As the two were getting ready for the burial of all the dead, Tervain was rushing to them telling loudly.
"Guys I got some news!" He said enthusiastically.
"What happened?" Sky asked.
"Basically I went to inform Nesther but she just said to do what you think is best, bury the dead and inform her later about it." He said with pride.
"Uh…Tervain…I'm sorry to inform you but…" Sky spoke with hesitation
"We've already done or planned to do what you just said so in short your help has been useless for far." Verrith continued.
"Wha-Come on are you kidding me! Hey you were the one who told me to do that and now I'm useless" Tervain said outloud.
"In a nutshell" Sky replied, one hand behind his neck.
"It's fine, I'll just take up the next opportunity to contribute," Tervian said as he was knelling down and drawing circles on the ground with a random twig he had found before.
"Get up, We need to bury the dead and arrange their properties." Verrith said to Tervain.
"Alright." He said as he stood up dramatically and pointed both his fingers at them.
"…"
"…"
"What?" Terrain asked.
— ✦ —
Skelra stood before a dead adult mauler with its head cleanly severed, its height once reaching 9 meters and its warm brown fur had kept him warm.
"Rena, keep watch of our surroundings."
"Yes Sir." A female scout with red hair answered Skelra.
"Rose, stop playing with that head, it's not a toy." Skelra said in an irritated tone.
Hearing this command, Rose stared at Skelra with a cold look as she held the severed head in her hands.
"Rose, I'm not in the mood today." Skelra replied, his tone much colder.
She stared at Skelra for a bit before putting the head aside.
"Start making a fire, I'll start butchering the mauler and pass the meat to you. Make sure to smoke a good portion of it and the rest we can feast on for a while." He said loudly which prompted the other 16 people except for Rose and Rena to promptly set camp.
"Rose guard me while I butcher this." He said he took out a small transparent capsule about 1 and a half times larger than a cigarette.
The transparent capsule was filled about 1/10th of the way with a dark bluish liquid.
Soon the capsule disappeared and in Skelra's other hand, an obsidian knife, an apron and a thin pair of gloves appeared in his hands and he began to prepare to butcher the adult mauler.
"You're a boring guy you know, you didn't even let fight the poor beast, you just went ahead and killed it instantly," Rose said as she stood beside Skelra with her hammer lying beside her.
"Look you'll just destroy the beast's whole body with your hammer and mix his flesh with his bones and that makes butchering a lot harder and I wasted 1/5th of one of the capsules I have so I don't want you complaining." Skelra said, irradiated.
"Ok, ok, I get it." Rose said as she laid down on the ground both her arms behind her head.
— ✦ —
"Well that's about what happened." Sky said as he had just finished summarising what had happened to Luminar.
"So after you buried the body and sorted the property, Verrith went to Nesther to discuss how they should manage this situation since the dead have no one to pass their belongings to?" Luminar asked as she put down the last child to sleep.
"Basically." Sky replied.
"Well I heard that Skelra will bring in some warm leather or fur to make clothes so I'm going to just see what clothes the majority of people need and also bring in the trainees in a while later to help me make the clothes once Skelra brings the stuff back." Luminar said as she put on gloves and some shoes as she began to walk out.
"In the meanwhile make sure the kids get some proper sleep will you?" She asked as she left.
[Kinda ironic that the person who can't sleep peacefully for the love of his life has to make sure others get proper sleep]
'It's a bit ironic but at least it is something I can do.'
[So anyway what's your thought about this recent case?] the shadow asked as he was seen on the wall wearing a standard suit and hat.
Odd. No Good lead… the voice behind Sky spoke, answering the shadow's questions for Sky.
'Well that sums it up.'
[…]
"…"
[Yeah, this is boring.]
'Agreed.'
— ✦ —
Skelra stood up as he had butchered the adult mauler into multiple pieces. Separating its skin, organs and its flesh in different parts.
He then took a look at what he had found in the bear's stomach, a red luminous shard about the size of a fist.
"How did this appear in the mauler?" Rena asked as she looked at the stone,
"Well he probably ate one of the forest's creations that wasn't properly formed and born and protected. He probably ate it whole and unintentionally ate its heart whose power began to dissolve due to the presence of the mauler's insanely acidic digestive leaving only a small part of it which couldn't be dissolved and it probably fed on the mauler's energy allowing it to re-gain it's shine, inherently creating a glow shard."
