- Oooh?

Kill had returned from her shower, her armor washed as well and her hair now straight. She was sitting in front of Bibi and Na while biting into a piece of bread. She placed it on the porcelain plate that was lying on the pitiful table and smiled.

- So you still decide to go back? she asked.

The man with the bad hair nodded.

- I would really like to go home and Bibi too... he answered.

They had talked for a long time to make their decision, but deep down, this was what they both had in mind all along. Bibi and Na were comfortable with each other, but this was not their home. This was not where they were supposed to be.

- I miss the people I've met, I must say..." Na said.

Kill rubbed her armor as she listened to him, her gaze fixed on his face. Bibi watched him, silent.

- Hmmm...

The woman blinked her fiery eyes before settling back into her chair.

- Where are you from, exactly?

She asked the man this question, which made him look up. He didn't hesitate on his answer which he gave instantly.

- From the Kemono Federation!

Kill did not hide her surprise.

- Yet, you don't seem to be a Kemono?

He shook his head.

- I don't think I am, it's just that I don't know who I am... I was found in front of the Federation's doors.

- You don't know who you are...? asked Kill.

- No... I have a friend who is trying to help me, but it seems I am not offering any clues...

Kill watched him carefully, but she saw nothing in him that would help her either. He had generic clothes, fairly normal eyes, and unkempt hair of a basic color. He was without Power and a mere human. If he himself knew nothing about his own identity, it was possible that he would never know who he was before. Nevertheless, that was none of her business and she had no desire to interfere. She was vaguely familiar with the Kemono Federation and wondered why he had been found there... She shrugged.

- Eh, I see. Good luck, then," she said simply.

Na scratched his hair with a small smile, thanking her honestly. Kill turned to Bibi.

- And what about you? Where are you from?

The girl looked at her silently, looking her in the eyes. They stared at each other for a moment before Bibi agreed to answer.

- That's my business.

Kill squinted.

- The more we talk, the more questions I have," she said.

- I have a right to my privacy.

- Except that I want to know.

In Kill's voice was an air of menace. Bibi could hear her: it was an order. She sighed.

- ... I come from a small village in the north of Alarez.

- The name?

- Ian-on-Lore.

- ...

Kill didn't know this village, but she didn't see any lie in her air. Bibi had looked her in the eyes while answering and had not hesitated in the least. She shrugged her shoulders and accepted the answer.

- I see, I see!" said Kill.

- And you?

It was Na who asked. The woman in armor was looking at the ceiling while shaking her feet. They watched her carefully, hoping for an answer. After what seemed like endless seconds, she lowered her head and stuck out her tongue before answering:

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- From the underworld.

Na blinked, surprised by such an answer. Bibi felt a chill down her spine. The way she said it...

- She said it like it was really where she came from... Bibi thought.

Kill laughed at their reaction and told them to relax by tapping the table with her foot. She gradually calmed down before getting up from her chair and telling them to wait. She left the room and the silence returned. Na turned to Bibi, a surprised look on his face.

- Do you think she's really from the underworld?

Bibi smiled, amused by his remark.

- Do you know what the underworld is?

- Sheerah explained a lot to me...

- Eeeh, I see. I don't think she was serious, but...

Bibi did not finish her sentence, leaving Na without a full answer. She was curious about this woman and really wanted to learn more about her identity, but it would take her a while and she wasn't even sure Kill would admit anything to her. She had to get to the Grand Sanctuary with Na so he could go home, even if Bibi had a little pain in her heart.

- ...

She sighed blankly and turned to Na, who was silently watching the room. Bibi's red eyes staring at the man's building with attention, sadness and hope; so many emotions that only she could understand. She could abandon the quest they were on and stay together in this ruined city, but she couldn't force him to stay by her side. He had a purpose in his life, too, and had friends who must have wondered where he was. Bibi was aware of her own selfishness, which kept her in check. Na had a place to return to; she was different.

- Sorry for the wait!

Kill returned, opening the door violently with her foot, and approached Bibi. The woman caressed her dark blue hair, tousling it even more, before giving something to Na. He took it in his hands and blinked, having no idea what it was. Bibi shook her head and pushed Kill before looking at what she had given Na. She squinted her eyes.

- It's... a Rune of Etholys...?

Kill sat back in her chair before nodding.

- Right," she said with a smile.

Na looked up, confused.

- What is a Rune... of Etholys...?" he asked.

The object was a shiny pearl necklace with an accessory on it. The latter was a right-side-up triangle that fit into an upside-down one, with a small shiny dot between them. Bibi recognized it immediately, but seeing one here shocked her.

- I figured you wouldn't know it, but I'm sure your girlfriend does!

Bibi gave her a dark look, which made the woman laugh. Na turned to Bibi and showed her the necklace, asking her what it was. She hesitated on her answer, but finally grabbed it and told him to approach her head. He did so without hesitation and lowered it a little, as requested. The girl gave Kill a sharp look and Kill nodded, indicating that she could continue. She put the necklace around Na's neck and told him he could raise his head, which he did directly. He touched the necklace with questions in his eyes and questioned Bibi with his eyes.

- What you have around your neck is what is called a Rune of Etholys, a necklace that has part of the Power of an Old God," Bibi explained.

