“I take you feel better?” Mila wondered, looking at the blob that was almost human in appearance. She didn’t feel an overwhelming emotional see crashing against her soul, which was a nice change.

Half expecting an answer, Mila stretched while eyeing the old Ghost. But despite waiting, the old being seemed to be content to just dourly look into the distance.

“Uh, so…” She felt awkward after suffering through the last night’s events. “Do we train?” Mila walked towards the blob of consciousness, wondering if he would strike.

“Speak with Isabel,” Aaers suddenly was looking at Mila. The sentence seemed to make his form feebler but not nearly as much as yesterday’s night.

Mila chewed on the order while trying to understand how she felt about Aaers’s voice. It was quite soothing, if domineering. “Ah, so you do speak now. I thought it was just a dream.”

The attempt at a joke didn’t land. Aaers didn’t even blink. “And we train.” He answered her query.

“Right,” Mila did not have anything against the notion itself, but… “What about Isabel? You do know she can’t exactly speak right now.” She found herself glaring and reigned in her protective side. “If it is important, speak yourself.”

Aaers floated a bit to the side, still staring. “I can’t talk much. Just a few sentences each night.” He explained before sending a quick chop aimed at Mila’s neck.

“H-hey,” Mila leaned back, finding her body responding nicely against the sudden attack. “And you wasted it all already?” She felt like complaining.

Not that Aaers was listening. His next attack came immediately after the first. And once they started, they did not stop, forcing Mila into a constant chain of movements.

This was the first time since she had been remade that Mila faced Aaers. And she itched to get revenge against the slippery Ghost. He had humiliated her far too many times during these spars.

Before, there had been no chance, but now…

Mila let her muscles relax as she retreated. She kept her posture compact as she raised her fists, bobbing and weaving through the flurry of punches and kicks.

There wasn’t a chance for a counterattack. Even with all her experience, Mila found none. There were traps Aaers lied, inviting her to commit, but she knew better. She had tried to exploit these gifts before and had paid dearly for them - or at least her pride had.

No. The only way to make the Ghost pay was to force her way in. And Mila knew she could. She just had to hard-stop the man’s fluid movements.

It sounded like a plan, and she wouldn’t get a better one. After another step back, she suddenly planted her feet and deflected a blow aimed at her shoulder.

Mila’s hand followed Aaers’s deflected one, pushing it further away, keeping his chest open. She braced herself for a trade, offering her other shoulder for an incoming strike, using her smaller stature to dive close to the Ghost.

This way, Mila could limit his movements and strike options. She waited and waited, but the expected strike didn’t come. Her own fist strike flew forward when she felt Aaers shift to the side, almost flowing around her. His palm landed on the same shoulder she had expected to be stricken.

The touch guided Mila’s body, disrupting her balance. She lost the sense of weight as her body floated in the air before it was thrown onto the ground.

The heavy impact pushed the non-existent air from her lungs. She winced in pain, suddenly looking at the sky.

That was the issue with diving against a larger opponent. Sure, it limited their striking options. But in the end, Mila was much shorter and lighter.

“Again,” She rose on her feet, ready for another round. The night was still young, and if Aaers wasn’t able to speak, she could at least try to beat his ghostly ass.

—

Mila held her tongue and swallowed the expletives she wanted to spew. Despite her high goals and confidence, she had been toyed around with again. Not once has she successfully landed an attack.

It had been another night of flailing around. Her improved body had definitely shrunk the difference between her and her opponent, but all it meant was that Aaers now relied more on his overwhelming skill and experience.

The only reason Mila wasn’t outright sulking was the warm embrace she rested in. Isabel’s arms idly wandered over her body as her girl nuzzled against Mila’s black crown. “Good morning,” She whispered, still not opening her eyes.

“...morning…” Isabel returned. Her embrace tightened as she pulled Mila deeper into her lap. “...a… good…” There was a long pause before she finished. “...dream?”

“Not really. But that reminds me,” Mila finally opened her eyes, looking at the still-dark sky. The morning was still a couple hours away. “Apparently, you have something to tell me.” She met her girl’s brown eyes.

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It took a moment before Isabel realised what it was about. She opened her mouth but was stopped.

“Not now. You already have trouble speaking, and if I understand correctly, it involves some unsavoury details,” Mila’s heart broke when Isabel hung her head. “It’s not your fault.” She pulled her hand out beneath the cloak she used as a blanket and caressed her girl’s cheek.

“...sucks…” Isabel leaned lower, planting a wet kiss on Mila’s forehead. “... useless…” She made a sad note.

“Do not even think that way,” Mila stopped Isabel from rising back up and ran her fingers from the girl’s cheek to the back of her head, then pulled her in for a kiss.

