The 3 would return from their small trip to the river with some fish and water. Alice would roast the fish over the fire while Eve attempted to talk to the hooded woman.

Kazius would approach the two after doing a minor inspection of the area.

“How goes the food?” He asked softly, sounding tired, walking back over to the two of them.

“Kazius! Oh, I was just telling Alice a story about the fun I had at the church” Eve beamed.

“She was telling me about how the other holy maidens would bully her because she wasn’t very smart…” Alice corrected.

“I am sure they just were just joking.” Eve assured.

“That isn’t what is sounds like to me. Not when you say things like they poured water on the floor whenever it was your turn to clean up… Among other things, but okay.” Alice stated with a sigh…

Oh was the Elf woman dense, not even realizing when people were being malicious. She was too innocent for her own good. Or perhaps enough to her own benefit. It did at times make those around her protective of her. It would be easier for the two to leave her behind, yet both Alice and Kazius seemed to not suggest such a thing. Why? It was something Kazius didn’t understand himself.

"Anyway, I am exhausted… I am sure you two had quite the day as well… You two can eat the fish without me.” Kazius admitted with a yawn.

“Aww, okay, good night!” Eve chirped.

“I will keep watch; I am not tired yet.” Alice admitted.

With that the male decided to get some rest, Eve following not long after while Alice would stay up.

She must have gone to sleep at some point in the night though, since she was asleep when he woke up.

“Good morning!” Eve chirped happily.

“Good morning.” Alice stated, seeming sluggish yet even now she would keep her hood on…

‘What is she trying so hard to hide?’

“Good morning…” Kazius stated with yawn. He was so tired. He normally woke up so early to train, yet he was exhausted now… Was it because yesterday drained him that much? Or something else?

Tired of not, the 3 would make one last round to the river to stock up on food and water. They were working with limited resources, so it was better to be safe.

Alice would yet again volunteer to cook the fish.

‘Does she like cooking or is she paranoid about being poisoned?’

“Oh! I just remembered! I should go pray… God doesn’t like if I forget to talk to him first thing in the morning.” Eve stated, heading off to go pray in private in the woods before anyone could protest. Then again, she went the direction of the river… Which was safe enough… But… Eve was…

‘…Would she be alright?’

“I don’t think she should go by herself…” Kazius sighed out.

“Do you really think she can hear God? Even if it is, she has not even said which… Not to mention, just from talking to her, I can tell she isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer…”

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“Of course, not… At least I doubt it.” Kazius responded, only to indeed remember the voice he heard on the day of his vision…

‘Then again… The Oracle did speak to me before…’

“I suppose it doesn’t matter… She may be a bit out there, but as long as she can heal, it is fine. Anyway, I hope we can head out soon. As I said before, for now we should just get away. Once we are in the savage lands, we can figure out where to go. We still have to get supplies in town though." Alice sighed out. The fact she spoke to him showed she at least valued his opinion. She made sure he knew what her reasoning was for things.

Her trust was limited though. Kazius still had no idea what she even looked like. They were strangers, so she wasn’t about to open up to him anytime soon. Still, she did accept a bit more idle chatter until the fish was ready.

“You know, I am okay with you hiding your face, but if we are traveling together… Mind if I ask you some questions?” Kazius decided to ask.

“I suppose.”

“Why do you seem to hate the church so much? You look human to me.” Kazius stated, deciding to leave out anything about her scent being human.

“They are hypocrites and liars… They… I can’t stand them… I am sure someone like you understands… I was watching you… Or rather… The commotion you made got my attention.”

“…” Kazius grew quiet, indeed he did. His former friends… He’d be lying if he said he was above feeling bitter and resentful… He understood now why The Oracle would want to lie to such a group. Of course, that didn’t mean he trusted The Oracle either. Those bastards worshipped it for a reason.

He still felt so lost. He didn’t really know what to think about many things, what to do next… His fate… Everything he knew was taken from him and now he was in the woods with what had to be the strangest women he ever met.

“I suppose I do… Even though I was once one of them… It is interesting… How easily a human heart can change.” Kazius added, sounding solemn, finally admitting out loud he wasn’t human, though being a monster was something that seemed to not bother the hooded woman.

‘Enemy of the church or not, to decide to go to monster territory… Even accept a monster as a companion… There is definitely more to this.’

“I… That is something that I know too well myself as well…” Alice admitted, saying a bit more than what she would like to say, but perhaps she had felt better speaking on the matter to someone who also understood betrayal. Or so Kazius would guess.

He would perk up, snapping out of his thoughts. The food smelled good and looked done. Though oddly enough, he didn’t have as much of an appetite as he should.

“She isn’t back yet… The fish is ready… What could be taking her so long?” Alice questioned, sounding a mix between concerned and annoyed.

‘Right, Eve went off to pray earlier…’

“And here I thought you weren’t the nanny type…” Kazius mused. He wasn’t so much the joking type, but his chat with Alice had been far from uncomfortable… He only spoke like this with his friends… Though now, he supposed he couldn’t call them that anymore.

He couldn’t see her face thanks to her hood, but he could tell his words flustered Alice some. “D-Don’t say unnecessary things, okay? I just think having a healer around is useful.” She would state, the mysterious woman seeming to lose her composure, getting up. “A-are you coming or what?”

“I suppose.” Kazius stated in amusement, “Knowing how she is, she may just have gotten lost… This is the last time we let her go off on her own. She can pray at camp.”

As they walked, the two would begin to hear Eve… She was talking to someone, or rather, to herself, so it seemed.

"Yes, my lord!" Eve stated gleefully, “Do you think my new friends will find me useful? They seem so smart… They are kind and even saved me, I want to help them.” She stated, then there was silence.

“Of course, I am grateful to you. I met them because you told me where they were…” She assured, soon looking down.

“I… I don’t want them to hate me.”

While she was a ditz, but it seems her past treatment in the church made her indeed see herself as someone that was useless.

“I’ve been good, you know? I’ve collected all the pieces of the staff, just like you said… The holy staff is done… I got the last part yesterday. I was able to grab it when everyone was distracted by the Orcs, just like you said… Are you sure it isn’t stealing? I feel bad…” Eve stated, indeed sulking only to go wide-eyed, “No! I trust you; I promise!” She assured.

‘This… This didn’t sound good… So that was how she saw them back there? Even though they were hidden? Something about this didn’t feel right… Was that really God?’

“You will help? Really?!” Eve exclaimed eagerly, growing quite giddy. “Huh? The staff? Sure!” She chirped, holding the staff out, kneeling and offering it up to the air.

“Eve, wait, don’t!” Kazius exclaimed, feeling like something was off.

He was too late though. Before they knew it, the staff would begin to levitate, as if grasped by something…

“Well shit…”