Beyond the land in the HQ of Path Finder resides, the remaining of twelve seats gathering back after hearing about Silos's death.
"Is this because the same group again?." Ask the leader with a deep sigh.
"Unfortunately." Said a woman with big hat.
"Three times in a row. They're not even trying to hide it." He adds with suspicion.
They're all nervous from their leader restless gesture. The plan they thought we're perfect is ruined by people they don't know exist. He slammed the table and rose up from his seat.
"Sped up with the process. We can't afford to let them ruin another plan of ours. And if there's any of you find something about them. Tell me, I'll handle them on my own." His red eyes filled with fury.
"As you wish, Lord Teren." Everyone said in unison.
Back to the rainforest. Ava along with Sylva and Nein were discussing about what should they do now after this.
"The forest will always open for the people of Vastium. You can take some of the resources to rebuild your homeland." Sylva suggest politely.
"Thank you lady Sylva. That's a huge help for us." Ava gave her gratitude.
"But where do you planning to rebuild Vastium?. Are you doing to use the same land?" Nein ask curiously.
"It'll be too far for us to transport all the resources. I'm planning to move Vastium closer to the forest. It'll be much more easier to respond to similar crisis's that way and I can visit lady Sylva often now." She says with a smile.
"Hn, looking forward to it." Sylva accept happily.
"Then it settled. Then about the contract, you haven't fill it out do you?" Nein ask at Ava.
She remembers and ponder a bit before shaking her head.
"Forget about me, you should instead give that to lady Sylva. Since in a sense she's the one asking for your help."
Her logic sounds and making him looking at Sylva, waiting for her response.
"I'm okay with that. But what about the payment?. I don't have something fitting to pay you for your contribution."
"It's fine, just state it that I'm helping for looking after an exotic beast deep in the forest and you can pay me with anything you have." His tone jesting.
"Excuse me?. An exotic beast?. I'm the guardian of Mundus rainforest, the most devine of them all." She says defiantly.
"Then pay me two hundred gold."
"An exotic beast that is."
She changes her mind and start writing on the empty contract Nein always bring just in case. And when she returns the paper Nein raise a brow at the form of payment she offer.
"...'blessing of devine wolf'?. Change it."
"Eh..why?. I can't pay you with my blessings?"
Her voice demanding an explanation as she thought it's also a form of payment. Ava laugh at the scene and calm Sylva down.
"It's okay lady Sylva, how about five gold?. Can we do that Nein?."
"Much better."
He give back the paper for her to change it and write five gold instead as the form of payment. He skimming through the contract and hums approvingly before hide it inside his coat.
"Well then since my job here is done, I should take my leave now. Good bye."
He immediately turn around and begin to walk. Ava's about to stop him but faltering when she saw Sylva already holding his arm.
"Why the rush?. Don't you tired?. You can take a rest here as long as you want. Do you... really need to go so fast?." Her voice desperate.
Ava's watching from behind with a forced smile as she approach Sylva and whispering to her ears. The idea make her ears twitches as she look at Ava with wonder.
"What do you tell her Ava?" Nein ask suspiciously.
"Hmm... nothing. Just a girl secret." She says avoiding the question while winking at Sylva to encourage her.
"Nein. Can you close your eyes for a bit?." She's says nervously.
Her gesture making him suspecting Ava who's facing away from them. He looks at Sylva pleading eyes and sigh before closing his eyes.
"I'm closing it."
"You sure?. No cheating?."
"No cheating."
She's delighted and walk closer to him. She looks at Ava and considering her suggestions. Ava simply give her an ok sign before looking away again.
"Then...can you lower your head for a bit?." Her voice barely a whisper.
He do as she said and lower his head. She smiles and lift her hands to holding his shoulder. She leans closer and opens her lips a bit. He's shocked when he feels her lips against his. Ava's smiling at that and is happy for them.
She pulled away shortly and looking at him sheepishly.
"A... Ava said that you'll stay longer if I do that..." She explain nervously.
He look at Ava's grinning face in disbelief.
"What?. You did stay when I kiss you before. I'm not lying ."
"You better explain everything to her before she went kissing everyone leaving this forest Ava." His tone try to be stern.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry." She says in mocking surrender.
She open the wooden window first before walking toward Sylva and whispering to her ear. Ava's word makes Sylva to blushes and gasps in shock.
