Skarlet pushed open the guild doors and headed inside, her anxiety rose as she approached the counter tentatively, the red-haired man was there. This was always the worst part of being an adventurer but that was probably just a problem rather few people. But secluding yourself and self-persecuting yourself combined with others also justifying that persecution has a tendency to make someone dislike social interaction. Skarlet definitely felt a repulsion to interacting with other people.

"Hey there, Skarlet right?" He asked, she nodded, surprised he knew her name.

"You complete that commission?" he spoke warmly, no discrimination in his voice.

"Y-yeah."

"Well, just so you know, someone's looking for you." He said suddenly, but he said it dismissively like he was just passing along trivial information. But that information was annoying for her to hear. She knew who it was, of course, it was Cody he had shown himself to be quite persistent in Aguris. So of course he chased her here.

"Yeah, I know." She replied, frowning, Guess he really did come after me.

"Oh right, Jack is currently unavailable due to personal circumstances." The receptionist called out to her just as she was turning to leave, "he told me to ask you some questions and write down the answers for him. Did you see anything interesting in the camp?"

"No." She replied curtly, her tail tip twitched with annoyance.

"Anyone still alive?"

"No, I killed all the bandits, and there were no living captives." She replied, She doesn't count as living, at least not yet, besides I don't wanna hand a slave over to a merchant. The receptionist nodded as he jotted down her answers.

"Alright thank you very much, here's the reward money." Skarlet accepted the money and left the guild, breathing a sigh of relief as she did. She then headed towards the town market and entered a clothing store.

Looking among the clothes, she bought a few dresses and skirts as well as some shirts. I don't really know what she would like to wear. . . Well I doubt she'll tell me. She bought the clothes and stopped by the woman's section to buy Beatrice a one piece white dress similar to the tattered rag she now wore. After buying she quickly made her way back to the main gate, head down as she passed the guard.

He suddenly grabbed her, "hold on, you see that!?" He exclaimed, pointing towards the forest, Skarlet looked up to see Beatrice in dragon form. She was flying low over the trees. "That's a damn dragon!! I knew they weren't just tales but I thought they were extinct. Though my boss won't believe me. It would be great if you could vouch for my story." Skarlet felt a pit in her stomach, suddenly the red dragon dipped and disappeared among the trees.

"Umh w-what dragon?" she played dumb, and he looked at her with surprise for a moment. "Umh. . . I can't see that far away, were you talking about that r-red bird?" She stuttered, then she started walking again, "I gotta go sir" Skarlet headed into the forest, as soon as she broke eye contact with the guard she ran, heading for the place Beatrice touched down.

Skarlet slipped into a clearing, Beatrice was in dragon form roasting a large boar-like creature. Skarlet skidded to a stop and crossed her arms, Beatrice noticed her and snorted.

"Welcometh backeth, Skarlet." Beatrice welcomed her innocently.

"A town guard saw you from the gate, we don't need a dragon subjugation headed here." Skarlet spoke with a slight annoyance, but mostly bewilderment. "What were you thinking?"

"I wast fill'd with pangs of hunger. . ." She replied before biting into the boar, Skarlet rolled her eyes before holding up her item bag.

"I bought clothes for you two, I'll go on ahead to the camp." Skarlet turned and headed deeper into the forest, the camp came into view. A clearing with ash and smoke the only remnants of campfire, and Some makeshift tents.

She headed straight to her tent, the girl was curled up in bed still, Skarlet approached the bed. She gently shook the girl till she opened her eyes, "Could you. . . get up for me?" She asked as she stepped back, the girl sat up slowly before getting from the bed. "Here." Skarlet handed her panties and a bra, "Put these on." The girl complied emotionlessly, while she got them on, Skarlet pulled out the two dresses. One was a simple light pink one-piece, the other was a black long-sleeved dress with white ruffled sleeves and hem. When Skarlet held up the light pink dress, she showed no reaction, but when Skarlet held up the black one she was almost certain that the girl's tail wagged slightly. Still no emotion in her eyes, and it was so slight that she could tell herself she imagined it.

Skarlet tossed the light pink one onto the bed and held the black one out, "Arms up please." Skarlet asked and she complied, Skarlet slipped the dress on her before spinning her around and tying the lace at the back.

"There, you look lovely." Skarlet said turning her back around, she hugged her and whispered, "I-I'm not good with. . . being responsible for o-others, but I'm going to do my best to protect you. . . I think it will help me as well." She then took a step back and looked into her eyes, she still showed no reaction. Skarlet sighed, Beatrice pushed into the tent, she paused as she looked at the two of them before suddenly reaching into the air and pulling a golden comb from nothing. Probably spatial magic.