"That could explain why we encountered a mauler in this session near the edge of the dark woods, it needed more food due to the glow shard." Rena replied.
Skelra rubbed his chin with his right hand as he thought.
"Rose, you wanna absorb this glow shard?" Skelra asked.
"Hell no, the whole operation hurts and it restricts my movements way too much and I feel way too weird." Rose replied immediately.
A sigh left Skelra's mouth, "Look, this is a rare type of glow shard since it originated from one of the dark wood's creations which was further moulded by the mauler's soul so it probably also suits your fighting style."
"Yeah, but I still haven't finished absorbing the glow shard you put in my body 2 weeks ago, and that one was the size of a fist." Rose replied.
"Mind you Sir. Skelra that the glow shard you implanted on her was only about 60% pure and had a hardness level of 6 and considering the condition in which we found this glow shard I'm sure it's purity is higher than 95% and its hardness while not known is probably harder since its original form was that of a dark wood's creation's heart." Rena replied, supporting Rose.
"I guess we can just store this for now and just use it later." Skelra said as he put the glow shard in a small bag and carried it.
"I'll carry it and walk a bit to see if I can find any medicinal herbs and in the meantime please help the others carry the meat to smoke it." He continued as he walked off in the distance.
— ✦ —
"Sky how are you?" Tervian asked as he had just entered the kitchen where Sky was.
"I'm good, though I'm getting a bit concerned since it's already been 3 hours and Luminar still hasn't come back." Sky replied as he made himself some green tea.
"???" Sky made a confused expression as he drank the tea, "Why is this tea so bitter, I'm sure I used the correct herbs."
"You sure? Check the herbs you used."
"Yeah I'm sure I used the correct ingredients." Sky replied confidently.
"Let me taste it." Tervain said as he temporarily lifted his helmet for a bit, hiding his face from Sky as he drank a sip, "I mean my taste buds might be a bit number ever since I've been undead but I'm pretty sure this is not bitter, it's a bit pale in taste and the herbs only add the slightest hint of taste."
"Hm… maybe I ate something before that made it bitter." Sky said.
"Probably." Tervain said as he fixed his helmet a bit.
Green tea was something Sky liked to drink occasionally as it warmed Sky's heart a bit and he hadn't drank it ever since he got on the white spirit's back 25 years ago or converting 36 hours days into our standard 24 hours, 37.5 years ago.
This was a craving that Sky had occasionally so to now taste it and it was ruined by the bitter taste that made him frown a bit.
"Hmm….well, changing the topic, what type of dreams do you see?" Tervain asked.
"Uh…I know you are trying to change the topic, but why this topic specifically" Sky asked.
"Well I don't need to sleep though I can but when I do sleep I see nothing, no dreams or anything, so I haven't dreamed in like... a long time I guess."
"I see…" Sky said a bit reluctant to talk about this topic, "Well, I don't sleep for long enough to properly see my dream, nonetheless remember what I saw but when I do sleep for at least 2-3 hours, I see a dream, and this dream is the dream I see every time. Without fail ."
"The dream itself is pretty childish," Sky continued, "It's about me talking to a girl. I was a kid seeing her draw a place where everyone else was happy and I give her drawing a name which is "happy land" and then my dream ends"
"Happy land…" Tervain sold the name out loud, "Well I guess it suits the thing that the girl in your dream drew but why that dream specifically? Does it hold any significant meaning to you?"
"Well we used to go to a waterpark called happy land during the summary and It was probably one of the most enjoyable experiences and after going our separate ways after I had t0 move when I was 11 and we didn't talk after that but K did meet the girl when I was around 17 again and she probably had a similar concept to that she was as kid and I feel like she explained why she wanted to believe in this idea and follow it but I am not too sure, though I don't remember much after that and the details are also all fuzzy."
Hearing such a reply, Tervain went into deep thought putting his hand on the chin of his helmet.
"Hmm…childhood girl…childish ideals… dreams…." Tervain muttered in a low voice, "This… this is exactly what I need!"
Sky closed his ears as Tervain spoke loudly so suddenly and then signalled Tervain to be quiet, "Hey, the kids are sleeping, don't wake them up. I don't wanna deal with the kids."
