I.

Sunlight invaded her eyes with its faint orange fingers.

Oddly enough, she knew she was awake but she had no fear of anyone of finding her and her princess. They were tucked in a secret place, a moss drenched expanse of tree roots away from the beaten path. A sojourn of green and dark brown sheltered them from a blinding blanket of white. She moved her stiff arm and sat it on her belly. She was not in a hurry to find out what horrors awaited her today so she did not bother waking up Audrey.

Audrey?

She cracked an eye open and caught a tuft of messy blonde hair over her lap like a rabbit's bushy tail. Madoka moved to tug it just to see how she would react but this moment was too gentle for her to shatter it without compunction. So she rested her hand on her friend's head.

"I can't believe that bassist died. She was really young," Audrey muttered as she stirred. "Wow, really? How depressing..."

"Really," Madoka answered softly. These daily moments were somewhat of a peaceful ritual. She recalled Audrey had several episodes of night terrors in the Estate but she has not since they escaped the palace. She prayed every day to the kind gods under rain and sunshine for their protection over Audrey. A subtle movement of her head brushed against Madoka's hand. "You are warm."

"I am warm?" Audrey asked. Her voice was groggy and deep, a rich texture of duality and attractiveness the maid only got to see in the morning. "That's so...! Not Fair...! Why am I warm when she is not? Who else could touch my heart with songs like that?"

"Audrey," Madoka decided she was having a sad dream. Audrey rolled over and looked up at her. A tear slid down her cheek. "Why are you crying?"

There were a million reasons why she would cry. It was like trying to pick a speck of dust illuminated by the sun rays through a window. Madoka would try in the very least.

"Huh?" Audrey felt her cheek. She wiped it off and tried to sit up but stopped. Madoka pat her head. "Sorry, I guess I was having a bad dream again."

"We slept in," Madoka sighed. "It's okay."

"Yeah, that's my bad," Audrey said as she got up. "We're not too far from a town. Here's to hoping they won't think much about us, right?"

"H-Hai," Madoka said, getting up herself and refusing help from Audrey. "Then let's get to it."

Madoka's eyes and ears were alert this time around as they walked. No signs of enemy movement, no changes in animal behavior and kind gods willing, no reason to wield her swords. She even took an extra one from Audrey's portal to keep from biting her nails from her nervousness. Her princess, on the other hand said nothing. Something was following them but Madoka did not feel like it was a threat.

I strike!

Attack!

Food!

A sudden thought came from her left. A stray beast of some kind, huh?

"Foolish," Madoka growled and with a lightning quick grip intercepted its pounce. The shape seemed as big as Audrey, but Madoka was bigger. Her hand grasped matted and moppy fur. She felt its throat gulp against her palm as it flailed and tried to get away. She lifted it and four feline eyes stared back at her. Audrey yelped in surprise.

"Jesus," Audrey shrieked. "What are you, a heat seeking missile? You some kind of personnel UAV?"

"Why do I get the feeling you're upset with me?" Madoka asked. The creature she held was common in forests, apparently, a feline with six legs. It was a fine and stealthy predator. All of them had scheming thoughts, but this one was the most desperate one. Now, it was reduced to a flailing pet, whimpering as its instincts told it was not going to make it out alive. She remembered what Audrey told her when she hissed. "Bad kitty!"

She scolded it, wagging a finger at the creature's face. It tried to swipe at her hand but she caught the paw effortlessly and put it to its side.

"Ugh, it's disgusting!" Audrey commented. "Not the cutest thing to slither out the goddamn litter box, aren't you?"

The creature hissed but ultimately remained helpless in Madoka's powerful grip. Its neck muscles writhed and its four eyes darted between the two girls. She wanted it to pay attention to her words so she raised her hand and gave it a slap on the head before placing it on the ground. The force of her smack would shatter a man's helmet, but the feline merely hissed and got low to the ground.

The top pair of its eyes pleaded with her to let it go. Madoka did not intend to kill such a weak creature but smacked it on the head again and spat.

"I don't want to have to eat you for dinner, but if you come around here again I will change my mind, you hear?" Madoka rebuked it. If the feline could nod within her grasp it would. "So git!"

"Yeah, git!" Audrey cheered. It growled a gutteral chatter at her but squealed when Madoka glared at it. She rose her hand up to strike it again but it tucked its tails between its legs and took off. Madoka let out a sigh of relief as its thoughts were full of apologies and fear. Has her ability improved without her noticing too?

"Why'd you let it go?" Audrey asked. Her voice was chipper and carefree - a welcome reprieve from the unholy days before.

"It asked me to," Madoka shrugged. Audrey laughed and even those staccato breaths she drew in and out between heaves were childlike. Perhaps she sensed that there was no one around her and became carefree. "Maybe it can go eat the fat noble."

"Probably," Audrey looked around the forest. "The trees are oddly shaped compared to my old planet. Can't get over the fact that I'm still just an alien on an alien world, after all."