"I hath taken this as a gift from a princess I did save six hundr'd years ago, thee can useth it to brusheth her hair, the lady needeth it," Beatrice told her before tossing the comb to her, Skarlet caught it, frowning slightly. A dragon saving a princess, why does that seem backward? She wondered as she pulled the girl into her lap and began to brush the girl's hair.

"Guess I'll have to give you a name." She thought for a moment before smiling, "I'll call you Amber, your eyes are such a beautiful golden orange." Suddenly Skarlet felt something tickle her thigh, she looked down to see the girl's tail wagging slowly. Skarlet smiled, her tail was the only thing showing emotion, but it was better than nothing.

"Is this mineth?" Beatrice asked, holding up the one piece dress Skarlet had bought her.

"Yes."

"What shalt I doth with mine own current dresseth?" She questioned, gesturing to the tattered rags she called a dress.

"Throw it away!" Skarlet exclaimed.

"How couldst I doth such a thing, I've hadst this garment f'r a longeth timeth." Beatrice complained.

"If you'd taken better care of it, you could keep it." Skarlet snapped as Beatrice began changing, She snorted in annoyance. As Skarlet finished she laid back and gazed up at the tent ceiling, Amber laid down beside her. Skarlet wrapped her arm around her and pulled her closer, She sighed, anxiety welled up. I hope I don't get you killed Amber.

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Skarlet sat up with a frown as she recognized the cave. The scent of blood and the magic circle carved into the stone floor.

"Hm, I guess we'll be seeing more of each other from now on." A familiar voice reached her ears and she looked up to see the Demon King.

"Yeah, why's that? Really couldn't we talk in a less disgusting place."

"Ha, sure it's quite dreary here, but honestly dear isn't this a very important place. A monumental moment in your history. What are you too busy working on that magnum opus known as a legend, to remember your past? Don't you remember what happened this night. . . I do. . . everything is laid bare to me as I'm now connected to your consciousness."

"The fuck man, that's weird." Skarlet stood up frowning, "But yeah I remember this night. It was the night I killed everyone."

"You poor creature. Yes not everyone died though, you lived. But you left things here parts of yourself."

"Stop being damn confusing. I don't want to solve riddles in my sleep."

"Haha, fair enough that's not really what I wanted to say anyways. Skarlet, you left this cave like a hardened piece of obsidian, darkened glass. There's something inside you but no one can reach it or see it." The demon king smiled as he spoke about her past, lightly pacing around her. "At least until recently, you were so firm, but there are cracks running through your surface now. Glimpses of what's beneath are slipping through. Soon you won't be able to avoid it, your past will call to you. And if you don't face it. It will destroy you."

"Yeah right."

"You know I'm right, you keep running into things that challenge your beliefs."

"Shut up, seriously. What do you know about me huh!?"

"Everything."

Skarlet jumped out of bed, her heart beating as the dream faded. When she turned her head, Amber was looking at her.

Skarlet wiped the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hand, giving the girl a strained smile. An idea surfaced as she looked at Amber.

"Good morning, would you come to town with me?" Skarlet asked her, Amber got up and walked up to her. "I'll take that as a yes, come on." Skarlet took her hand as she led her out into the forest. Amber stared ahead emotionlessly as they headed out into the forest. Skarlet led the girl into town, heading towards the adventures guild.

"Wait here for me please." She told Amber before stepping inside, Skarlet approached the notice board, gazing at the commissions, nothing interested her.

"Hey, Skarlet, I got a commission for you, think you could get it done?" The red-haired man at the counter called to her.

"Don't pick on her Zealsus." a voice called out, it was the blonde adventurer Clarence, she'd met when she first arrived, "she can't take that quest."

"I think she'll do great, come on what do you say Skarlet?" Zealsus asked while waving a commission paper.

"Next time." She replied without looking at them, "hold it for me." She then headed back out of the guild and took Amber's hand. She led the girl to a restaurant, and Amber followed her inside. It was dimly lit, smelling a bit like beer, there was a bar at one end but Skarlet led Amber past it and headed to the tables.

She sat down and gestured for Amber to sit down as well. Amber did as she was told, it wasn't long before the Server approached.

"Hello, my name is Cindy, what would you like to order today." Skarlet pointed at the items she wanted on her menu and Cindy nodded, then she turned to leave.

"Hold on," Skarlet spoke up, slightly aggravated that Cindy had ignored Amber.

"Yes, you didn't ask my friend what she wanted," Skarlet growled.

"She's a slave."

"I don't care." Skarlet was angered by her condescending tone. "Bring her a boar steak."

"You me-"

"Yes!" Skarlet growled, Cindy was bewildered but nodded and skittered back to the kitchen, Amber was gazing at Skarlet. There, for a second, was light in her eyes before they faded once more. Skarlet sighed and rested her head in her hands, why'd that get me so angry, I've never gotten like that before. My anxiety has always been stronger than my anger.

