"Why did I think it was a great idea, again?" I mutter while pouring the bag's contents into the small pot. "I must have lost a few brain cells somewhere along the line."

Waves of confirmation radiate through the tentacles.

Ignoring distractions, I screw the stove onto the canister. Once I'm sure they're secure, I ignite the lighter near the stove.

I can somewhat excuse myself for accepting the tea from Mary, considering my sleep deprivation. That could have been dangerous. What if it's poisoned or used as evidence to prove I stole some of the mushrooms?

Grabbing the pot, I set it on the stove.

But then I went ahead and followed a cobra to assist it in building a weapon — in his territory! If that wasn't enough, Travis is close to Matthew; he might have been digging for information.

I take the spork from my lap and stir the pot before covering it with a lid. Steam gradually rises, filling the air with sweet, nutty spices. My stomach clenches at the smell, while strong waves of hunger radiate from the tentacles.

...Maybe I'm being too paranoid about this. I was the one who insisted on watching Travis work. I like working with him. It's been so long since I had the chance to feel useful. Although Matthew and Shaun are suspicious, they are likely people who strongly dislike Essevians.

Stopping my stirring, I put out the fire before lifting the lid.

Speaking of which, where did Shaun disappear to? It's suspicious weird I haven't seen him again since that meeting.

"Beatrice!" Mary's voice echoes from outside. "Are you here?"

Fudge. How did she even find this place? No, the bigger question is why she's here.

Swiftly closing the pot's lid, I grab a couple of leaves from nearby plants and hastily cover my cooking utensils. After ensuring they're secure, I quickly stand up.

"I'm over here, Mary," I say casually, waving from beside a rotting trunk. "Is something the matter?"

Mary turns toward me and walks over casually, though there's an occasional pause in her steps.

"I've finally found you," Mary says, smiling kindly before glancing around. "What were you doing here, anyway? It's quite far from our campsite."

Keeping my gaze on her, I avoid looking behind me.

"Just answering the call of nature," I reply, crossing my arms. "Nothing you need to worry about."

"Ah," Understanding flashes across Mary's face. "I didn't know Essevians could still do that."

We stare at each other for a long, agonizing moment.

"So," I awkwardly cough into my hand, "Why were you looking for me?"

"They're sending out a small group to scout the surroundings," Mary explains. "You're assigned to scouting duty."

"I see," I sigh, glancing behind me. "Thank you for informing me."

So much for eating before the journey started; maybe I could sneak a few bites in during the scouting mission.

"I need to finish a few things first before heading back," I tell Mary. "Do you mind waiting?"

I should put the cooking utensils back into my backpack. I might not have enough time to return, and someone could stumble upon them.

"Finish up. I'll wait over there," Mary says, pointing toward a blank space in the distance. "Tell me when you're done."

"...Right."

----------------------------------------

The glow of our team's campsite grows brighter with every step we take.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"You don't look too well," Mary scans me up and down. "Do you want me to fill in for you?"

I shake my head and hold a hand up, while the other covers my mouth.

Maybe it wasn't a great idea to stuff food in my mouth.

Seizing a brief pause, I swallow, feeling the pointy clumps of food traveling down my throat.

"Thank you for the offer, Mary, but I'm alright," I say, clutching my chest as I continue to follow her. "I'm fine."

Yep, it was a bad idea, but on the bright side, I don't have to sneak in moments of eating during the scout mission.

"Here," Mary takes my hand and places something in it, "They're flavored candies for indigestion. I know you say you're alright, but I can't help worrying."

Yanking my hand out of her grasp, I look at her sharply.

How did she know?

"Don't get your bundles in a twist," she says casually, sidestepping a stone. "It's quite obvious with the way you stuff your mouth. You remind me of my son."

I-I have no idea how to respond but it probably means she will not out me for secretly eating. I think.

"Can you tell me more about the scouting mission?" I ask as we approach the team's campsite. "Who will be accompanying me?"

Mary began counting on her fingers, "It's two other porters, Kevin and Melissa, I believe. Shield, and two attackers, one of whom is a member of Aequitas."

