Author's note: Surprise update! It is my country's birthday, so here's to celebrating our birthday 😂.

K’xug grunted as he kept his bloodied wings, panting as he knelt on the ground. Hana supported him and Xue was still carrying Cecil in his arms. 

They were finally back at the surface, each of them relishing in the sun that bathed them in a warm light, especially for K’xug. He inhaled deeply, squinting his eyes at the sun and took in his surroundings, it was a peaceful moment for them all...until K’xug felt a dull ache in his back and he glared at the two culprits who subjected him to such misery.

Hana smiled sheepishly, patting K’xug on the back. “Sorry, K’xug!” 

“You don’t expect us to climb up that cliff with our bare hands, did you?” Xue questioned indifferently. 

K’xug had nothing to say in return, only sighing and he gestured to Xue and Hana.

“What are you trying to say?” Xue frowned at K’xug.

Hana hummed thoughtfully, tilting her head. “I think K’xug is trying to ask, what we are planning to do now?” 

K’xug nodded at Hana’s words. 

Hana smiled back at him. 

Xue was speechless. 

Even when she has lost her memories, she still has the ability to understand K’xug properly like how she always did in the past. 

Even when he didn’t speak out his mind in the past, Hana knew what he was trying to say. 

“We should head back to your house, Hana,” Xue suggested. “Both you and Cecil, I am sure your parents are worried by now.” 

Hana nodded eagerly, and she scrunched her nose. “And we stink too, we need to change out of these dirty clothes!” 

K’xug was puzzled for a moment. 

Even in the mortal realm, Hana has parents? What about her parents in…

“But...how do we get back from here?” Hana asked, blinking innocently. “I don’t know the way back at all.” 

K’xug shrugged. He was trapped in a cave for four decades, and he had never once explored the mortal realm, asking him to find the way back to their house was as good as telling him to find a needle in a haystack. 

“Xue?” 

Xue recalled that he was “transported” here by Veau, and he hung his head down and sighed in frustration. 

“I…”

“...you?”

“I...I don’t know the way back either.” 

“...”

“...”

“Then what should we do?” 

All of them looked at Cecil currently cuddled up in Xue’s arms, having the most serene look on her face after getting her most needed rest. 

They all had the same thoughts in mind, to ask Cecil. 

Xue opened his mouth, wanting to call out to Cecil to wake her up. In an instant, K’xug covered up his mouth and Hana tugged at his sleeves urgently to get his attention. A frown creased his forehead, and he narrowed his eyes at K’xug. 

K’xug shook his head. 

“Xue, did...did you forget what happened just now when we woke Cecil up?” Hana hissed at Xue. 

Xue only recalled her grumpiness and how adorable she was, her words about threatening to replace all their delicious food with herbs had flown out from his mind. 

“If she wakes up and becomes grumpy again, Cecil might just replace all our food with bitter herbs!” Hana spit her tongue out in disgust, feeling a shudder going down her back. “I don’t want that!” 

K’xug shook his head along as well. He doesn’t want that as well, he wants to eat delicious food. 

Xue gestured at K’xug to get his hand away from his mouth, a hint of annoyance in his grey eyes. 

K’xug pulled back his hand, getting ready to jump back if Xue tried to wake Cecil up. 

“How do you expect us to get back then?” Xue raised his eyebrows. “Do you want to wander around like lost sheeps?” 

“...”

K’xug had nothing to say to that. 

“...uhm…” 

“Let’s wake her up then--” 

“Wait, Xue, wait!” 

Unbeknownst to them, their movements and words had roused Cecil awake. She blinked her eyes sleepily, finding herself in a familiar pair of arms. 

Zasiok: “...I think Cecil is awake now.” 

Xue heard Zasiok’s words, and he paused, glancing down as he met a pair of dazed, onyx eyes. Cecil lifted her hands, rubbing her eyes in a drowsy manner as she made a noise. 

“Why are you all so noisy?” 

Hana and K’xug stiffened. 

