The day didn’t magically get better. Mila and Isabel both spent most of the time in Cecilia’s room, sleeping off their hangover. Only when the evening came did they rise from their slumber. Miladin and Isabel decided to raid the canteen.

On their way, they met someone Isabel recognised. Mila waited for her girl to finish talking with the pudgy man, who then left to inform Naran of their arrival.

As the canteen ran without a break, they both managed to get a warm meal. The normally bland soup was what Mila needed right now. She slowly ate, enjoying the silence. There was no one here who knew them.

But not for long. Just as Mila and Isabel were done with their dinner, Naran entered the canteen and quickly found them. “Ah! There you are!” He hastily greeted them. “Good work last night. I didn’t know you would take Isabel with you. That was a surprise.”

Mila sent a withering glare at the man, who took it in stride. “What is it that you want?” She finally asked. “It is already late, and we are tired.” Isabel moved behind her and plopped down on her shoulders.

“Don’t go anywhere without me.” Isabel yawned before hiding her face in Mila’s hair.

“I am not planning to,” Mila reassured. “So, out with it. What do you want?”

“Helly wants to negotiate,” Naran told them directly. He looked around, noticing stares gathering on the table. “Not the place to talk. I’ll wait in my office.” He finished and tried to leave.

“Then negotiate,” Isabel mumbled. “I want to sleep.” She murmured in Mila’s ear.

“The queen has spoken.” Mila felt like they had reached a conclusion and was ready to retire for the night.

“They won’t speak with just me. Helly wants-” Naran leaned closer, making it impossible to overhear. “-to speak with the ‘Blood-Soaked-” He cringed, making Mila do the same. “-Maiden and the” Naran now looked at Isabel. “-Inviolable Paladin of Honor and Justice.”

Isabel, who was in the middle of another yawn, froze. She slowly closed her mouth and mulled over the words. “Come again?” Her brain failed.

“Well, that’s what people call you. Well, at least I heard that’s the full title. From what Barcy told me, people on the streets just use the ‘Inviolable Paladin.”

While Isabel’s mind tried to digest what she had just heard, Mila had a very simple question. “Heard from who?”

“Well, Viola.” Naran looked at them in confusion.

Mila felt Isabel’s hands clamp down on her shoulders.

“No way! S-she wouldn’t…” Isabel was in denial. “No, no, no…” Her whole body was trembling in anger, disbelief and dread.

“Did I say something wrong?” Naran retreated. “I thought it was your idea? To build a reputation, she said.”

“That BITCH!” Isabel hissed.

And Mila couldn’t help but dread the answer to the next question she had. “How far has it spread?”

“The names?” Naran eyed them with caution, ready to run at any moment. Isabel’s growls only raised his alarm levels. “Well, Barcy and Cecilia said they are all over the city. Viola told us to help spread them, too. You both were gone, so…”

“WHERE-” Isabel roared. “IS THAT BITCH?”

Naran took another step back, but seeing a chance to channel the anger away from his tunnel system, he took it. “Viola should be at that warehouse building.”

With another roar of anger, Isabel shot out of the room, leaving Mila behind. The powerful screams deafened everyone who happened to be in her path.

The wrathful exclamations soon vanished in the distance, with Mila and Naran looking after them.

“Not gonna follow her?” Naran cautiously asked.

“Now, why would I do that,” Mila spoke with restrained anger. “After all, if I went with her, I might do something rather unfortunate to that woman. My dear Isabel will only-” She ground her teeth. “Punch her very, very hard. She won’t kill her… Probably.”

“Right,” Naran didn’t appear to believe Mila’s words. “So, about meeting Helly…”

Mila took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. While Viola was at fault here, Mila had announced that stupid name to everyone.

Yes, Mila wouldn’t seek revenge. Now, Isabel was another matter. She wouldn’t stop her girl from punishing the naughty acquaintance. “I’ll meet her.” She finally said and started to walk.

Naran happily followed. Mila exchanged some words with him on what to expect from the woman.

After they had ironed out the details, Mila was lost on what to do next. As it turned out, Helly wanted to meet them on short notice. There was just about an hour left until she would arrive.

It had been Naran’s idea, as he wanted to have the advantage of being on home turf. While the decisiveness of the woman was a surprise for Mila, Naran had just taken it in strides. By his words, it was exactly as Helly operated.

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After wandering around for a bit, Mila returned to Cecilia’s room to wait for Isabel.

Upon entering the room, Mila spooked Kanna, who quickly escaped. Mortimer and Vatim were in the room next door. It made for a perfect hiding place for the girl.

Mila simply watched Kanna leave. But before she could crawl into the bed, there was a knock on the door.

“You may enter.” Mila sat down on Cecilia’s bed.

The doors opened, revealing Mortimer and Andrew. “Hey, I heard you are back.” Her friend greeted Mila.

“Just now, yes. Without Isabel by my side, Kanna is quick to run from my presence.” Mila shrugged.

“Figures.” Andrew entered the room with Mortimer following while hiding behind the broad back. “I heard there will be a meeting with Helly.” He started.

“Ah, so you, too, were informed.” Mila didn’t hide it.

“Well, yeah. Helly wanted to see Mortimer as well. Didn’t Naran mention it?”

