Before leaving, two spiders make sure to give Sely back what belongs to her.

They don't say anything about the conversation between her and the king, they just make sure everything is there.

Sely nods and then looks at Filo, who remains a little further behind.

The boy nods back and then the spiders move away, leaving the two young people alone in the night. Only Filo's torch sheds a little light, which is essential for going back.

As she readjusts her gun belt, Sely notices with pleasure that the spiders have left her a couple of old plastic boxes.

About as long as the palm of your open hand, the boxes feature writing in colored fonts. Neither Sely nor Filo can read that ancient language of human origin.

Shaking the box between her ears and antennas, Sely hears what sounds like a metallic noise. As if pieces were clashing together.

Hmm… next to the writing there is a drawing of a weapon and some numbers.

Are they old ammunition containers?

They are different from the ones my mother once showed me…

Using her nails, Sely peels open the plastic wrap and opens the box.

Filo focuses the light beam on the contents, which immediately shines as a reflection.

“Wow! But are they ammunition!?”

Sely nods and takes a bullet from the pile. She brings it to her nose and smells it. Metal and gunpowder. No doubt, the engravings demonstrate that these are fragmentation ammunition.

“I have to see if they are of the right caliber, even if it seems so to the eye. More than anything else…”

“More than anything else?”

“Did you see when I blew that monster's head off?”

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“Of course!”

Sely unholsters her gun, opens the cylinder, and inserts six bullets. She then closes the cylinder and sheathes the weapon.

“Well, normally it shouldn't be this powerful. It's too dark now, but I'm sure my father did more than put in an extra rod.”

Filo doesn't say anything, he starts walking again.

Sely follows him.

⁂

Avoiding cobwebs and staying on track at night is more difficult.

Filo proceeds slowly and Sely occasionally raises her eyes to the foliage that darkens the sky.

“Do you think I did the right thing?” She says suddenly.

“Sely, I don't know. I'm not the right person to ask.”

“Yes, but I mean… you came to my defense. With the king, first… and then…”

“And then?”

“And then you saved me, yesterday, in battle…”

Filo stops. He doesn't turn around and lets out a shrug before leaving again. His spade with retracted handle dangles at his side.

“I only did what I felt was the right thing to do.”

“Which is a lot. Thanks for the support.”

“You make me blush… eh eh.”

It makes Sely smile too.

Ultimately it's true. I don't know what I would have done on my own, from my Dad's murder onwards.

Thank you, Filo, thank you.

As they continue in silence, Filo suddenly turns around.

“Yes.”

“What?”

“I think you did well. I mean, everything came crashing down on you and these faction wars don't concern you. I remain of the opinion that you have nothing to do with it, nor is it your job to risk it for the good of the spiders or Vanoge. Arriving as a messenger from the plateau you have done far too much and have been given far too little.”

Sely isn't sure how to respond.

I understand what you're saying, Filo. But, for example, spiders gave me these bullets.

Who knows what other treasures they must have preserved...

…and they are giving part of it to me.

They probably hoped that one of these would be intended for the marquise.

Since neither of them speaks anymore, the two continue their journey.

Whether Sely comes home or not, she still wants to talk to the mayor and settle accounts with those two murderers.

“I will help you.”

“Filo, you're just going through a lot of trouble because of me. There's no need for you to do anything else I'm the one who should repay.”

“If you put it that way, just add this to the list of favors you owe me. One day I will collect. Hahaha!”

⁂

It is the first light of dawn when the clearing in which they were captured in the previous days is seen.

“I think we can stop and rest.” Filo turns off the torch, now useless with the blue coloring everything.

Sely accepts the proposal and decides to take out the blanket and spread it on the grass. The smell of dew fills her nostrils.

“Can we rest assured?”

Filo nods and lies down too, using his cloak as a blanket. “Yes, the spiders are following us to make sure we get out. As long as we have this escort in the shadows, I think we can rest assured.”

“Hm-Hmm… good, good…”

Sely closes her eyes and falls asleep.