“We are lost, we don’t know the way back.” Xue said softly, his gaze gentle. 

Cecil took a few long seconds to process his words, nodding. “Oh, so that’s why. You can put me down now.” 

Cecil was somehow accustomed to Xue carrying her. 

Xue obediently put her down, and Cecil stumbled slightly, shaking herself awake. She wanted to go back to sleep immediately, however, she yearned to sleep at the comfy bed back at her mansion more. 

Sleepy…

Right, we were brought to Death’s Edge, and we have no idea on how to head back to Aoi from here…

Cecil blinked rapidly, looking back at Hana and K’xug. 

They were looking at her with the most cautious look on their faces. 

“Why do you look like that?” Cecil furrowed her eyebrows. “Did something happen?” 

Hana and K’xug quickly shook their heads. 

Cecil trudged forward and Xue grasped at her wrist, blinking curiously at her. “Where are you going?” 

“Mmm...we have to find the main road, and after that, hope for someone to pass by, so we can ask for directions,” Cecil explained softly, still drowsy. “If we are lucky, we may even get to hitchhike our way back.” 

“Hitchhike?” 

“What’s hitchhike?” 

K’xug tilted his head, puzzled. 

Oh right, that’s a term from my world, such a term doesn’t exist here.

Cecil shook her head. “I mean, if we are lucky, that person may even give us a lift back.” 

“Really?” Hana brightened up instantly. 

“If we are lucky.” Cecil emphasized. 

Xue nodded in understanding. 

“Let’s go, we need to find the main road.” 

The four of them walked onwards, finding their way out of the woods and onto the main road. 

***

Cecil was more awake compared to before, however, she could feel the exhaustion hitting her in full force. Her body and mind were just begging for a shower, a nice bed and a good sleep. Her eyelids were so heavy, and her sprained wrist wasn’t helping with the situation as well. 

K’xug and Xue had leaped up the trees to get a vantage point, while Cecil and Hana waited patiently for them to come back with any good news. 

Cecil leaned against the tree trunk, feeling as if she was going to doze off anytime soon. 

Sleepy…

So sleepy...

On the other hand, Hana was playing with the grass with her shoes, swinging her leg up and down. 

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound and Xue landed down in between them from the trees. 

“Did you see anything?” 

“No.” 

Hana pouted. 

A second later, a presence popped out behind Xue, startling the two ladies and Xue jerked back in shock as well. Thankfully, there wasn’t any screaming this time from either ladies. 

“Di-did you see anything?” Cecil asked, feeling more awake now from the unintentional scare from K’xug.

“Yo-you are silent as always,” Xue recovered from the scare, blinking rapidly. “I forgot how it feels like to have you appear out of nowhere.” 

Hana breathed out heavily, her hand on her chest. 

K’xug nodded at Cecil, pointing towards their right. 

The main road is that way. 

The four of them understood K’xug’s silent words and headed off in that direction. 

***

The four of them finally stumbled upon the main road, a gravel path carved out by people travelling up and down constantly. 

Hana covered her mouth as she yawned, and Cecil proceeded to yawn right after. The two of them were exhausted from taking care of the two men the entire time. Meanwhile, K’xug himself was still recovering from his injuries from being tortured, looking equally exhausted. 

It was only Xue among them who was fully recovered and full of energy, though, that didn’t show on his face. 

“If someone passes by here on a cart, we can get directions from them to head back to our hometown,” Cecil explained sleepily, still yawning as she spoke. “Or, hopefully, we can get a ride from them and reward them somehow.” 

All of them preferred the latter, but that was if they could come across someone travelling by this quiet, gravel path, miraculously, in a cart big enough to fit all four of them. 

The four of them started walking along the main road with Xue leading all of them in front, followed by Cecil and Hana, and K’xug was at the back. 

“ I wish someone with a carriage would just appear already!” Hana whined. 

“...that can fit all of us with at least enough space for us to sit down.” Cecil added, shaking herself awake. 