Madoka guessed she was right but they looked like regular trees. Their boughs were twisted and gnarled. The branches intertwined amongst themselves as they reached skyward. The leaves lanced outward and were as large as shields, punctuating in pulsing blue tipped fans.

"Am I even breathing oxygen?" Audrey wondered as she inspected a low leaf, while Madoka wondered what oxygen was. Audrey mentioned the concept but she did not know enough to challenge her knowledge. It shriveled and furled away from her touch. "The fauna had oddities as well, multiple limbs, eyes adapted for night and day vision. Jeez."

A flock of cute birds swooped down from the branches just above the girls' heads. Audrey was in awe of the spectacle but upon closer inspection they appeared to have pincers instead of beaks. After that discovery, she dove behind Madoka. Perhaps they were some kind of fuzzy insect, she looked up at one. Their thoughts were primitive and their bodies were driven on by sheer instinct alone.

Oh, to be that simple, Madoka thought as she trudged onward. Audrey stopped again and sniffed.

"Ah, the foul stench of humanity lies ahead," she said in a spooky tone, but then smirked as if she was pleased with her own joke. "We should probably come up with, like, a background story."

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"A... story?" Madoka stumbled over the words.

"Yeah, you know, a cover up lie," Audrey said. "We don't know the relationship between Fiara and this country. Though if word reached that fat guy, it might not be advantageous to announce to the world that we're Fiara refugees."

"And that you're a princess," Madoka guessed it would be a bad thing to announce to their enemies that they're still alive. Wait, why is that a bad thing?

"Put it this way," Audrey could tell what Madoka was thinking by the look on her face. "We're going to go pose as noble and slave who lost their homes, okay? That sounds convincing, right?"

Madoka shrugged. She preferred her weapon to do the talking if things asked too many questions. Not that there were many times that happened.

"You okay with being a slave still?" Audrey asked. Madoka stared at her blankly and she blushed. "Okay, I get it. Let's just hope that those guys won't ask us questions about where we're from."

Madoka followed where she was looking and saw a wooden gate standing between them and the town behind it. Others stood in a line, awaiting to enter in a neat and organized fashion. They looked at each other and Audrey made a motion that she will do the talking. The pair of girls filed in amongst them. Madoka was nervous. What if they tried to do anything to them?

Would they have to kill them and run again? Are there laws like King Fiara's to protect people from being harmed by others? Before Madoka could worry further they were next in line to get in. Two guards glared at them. They wore light armor made out of a thin metal that seemed comfortable enough. Comfort was their weakness if they tried anything. Madoka noted she could trip them in the snow easily. They each had a sword, likely the kingdom's own soldiers sent here to guard against the wildlife in this snow covered and swampy forest.

However, one grunted and both girls froze. Audrey gripped Madoka's hand. They were last in line so they could easily retreat.

"'Ail, friends," one of them said in commoner. Wait, commoner? Audrey did not seem offended at the informal address. "What business do you have 'ere?"

"We're travelers," Audrey started, taking off her hood. The guard's eyes widened and he instantly switched to reverent Noble.

"F-Forgive me tone, lass, Lady, Your—" He stuttered.

"You bumbling idiot!" The other guard smacked him on the back. His accent and reverent Noble were also thick, but Madoka knew he meant well. He bowed to Audrey. Madoka watched on silently and kept her hood on. They seemed to be decent people. "I apologize on behalf of this fool's behavior. Please state your business here."

"We are travelers," Audrey told him. To be fair, Madoka mused. That was not a complete lie. "Our home got swallowed by the mountains and we were looking for a temporary stay."

"O-Oh, how terrible!" the first Guard, Guard 1 as Madoka designated him, blubbered. "You poor things must 'ave gone through a ton of trials! Poor travelers! Poor Maidens!"

You can say that again, Madoka wanted to say but remained quiet. She realized she did not know how to talk on her own.

"Ho? A traveler, lightly armed and packed like you two?" the other guard, Guard 2, laughed. Well, he wasn't wrong. They had no armor on. They could not see her weapons nor detect Audrey's magic. No suspicion in either voice. "All the way from the mountains? Don't make me laugh."

"Don't mind 'im," Guard 1 smacked Guard 2 and backed to his post. "Whatever business you have 'ere, it ain't no concern of ours unless you make it ours, you know what I mean?"

Audrey nodded. Madoka shrugged. Guard 2 recovered from what was evidently a tougher blow from Guard 1 and shook off snow from his armor.

"What I mean is, George," Guard 2 told the other and waved a hand at the two. "Look at 'em! These two ain't got the means for a proper travel. I tell you what!"

"Shut it!" Guard 1 tried to maintain his composure. "Go on ahead, misses. We won't bother you!"

"What do you mean, proper travel?" Madoka asked. She kept her voice low and unintentionally startled Guard 2. The man recovered and went on.

"Oh! What do you mean, 'what do you mean?'" Guard 2 raised his hands in some sort of exaggeration. "Look, kids. You ain't got weapons, no armor, not even food. Stay awhile here in Livertorjan. You can pick up supplies at the inn down there with identification, of course."