"Sorry. . ." Skarlet sighed, apologizing to Amber for making such a fuss, "I really wish you'd respond." Amber didn't reply, she just continued to stare emotionlessly into space.

They sat in silence for a bit before a man approached the table, he was carrying two steaks, he set them down in front of Amber and Skarlet. "Please enjoy, and I apologize for the conduct of your previous server. My name is Michael, I'll be your server for the rest of your meal." Skarlet nodded as she began to eat, Michael took his leave after seeing there was nothing else they needed. Skarlet noticed that Amber wasn't eating, she was watching Skarlet absentmindedly.

"Go ahead and eat, it's good." Skarlet urged her, she didn't seem to hear at first, but then she started eating. They ate in silence, though Skarlet noticed that Amber's tail was wagging slowly, even if her face didn't show it she seemed to be happy. Skarlet smiled as she ate, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself a bit. She thought as she ate.

The food was good and worth the small silver pieces she paid for it, Skarlet stepped from the restaurant, stretching. "That was really good, I'm glad we did that," Skarlet said as she led Amber by the hand out into the street, a group of men stepped out after her, they were eyeing Skarlet.

"Hey there, you're pretty cute, you should hang with us a bit." One of the guys offered as he took a step forward, Skarlet ignored him and walked past. The guy didn't get the message and grabbed her arm.

"Where you goin bab-" Skarlet elbowed him in the gut, he coughed as he let go, Skarlet yanked Amber behind her and faced them.

"Back the fuck up." She growled, this angered the group, they each drew weapons.

"Come on little lady, we can do this the hard way or easy way." They began to approach slowly.

Skarlet turned and whispered into Amber's ear, "Go back to the camp." Amber squeezed Skarlet's hand, and for the first time, Skarlet saw worry surface from the depths of her hollow eyes. "I'll be fine, trust me, and go." Skarlet pushed her away and Amber did as she was told.

"Hey, that's no fun, can't let one of the prizes leave the party." The leader shouted as he gestured for one of history friends to chase her, the man ran forward apparently thinking he could just slip past Skarlet. She kicked his feet from under him and simultaneously smashed her elbow into his head, his body did a full flip and landed with a heavy thud on his back as he coughed up blood.

"You are facing me." She growled as she got into her combat stance, The four remaining men readied themselves before lunging at her. Skarlet caught the first fist thrown and twisted him around to receive two of his comrade's punches.

She spun around, bringing her foot up, she wrapped it around one of the men's heads and slammed it into the ground. He was out cold, she then leaped over a kick, pushing off of the leader's shoulder as she dodged a knife, she brought her heel down onto the head of another of the three men. She then twisted around, smashed her foot into another's jaw sending him flying backward across the road and into a brick wall where he lay unconscious.

Skarlet now faced just the leader who looked pissed, he drew his sword and took a stance.

"I'm a B rank adventurer, you seriously think you can take me?" He lunged at her, she barely dodged his strike and smashed her palm into the side of his head. He grunted in pain as he slid to the side before bringing his sword back around, Skarlet thrust her hand forward and pushed his sword hand up. She then took a step forward, twisted his sword hand around to be against his neck as she smashed her heel into the back of his shin, sending him to his knees.

"I never wanna see you again, next time, I will kill you without remorse, be damned with the consequences." She snarled at him, he was trembling as blood trickled down his neck. She then let go of his sword and turned around, she started to head the way she sent Amber when suddenly her danger-sense went off. She sidestepped his lunge attack, wrapping her arm firmly around his sword arm; she then proceeded to snap it in half. He screamed as she ripped her knife from its sheath and stabbed it over her shoulder into the man's head, straight through his right eye. He went silent and Skarlet dropped him, he fell back with a dull thud as a pool of blood began to form.

Skarlet sighed as she crouched over him and ripped her knife from his skull, then wiped it off with the man's shirt. No remorse, I warned you dumbass.

"Oh my God, damn are you ok!" A voice exclaimed, a familiar man with blonde hair.

Skarlet turned to see Clarence approaching her, suddenly she felt several presences surround her, town guards in full armor and swords approached her with their blades drawn. She sheathed her knife and raised her hands in the air, "It was self-defense, I haven't done anything wrong." Clarence glanced around in surprise as well, he approached the one who looked like the leader as they spoke a few words. Though soon he was roughly shoved aside and the knights started to detain her.

"We'll see about your innocence, beast." The knight captain snorted at her earlier question. I could kill all of you and escape easily, but I don't want to be a criminal. She thought in annoyance as they started to drag her away.

"Come on guys! This is obviously self-defense, the hell are you doing." Clarence sounded angry as he tried to approach again. A sword was drawn on him in response.

"We will detain you if you don't leave. You'll be called in for questioning later." With that he finally gave up, the knights marched her away.

"Stronger than expected. . . Damn." Clarence muttered as he left.