Before we can fully rejoin the group, I tug a bit on his cape (because of course he has a cape), prompting him to turn around.

"Wassup?" he asks warmly, not fearing to turn his back to the villagers and his adventurer-friends to look at me. I glance away, turning my eyes to the humans we're about to try and convince.

"I'm just-, I'm not sure if this will work. I could just fly away, and we'll meet up later. No fuss," I suggest. In a display of impressive facial control, his entire face scrunches up as if he had bit into a whole lemon.

"Fuck no, dude. We're getting this all untangled, becase-" he turns back to the villagers and all, puffing out his chest, "I am a hero!"

I could do nothing but trail after him. Almost every single person present, I and Todd not included, seemed exceedingly tired. The sun was up, too, so the villagers really shouldn't be tired at all. The adventurers? Well, as far as I can tell, they've been running all night, so it's okay that they're taking a nap on the road. It's okay, sleep tight.

"Everyone! This has been nothing but a great misunderstanding!" Todd calls out, hopping on top of the sundial to really stand above everyone. "This man - this Johnny person currently controlling the body of this wizard - is a dear friend of mine! Every word he has spoken is the truth, probably, so you ought not to fear! He will leave the wizard's body as soon as he is clear of danger! According to my very very good friend, Johnny, this wizard would, and WILL, attack him on sight. That is why he will not let him go this very moment!"

Silence stretched out, deep and awkward. The warrior stepped up to silence the silence.

"-Why the hell do you know a D-class monster-?"

"Um, I-,,"

"As I said before," I step up closer, my face growing stony and neutral once more, "I was once human. Before that..." A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. God-,, I cannot help it. It is my one tell. A small smile crosses my face. "-He was my- my friend."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Todd looks at me from where he stands on the sundial and smiles brightly. Did-, did they believe it-? I know I suck at lying I just-,, want to get this over with.

"-Is that true-?" the warrior asked Todd, turning back to him. Todd nodded, his smile deepening, taking on the properties of fondness. It is... eerie, how good of a liar he is.

"-Yes, it is. We were the best of friends, almost brothers. Brothers not in blood, but in bond! We met in the slums, we lived in the slums. But when a witch cursed him to become inhuman, I was not there! Only now have I found him again - my brother!" Todd says, clutching his chest and - somehow - shedding a single tear. Nobody else cries, but there is some pity in their eyes. He is... a charmer.

The villagers turn to me where I stand, expecting something out of me. I smile, a stale, crusty little smile that can't possibly fool a soul.

"-Yes, it is true," I lie straight to their faces, nodding. They turn to each other, surprise and relief on their faces. The archer, not the warrior, steps forward for some reason.

"Quick question, but are you like, one of those returners? Like you come back from the dead?"

Todd nods, but doesn't answer much more beyond that. He seems... thoughtful.

"I'm sure you all know what witches are capable of. Sly, experimenting with magics and spells we barely even now exist. It isn't too strange to hear of one transforming a poor orphan boy into an insect, now is it?" Todd says, trying the waters, seeing if the lie might just work. Nobody answers, but there's some understanding, even sympathy to their gazes.

The warrior sends an odd look to the archer, but doesn't turn away from Todd. That is, until he turns to me, eyes soft and sympathetic.

"-Sorry. I should... You understand we had to be careful, don't you? Even a single messenger of that Crowned Devil would be enough to burn this whole forest to the ground, not to talk about we who live here. Perhaps, even so, we should have been more open-minded," he says, crossing his arms. His face seems conflicted, unsure of if he should even be saying that.

I hate this lie. I can accept it, but I don't like it. I just don't.

"-It's okay. I forgive you, warrior, and your comrades as well," I say, but even I am unsure.

"Alright!" Todd says, clapping his hands to relieve the awkward tension in the air. "Now that we've got all that sorted out, I'll just catch up with Johnny and you all continue your daily tasks, alright?"

The villagers murmur amongst themselves once more, but do as he asks. The only ones who don't leave, not counting the sleeping adventurers, are the hunters and the mini-wizard.

"-Is there anything wrong?" Todd asks, genuine confusion clear in his voice.

"-When will he leave my master's body?" the mini-wizard suddenly asks, popping out from behind the sundial, surprising Todd.

"I'll leave once I and Todd have figured out a way to do so without having him attack me on the spot."

"-Why would-, fiend, I'll accept your situation, but I will not accept your actions! Mister might not have all his horses, but he would never do a thing so rash!"

"-Okay, look, elf dude, it'll be fine, okay? Just be a bit patient," Todd says, attempting to cool him down. Surprisingly, it works, and the mini-wizard steps down, crossing his arms in frustration. "Right, right, okay, Johnny, let's figure this out."

I nod. As unhappy as the mini-wizard is, he allows us to stay in his and the wizard's house while we discuss this all.