With the Saint still nowhere to be seen or heard, the trio headed into the forest. It was the blue-haired filly that decided on this as they had another guest staying with them, currently resting in the forest.

“Damn!” Tibaut exclaimed. Resting on the forest floor was a white horse that looked, frankly ridiculous. It had legs the thickness of a tree trunk on the body of a rhino, with its head the only thing that resembled a normal horse.

“Yeah, I heard it's one of those mythical breeds. That thing’s probably worth more than Elizabeth’s mansion.” Ruby said as she appreciated the genetic marvel in front of her.

“Mythical breeds?” He asked.

“I don't blame you for not knowing what it is. I had to have Elizabeth explain it to me when that cute little saint decided to stay here until you woke up. Apparently, they’re horses bred for combat using magic and all sorts of rituals, usually by a kingdom or major church. I think she said they were bred for important figures like Saints since those guys can easily outrun regular horses.” Ruby continued. “Look at its leg.”

Tibaut quickly turned his attention to the horse’s legs and noticed one of them was bald. Did it have mange or something? No, the removed hair looked too deliberate for something like that.

“You guys didn't shave it, did you?” He asked.

“Eh? Why would we do something like that? You don't mess (i.e inconvenience, bother or harm) around with animals, right Ruby?” Agnes said as she tightly held the neck of the stallion. She sat behind it on the forest floor, cuddling and brushing the giant's fur. It had a surprisingly thick coat for a horse.

Ruby raised an eyebrow in disgust. “You're taking these jokes too far, you little skank. No, I don't mess (the other meaning) around with animals, what do you take me for!?”

“(Man, they don't hold any punches with each other.) Yeah, Ruby doesn't seem like the type to do that. So what happened to its leg?”

“Oh, it healed it,” Ruby answered

“...healed? As in healing magic?” He asked. The idea of a horse healing itself seemed almost unreal, but this was a world of magic. It wouldn't be any stranger than that beast he saw that somehow moved so fast it seemed like it was teleporting.

“Of course not. The closest you'll get to a healing horse is one of those beast men with horse ears having healing magic.” Ruby answered. “While it was helping that Saint of his, the Bishop burnt its leg so badly it fell off.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Seriously? Wait so it-”

“Yup, it grew its leg back in about a week.” She said with a shake of the head. “Seeing stuff like that makes you realise how small time most of us are.” She stepped forward and fell into the arms of Tibaut.

“Woah, woah what are you-”

“Don't you just want to quit this whole adventuring shit and come live with me Tibaut? I'm finished with this adventuring bullshit, and having an energetic little man live with me is the best way to spend my retirement. Don't worry Agnes, we can share him.” She said as she forced the dead weight of her nearly 250lb body against the man only made of skin and bones.

(“I guess that wouldn't be too bad.”) Agnes thought as she began brushing the stomach of the horse. She knew Ruby was joking so she let her antics slide (for now).

“G-get off me, besides there's no way in hell I'll let that bastard escape.”

“Tch, the less you bring up Ezekiel, the better.” She responded, followed by her getting back on her feet.

“(Well, I have to find him too, eventually.) But, uh, are you really quitting?” He asked.

“Well, I started this with a certain goal in mind but I'm happy to-” She paused and sighed. “No, I'm not. But I think it's more appropriate if I handed that goal off to my niece. I'm old and worn out but she'll probably keep getting better with the coming years. And importantly she might be able to take down those bastards.”

Agnes watched the two of them as she groomed the horse.

“Really? You don't seem like the type to have any goals or aspirations.” Tibaut said.

The woman grimaced at his words and sat down at a tree.

“I guess you're right about that. I've done nothing but collect men like gemstones over these last few years.” Her voice sounded more sombre than earlier.

Tibaut immediately backpedalled when he noticed her reaction. “No, no I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it's just-”

“I've stayed in this parish for over 17 years. Just cause the men here are earnest and like a nice lady every once in a while. My sister gave me a new lease on life and this is what I'm doing with it.” She said before sighing. “And I couldn't even be bothered to get her revenge, I'm just dumping that onto your daughter. I really am the worst, right sis?”

“Uh, Ruby?”

Ruby covered her eyes and tears soon began flowing down her face.

Agnes touched his shoulder. “We should give her some space. Ever since she heard what happened to that Ezekiel guy, she sorta gets like this sometimes.”

Tibaut looked at her for a moment before following Agnes back to the mansion.

“Are you sure you don't wanna talk about this?” He asked after taking a few steps. He wasn't sure if he could help but talking to Louise definitely helped him when he was in the dumps.

She didn't respond and kept crying.

He wore a pained expression before walking away with Agnes.