Morrigan spun her dagger in her hand. Her remaining dagger. The heirloom was passed to her by her father. A heirloom B?rü risked his life so she could keep it. She lost it. It hurt her. She would have preferred if she lost her hand instead of losing it.


    She had no one but to blame herself. How could she be so easily defeated? By someone who killed her people to the booth. She should have defended or at least avenged them! But she was saved by others…


    “Uhum.”


    She raised her head when she heard someone clear their throat. Her gaze met with Arslan’s. He was holding a dagger.


    “I thought you would need one. I know it is not as good as the previous one but it is nice to have spares.”


    He said while holding one of his swords, showing that he followed his own advice. Morrigan took the dagger from him.


    “Thanks.”


    “No problem. Do you need anything? Maybe I can find something to wear?”


    Arslan said while pointing to Morrigan’s torn clothing. Morrigan felt that painful feeling rose from her chest again. He already risked his life to save her life and the fact that he behaved this helpful to her made her feel ill.


    “There is no need. Do we have any signs of hostiles?”


    Her clothes were dungeon drops she gathered during her travels. They increased her agility and stealth capabilities while being relatively durable and fit to her fashion sense but wasn’t attached to them so she didn’t feel too bad.


    Arslan shook his head.


    “No signs of any monsters or him but it is not like our detection range is large with all these trees and mana blocking it.”


    Morrigan pulled the dagger Arslan handed to her from its sheath. She went through several motions she trained in. Her lips curled into an expression of dissatisfaction. She knew the blade wasn’t bad. While she didn’t have an appraisal skill, she had experience with weapons to discern them to a certain degree. She also knew that the dagger was crafted by Whifur blacksmiths and she trusted their work.


    But she didn’t like the dagger. She knew how ungrateful she was being. She put the dagger back into its sheath and erased the expression of dissatisfaction from her face.


    “How is Ama?”


    Last time she was leaving with mana stones Poyraz handed to reinforce the barrier.


    “She is holding up pretty well. I know you didn’t see her in her best against Regal but she got very strong the time you weren’t with us.”


    Morrigan held her breath. Was it finally here? Consequences of her actions? Will she be apprehended for her desertion at last?


    “If she could hold on to her sanity while transformed, she could have kicked that bastard’s ass. You maybe give her some advice about it?”


    Arslan continued while looking away. Morrigan let the air leave her lungs. His intention wasn’t to call her out. He looked at her, his face anticipating an answer.


    “I’ll talk to her.”


    Morrigan said. Arslan noticed her voice lacking energy.


    “I am pretty sure they will find something useful. Plus, we are not even that far away from Whifur. It is possible someone will feel the mana blocking our communications and will send a rescue team.”


    Arslan tried to encourge her. Morrigan gave him a silent nod.


    “I am going to check on Ama. I am kind of worried about mental exhaustion setting in.”


    Morrigan rose on her feet. Arslan nodded.


    “I will be on the lookout. If I see something outside the barrier, you’ll know.”


    Morrigan appreciated Arslan''s attempt to lift her spirits, but that only made her feel worse. She passed several people and reached Amaterasu. Magic symbols were carved around the ground she was sitting. She was holding a mana stone with her eyes closed. Mana stone wasn’t as bright as normal mana stones, implying its mana was mostly spent.


    “Ama.”


    Morrigan whispered, worried about breaking her concentration. Then she realized how noisy her surrounding already were with people talking, children crying, and wounded moaning.


    Amaterasu slowly opened her eyes. Only then Morrigan noticed the sweat rolling down her face. Even though the mana required to keep the barrier going was being siphoned from the mana stones, the mental strength to channel that mana was something else.


    “How are we holding up?”


    Morrigan asked. She didn’t even try to mask her worry. Amaterasu was her best friend. She felt no need to hide her feelings. Or at least her feelings for Amaterasu.


    “Mana stones can last us for several days though I am not sure for water or foo-“


    “I was talking about you.”


    Ama slowly smiled. She got up slowly and made her way to Morrigan.


    “I am fine, Morrigan. I already recharged the barrier. I can rest for several hours now.”


    Morrigan clenched her fist. Even though she wasn’t a mage, she knew that mental exhaustion wasn’t something that can go away with several hours of rest, especially in a place and time like this.


    Both mental and physical exhaustion recovery were affected by the environment. With the thought of an attack happening any minute and the limited amount of space, one couldn’t rest and recover peacefully. While this affected everyone, Morrigan was worried about Ama the most.


    Ama put her hand on Morrigan’s shoulder.


    “It is okay. I am pretty sure Poyraz will return before I could reach my limit.”


    “What if they don’t?”


    That sentence nearly left Morrigan’s lips before she realized saying that would go nowhere. She had to hold strong. Ama grabbed Morrigan and pulled her to the side.


    “We were reunited some time ago and still haven’t had a chance to talk properly! Come, tell me about your adventures. I only heard about your exploits from other people! Let’s hear the real story.”


    Morrigan couldn''t help but be taken aback by Amaterasu''s sudden change of topic. She looked away from Ama, hoping to discourage her from trying to make her talk.


    “I don’t have any interesting things to talk about. It was just fighting and traveling.”


    Amaterasu raised her eyebrows, not believing Morrigan for a second. Amaterasu led-or more accurately dragged- Morrigan to a quiet corner, away from the noise and commotion. Morrigan could easily stop her but she didn’t. She kind of understood why Poyraz put up with Lily’s shenanigans. It was hard to say no to a friend you haven’t seen for years.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.“I don’t know what you want me to tell you about. Nothing is interesting about what I did.”


