Chapter 230 Settled Nerves
As Aleshia cautiously observed the group of adventurers passing by, she couldn't help but notice the unusual presence of the third member of their party. He appeared lightly equipped, with two dagger holsters at his sides. Aleshia struggled to discern much else about him due to a strange aura that made it hard for her to focus. Fortunately, by some stroke of luck, the adventurers continued along their path without noticing Aleshia or her group. Once they had traveled a fair distance away, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. After their nerves settled, they resumed their journey back.
Aleshia's group made their way back to the wall safely, avoiding any further confrontations. Ren led the way, followed by Sam and Em, with Aleshia bringing up the rear. When they reached the blockade, Sam and Ren twisted it before pushing it down to the ground on the other side. After it fell, the duo crossed the border and moved the board a short distance away from the hole. Once they determined it was safe, they waved Em across, and she crossed the border as well, with Aleshia being the last to make the crossing. When Aleshia crossed the threshold, the duo reached for the board and lifted it back into place, twisting it into position.
When they returned to the slums, Aleshia noticed that the area seemed livelier than during her previous visits, although they had been there more during the daytime. Ren cautioned her to stay close, explaining that it was more dangerous at this late hour, especially since they were carrying items that could be considerably valuable compared to what people usually earned in their district.
After hearing this, they all huddled closely together, guarding Aleshia's bag as if their lives depended on it. Aleshia herself was positioned right at the center. Lucia seemed to understand the mood and the dangers they could face, ready to cast a spell or two if the situation called for it. As in her previous trips, some people approached them, while others aimed to create trouble. However, those troublemakers were swiftly dealt with by the entire group's efforts, without requiring assistance from Lucia.
Eventually, they returned to the camp, the sky now transformed into night. Being considerate, they opened the door as quietly as possible and stepped inside. Once they felt the safety of the camp, everyone's tension seemed to dissipate. They talked about various topics before heading to their sleeping quarters, agreeing to return to the door once they had woken up. Aleshia, now on the floor, began to nod off into sleep until morning.