of it, unless Dark Crow gives me permission to write another piece about him. I understand he wants some degree of privacy and that I was probably asking for more than I should have the first time around." she explained to him.

"Well, ask him, see what he says."

"No." I quickly answered to which he just laughed.

"It doesn't even matter if I can't get his permission, anyway, I can just do a review piece of my time at his friend's bakery!"

"Oh, I'm sure the most famous creature in the city would love the exposure." he chuckled as I got more confident in my sense of direction.

"We're nearly there." I told them as the streets started to become more and more familiar.

"Oh, there's a Jhurghdak performance tonight!?" Lorreabry suddenly exclaimed as we went past a proud, animated display for the upcoming performance.

"Interesting, it's advertising a new piece from an anonymous source."

"From someone other than him...?" Lorreabry let out with a rather shocked tone while I awkwardly glanced up at the advertisement. Any other time, I might've been intrigued by the technology on display and how it made a statue come to life. But, as I knew who made that anonymous piece as it was mine, I was unsettled by it all.

No one else would know who made it, but, I felt a tightness in my chest regardless...

"You're taking quite a bit of interest in it, Nin, you a fan of his?" Seigunfrei asked when he caught sight of my lingering gaze.

"No, but, I will be attending it later." I answered as I stared intensely at every iteration of that phrase that spoke of me discreetly.

"Something is very off with you today..." Seigunfrei muttered as he patted my shoulder as he came around.

"Liada's bakery is just down the road, it has a blacksmith-theme to it, you can't miss it." I told the pair as I continued to stare up at the seemingly living statue.

"Should we tell her that you are coming?" Seigunfrei asked me but I gave him no reply.

"Let's say yes." Lorreabry suggested as he grew impatient.

"Smiling Jhurack..." I uttered quietly as bloody images flashed before me, it was during a performance from this man that Lari...

With a sigh, I then turned away and quietly went down the road I told the others to go down. To little surprise as well, I seemed to draw quite a crowd as I got closer and closer to the bakery. If I was in another mood, I might've been bemused by how those indoors might've felt. But I wasn't, I was miserable like I always was and a dark mood followed me everywhere.

It changed little as well when the bell to the shop rang just above my head.

"Hello, welcome to my bakery, I'll be with you in just a moment..." Liada started to say cheerfully with the joy just oozing out of her. But, upon seeing me, she went quiet and all that happiness just seemed to have vanished and our gazes did not meet for long. Yet, we both stayed where we were, awkward and stiff.

"Nin, over here." Seigunfrei said to me as he came in to rescue me from the awkward arrival.

"I love the smell of the place." Lorreabry commented as she tried to make the most of her awkward spot at the corner table.

"Don't worry, I'll stand." I answered in response to Seigunfrei's offer of a seat. It was probably for the best as well given my size, Liada might've gotten used to being the big girl in the room, but I had not.

"I think it might be best to go to her to order something..." Lorreabry let out awkwardly as she watched Liada and with how her gaze was switching, I think I had an idea of what Liada was up to.

"You two go ahead, I'll drop off what I need to and get out of the way." I explained to them as I pulled out the talisman so I could look at it. With a quiet, hidden sigh, I then went out back and slowly placed it down on the kitchen table before I looked around the place. It seemed, different now that I paid attention to everything here. Something had changed but I couldn't figure out what.

"Why are you here?" an aggressive voice suddenly demanded to know as a door was closed behind it. It was Liada, and she had followed me back here...

"I went to the Head of Mechanical House in Suhurlodst earlier today, he said you left your talisman there." I explained as I stepped away before she practically marched up to the table I had left it on. Then, with a sudden burst of anger, she chucked it towards the bin without a care at all. Confused, I went around to pick it up.

"Leave it!" she snapped as her body trembled.

"This is a holy artefact, Liada." I reminded her as I ignored her demand.

"Yes, one that is supposed to keep those I care about safe. But what good is it when every time I see you, you are always covered in blood!?" she tearfully explained and asked as her body began to shake more violently.

"That doesn't mean you should be so disregarding of it, it is an important piece of-"

"Don't you dare speak to me about being disregarding! Don't. You. Dare!" she hissed at me as a finger and its claw approached one of the lenses of my mask.

"For five years I have done nothing but try to save someone who can't so much as look after themselves..." I reminded her as a frown formed under my mask.

"For five years, you have turned your back on everyone around you and they all gave up on you because of it! My friends, our friends are all gone because of you and your obsession!" she snapped angrily.

"And yet I have not given up on her no matter how bad it got." I growled as I took a step closer towards her. What right did she have to shame me for abandonment when all of this was because I refused to abandon someone!?

"It doesn't matter if you never gave up on her, you gave up on everyone else!"

"Her life is being held hostage by a maniacal killer!" I reminded her as my beak nearly touched her face, but even then, she held her ground.

"I know... We all know... But it doesn't change how you have gone too far with this..." she eventually admitted after a period of silence.

"I cannot go too far against that monster until I have saved her." I snarled.

"Of course, you'd say that..." she muttered as she turned her back to me, and, with the lingering touch of her tail, she pushed me away as best as she could.

"There's your talisman, look after it." I told her with a snort as I turned around to head back to the other two.

"Not that way, you will go out the backdoor and you will not come back into my home..." she struggled to get out as she began to sob.

"This is my home." I told her as she raised her head.

"This is my home, it is my shop, you are just a rentboy. And I am kicking you out, so go, get out. Don't come back to my home. I don't want to see you again..." she demanded as she planted herself firmly in the way of the door to the others.

"Good." I let out with uncertainty as I acknowledged what she had just told me. Then, I nodded to myself as I quickly recalled what I thought of not that long ago, how there was going to be nothing holding me back. I could truly focus from now on, no more taking time out of my day to pay rent and help her.

"Get out." she repeated with growing frustration as her body quaked to the point of near collapse.

Yet, I lingered and stared at the talisman.

"GET OUT!" she screamed as she tried to shove me out of the building.

"I will place this somewhere safe." I told her as it was clear I could not trust her to keep this somewhere proper.

"Get out..." she weakly muttered as she collapsed to her knees to cry.