Astrid stared at the child intensely, thinking for a long time.
"Sev?"
She turned her head, seeing a proud smile.
"Yes, Astrid?"
"Where did you find this girl?"
"What do you mean?" His head tilted.
"No, I mean—who is this girl?"
Sev blinked. "Wow, I didn't expect this reaction. Consider me flattered."
Astrid's gaze returned to the girl, inspecting her closely. Her eyes widened.
"Monica?"
The girl smiled shyly at the mention of her name.
"Bingo," Sev said, putting his arm around her shoulder and extending his other arm toward the girl. "I gave her a little makeover. What do you think?"
"I don't know what to think… I mean, why would you—"
"Don't worry. I made sure she looks almost identical to that guy's sister."
Astrid frowned. "Is he really that important?"
Sev paused, the look on his face turning serious. "Yes. I truly do believe he will get us out of here."
She sighed. "How did you do it? Make her look so different, I mean."
Sev signaled for the girl to come closer. "It was actually her idea." He nodded toward her. "Go on, tell her."
The girl looked up, twiddling with her thumbs. Her shoulders twitched with small, involuntary jerks she didn't seem aware of.
"I used a flower that grows nearby. By grinding it and adding a few drops of the glowing water, I first made a soft blue dye that glows at night. But when Master Sev came to me, he suggested adding a drop of spider's blood…"
Astrid's eyes shot toward Sev, a vein popping on her forehead.
The girl continued, "I was scared at first, but Master Sev convinced me it was safe, so we tried it and it worked."
She smiled brightly, proudly showing off her newly blue-tinted eyes.
Sev nodded along. "That is true, although the effects only last a few hours."
"And her hair?" Astrid leaned in, whispering softly into Sev's ear. "Any side effects?"
Sev laughed. "Her hair was colored similarly, except we mixed crushed bone powder and monster blood."
"Ew," Astrid muttered under her breath, feeling sorry for the girl.
"There shouldn't be any side effects. For all we know, blood from low-category monsters is non-toxic."
This time, the girl nodded along, adding, "Master Sev made sure it was safe before doing anything."
"Oh?" Astrid asked. "And how exactly did he make sure?"
"Come on, isn't that enough questions? We have a believable Melody. Now we just need the word to spread and boom—we have our ticket out of here."
Astrid frowned, throwing Sev's arm off her shoulder.
"No. It's not enough questions. I won't let this girl be your toy to use as you wish. That boy ran off because of you, so it's your problem. I say you go and find him yourself."
"Tsk. It's never easy with you, is it?"
Astrid smiled slightly, playfully. "That's why you like me."
Sev froze for a moment, uncertainty showing in his eyes.
"Yes… that's why I like you."
Astrid nodded, crouching down to the girl's level. "Come on, let's wash this off and get you clean."
The girl's eyes flicked between Sev and Astrid, unsure of what to do.
"Go," Sev said reluctantly.
Watching them walk off, he saw Astrid turn around, mouthing what seemed to be a thank you. His gaze lingered for a moment.
'Damn it.'
He kicked a pile of snow, watching it fly into the air.
Staring at the falling snow, he had another idea.
Smoke.
If he made a large enough smoke signal, maybe Astel would see it and come to check it out—only to be caught by someone from the sanctuary.
He bit his nails.
'No. That puts us in too much danger. There could be flying monsters lying in wait, searching for us.'
How does one get a message to someone else without knowing where they are, or if they are even alive?
Sev fell deep into thought.
'The sanctuary is pretty well hidden, so it's unlikely he'll find it on his own…'
He sat down, staring into the distance. Far below him, a team of new arrivals was battling a beast.
'Maybe we could send more people to search for him?'
He shook his head.
'We don't have that many capable heads to spare. Most would probably die by falling into a hole or something… This is too troublesome.'
His thoughts drifted to the gigantic cocoon, and the pain and despair it had brought him.
'Perhaps I really should look for him.'
He quickly threw that idea away with a frown.
'No. Why would I do the dirty work when we have a few capable soldiers that follow every command?'
He smiled.
'Yes. I'll call it a special reconnaissance mission.'
His grin widened.
'What do I care if someone dies?'
He quickly stood up and walked back into the sanctuary, whistling a soft melody.
*
"Absolutely not," Astrid said when Sev brought up the idea as she washed the young girl's hair.
"Right. Remind me—why did I even come to you with this?" She scoffed. "To me, it just seems that you've become lazy."
Sev was taken aback. "Lazy? No, just more practical."
Astrid stayed silent for a moment.
"Alright. If you truly believe that Astel boy is that important, then I'll be your bait."
Sev shook his head. "Forget it. I don't need bait. He's not some feral monster we have to catch... Not to say he's exactly smart or anything."
"Well, you're the one who traveled with him for months. Can't you come up with any better way to bring him here?"
Sev rubbed his chin. "For a while, he did seem curious about the ruins."
"The ruins? He knows we can't read what's in them, right?"
"We did figure out a few words, but I doubt that's enough."
"Isn't there anything else?"
Sev thought for a while, then came up with another plan.
"Well… he did always dream of becoming a hero."
Astrid shook her head. "No. I'm not letting my people put their lives in danger because of your stupid plans."
She took a deep breath. "Do you even need a Melody? Why can't you just spread the rumor? It's not like he needs to see her to think she's here."
Sev sighed. "You're right. I just thought that he might somehow figure out that there's no Melody here."
"How long do you think he'll survive on his own?" Astrid asked, catching Sev off guard.
"...A few months, probably. I told you—he's tough."
"Then how about this? If he's so tough, then he probably knows his way back to the desert. Don't you think he'll be watching that path?"
Sev nodded, catching on.
"How about you depart on another journey for lost souls? I doubt there will be many, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you make sure he follows you back here."
"And what about the rumor? I doubt he'll want to enter the sanctuary without at least believing his sister might be here."
Astrid smiled. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
Sev frowned, thinking about the details. "I lost the caravan, though."
"You can make the journey without it, can't you?"
"It's going to take a while."
"We have time."
"I hope you're right," Sev muttered uncertainly.
"I'm sure Max will be ecstatic to come with."
Suddenly footsteps echoed through the cave-like room as another person entered.
"Speak of the devil," Astrid said, finishing washing the girl's hair.
From a distance, Max shouted, "Sev! They need you out there!"
He stopped in his tracks, seeing the two leaders staring at him.
"Is there something on my face?"
Astrid smiled warmly. "How would you like to go on a fun trip?"