The gentle breath on her face warmed Mila. The pose was a bit awkward, but they had dealt with worse. What was important was to affirm their closeness.

Which Mila-

“We going?” Kanna interrupted.

Mila sighed, stopping herself after just a single kiss. “Yes, we are moving.” She had rested enough.

It didn’t take them long to get ready. Mila observed the group, noting that Russ had gotten worse during the short time she was out. Otherwise, they were doing well.

The meal had done wonders for the morale - despite the small portions everyone had earned after the even distribution. She had even seen one of the boys smile at one point.

And they had changed their campsite. The old one had been too close to the place where she had stolen the meat for Mila’s taste. She worried even then, having trouble falling asleep.

“Miss,” One of the men from the other group approached her. “This way.” He pointed northward. “We should be there soon.”

Mila nodded, finally feeling ready to move. “I will make sure to check in regularly.” She made the last preparations - mostly consisting of sharing a moment or two with Isabel.

Then, Mila was scouting again, circling the group, making sure nothing was amiss. Now and then, she found an empty camp or discarded items. The forest seemed to be otherwise empty.

Except…

Mila landed in one of the treetops and hid. She peered through the foliage at the corpses and the fireplace below. She didn’t dare to step closer, her senses scanning the surroundings.

These people were murdered without a fight. Nine dead, all killed by swords and magic. The attackers had not been subtle, not hiding their passing as they headed towards the same direction as Mila’s group.

Which was worrying. There was little reason to doubt these were the first signs of pursuers. It was only a question of time before these forests were swarming with them.

Mila traced the enemy’s path, guessing they had gone to find more people who had fearlessly or foolishly made fire. She could not do anything about it and decided to warn her group, knowing the news would not be received well.

Which turned out to be a correct guess. As Mila made an unreasonable request to walk faster, she was forced to weather helpless glares, half-formed curses and looks of disbelief.

They all had hoped for a rest but were denied it. Only Isabel was fully on Mila’s side, with Mortimer, Vatim and Kanna staying silent.

“This is not a debate,” Mila cut the forming string of questions, protests and complaints short. “We either walk or die,” She paused. “That is not strictly true. I and my comrades will survive. It will be you who will die.”

These harsh words quieted the discontent, but it was not gone. Mila watched the coved people for a while longer before returning to her duty. She could only hope they would continue to listen.

Just a few more hours of walking before they reached the village. There, they would split. Mila could use the place to orient towards their actual goal. She knew they wouldn’t be able to move much faster. But a smaller group would be easier to keep safe and fed.

Granted, Mila had her doubts… Would the village still stand? The people living there were innocent. Normally, the temples would not slaughter them. More likely, they would use the place as a command centre to better control the surroundings and organise.

It would be a problem, but Mila didn’t have to go close to the place. And she would advise the rest to do the same.

Now, all they had to do was walk. And hopefully, no new problems would arrive-

Mila’s head snapped around, hearing shouting where her wards were. She shot towards them, listening for anything else.

A moment later, Mila landed next to the group, with Isabel, Mortimer, Kanna and Vatim standing on the side while the rest gathered around the prone Russ. She didn’t have to ask what had happened. The sad sobs, cries and lamentations told her it all.

Russ had succumbed to the fever.

The loss had shaken the rest of his group to its core. It was clear he had been more than just their employer. They all held on to him, not believing the parting, remembering intimate moments and praying for his rebirth.

And they didn’t move.

Mila opened her mouth, but Isabel stopped her. “...moment…” She chastised.

“...” Mila sighed, stretching her head. They were too loud. They would attract attention like this. “...We cannot…” She shut her mouth. “Ten minutes.” She finally said, stepping back from the unkind glares she earned.

And Isabel joined her. She quietly took Mila’s hand and used her fingers to rub her palm.

“...I don’t know what to do,” Mila admitted. “I promised to protect them, but… Even if we had moved slower, Russ wouldn’t have survived. And now, they need a moment to mourn…”

Isabel didn’t answer. She simply wrapped her hands around Mila, using her body to shield the smaller girl from the world.

“This is so dangerous…” Mila allowed herself to have a moment of weakness. “They are-”

“...normal… people…” Isabel finished the sentence differently from what Mila had intended.

“They… Are, aren’t they?” Mila chewed on the thought. “But so are…” She didn’t finish.

Mortimer wasn’t normal. His upbringing had made sure of it. He knew too much and had seen too much.

The siblings were normal people. But Vatim was always protected, while Kanna followed wherever Isabel wanted. They did not have parents, and they were simply lost children, clinging to what safety they could find.

“...normal… people…” Isabel reminded Mila.

“Yes. They are.” Mila did not know how to deal with them. She couldn’t always rely on fear and intimidation. Not in cases like these.

For now, Mila decided to wait another five minutes longer.