"I'LL GET PREGNANT FROM KISSING?" She says while covering her mouth with guilt.
"YOU WON'T!!" He immediately shout.
"Ahahahaha".
She jump off the window and run away with a laughter. Nein spend the rest of day to explain everything to Sylva. Outside the small hut however, everyone's busy with preparing a celebration. Making food and drinks with anything they can find in the forest.
And finally at night, everyone's gathering together to hear the Captain's speech. With drinks in their hands, Sylva use her ability to make alcohol after Ava plead for it after apologizing.
"We gather all here tonight because we choose to leave. It's not anyone fault that Vastium is destroyed, it's fate that bring us all here. We survived the inevitable and that's because one man. Nein winter everyone." Her voice followed by everyone cheering as she introduce Nein to everyone.
"Come on, say something." She bump his shoulder lightly.
"Do I need to?."
"What do you mean by that?. It's all about you. Come on don't be shy."
She pushed him to stand in the middle and watching from the distance. He's looking around the excited crowd and know what he need to say.
"It's all happened because your own decisions. When you chose to let go of your pride. You open a new path to yourself. Conflict will always come eventually, and it's your duty as the people of Vastium to protect it. More enemies will come for you whether you like it or not, and you can't always rely on help from others. So that's why, when I leave this place...I wish for you all that you'll get stronger to protect what important to you. Cheers."
He raise his glass and followed by everyone cheers. The feast begins with people drinking their problem away, children eating their fills while the elders talking with each other. In the midst of that, Nein's sitting in the corner with Sylva feeding him eagerly. While Ava's watching from the distance with the remaining of shells.
"Are you okay Capt?" Ask Fera worried at her empty gaze.
"About what?."
"You know what I mean."
Fera cue toward the two couple in the opposite corner, Ava simply smile and take another sips of her drink.
"It's painful to see the man I'm interested in is being taken by someone hundred percent better than me, kinda make me feel humiliated to be honest. Besides I've shot him in the head twice."
Her confession makes both Fera and Unguis laugh awkwardly.
"But where's Foris?. I didn't see him."
"He's been sitting there all alone. Lamina's death putting a huge toll in him." Fera pointed at him sitting with his drinks.
Seeing that she scoffed and empty her mug before getting another one.
"Take that sad boy here. We'll drink our problem away until we passed out!. For us and the lonely soul looking for their partners!."
Her statement makes everyone hearing it laughing. Unguis went to Foris and snatched him from his seat making him surprised. Ava immediately shoved her drink to him and making him drunk. Everyone doing their best to move on.
"They looks happy."
Sylva said fondly toward the crowd. Her head leaning against his shoulder with her tails curling around him.
"Good for them." He replied casually.
World narrow around their private space. Her hand's holding his hand. His bigger one envelope hers completely under it and it makes her happy.
"Are you going to leave tomorrow?."
"Yes."
"I see. That's a shame but I understand. Just...make sure to visit me sometime, okay?." Her voice pleading as she fidgeting with the hem of his coat.
"I will."
She's delighted hearing his answer and pull away slightly to meet his eyes beside him.
"You said to me that, kissing someone by the lips only for those who tied by romantic relationship right?. So...can you kiss me this time... please?."
Her pleading eyes caught him off making him nervous. He does said that, but hearing her asking for it making him lost in his thoughts.
"I... don't know if I can do that...I-"
The world stopped when she leans forward to him and kiss him deeply. She pulled back slightly and whisper to his lips.
"I love you..."
He's frozen. And when he's about to say something, she place her finger to stop him.
"I know, no need to say your answer now. I'm also still unfamiliar with the weight of that words. So Nein...when the day comes and make us meet again. I wish you can say it back to me. And if you manage to reach your goal and will disappear someday... please tell me so I won't wait for you and move on." She sounds afraid and vulnerable.
She rest her head against his chest, feeling the soft thumping sounds of his hearts. He both relieved and scared, he's glad that there's someone in this world accepting him as who he is and will saved him if he failed to find a way back. Afraid that if he did find a way to return, he'll leave her alone, forever.
He wrap his arms around her and hug her tightly.
"I promise."
Is it a lie or not, nobody knows. But that word alone enough to make her shedding her tears. It pains him to heard that sounds coming from her, but had his own reason to not help her wiping it.
"Thank you..."
And with that, his mission in Vastium completed.