"Oh, my bad," Tervain said more quietly now, "Well anyways this is a fantastic concept for a short novel that I might write before my official big novel or to say in other words, the novel that'll define my legacy"
Tervain said as he performed excessive body language clearly showing his enthusiasm.
A sigh left Sky's mouth, "I bet you haven't even thought about a single character's full name for your story"
"…"Hearing this remark, Tervain quickly turned around and sat on the ground as he drew an imaginary circle on the ground with his finger.
"Was I spot on?" Sky said as he sipped the green tea that was now less bitter in taste.
"Yes…" Tervian said as he kept drawing the imaginary circles on the ground.
Sky took another sip of his green tea and thought for a moment as if to see how much time had passed.
[It's been 3 and a half hours since Luminar left.] The shadow replied.
'Odd. Why is she so late? Especially since this kingdom isn't that large so it shouldn't take her that long to just vaguely glance at others and see what type of warm clothes they are lacking in.' Sky thought a bit concerned.
Sky leaned back against the counter, arms folded, watching the steam curl faintly from his cup.
Tervain had moved from the floor to a low stool and was rocking slightly on it.
"So," Tervain said, breaking the silence, "if I did write that short novel, would you read it?"
Sky didn't look at him. "Depends."
"On?"
"Whether or not you let your bad habits affect it or not."
"Uh… I don't understand." Tervian said, confused.
"You circle your thoughts," Sky said. "You don't walk them forward."
Tervain was quiet for a moment, clearly confused at what he said, "That's… still not a no."
"No," Sky agreed. "Just means I'd probably get tired halfway through if you forget to move the story forward."
A short, awkward laugh slipped out of Tervain. "Ah, I see that's Fair."
Silence soon crept back into the room and soon, Tervain spoke again, "…I'll take that as constructive criticism."
They sat in awkward silence.
Tervain was too detached p, thinking about his novel and Sky didn't really want to or know how to start a conversation well.
[Isn't this ironic? Now we're the one who's making it awkward.]
'Shut up'
— ✦ —
Skelra crouched near the base of a massive tree whose bark spiraled inward unnaturally, as if something beneath had twisted while growing.
"This isn't natural growth," he said, fingers hovering just above the surface. "It's a formation stage."
Rena knelt beside him, a small torch raised. "A cocoon?"
"Yes." Skelra nodded. "Early-stage forest creation. Dormant. Still feeding."
Some of the bark was warm.
Not from heat—but from circulation.
"Verrith's report was accurate," Rena said. "Something is being prepared."
Skelra straightened slowly. "Then the world's throat is reacting and in turn affecting the forest."
They exchanged a look.
"Mark the location," Skelra said. "We don't interfere yet."
— ✦ —
Back in the kitchen, Tervain had abandoned the stool and was now leaning near the window, staring out into the dark streets.
"Do you ever feel," he said suddenly, "like time stretches when you're waiting, but snaps when you look back?"
Sky hummed in acknowledgement.
"Yeah."
Tervain nodded to himself. "Good. Thought that was just an undead thing."
Footsteps approached.
Light. Familiar.
The door opened.
Luminar stepped in, brushing dust from her cloak. She removed her hat slowly, as if grounding herself in the motion, and set it on the table.
Sky turned immediately.
"You're late."
"I know," she said quietly.
Sky studied her face. Her posture was composed, but her eyes carried fatigue or hits of pity.
"What happened?" he asked.
Luminar hesitated—choosing her words carefully.
"I stayed with someone," she said. "A girl."
Tervain straightened slightly but stayed silent.
"She wasn't… having a good day," Luminar continued. "She lost something she shouldn't have taken from her. Her….her purity to say in a way"
Sky's expression didn't change, but his gaze sharpened.
"…I see," he said after a moment.
"She didn't want guards," Luminar added. "Didn't want questions. Just wanted someone to stay."
Silence settled again.
Sky nodded once. "You did the right thing."
Luminar put her hat back on, adjusting it with practiced ease.
"I'll return tomorrow," she said.
Sky watched her for a second longer, then looked away.
"Sit," he said. "You haven't eaten."
She paused, then allowed herself a small nod.
Tervain cleared his throat. "Uh—we still have some soup we can re-heat"
Luminar smiled faintly at that.
And for a brief moment, the world narrowed to a shared table, quiet breaths, and the fragile peace of people choosing to stay human where they could.