With the rhythmic clatter of hooves resonating through the air, accompanied by the occasional creak of weathered wood, and the scenery rolling through the windows, the world outside passed by in a blur—a tapestry of fleeting landscapes and snippets of life. Inside the carriage, a strange silence filled the air as the Rustler sat on his rather comfortable seat, facing Men’ma.

“Sorry,” she suddenly said, finally breaking the silence.

“Sorry? For what?”

"For this... being in a swaying carriage again, we should have taken some time to rest, even if just for a day or enough time for you to sleep and find some rest. That would have made this journey smoother for you."

Ah, that.

“I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine,” the Rustler replied dismissively. “Strangely, after what I’ve been through on the boat, it isn’t as horrible as you might imagine it being for me.”

“You’re sure?”

"Yes, without a doubt," he declared firmly. "Yeah, sure, I might look a little pale from the swaying, but this carriage," the Rustler said, patting the cushion, "compared to the wagon we rode to reach Oceanview, this amount of swaying is nothing."

"I see. I'm glad you find this carriage comfortable. This was the best one I was able to find in the village; I had to requisition it from the village chief to get it," she declared proudly.

“Then make sure this poor carriage is returned back to him in one piece.”

“Of course, that is why I also borrowed from him his best horses and coachmen to escort us.”

“Instead of just having requisitioned things from him, it sounds more like you literally mugged that poor man.”

“I mean it was for a Valkyrie going back home after a two-years long mission, don’t you think she should at least deserve the best of best for her as a reward,” she declared cockily with a large smile on her face.

Men’ma had changed; the Rustler was fairly certain of that. The girl laughing in front of him was completely different from the girl who had suddenly attacked him that night.

While one could concur based on the time she had spent in the Den, how well she adjusted herself to it, and how fast she befriended the children, it was fair to say that the actual change that occurred was actually the way she behaved towards him. However, it is still accurate to state that she had indeed changed: she mellowed.

He wouldn’t be able at which exact point this change occurred, as it had been a gradual process. He simply knew that from the moment they had arrived on the Southern Continent—no, in fact, even before that, from the moment they had boarded the ship and sailed to the sea—it was already apparent.

This left the Rustler with two potential factors that could have caused this change: either it was him or it was her simply mellowing from the idea of getting closer and closer to the place she called home. Having gotten to know the girl, the Rustler firmly believed that the answer leaned more towards the former than it did toward the latter.

“You sure do look excited,” the Rustler commented.

“I do?”

“Yeah. And I can tell you try, but you simply can’t get rid of that smile off your face. Did you miss that place that much?”

“Of course, I have. Can you imagine what it's like to leave your home—literally, it being your first time doing so—leave your continent, sail across the sea to a new continent filled—I apologize in advance for what I'm about to say—with ignorant, rude, and bossy idi—people, all while hunting down a literal urban legend for a period of two years?”

“Well… I guess I can’t.”

"It is tiring and—" she began before trailing off as the carriage embarked on a rather steep uphill ascent, prompting her to leave her seat and sit beside the Rustler. "Though I admit it had its highlights, it was still tiring. The thought that I would soon finish what I was there for kept me going for so long. So, being here and getting closer and closer to my home, by the minute, is rewarding."

“I see, it must be nice.”

"Have you ever had a place like that? A place that you felt was just waiting for you to get home," Men'ma silently stared at the Rustler before asking.

"A place waiting for me to get home? Never, I guess. I've always led a rather nomadic lifestyle," he replied.

"What about the Den? Didn't you consider that place something like that?"

"The Den... huh? Would it make sense for me to simply leave the way I did if I really considered that place home?" the Rustler responded.

Hearing this, Men'ma sank into silence. "I guess that doesn't," she said.

A silence took place for some time, but it was broken when the carriage, at the end of the slope they were climbing, came to a sudden halt. "Huh?" the Rustler remarked, surprised by this sudden stop. He could tell from the windows they were in the middle of nowhere. It was at that moment that Men'ma suddenly asked out loud, clearly for the one responding to hear, "What happened? Did we arrive at the place?"

"Yes, Lady Men'ma," replied the coachman.

Hearing this, a smile formed on Men'ma's face. "What happened?" the Rustler asked, curious.

"Come with me," she said, reaching onto his wrist, before dragging him out of the carriage. "Why did we stop in the middle of nowhere? What is—" The Rustler began, but Men'ma didn't answer his question, the sight before them did.

"I asked to stop when it would come into view. Now here we are. It's still far away, but beautiful, isn't it?" she proudly declared.

The horizon was a mix of blue and green, with a canvas of blue sky adorned by fluffy clouds here and there. Below, stretching across the horizon, was a vast expanse of green forests that seemed to extend as far as the eye could see. And in the faraway distance, one could distinctly notice something tall and golden towering above the rest.

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"Is that..." the Rustler began.

"Yes, it is the Odo tree," Men'ma replied, her voice filled with excitement. “So what do you think of it?”

“What do I think of it… I guess it’s impressive.”

To be seen from this distance, when it’s supposed to be a three day journey from here. The tree was as impressive as it was advertised as.

"Right! It's even more breathtaking up close," Men'ma exclaimed.

Gazing at the girl's form that materialized beside him, half there and half in his own head, he muttered, "That has to be."

“Say, Rustler,” Men’ma suddenly called, snapping him out of his semi-trance. “While I do not know how it’s going to be, I sincerely hope that when we get to the capital, you’ll find someplace you’ll be able to call home.”

“I wouldn't be too hopeful about that, I’m starting to think that I’m a lost case when it comes to that.”

“Yeah? Perhaps, but it costs nothing to just hope.”

“Nothing, I suppose.”

"See, now come on. Let's go back in. We still have another three days to ride before reaching the capital."

