A light breeze caused ripples to appear in the green sea as Citranus himself slowly made his way across the divine realm in the form of a burning bird basking Edor in his golden light. Under the blue sky with clouds painted with light brush strokes the Great Plain, a territory of Demi-Humans and other monsters stalking in its tall grass suddenly ended. The defining the East Edor, the long waxy grass which gleamed like gems in the sunlight suddenly died, leaving a ten-meter-wide strip of land where ordinary grasses and the tall waxy blades created a meandering border where neither could cross.

This was unnoticed by the elf whose eyes had gotten so used to having a vast green sea around herself that her mind didn't pick up that her surroundings had changed subtly. Her journey to the west, toward Vitas had taken long enough for her age to change. She must have read and reread the system notification hundreds of times but she couldn't believe that she was only four months and twelve days old but her status sheet didn't lie.

The twelve days had come from her counting the days since the notification appeared, creating a pin of reference for Iris in this featureless land. She roughly calculated that their journey in the Great Plain had lasted about two months which she found humorous given that two months was half of her life so far and rather eventful half at that. Thankfully the trek toward the Vitas from the demi-human city was rather uneventful and most importantly, deprived of magical winds.

*Purr*

Iris looked down at the sleeping kitten she was carrying who puckered her face in annoyance. The fair hoplite shook her head as she watched the adorable girl brush her head against the leather jacket, pleading with her.

*Sigh*

"You're hopeless, I will find you something for you to do," Iris said to herself, some elven part of her mind didn't couldn't or wouldn't recognise Kia as undead that she was and viewed her as the delicate girl she appeared to be. This part whispered worries into the elf's ear making her unconsciously focus on the girl's slim body and how weak she appeared to be. "Once we return to civilisation." The tall undead unknowingly slowed down and searched her mind for ideas.

*Purr*

"...We've got a journey, long and wide,

Soldiers, lift up your spirits high with pride!

House's arms and coats, soar and glide,

Guided by Divines, there's no fear to hide.

So onward, march, step by step we tread,

For you, my love, letters I'll spread.

Goodbye, the bugle's call, so clear,

Soldiers, onward, without fear!

We still have many leagues to roam,

Soldier, don't despair, you're not alone.

With banners flying, we'll find our home,

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Our commanders lead, hearts of stone.

Keep moving forward, through each day and night,

I'll write you letters by the firelight.

Farewell, as the bugle calls the tune,

Soldiers, we'll conquer the star-struck dune..."

Iris felt the words leave her mouth but she wasn't sure from where she had pulled them from. From the lyrics, she guessed she must have listened to it while Brad and his companions marched alongside. Her mind conjured an image of her standing in the grass waiting as the dirt road in front of her slowly being turned to mud as armoured soldiers marched past the Hero. The scene didn't bring the elf closer to recalling how she came around to learning the song as similar scenes repeated itself many times over the years she had served the human Hero. Regardless of the origin of the song it caused her sleeping saviour to wake up and stare at her with wide open eyes.

"Again?" Kia sat up, her eyes level with Iris's after the risen's voice trailed off in the wind. "Please."

"Give me a moment Kia." Iris replied to the girl, who felt as heavy as a feather.

"Grumble, grum-" Kia squinted her eyes before lazily falling back onto Iris's shoulder. "Where are we?"

"What do you mean?" Iris said before she looked around and saw a landscape not too different from what she saw in her homeland. Vast untamed fields full of various types of grasses and small circular bushes sprinkled across the horizon. The small, easily missed flowers growing on thin vine-like stalks blooming late just before the winter set in gave colour to the previously green and blue world Iris had stepped out of causing the stoic undead to stop. "Good question, where are we?"

"I asked first!" Kia stated as Iris put her down before spinning her head around, studying her surroundings.

"I was asking myself."

"Oh, I didn't know."

"That's fine, dear." The elf stroked Kia's cheek causing them to turn bright pink.

"...D-dear?" The necromancer seemed shocked by her body's reaction as before she asked.

"You are precious to me Kia," Iris's second hand cupped the necromancer's other cheek. "Can I call you dear?"

"I-is it annoying?" The girl seemed to regain full control over her body as she leaned her body backwards and began to study her creation's suspicious smile.

"It's not annoying, it's just something you say to someone precious and important to you."

"Then... you can call me dear."

"Thank you, sweetie." Iris leaned forward and kissed the mage.

"I'm not sweet!" The mage protested as soon the elf separated her warm lips from the undead. "I'm not..." She stated again much quieter this time as the risen came back with a quick peck.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

"But I'm not, how could that even work?" The girl said.

"You are such pious women, I wasn't talking about our kisses, dear~" The elf ran her fingers through the clueless girl's pitch-black hair before taking a proper look at the landscape around her, she scanned the horizon for a brief moment before she lifted her arm and pointed. "Hmmm, I think I see buildings, there."

"Are we going there?" Kia asked, her head turning fast toward the direction pointed by the elf.

"We could, and I think we should. I'm guessing we are near Vitas but I could ask and learn where we are precisely. Also, we could buy some food."

"Deliciousness?" Kia's high noble visage shattered as the elf glanced at the ancient and saw her salivating from the thought.

"Shameless monster, haven't I fed you well?" Iris said but the girl simply stayed silent, looking at the distant roofs barely peaking from under the horizon with predatory spark burning in her eyes. "But first, we can't go without cleaning ourselves." The elf tapped Kia's shoulder.

"Ohhhh."

"We can take a proper bath later but it's better if we are not covered in dust and dirt." The elf pointed downwards, her pants and shoes were covered in dust, mud and green stains from walking through the grassy wasteland. It was remarkable how much people treated each other differently depending on their appearance and she suspected that looking like adventuring beggars wouldn't help them given from which direction they were about to come from.

"Clean." Kia said as she lifted her arm and clicked her finger but her voice lacked the magical ring when casting a spell.

Iris's ears twitched as she heard the water running above her and before her muscles could twitch a waterfall of ice-cold water poured onto her.

"Thanks, Kia." Iris brushed aside a damp lock of her hair while tapping the side of her head making sure the joker's sapphire gift didn't get swept away. She was then met with Kia's glowing eyes which smiled victoriously at her as water dripped down both of their hair.

At least she is learning. The elf sighed internally to herself as she followed the pale peacock with her eyes, dismissing the thoughts of revenge away with a wave of her hand.

"We can go now?" Kia leaned forward with arms behind her back.

"Yes, we can go," The taller raven said but her answer was only half of what the necromancer wanted. "Something wrong?"

"You said you will sing."