Hopefully, with some cushion. My entire body hurts. 

K’xug added on to the conversation mentally, too tired to even make some gestures. 

“You think they would just simply give us a ride?” Xue questioned. “Even if they do, they might just be planning to steal from us, and then kill us.” 

The three of them stopped in their steps, making Xue turn around as he gave them a look. The three of them stared at Xue. 

One could at least dream. 

K’xug sighed.

Why did you have to crush our hopes like that, Xue? 

Cecil sighed as well. 

Now I don’t wanna take a ride anymore...I rather just walk.

Hana sighed with a conflicted look on her face. 

“What?” Xue furrowed his eyebrows at their gloomy expressions. 

“Nothing.” 

The two ladies answered at the same time.  

K’xug just gave Xue a dismissive wave. 

“I am merely stating the truth.” 

Hana pouted, the truth that Xue stated was too depressing.

Cecil reached out and pushed Xue, urging him to walk onwards. “Okay, Xue, we get it.” 

K’xug shook his head to himself. 

In the past, Xue always looked on the good side of everyone, and now, he assumed the worst of people. 

He wasn’t sure which Xue he preferred now. 

Xue continued walking, turning his head slightly to speak to the three of them. 

“It’s true.” 

“Alright, Xue, alright.” 

All of a sudden, the four of them heard the hooves of a horse hitting against the gravel path from afar. They halted abruptly, except Hana whose reaction was a second too late. 

Hana rammed right into Cecil’s back, making a pained noise and Cecil stumbled forward at the same time, crashing right into Xue. 

Xue blinked as he felt a soft impact behind his back, and from the corner of his eyes, he saw Cecil scrunching her nose, making him smile a little. 

Cecil stepped back, rubbing at her nose as she sniffled.

Ow. 

That hurt my nose. 

Hana mimicked Cecil’s actions, and she heard a scoff from behind her, making her turn around. 

K’xug shook his head at her, as if he expected nothing more from Hana.

Somehow, Hana felt a little offended by the look K’xug was giving her. 

“Wh-what is that supposed to mean?” Hana pouted. 

K’xug shrugged with a tiny smile on his face. 

***

A young girl stood on the cart, holding onto the edges of it as she closed her eyes, feeling the wind whooshing past her. The older man, almost twice her age, controlling the cart along with the horse turned his head slightly, sighing.

“Hey, Rikka! Sit down!” 

“Don’t wannnnnnna!”

The carriage shook, causing the young girl’s words to go up and down in different pitches. Her black hair was short, and if not for the feminine looks and voice, one would assume she was a boy. 

She opened her dark brown eyes, squinting as she pointed. “Father! I think I see...four people standing by the roadside!” 

“What?” 

The older man brought his focus back to the road, and true to his daughter’s words, there were four people standing by the roadside in the distance. 

“Are they lost?” 

“Just ignore them, Rikka.” 

“Ehhh? Why?” 

Rikka’s father, Zack, had heard of attacks where bandits disguised themselves to be hapless people lost in the woods. He didn’t want to risk it, preparing to pick up his speed as he lifted the reins. 

“Rikka, sit back down!” 

“No!” 

“Hurry up!” 

“No!” Rikka shook her head again. 

Zack noticed they were nearing the group of strangers, and he saw one of them taking a step forward, holding a spear in his hand. 

“Rikka, sit down now!”

Zack panicked, using the reins to swerve as he picked up the speed. 

Rikka immediately found herself being flung out of the cart as she lost her grip on the cart. Zack watched on in horror as his daughter flew out and he hurriedly stopped his cart. 

At that moment, a raven-haired woman rushed forward and caught Rikka with her body, and she was in turn supported by an ash blonde-haired man, preventing her from falling to the ground. 

Rikka had her eyes squeezed close, bracing for the impact when she realised she was held securely by an arm.  

“Are you alright?” 