Just like that, three more days went by. The duo continued their journey in the carriage, passing through small villages scattered here and there. They would rest in some villages, while skipping others along the way. Despite their perpetual motion, one thing remained constant: with each passing day, each village passed, the golden tree grew larger and more imposing, its presence looming closer.

It was then in the midst of this third day that the carriage suddenly came to a halt, startling the Rustler and Men'ma who had fallen asleep in their respective corners. Groggily, Men'ma instinctively asked, "What happened? We haven't made it to the first stave yet. What happened?"

"I apologize, Lady Men’ma but there are people on the road," the coachman replied.

The Rustler and Men'ma exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. "People..." Men'ma mumbled. "Robbers?".

Without hesitation, Men'ma stepped out of the carriage, followed closely by the Rustler. As they emerged from the carriage, the sight of the group of people dressed in golden clad armor confirmed the coachman's claim. Around ten individuals stood in the middle of the road, their presence commanding attention. Among them, one person stood out—a woman, an Odoe, but not just any Odoe.

"You... here?" Men'ma mumbled, her voice filled with surprise and a hint of recognition, as she stepped forward towards the woman.

The Rustler, sensing the connection between the two, asked, "Men'ma, do you know her?"

"When I heard the news of an Odoe barging in from a port, I had a feeling that if I waited here, I would stumble upon an idiot, and I did," the woman declared, her voice filled with a mix of amusement and affectionate reproach.

"Who're you calling an idiot?" Men'ma retorted, a playful glint in her eyes before she ran into the woman's waiting arms. "I see only one idiot here."

The reunion was filled with laughter and warm embraces as the two Odoes embraced each other.

It became clear that the woman before him was not just a stranger but someone very close to Men'ma, someone who, while not wearing a golden visor like her, from what she bore on her head was just like she was, a Valkyrie.

"Sister, what are you doing here!? I mean, shouldn't you be at the stave, not here?" Men'ma questioned, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and concern.

"Didn't I already tell you why I am here?" the girl replied, her tone slightly teasing.

"So you really were here for me?" Men'ma mumbled, her voice trembling with emotion as she clung to her sister's arm. "An'Nah!"

"Just kidding. I was lying," her sister confessed, a playful smirk on her face.

"I don't care anymore. I really missed you," Men'ma declared, her voice filled with sincerity.

"I..." her sister began, her voice trailing off. "I missed you too, Men'ma."

For a long moment, the two valkyries remained locked in each other's embrace before finally letting go.

"So, sister," Men'ma began, her voice filled with curiosity, "what really brought all of you here?"

"Monsters. They've been sighted somewhere in the area beyond the fourth and sixth staves," her sister explained.

"What kind of monsters?" Men'ma inquired, her mind already piecing the answer together.

"Ember…," her sister replied, trailing midsentence as she cast a peculiar glance in the Rustler's direction.

"Ember... Ember Wasps?" Men'ma asked, her realization evident.

"Yeah," her sister nodded. "You know how much trouble they can cause, so I decided to come here with some of my vanguards to investigate the area in case any of them slipped beyond the staves."

"I see, so that's why."

"But honestly, when I heard the news of a Valkyrie coming from beyond the Slithering sea, I couldn't resist checking this corner of the woods," her sister explained.

"Just how fast the news travels around these parts," Men'ma remarked.

"Faster than you can imagine. Just imagine, if I've heard about it, no doubt the Eldest sister must have as well," her sister added.

At those words, the Rustler noticed a subtle change in Men'ma's demeanor.

"I'm in big trouble, aren't I?" Men'ma expressed her worry, her expression filled with apprehension.

"You sure are. She clearly didn't take your departure well, just like the rest of us. She was furious," her sister confirmed, a hint of sympathy in her voice.

"Really?!" Men'ma exclaimed, nervously munching on her clenched fist.

"Well, I can't blame her. You were her favorite, and you literally left us, your position, and your duty to embark on a journey across the sea," her sister explained.

"My parents? What about my parents? My family? Please don't tell me the Eldest sister went after them.”

"You know the Eldest," her sister began, a somber tone in her voice. "Of course she went after your parents. What did you expect to happen?"

"I hoped she would spare them," Men'ma whispered, her heart heavy with concern. “They didn’t know anything about what I was about to do.”

"Well, that didn't happen. But don't worry too much. Your parents are fine, they were just scolded, and your house still stands tall under the shade of the Odo Tree," her sister assured, trying to provide some comfort.

Upon hearing this, Men'ma let out a sigh of relief, her tension easing slightly.

"It could've been worse, but I and your other sisters were able to convince the Eldest to view your choice as one driven by dedication and belief rather than pure selfishness. However, I strongly suggest you find something that will appease the Eldest sister. Something that will excuse your insubordination and absence," her sister advised.

“I might have something that might do the job just right,” Men’ma replied.

In that moment, both Valkyries' gazes turned to the Rustler, who stood there very well aware that he suddenly became the center of attention.

"You were heading with him to the capital, weren’t you? An Arbian child. Is that what you brought back from your two-year-long journey?" the valkyrie asked, raising an eyebrow.

Men'ma grinned. "Not just any Arbian child, Sister. He is—”

The Valkyrie cut Men’ma mid sentence, “actually, I don’t want to know any of this, will he be good enough to save you arse? Good. Not enough? I don’t care. That’s your problem, I want to hear nothing of it. In fact, I didn’t even see you, which is why I think you should simply go?”

“Eh? But he’ll need your blessing to pass through your stave.”

“As if! You’re a valkyrie too. Bless him yourself. Don’t you dare get me involved in your mess, I got monsters to hunt. I would like peace for myself when I come back home from this, not trouble,” the woman declared, taking her leave.

“Sister…”

“But once and only if you're able to make amends to the Eldest you know where to find me.”

“Sister!!”