So, one of the guild members will be with me. That's a relief. Despite their good reputations, I might not trust anyone from Aequitas, but they are bound by certain obligations when taking the oath. Unless it's only a lie meant to give a false sense of security.

"Hey, Beatrice!" A hand waves in front of my face. "Are you with me?"

Blinking my eyes several times, I furiously shake my head. Amusement mixed with slight disappointment radiates from the tentacles.

"You should be more careful of letting your mind wander," Mary points at a rat scurrying to the side. "You almost tripped over the poor animal."

Ah. That explains the emotions I got from the bond.

"Anyway," Mary glances to her right as we arrive at our campsite, "we're here." She turns toward me before stepping further inside. "Looks like some people from your scouting group are already here. Want me to introduce you?"

"It's fine," I begin, waving both hands in front of me. "I-"

"Oh, look, there they are!" Mary says, already walking off. "Let's go meet them."

Standing there, spluttering a bit, I shake my head and let out a low sigh. Through the bond, I can feel the tentacles "laughing" and sending out waves of amusement.

Reluctantly, I follow after her, guiding the tentacles to lower themselves as we move deeper into the camp. Wary eyes track my every movement, their scrutiny is almost tangible. I keep my gaze fixed on the dusty ground, avoiding their piercing stares.

"Mary!" someone calls from a distance. "Over here!"

"Leon, you miscreant!" Mary calls back cheerfully as she marches toward a group of people. "Never thought I'd see you here of all places!"

"Good to see you again, Mary!" A blond-haired man laughs before turning toward me. All the joy drains from his face, leaving behind a forced smile. "And... who is that you have with you?"

Leon scans me up and down with thinly veiled disgust, his fingers twitching as green asura emanates from them.

"Oh right, this is Beatrice," Mary says, pushing me to the front. "Beatrice, meet Leon and his main team."

Some people behind Leon briefly glance up before returning to their tasks. One of them waves at Mary and smiles warmly.

"Ah, right, here's the herbal mix you were asking for," Mary retrieves a plastic jar from her backpack. "This one gave me quite a bit of trouble due to some of the ingredients."

"Mary, you're a lifesaver!" Leon takes it from her, slightly straining under its weight. "Wow, this is heavier than expected."

"Hey, fair warning," Mary covers her mouth with a laugh, "It's heavier than it looks. I've been lugging these around for a while."

"Guess I'd better listen to your advice from now on," Leon smiles, nudging Mary with his elbow. "Say, do you have any other recommendations?"

"Of course! Now there's..."

Crossing my arms, I dig my fingers into the fabric while Mary and Leon chat, their voices slowly becoming background noise filtering through my ears.

They sure seem friendly with each other.

While they continue chatting, I awkwardly stand beside them, rubbing my eyes and turning away to survey my surroundings. Many are engrossed in deep conversations or peacefully tidying their belongings. Regardless of their activities, everyone seems accompanied by someone, either watching over each other or simply enjoying each other's presence. I glance at the dusty, barren path of dirt beside me, where my only companion is my shadow.

"Come on, I know you have some leftovers saved from last time." I look up from the ground, my eyes landing on a distant figure with a brown cobra.

"And I've told you, the answer is no," Travis flinches as a man approaches him. "How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?" Flaring out his hood, he points emphatically to his mouth. "N-O. No. Now stop bothering me."

Suddenly, Mary speaks from behind, "Seems like many porters are getting restless since they stopped feeding us. You guys must have it worse since they haven't let Essevians eat yet."

Fighting down the urge to jump, I swiftly turn around to face Mary, the amusement radiating from our shared bond like tentacles.

Aren't they supposed to watch my back for things like this?

"Sorry if I surprised you, but I think your scout group is getting ready to leave," Mary points behind her, where a small group of people is gathering. "You might want to get going or be left behind." She takes a tinfoil-wrapped object from her backpack and hands it to me. "This is in case you get hungry on the journey."

"Thank you...?" I say, taking the object from her hands.

"Don't thank me just yet." Mary makes a 'shooing' motion with her hands as she laughs. "Worry more about catching up with the others."