    “You were traveling around the world, freeing beastkin, fighting slavers, and meeting with two Outworlders. I am pretty sure you have several interesting things to tell.”


    Morrigan forgot stubborn Ama could be. She gave in and started to talk. Maybe it was for the better. If that would make Ama feel better, that was for the best. She began recounting her adventures since they had been apart.


    As Morrigan started recounting her adventures, she couldn''t help but be drawn into the memories. She spoke of the treacherous landscapes she had traversed, the hidden dungeons she had explored, and the dangerous creatures she had faced. She described the encounters with powerful foes, the battles that pushed her to her limits, and the moments of triumph and defeat.


    Even though Morrigan thought not too much of the things she had done, looking back at them again and Ama’s reaction and comments made her think differently. A little more confident or maybe a little more proud. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Maybe that was what Ama was aiming for? To cheer her up?


    She looked at her friend. Maybe it was just her imagination but she seemed less tired now.


    “That’s what I can remember for now.”


    Morrigan stopped talking and took a deep breath. She hasn’t talked for this long for ages.


    “I guess you won’t speak for a month after this since you filled your quote?”


    Amaterasu playfully said while moving to Morrigan’s behind. She caressed her hair.


    “Probably.”


    “It is okay. Your hair got pretty long. I remember you not wanting long hair.”


    Amaterasu fixed her hair. It was gotten very messy due to all the fights she got into.


    “It is annoying to have long hair. It gets in the way when fighting. I just couldn’t find someone to cut it.”


    Ama’s gentle hands were a nice pace of change for Morrigan. Fighting, camping outside, and living a rough life all around for years left only a small room for nice things. She felt like she could purr at any moment.


    “You could have cut yourself.”


    “I can’t without ruining it.”


    Amaterasu chuckled.


    “If you want to have short hair you should cut it before arriving at Whifur. Otherwise, your mother will never allow you to cut it.”


    Morrigan made a small noise when her mother was mentioned.


    “She… She will be happy to see you again.”


    Morrigan felt dread when she remembered her mother. She was probably angry with her. She had left with just a letter. Meeting with her again made her nervous.


    “Everyone will be happy to see you. I am sure of it.”


    Morrigan wasn’t so sure about it. That’s why she fell silent.


    “Do you remember what Grandpa Adonis used to say?”


    Amaterasu broke the silence. Morrigan thought to herself for a second.


    “Violence for violence is the rule of beasts?”


    Morrigan asked, not really sure what her friend exactly meant. Amaterasu narrowed her eyes.


    “Did he really say that? Maybe I should write it down. “


    Amaterasu shook her hand.


    “What I meant was: "The true chains that bind us are not forged by the hands of the humans, but by the burdens we bear within our hearts. When we allow ourselves to be shackled to the unknown and the yet-to-happen, we are torn away from the beauty and significance of today."


    “Excessive worry cannot shape or alter fate’s course."


    Morrigan recalled the advice Grandpa Adonis gave.


    “I am surprised you can remember his words so clearly. I can only recall parts of it.”


    Morrigan admitted.


    “I wrote it down. When I miss him or I feel like I need his advice, I would read it.”


    Morrigan chuckled.


    “He probably wouldn’t like it. He was pretty stern about passing the wisdom through oral tradition.”


    “I would just say “Please!” and he would accept it. He never could stay angry with us. Remember the time you broke-“


    “Uhum.”


    Morrigan cleared her throat and hid her reddened face behind her hair. Amaterasu giggled to her embarrassment.


    “I think he would be proud of us.”


    Amaterasu said.


    “Do you really think so?”


    Morrigan sounded unsure.


    “We formed positive relationships with humans and saved beastkin.”


    Morrigan grabbed the hilt of her dagger.


    “I am not sure he would like how we are doing it. He always said how violence was never the answer after all.”


    “He was a wise man. But even the wisest man makes mistakes. You and I both know how his ideals ended up.”


    To an outsider, Amaterasu’s words may sound harsh but Morrigan saw the sorrow behind her blunt words. He was a mentor and a family to both of them after all. Morrigan wanted to say something to make her friend feel better but when she turned to her she saw that Amaterasu’s ears were perked up.


    Morrigan quickly rise to her feet while Amaterasu closed her eyes. Morrigan felt mana inside Amaterasu’s body circulate.


    “To the right. I’ll maintain the barrier.”


    Amaterasu softly whispered, her eyes still closed. Morrigan ran to the right as fast as her legs could carry her.


    “Hostiles!”


    Arslan’s voice roared. Noise filled the area as warriors flocked where hostiles were spotted while civilians moved away from them.


    Barrier, which was invisible up until now revealed itself as the same raven-like creatures tried to enter it. A subtle shimmering effect rippled across its surface, looking like waves formed when a rock was thrown at the water.


    As Morrigan reached the edge of the barrier she saw creatures emerge from the tree lines. Morrigan gulped when she saw how mutated they looked now. Bones poked out from their hide while their muscles twitched outside their body.


    They moaned in pain. Even Morrigan felt bad about them. Her eyes traced all around her, looking for the masked man. He was nowhere to be found. He sent his soldiers while hiding.


    “Coward.”


    Morrigan gripped her daggers tightly, the unfamiliarity of her new dagger causing her discomfort.


    “Ready to fight!”


    Morrigan pointed her daggers toward the monsters while letting out a roar. Her comrades answered with their own roars. Morrigan felt ready to take the monsters down.