“No, he didn’t. Admittedly, Isabel and I were distracted.” Mila frowned in displeasure. No one better linked her with that flamboyant alter ego of hers, or there will be hell to pay.

“Well, Helly wants Mortimer and Mortimer doesn’t want to be left alone in the room with wolves.”

Mila glanced at the man covering behind Andrew. “Anything to add?” Mortimer shook his head.

“So,” Andrew continued, “I am going with you. Otherwise, Mortimer will have a heart attack. Can’t blame him. Naran and you are bad enough, and now Helly will be there as well. Mortimer insisted Isabel wasn’t enough to protect him. Speaking of which, where is she?”

“Isabel?” Mila tilted her head, wondering what to say to Andrew. Definitely not about the new rumours Viola was spreading. “She had something to discuss with Viola. It was… Urgent. She should be back soon.”

Andrew nodded and left Mila to go and prepare. He slapped Mortimer’s back as the man complained about the world’s unfairness.

Now alone, Mila finally could lie down. Her body was still suffering from her injuries, and the large quantity of alcohol had exacerbated the problems. At least the discomfort and pain were more noticeable.

Mila looked at the simple wooden ceiling. Her sluggish thoughts churned and turned. They had to get out of the city soon. Naran had already warned of unrest. After the last night's ‘adventure’, Mila guessed it would get worse.

The map. Mila had to get the map. She had to see the fate Kefo and Tiff had come to have.

“Ah…” Mila covered her eyes in her palm. “So, in the end, it is my wish. Not just Isabel’s or Andrew’s. That complicates things.” She muttered.

Feeling the emotions tilt out of balance, Mila turned on her side. She searched for another topic to ponder. There was no need to suffer through emotional imbalance now.

Not now. Latter. Not now. Mila turned to her other side.

When had been the last time Mila had a moment to reflect on her situation without anyone interrupting? She always moved from one point to another. There was always a goal to fulfil.

Now, Mila waited. Alone. Without Isabel at her side, she felt empty.

“That won’t do…” Mila rolled on her stomach and hid her face in the pillow. The light smell of her girlfriend calmed her thoughts. It did make Mila miss her even more.

Then, another topic for her thoughts had to be found. Mila refocused and found herself facing the obvious.

Mila still felt like shit. “...never drinking again.” She recalled the sweet taste of the vine and gagged. She began cursing every memory she had where drinking was praised.

It took Isabel entirely too long to return. When she threw the doors open and stomped inside, Mila knew her girl’s hunt had been fruitless.

“She fucking ran!” Isabel cursed. “I found only Litro. The dude couldn’t stop apologising for failing to stop that rat.”

“Did he say anything else?” Mila pushed herself up and jumped from the upper bunk into Isabel’s arms, who immediately embraced her and started to nuzzle in Mila’s hair.

“Something about doing it to sow chaos in the city. Viola’s great plan had been to claim we were some kind of corruption hunters. We are out to punish evildoers - Nobles and guards included.”

“That sounds… Contrived.” Mila evaluated.

“Yeah, but apparently it IS working,” Isabel complained. “People are suffering. There has not been anyone to fight back against the injustices. I heard us being mentioned on the streets. They LOVE the idea of us being some kind of heroes.”

“We are anything but.” Mila wrapped her hands around her girl’s waist.

“Yeah, I know.” Isabel let her weight fall on Mila. “But with you raiding the guard station, killing Brandy and Hacho and with me rampaging through the guards and bandits, we kind of became ones. Viola has been twisting these events. Making them sound heroic. Making them sound like we are trying to raise against the rulers of Stilag.”

“She wants an uprising.” Mila guessed.

“I think she wanted to mess with us.” Isabel scoffed. “Anything else is just a coincidence. And to think she claims she wants to be friends with us.”

“She does.” Mila contested. “I believe that is how she shows her attachment.”

“No way.” Isabel picked up Mila to squeeze her harder. “She is just an ass.”

“I don’t think she has any maliciousness behind her actions.” Mila let her girl relieve the stress. She was being squeezed too hard, but Isabel needed it.

“She is an ass,” Isabel muttered.

“Yes, yes, she is.” Mila started to pat Isabel’s head.

“Don’t tell Andrew about that name.”

“I won’t, but that hardly matters. Andrew will hear of it. If nothing else, Viola will tell him.”

“... An ass…” Isabel couldn’t let go of the childish insult.

“Speaking of Andrew, he and Mortimer will join us when meeting Helly,” Mila remembered.

“We are meeting her in the end? Can’t we stay here and cuddle?” Isabel whined.

“I already promised.” Mila felt apologetic. “Besides, we have to start moving our plans forward. We can’t stay here for long. Stilag is about to blow up.”

“And we helped. A lot.” Isabel sighed. “Okay, okay. I am almost ready.” She squeezed Mila again while taking deep breaths of the smaller girl’s scent.

“Such is our fate.” Mila vaguely eluded. Not her fate exactly, but now that she was so closely involved with Isabel, it might as well count as hers.

“We go?” Isabel was finally ready. She placed Mila back on the ground.

“After a kiss.”

“Ah,” Isabel’s eyes widened. She leaned down, and they exchanged a kiss.

“Now we can go.” Mila stretched. Hopefully, this won't take long. Although, with her luck, there was going to be a new mess to clean up.