Thariel stepped out of Amori Falls' entrance and turned her gaze to the morning sky. After looking at glowing insect hives for a week, being exposed to sunlight felt good.

She didn't think that she'd appreciate the sun this much without her new soul mark though so she had the saint to thank for that.

She fixed the mask on her face. The shifting scales on its surface brushed against her fingers, the feeling reminded her of fields of grass in a windy afternoon.

She thought her new mask was kind of cool- literally, it was cold, - but also metaphorically.

It was made from the Blizzard Hypnotist she killed and even though the fabricator only gave her one item for a single creature, the effects it held outweighed the over consumption of the materials.

The mask had the ability to hypnotize people and make them more susceptible to her words. This ability would only be further amplified after she gets her vampiric abilities.

She knew that one branch of the original Thariel's skill tree was strictly centered around mind control so she couldn't wait to ge to that point.

She still hasn't figured out how skill trees are translated in in a more realistic setting but with her knowledge of it being related to the soul, she's sure she'll figure it out eventually.

Thariel walked around the forest while looking at everything she passed to get used to the infrared vision of her mask, a useful addition to the already amazing hypnotic ability of the item.

The infrared vision was exactly as she expected it as well; a constant series of reds across her line of sight.

Everything she saw is either a shade of red or bits of orange, the coloration depended on how hot the object she's looking at was and the closer something is to crimson the hotter it was.

It is hard to get used to, and not to mention her new way of seeing things is kind of jarring when compared to her old one. She was able to figure it out though.

With the small amount of mastery in using the mask that she managed to attain, Thariel used the mask to spot and differentiate all the tiny creatures running around her. In a normal, light-centric vision, the critters running along the underbrush would have been invisible but she was able to see them all clearly with infrared.

Or at least know they're there. She couldn't tell what the things she's seeing are since they're nothing more than blobs of red in her vision but she knows they exist.

A little more of this and Thariel started to notice heat left behind by animals inside their footprints. Fresh tracks were dots of yellow on the otherwise purple ground.

Thariel looked forward and moved along the under brush while making her way back to her home.

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She briefly wondered about the Kobolds and their situation and her small curiosity eventually grew into concern as she quickened her footsteps towards the direction of Sylka's tribe.

With the state of the forest around her, she didn't believe that the fight between the goblins and the Kobolds had started so she didn't have a reason to worry but what if this soundless forest was because of the local vampire brood silencing both sides?

Thariel shook the thought out of her head, that most likely wasn't the case otherwise she'd smell the blood.

She felt relief when she saw that the grove where Sylka's tribe was located is still full with the warmth of life. The constant red in her vision was replaced by well-lit tents when she took off her mask and upon seeing the sight, she relaxed.

Thariel found herself leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree. She gazed at the distant homes and wondered how all the occupants felt about their current situation.

They must know that the forest is about to be plunged into a war right? Are they worried about that? Maybe. But then again, Kobolds liked to fight and maybe the thought of war was something that excited them.

... But it's probably better if she gets close and asks how things are going in person.

Thariel put her mask back on and began making her way towards the camp.

It didn't take her long to notice that yes, there were signs that everyone here is preparing for a war with the most prominent being the unfinished weapons and armor scattered around the paved dirt between the tents.

Thariel stopped by the chieftain's tent and there she waited for someone to greet her. The Kobolds already knew she was here so this shouldn't take long.

The one who greeted her was none other than Sylka and she bowed in respect before straightening her back and looking at Thariel in a strange manner.

"Welcome back," the Kobold greeted. Thariel expected her to say more than that but nothing followed.

"Yeah, thanks..." Thariel wanted to sigh, where does she start here? She was hoping for Sylka to give her something to bounce off of.

Sylka continued the conversation after a tense moment of silence and what she said didn't sit right with Thariel though the Damphir let it be.

"Did they send you here?" Sylka's tone was hesitant and she looked around with wary eyes after she finished her question.

"No-" Thariel shook her head, she doesn't want to explain that she doesn't even know a single member of the brood right now so she cut to the point, "I want to help."

Sylka stared at Thariel in an inquisitive manner in response. Wordless seconds ticked by before the Kobold nodded and replied with, "thank you for the offer, with you there we wouldn't be so hopelessly outmatched."

Sylka's eyes moved upward, at something behind Thariel's head. Her irises narrowed and focused on the bow hanging from Thariel's back, "I'm guessing you're not going to be at the front of the battlefield?"

"No," Thariel shook her head.

Even though she's killed already, those were animals. She never felt good about killing people and the thought of doing so made her feel squeamish.

It was better if she was at the back shooting arrows and counting her kills in numbers rather than personally killing her enemies in bloody 1 on 1s.

"Your presence there is still reassuring," Sylka smiled, "thank you for your offer in assistance,"

"Don't mind it," Thariel shook her head, "I'm just doing what I can to help out,"

The thought of killing goblins- a group in this two sided war that may also have their own reasons for doing things, - irked her slightly but then again, if she were to pick a side to join then she'd go against the ones who are known to be violent or ones who aren't led by an actual demon.

Sylka raised her hands into a gesture, "what you can" is a lot for Kobolds like us," she quoted.

"That's..." Thariel trailed off, she didn't think her efforts were that impactful but Sylka clearly thought otherwise. "I don't think it's worth that much,"

"You're selling yourself short," Sylka stopped walking and Thariel noticed that they are now somewhere around the edge of the river.

They both looked at the calm, moonlit surface and locked eyes with each other's respective reflections before quickly turning away.

"Am I?" Thariel asked. Breaking the silence.

"Yes." Sylka answered confidently, "instead of saying it over and over again, I'll tell you something which I think is the equivalent of the help you're offering; it is like an archmage stepping up to a small skirmish between two human towns, or the lord of a vampire court standing between a petty feud between two lesser members,"

The silence that followed the lengthy answer gave Thariel some time to think.

She thought that yeah, sure, it may seem that way to Sylka but was it really?

She assumes that reality is closer to her being the equivalent of the Satyr on the other side of the war than some glorious hero singlehandedly giving their side the win.

She was strong compared to the normal goblin or kobold sure, but not that much. The only real advantage that she has here is the fact that she's holding a bow.

Thariel wasn't sure how she was going to explain this to Sylka without further convincing the Kobold that her words were just her underselling herself so she closed her mouth and looked at the moon.