“By the way, what are you doing in a place like this?” Reyna asked Linda.

“Um, I was taking a breather. I’m resting for now. I managed to save some money, so I think it's ideal to rest for a while.”

The rest is history for them. Reyna gave a small nod.

“What about you?” Linda asked.

“Oh um,” Reyna glanced at Yuzu. He nodded as if he’s permission is needed to let her continue.

“You see Linda. When we say we’re adventurers, we didn’t lie about it, but something happens and took the opportunity.”

Linda slowly shakes her head. “I’m not quite sure what you’re getting at.”

“You see when we came home, we were greeted by Mephistic Hunters.”

“Come again?”

“They told us that the chief would like to make peace with us and including you, Linda. We were hesitant at first but…”

“Please tell me that you didn’t accept their apology.”

“We did.”

“Are you an idiot?”

It seems that Linda’s suspicion is right. They’re hiding that to her.

“I know that they don’t deserve to be trusted but, they changed.”

“It’s obviously a lie. Don’t forget they tried to kill us.”

“That was before, Linda. Things are different now.”

“You don’t know that.”

“We do and we’ve been there. They are not lying, Linda. The way that the tribe works has change. It may sound impossible but they did change. They don’t use children as sacrificial pawn anymore to gather celestial energy.”

Yuzu continued.

“They’re using an artifact. It’s called Satrican. It can harness and collect energy. A stranger, an otherworlder came to us and sell us that artifact. He explained its various features. It can even open a portal to the Limbo and other stuffs.”

“So, you see…” Reyna intercepted. “The Mephistic hunters has no reason now to sacrifice children. You can go home now.”

Linda began to collect her thoughts and took a deep sighed.

“Even if you say that they’re not the one that they’re used to be, I have no reason to come back at that place anymore. As you can see, I’m making a living in here.”

Reyna didn’t probe. “Okay, I respect your decision.” Reyna gave her a sweet smile. “Even still, it is nice to see you that you’re happy and well.”

“I can say the same thing to you.”

“What about now? Where are you heading?”

“We’re hunting.”

“Hunting?”

“Now that we are officially back as Mephistic Hunters, we were hunting fugitives.”

“Of the same tribe?”

“No. From Tribunal.”

“What?”

“Oh, don’t worry. They officially cut their ties from that tribe.”

“I might help you. Do you have any idea what do they look like?”

“From what we gathered so far, the first one was describe that has a childlike behavior and has a white hair. His main weapon is dagger. The other one is tall, muscular and uses broadsword. You got any clue?”

Linda clicked her tongue. She’s spiraling whether she should spare them or trust to give them the information to them. Even if she gave them that information, it would be no use because that was weeks ago, and there is no way telling them where they might have been.

“Hey, Linda.” Reyna interrupted her from her murky thoughts. “You, okay?”

“Yeah. About that, a few weeks ago, I collaborated with some adventurers due to some odd attacks, I know it’s confusing but to summarize, we encountered them but they escaped.” Linda ended it there. She can’t be reckless on sharing that information.

“Okay. Do you have any idea where they might go?”

Linda shakes her head. Reyna nodded. She understood why Linda was so deep in her thoughts, her information after all was still a dead end for them.

“I appreciate your help.”

“May I know, what they did for them to deserved that Mephistic hunters would go after them? It’s okay if you’re not comfortable to tell me.”

Yuzu murmured something to Reyna. Linda could hear under Reyna’s breath saying its fine. Reyna’s gaze return to her.

“They attack some of our villages and caused deaths. Now, don’t let us get in your way Linda. We will head on.”

“Wait.” Linda called out before they turn their back on her. “If you finally face them, do not underestimate their abilities. They are formidable enemies.”

“We will do. I hope there would be a chance for us to meet next time.”

Before turning her back, Reyna gave a slight smile.

Looking up to the sky, Linda could only hope for them to have a safe travel.

After their meeting, Linda felt that a part of her feelings that was drawn tight was loosen up. She smiled on a thought that they might probably met next time.

Alastor yawns loudly and open slightly his eyes. His eyes casted to his left and saw Linda gazing up on the sky.

“Hey.”

His toneless voice creeped her out of her daydreaming and return promptly to the reality.

“You had a nice nap?” Linda immediately asked.

“Yeah.”

It was brief, but Alastor can tell that she’s daydreaming for some time now.

“You want to switch?”

“No.”

“Hm.”

Alastor were keenly observing her face as if there is something in there.

“You met some dashing guy, didn’t you?”

“What?! No.”

Linda instinctively averted her gaze.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Then why you look so flustered all of the sudden?”

“Because you just blurted that out of nowhere.”

“That is suspicious.”

“No, you’re suspicious.” Linda retorted.

“Hey, I’m not the one who’s hooking up with someone.”

“Oh really? What about you and the princess?”

Alastor became stiff and nervous, but his experience in interrogation gave him an idea how to act naturally during instigation.

“I saw you last night.” Linda declared. “The two of you looks like some sort of flirting, that is hard to describe. The two of you looks like hasn’t meet for a while. I wonder…”

She chided her with a grinned.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

But deep inside, Alastor is scared as hell. The same goes to Linda too. They will keep in mind, that probing each other is like lying to a detective.

Linda did not go further and cast her gaze on the road. It was a long and straining day. The day had basked the forest and equally spread out above everyone. For some reason, Linda thought that Reyna might be looking up to the same sky as to her.