The fiend grabbed the second fish right from Vivi’s hand. Right after, the fiend took a wary step back, treating Vivi with caution. The first fish was still in its mouth, being munched.

Vivi tried not to sigh. This will be difficult…

Now that the fiend was calm and standing still, Vivi could clearly see the fiend’s features. Her hair was messy white with subtle pink strokes. She had small horns poking out from her forehead, mostly hidden by hair. Her pink eyes were large and sharp, and her ears were pointy and elf-like. The appearance wasn’t scary in the slightest. Even her two fanged teeth were mostly for show.

“Do you understand words?” Vivi asked. “Nod for me if you do.”

The fiend kept frowning at Vivi.

“Nod if you want another fish,” Vivi said.

The fiend flinched. Then she nodded three times in a row.

This little devil… Vivi thought. She tossed another fish for the fiend. Now the fiend held a fish in both hands, one in its mouth. She still appeared wary of Vivi.

“That’s all you’re getting for now,” Vivi said. “You’re free to go. Try to steal from me again, and next time I won’t be so kind. I need food as well.”

Vivi picked up the seven remaining fishes and laid them out beside the emberstones. She sat on her stool and asked Lucius to grow her claws back. He flew back to her core and pushed ether into her hands. Vivi started gutting and perching the first fish.

The fiend wasn’t leaving. She stood by the side, curiously watching.

Lucius, watch that she doesn’t steal anything, Vivi thought.

“Are we not going to kick her out?” Lucius said. “I’m growing annoyed with this one.”

It’s fine, Vivi thought. I don’t see a problem.

“You can stay,” Vivi told the fiend. “But don’t try anything stupid. I won’t forgive you a second time. I’ll be cooking my own meal now.”

Vivi did just as she said, continuing to clean the fishes. She felt the fiend’s gaze from the corner of her eye. The little girl was munching on her own fish, but most of her attention was on Vivi. She didn’t look cunning. More so, she was curious but reluctant to get closer.

“We really should throw her out,” Lucius said. “She could be a spy.”

I seriously doubt it, Vivi thought. And it’s not like we’re doing anything worth spying.

“She could be waiting for a better opportunity to steal from us. I can tell she likes shiny things from those eyes. She’s going to be a problem.”

Possibly, Vivi said. It’s not like I trust her either. Every nimrod has their own interests in mind. In Zand, the most innocent little girls can betray their best friends.

“Why keep her, then? Why take a risk?”

Vivi shrugged. She didn’t have a good answer. Maybe she just liked the company. She had just massacred monster after monster, nearly dying in the process. All the while being hunted down, hated by everyone around her. The new secluded lifestyle wasn’t something Vivi wished to grow accustomed to.

With the fishes cleaned, Vivi spread them to cook on the emberstones. The fiend watched the process in bafflement. She had finished eating her three fishes and had moved a step closer.

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“Want one?” Vivi asked. She picked up one of the cooked fishes and held it out for the fiend.

The fiend stared at Vivi for a moment. She took one step forward, then another. Finally, she walked up to Vivi and picked up the fish. She treated the cooked fish like it was some magical artifact. She put it in her mouth.

Immediately, her tongue stuck out. She let out a sound that Vivi interpreted as “Ow.”

Vivi chuckled. “It’s hot, I know. You should wait for it to cool.”

The fiend watched as Vivi ate her own fishes, hot and directly from the emberstones. With Vivi’s example, the fiend tried again, forcing herself to eat the hot fish. It was still clearly too hot, but the fiend ate it in pain.

“What a child…” Lucius said.

Go keep her company, Vivi thought. I think she’ll try to steal my food otherwise. I’d really like to eat the rest of my fishes.

“You want me to protect you?” Lucius asked.

Play with her, Vivi thought. Keep her distracted. She might like cats.

Lucius sounded disgusted by the idea.

Otherwise, we’ll need to stay for a lot longer while I catch another batch of fishes.

“Fine, I’ll protect you, but I won’t ‘play’ with her.”

Lucius popped out from Vivi’s core. He sat between Vivi and the fiend. Discomfort was clear from his presence. He hated being faced with the fiend. Nonetheless, he licked his paws, feigning ignorance.

The calm act was broken in an instant when the fiend poked Lucius in the cheek. He jumped onto all four paws and hopped back.

Lucius ran, and the fiend chased. “Stay away, fiend!” Lucius called. “Hands off!”

The fiend giggled, continuing the chase.

Make sure not to hurt her, Vivi thought. She sat down to eat while enjoying the chaos.

“Vivi, help!” Lucius shouted in her head, panicking. “How am I supposed to hold her off if I can’t fight back!”

You’re doing great, Vivi thought, biting off a chunk of fish.

The show continued throughout Vivi’s lunch. Lucius got caught multiple times, escaping with the help of his slimy body, only for the chase to continue. His emotions were all over the place, ranging from betrayed to humiliated.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you!” Lucius said. “I didn’t think you were so cruel, Vivi!”

Sorry, Vivi thought, munching on the second fish. I’m almost done.

The chaos continued. Lucius hopped to the tallest crawl space, believing he had gotten away, until the fiend climbed after him. He screeched in Vivi’s head, as if running for his life.

Five minutes later, Vivi finished the last fish. She stood up. This immediately made everyone pause. The fiend glanced up at Vivi, the wariness returning to her face.

Vivi stretched again, then said, “I’m Vivi. That’s Lucius. We accept allies as long as you don’t cause trouble.”

The fiend seemed to be listening but didn’t respond. She looked focused, hearing out every word, but Vivi wasn’t sure how well the girl really understood language.

“Eeemm,” the fiend said.

“Eem?” Vivi asked. “Is that your name?”

“Eem,” the fiend said, nodding.

“Glad to have you, Eem,” Vivi said. “You must know a lot about the dungeon. You know how to get in and out of the hidden dungeon. If you can lead us to the best hunting spots, I’ll offer you a lot more fishes. Just don’t get us in trouble, okay?”

Lucius was utterly appalled by the conversation. But even he seemed to agree with Vivi’s points. The fiend was clever. She had already saved Vivi once, bringing her to the hidden dungeon. Vivi believed keeping Eem around would be beneficial.

And Eem was cute. Vivi couldn’t get mad at that face. Just because Eem was a half-fiend she was hated for existing? That was nonsense.

Vivi pointed at the crawl space Eem had come from. “Is this path safe?”

Eem thought for a moment. Then she shook her head.

“There are monsters around?”

Eem nodded twice.

“Which path has the most monsters?” Vivi asked. “What’s a path you would never take because the monsters ruin your plans?”

Eem frowned. She immediately pointed at one of the crawlspaces directed toward the fanglings’ lair. A different one from the one Vivi had entered, but one that pointed in the same direction.

“You dislike the fang monsters?” Vivi asked.

Eem nodded.

“I do too,” Vivi said. She stretched again, preparing herself for action. Her muscles weren’t healed, but she figured some light action would bring them back alive. “Lucius. Let’s clear the fangling lair for good.”