Rikka shot open her eyes, tilting her head up and looking into a pair of pellucid, onyx eyes. The next thing she noticed was the beautiful features of the woman, followed by her long, silky black hair. 

So pretty!

Cecil placed Rikka on the ground, smiling tiredly. “You shouldn’t be standing on the cart like that.”

Cecil was careful with her sprained wrist the entire time, trying not to put pressure on it even when she caught Rikka.

Rikka blinked rapidly, still trying to recover from the shock. 

“That was dangerous,” a silvery voice said, and an ash blonde-haired man entered the conversation, his grey eyes focused on Cecil. “What were you thinking? And your wrist is still sprained.”

“My wrist is fine for now.”  

Rikka turned to the man, noting his handsome features and she inhaled sharply. 

So handsome!

“And Xue is right,” Cecil placed her hand on her hip, her voice soft but firm. “That was really dangerous, little girl.” 

A small frown creased Xue’s forehead, and his eyes moved on to Rikka, his frown deepening. 

Rikka stepped back in fear, she had the slightest feeling that the handsome man was glaring at her. 

Hana who was standing beside Cecil, witnessed the whole exchange and laughed to herself. It was clear to her, and anyone else, that Xue was saying that it was dangerous for Cecil, and not for the little girl. 

However, Hana kept this to herself and she cleared her throat. 

“Cecil, that was a good catch!” Hana chirped, and she bent down, patting Rikka on the head. “You are lucky Cecil managed to react quickly enough to catch you!” 

Rikka widened her eyes even further, a gleam in them and she shied away from Hana’s touch. 

Another pretty lady! 

“Rikka! Oh, thank god!” Zack came scuttling over, panic and relief written all over his face. 

Xue wanted to brandish his spear, until he felt a hand clamp down on his spear and he turned sharply, seeing K’xug holding him back. 

K’xug furrowed his eyebrows, shaking his head at Xue. 

He was telling Xue to calm down, and that the two of them were just harmless people, passing by. 

Just like Zack, in his travels to find Hana at the start, Xue had heard of bandits being smart enough to disguise themselves as folks travelling across the road, waiting to jump on innocent victims. 

Rikka noticed K’xug’s presence, and she gasped again. 

Another handsome man! With very pretty eyes! But he seems really hurt…and his hair is very messy--

Rikka felt herself being hugged tightly and her father trembling as he held her tiny body, she only smiled, patting her father’s head. Zack quickly checked her daughter for any injuries, the wrinkles visible on his face from all the concerned frowning he was doing. 

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?”

“I am okay, father! Don’t worry!” 

“How can I not worry! I told you many times to sit down!” 

“But it’s fun standing up!” 

“You should listen to your father.” Cecil interrupted, her disapproving tone making Rikka flinch. 

Rikka hurried to hide behind her father’s legs, peeking her head out. 

“Thank you for saving my daughter,” Zack composed himself, bowing down as he thanked the four of them. He proceeded to nudge his daughter, sighing. “Come on, Rikka, you should thank them yourself as well.” 

Rikka grinned sheepishly, and she bowed down like her father. “Thank you for saving my life, pretty lady!” 

“You are welcome,” Cecil chuckled. “Just make sure to listen to your father next time.” 

Hana nodded in agreement. “That was too dangerous!” 

“Okay!” Rikka nodded. 

Zack lifted his head up, finally getting a good glance at the four of them. He then realised all four of them were exceptional in appearance but they were...filthy. Their clothes and face had been smudged with dirt, and they were even torn in some places. It was certainly a contrasting sight compared to their beautiful mien. 

“...if there is anything I can do to repay you for saving my daughter…” Zack suggested, trailing off when he noticed how all four of them brightened up significantly. 

“Then, would you mind giving us a ride back to Aoi?” 

***

《 start 》

It was dangerous for that child. 

...but it was more dangerous for you. 

I was saying it was dangerous for you. 

…

...next time, if such a thing happens again, I’ll be the one to catch them instead. 

So you won’t have to. 

《 stop 》