- That's the same God who kept Arasol in the sky frozen for more than two months at a time, creating a lot of problems on Arcave," Kill added.

Bibi nodded, but continued on, not caring about the woman's voice.

- After his defeat by one of the other gods, he put all his power into his necklace and killed himself out of shame, not accepting that he had been defeated. This necklace, after his death, broke into several pieces that became the Runes of Etholys.

Bibi pointed to the necklace that Na had around his neck.

- Guidance from the stars and a chance to shine in life is what wearing a Rune means.

Na had listened to everything with big ears, bright eyes. Kill had watched Bibi speak with a smile, not surprised that she knew so much about such an object. Na gave a big smile as she stared at Bibi.

- E-Es... Does this mean I have a Power now?! he asked excitedly.

Bibi shook her head.

- Unfortunately, no.

He pouted, disappointed. Bibi continued.

- It's impossible to take advantage of the Power in one of the Runes, but it's certain that wearing one is very... honorable. As I said, having this necklace around your neck is a chance to shine in life and to have the guidance of the stars.

- What does it really mean?" asked Na.

- Nothing in particular, it just means that the stars will watch over you.

It was Kill who answered, not letting Bibi speak. The two of them turned to the black-haired woman.

- It is said that you will have more luck, that life will give you more gifts with a Rune of Etholys around your neck. I don't care at all, because I don't believe in that... but you, you are a human without Power, without memory. You deserve a ray of light in your life, right?

Kill smiled as she clenched her fist in front of her.

- So accept this gift and let the stars guide you in your life, I am sure they will help you in your quest.

Na had no idea how to respond to such a sentence. He was still confused by Bibi and Kill's explanations, but on the one hand, he could understand what they meant. He smiled as he looked at Kill and thanked her warmly. She waved her hand and told him it was normal. Bibi looked at Na's neck, where the Rune was... She told him to hide it under his clothes, in case someone would try to steal it from him: it was better to hide it from all untrustworthy people. Na understood and did it quickly. When the Rune was hidden under his clothes, he wondered if he should show it to Sheerah, when he returned... She was a trustworthy person after all, maybe she will be happy to see such a thing on him. Bibi turned to Kill, but didn't say a word. Giving away such an item was unthinkable... Already, owning one of Etholys' Runes was strange. But to give it to someone you've only just met... That was madness. Bibi had many questions in mind to ask her, but she preferred to stay quiet and return to the subject of this woman later. First, they had something to do... She stood up and looked at Na.

- Anyway, both of us, we have to go see this Tarka, she said.

Na nodded and stood up. Kill smiled as she watched them, still sitting comfortably in her pitiful chair.

- You're really going, huh? I don't even know who this Tarka is.

- Neither do we, honestly. I'm not giving up, though. We have to get back.

Kill stared at them for a long time, her fiery eyes watching them in detail. Finally she shrugged and stood up.

- The science tower Annie was talking about is easy to see, since it's right next to these Ruins. How many times have I seen scientists passing by my base, ahah! Nevertheless, you'll be seeing me, sorry, but I won't help you more than that.

- You already told us," Bibi said coldly.

- After so much discussion, maybe I would have changed my mind, don't you think?

- And I haven't.

- Clearly not. I'm not a heroine.

She left the room and told them to follow her, which they did. She continued talking.

- The science tower is well guarded from what I know, but I don't think you should have any trouble. But you'd better watch out, I'm too lazy to go and get the Rune from your bodies.

She laughed with this remark and accompanied them to the exit, which took a few minutes of walking. This underground base was like a labyrinth. When they arrived outside, Bibi and Na had to close their eyes to avoid burning their retinas. They took a few moments to get used to the light of Arasol and looked at the landscape in front of them. They were still in the ruined city, but the great battlefield where they had stood against the Longer was no longer visible. Na asked Kill where it was. She pointed to the horizon, to the west.

- Much further out there. If you go back there, you'll surely see everything destroyed and smashed, I warn you, ahah! What a sick strength, though...

She clenched her fists and smiled. She could not forget such pressure on her shoulders... She had known much worse, but her injuries that took time to heal prevented her from being as powerful as before... She sighed and put her hands on her hips.

- Anyway, this is where I leave you. For the scientific tower that Annie was talking about, you walk a little ahead and you will find it easily. Everything is in ruins here, but this tower is intact, impossible to miss it.

She smiles at them.

- Good luck, little ones!

She stroked their hair and Bibi struggled before backing away. Na thought it was funny. When she stopped, Kill turned to go back to her base, but the man called her by her name. She turned around and questioned him with her eyes. Na did not hide his embarrassment, but he took his courage and asked her a question:

- Do you really come from the underworld...?

Kill watched him attentively, mouth agape. Bibi chuckled desperately, strangely unsurprised by such a question. The woman finally let out a low laugh and calmed down while kicking her leg. Na apologized for his question, but she told him to wait and stopped laughing with a smile. She looked him in the eyes and with a friendly air, she agreed to answer him:

- I consider this place even worse than hell.

With that, she turned on her heels and left them together, closing the broken door behind and disappearing from their sight. Bibi shrugged her shoulders and told him to follow her, which he did without waiting, although questions were running through his head.