Once around the clearing, the journey continues for many hours. The scenario does not change much.

“Aren't there many animals in this forest?” Sely is surprised by the general silence, it seems to her that no one is there.

“They are there, they are there. They stay hidden to avoid spiders.”

“Oh, did they adapt?”

“Yes. Here, look,” Filo points to a pair of pigeon flies perched on a branch.

They are common animals, widespread throughout the continent. Sely knows them well.

If there are pigeon flies, it means there is water nearby.

“Now we just have to continue. It's been a long time since I got to this point, but I'm sure we can get to the second clearing from here.”

Sely nods and they drive off again.

“How far into the forest did you go?”

“Up to three days of walking. But once I got lost and it took me a week to get home.”

“Wow, and how did you survive?”

“Ahah, are you asking me this, having spent eighty days in nothingness?”

Eheh, modestly…

Sely shakes her head to hide her embarrassment. They spend the rest of the journey in silence, constantly on alert.

⁂

“Aah! Finally some well-deserved rest!” Sely drops into the tall grass of the clearing.

A moist and softer grass than that of the plateau.

“Yeah. In the end, we would have been better off having breakfast right away, eheh.”

“Of course… those two murderers…”

Filo crouches next to Sely and begins rummaging through his backpack.

“You did well to avoid the confrontation. Once Vanoge is saved, we will also bring justice.”

“Hmm…”

“Well, look on the bright side. If we fail, I think they will die too. From what they were saying it's clear that they don't know about the flying city. Whatever their conspiracy is, it's different than we thought.”

“Will be…”

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

Sely pulls up on her and her antennae move left and right.

“What are you doing?”

“Hm?”

“With antennas. They don't sit still.”

“They are my sixth sense. They help me pick up any suspicious steps or noises.”

Filo nods and hands a crumpled bag to Sely. “Okay, well, in the meantime, have breakfast.”

“Uh, what is it?”

“A herbal poultice.”

“Nooo!” Sely feels her discontent run through her.

“What not?”

“Is it possible that you humans only eat these things?”

“Oh, we're picky. And tell me, would you like something like an arm?”

Sely glares at Filo, who bursts out laughing and then starts eating.

“Why do you all think I want to eat people? I mean, anything is fine, but there are tastier things!”

“For example?” Filo sports a mischievous smile.

“Like goatmantis.”

“EEH!? They eat us! And then, even domesticated, they are used to produce milk and cheese! Eating them is madness!”

“Okay okay. Some cheese wouldn't be bad either.”

Filo shakes his head and sighs. “Of course, I'm not the mayor! Do I look rich to you?”

“And the coins I gave you!?”

“Er-eh, I didn't want to spend too much but…”

“But what!?”

“Here you are…”

…

…

“Ah, we needed a little rest!” Sely stretches after eating.

“Yes, true. A little further on, if you want to drink or rinse off, there is a stream.”

“No thanks, the one who needs to rinse off is you.”

“AH! How bad you are... I told you why...”

Sely bursts out laughing and lies back down on the lawn. “I know I know. You pollute the water. But don't worry, they're just superstitions, right? Go ahead, I'll read a bit in the meantime.”

Filo nods and heads towards the woods.

Sely follows him with her gaze, admiring that dirty cloak rubbing on the lawn.

It's really quiet here, it's even sunny.

Once his friend has disappeared behind the leaves, Sely takes out the Silver Chronicles.

I haven't consulted them in days, I should blame myself but I just haven't had the time!

Forgive me Hive Monoliths, forgive me.

Flipping through the pages hastily, Sely searches for something related to the situation.

The ancient laws are too brutal for today, but what should I do with the murderers?

What if Endya was more than just a liar?

How should I handle the favor he did for me, versus the favor I did for him?

Should we consider ourselves equal?

As much as she searches through the paper and her memoirs, Sely finds no information.

Time passes and Filo doesn't return.

There were no screams or strange movements, who knows how long it takes humans to clean themselves…

To pass the time, Sely takes out the pipe cleaners and cloth.

Let's clean the gun!

Ah! But this!

Since the night of the murder, due to the general uproar, Sely had been thinking about something else. She completely forgot about the improvements made by Toslevi.

Looking at the revolver in the sunlight, it is clear that a second lower barrel has been added. Which means, in a six-shot cylinder, two bullets per shot.

Too bad I only have one bullet...

Oh, Filo, what are you up to?

Now I'm coming to see you and if you're naked…

Sely blushes.

No, no, no, no! Better not think about it!

Let's go check it out.

Having put the gun and cleaning supplies away, Sely gets up and walks in the direction Filo came from.

Going deeper into the bush…

… this must be the stream…

But then…

There are some tracks on the ground, in the mud near the river. They are human, of a single person.

Ok, these are yours.

But there's nothing else. Only the sound of flowing water.

Disquiet and unease pervade Sely. Her hand is on the butt of the gun, ready to draw at the slightest sign of alarm.

One step, two. She looks around her and her antennae spin.

There's something…

Something that…

“WAH!”

Sely doesn't have time to dodge. A cross jet of cobwebs stuns her and hits her.

She tries to free herself but she hits her head and falls.

Blackout.