"Identification?" Audrey asked, then apologized. "We've spent our lives in our parent's home, sorry."

"Naive, eh?" Guard 1 looked down at the girls. They were too relaxed in this town. A good sign, Madoka concluded. "Get to the Guild for identification. They'll sort you out. The other offices will wring you dry of copper. Wouldn't you say, Boris?"

Boris grunted.

"Oh," Audrey said but Madoka knew she definitely did not know. Guard 1 looked around and leaned into the girls to say something important.

"Word is," He said. "The Great Fiara fell to the east of this place. I'd cover your back, misses. This world is gone mad, I tells ya. The gods even made the desert winds angry with us for some time. I'm glad I'm stationed over 'ere, even if it is with this moron!"

"Hey, George!" Boris yelled. But he joined in. "I heard there's quite the carriage headed here soon. I'd steer clear of it, misses. We are but rank and file, but we don't want no trouble on our fellow free men or esteemed Nobles!"

"Oh, really?" Audrey said nervously. They were talking about carriage that Madoka destroyed. The two started to chuckle nervously. The guards mistook it as them laughing with them so they joined in, not knowing that carriage will never arrive.

"They ain't up to no good," Boris ranted. "Rich big shots from Esmeralda are never up to no good. I shouldn't bring it up. Sorry, misses."

"Yeah, for once Boris said something I agree on!"

"Cut it out!"

The two must have been stationed here for quite some time because of the way they spoke with each other. This will be an interesting time, Madoka thought.

"Ay, misses! We're working really hard here! Get a move on!" Boris yelled, lifting his boot and stomping the dirt with it.

"Sorry," Audrey said, but George stopped them again.

"Inn's down the street to the left. Guild Hall's down the main street. Can't miss the bloo'y thing," He said. "Good luck."

"Thanks, Guard 1," Madoka said by accident. Luckily, George did not hear her and was distracted by the other visitors.

"Well, that wasn't what I was expecting," Audrey said, pleasantly surprised. "A comic relief circus and some side quests right off the bat!"

"Side quests?" Madoka wondered. They were ignored by the commoner people around them and stuck to the right side of the main road. This town seemed like a bustling place, Madoka thought. Wagons pushed through the snow, their trails leaving dirt lines in the ice like claw marks.

"Yeah!" Audrey said guiding Madoka through various market stalls. It was lively so they stopped in an empty alleyway to catch their breath. Audrey pulled out a smaller bag of copper coins and handed over to Madoka and pointed to a stall. Sizzling meat enticed Madoka so she ignored what was handed to her. She wanted meat! "Well, today we're going to learn about retail economics!"

"Fresh Cel Row meat here!" The merchant called out. Audrey and Madoka approached his stall tentatively. Once again, the people around them ignored them. For all they cared, the two girls were simply invisible. The Cel Row meat were as large as Madoka's head. It gripped around the bone and smelled heavenly as it sizzled over a fiery pit.

"H-How much?" Madoka asked blankly. Audrey observed the man's behavior. He looked at Madoka in the eye and down to Audrey and smiled.

"Ah, you two are hungry, huh? I got some mouths to feed back home too!" He said, raising his eyebrows. It seemed that he thought he could scam them.

"Answer," Madoka stated. She spoke in Commoner, but her tone was anything but that. The merchant shrunk and instantly switched to a happy reverant Noble.

"Four copper a piece, miss. Four days to prepare this wondrous product," He blubbered. Audrey was a bit shocked by Madoka's behavior, but the maid was in no mood to play games. She placed eight copper coins on his table. "D-Do you need assistance to carry the Cel Row?"

"No," Madoka hefted two of the Cel Row meat bones and handed one to Audrey. The merchant was astonished by both of their strength. "Thanks."

"P-Pleasure doing business, My Lady!" He called out, but the two already retreated to the alleyway to eat the meat.

"So good!" Madoka said in a elated tone. Audrey was in thought while the maid ate. "Eat, Audrey."

"Yeah," Audrey dug into the Cel Row. "What the heck is a Cel Row?"

Her questions stopped after she took a bite and soon were resting for a moment. Audrey tossed the bones in the portal. Whatever Cel Row was tasted good.

"This all seems so..." Audrey licked her fingers. "Nevermind. The copper coin seems to equate to a day's worth of work, that guy said. That must mean that the silver is probably a month, and maybe gold is worth a year...? How interesting... And shiny!"

Madoka shrugged. She would let Audrey work out whatever meaning the coins had for them. For now, the two found themselves before a large building. The sign did not have letters, but instead the emblem of two swordss crossed resting over some beast's head.

"So this is the Adventurer Guild, huh?" Audrey said. "It seems so cliché! Nevermind that, Madoka. Are you ready to become an adventurer?"

Madoka looked back to Audrey and nodded. They were invading enemy territory, she supposed. What else could they do? What could she do alone if she refused?

"As long as I am with you," Madoka said firmly. Audrey squeezed her hand, tracing the scar on her palm and the two stepped forth through the swinging doors of the Adventurer Guild.