“So, this contraption moves itself?!” Marilyn said as she gleefully experienced her first car ride. After seeing her reaction, it was very clear this world didn’t have any motorized vehicles.

“It’s got something called an engine that uses fuel to power itself and move the wheels,” Dante explained as he navigated through the forest. The river was to their right as they traveled up to where Marilyn last saw Lacey and Kayla.

“Incredible, such is the craft of a world where men and women coexist.”

“Yeah, I mean it wasn’t a perfect world, but it was home…” Dante spoke with a sullen expression. Arthur, George, Madison, and Owen. The memories of them entered his mind, Dante couldn’t help but think of how much they’re probably searching for him. He looked up at the dog tags on the mirror as a bitter smile came on his face.

“What are those? Talismans?” Following his gaze, Marilyn became curious about the silver dog tags. Upon closer look, there were words written on them, but she couldn’t understand them.

“No, their called dog tags, in my world members of the nation’s military are given them when they go to war.”

“So, it’s like a badge for warriors?”

“I guess… but it really isn’t as grand as you think, it’s really used to identify you if you die in action.”

“Oh… I see.” Marilyn noticed his sad look and changed the subject, “If I may, I was curious about something else.”

Dante gave her a quick glance before he spoke, “Hm? What is it?”, she’s probably going to ask about my smartphone next or something. While he thought that she had something else in mind.

“In the ancient text, I read that back then men and women would intimately interact with each other and produce offspring.”

“Eh?” the sound escaped his mouth as he heard what she said.

“Well animals have both males and females right, and they mate with each other to reproduce.” Marilyn stared intently at him as she spoke, “Is it true, that humans mate too?” she leaned in really close as she said her final words. Dante thought maybe it was his imagination, but it seemed like Marilyn’s interest in this wasn’t just academical.

“Well… yeah,” Dante spoke as his mind fought to properly word his response, “men and women do…um mate and have babies…”

“Really! How do they do it, the illustrations weren’t very clear,” as she spoke her eyes fell to observe his lower body, “I remember them speaking of a special organ between a man’s legs,”

“Ah! Anyway, that’s not really important right now,” he immediately tried to dodge the question. While Marilyn pouted at his response, Dante desperately searched for a new topic, but all the talk of sex and child making were all his mind focused on. Wait that’s it! He thought. “I was also wondering, how do you all reproduce without men.” Marilyn stopped pouting after hearing his question.

“Those who seek to take on the task of motherhood must undertake the trial of maternity,” She replied.

“Trial of Maternity?”

“It is a ritual where one gives special offers and prayers to the Triune. If all three Goddesses accept, the woman is blessed with pregnancy.” Marilyn’s voice lowered as she finished her explanation, “at least that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

“Supposed to?” Dante became curious as he heard those final words.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she waved her hand and replied, “it’s just recently, those who undertook the trial haven’t been blessed. Truth be told, the Goddesses have been quite reserved for a while.”

“I see, must be tough for you all.”

“Yes, but there be no need to worry. I’m sure things will work out eventually.”

It seemed this problem was a lot more serious than she was letting on, but honestly Dante wondered if he should get any more involved with this world. While that goddess did say if he wanted to go home, he should help Marilyn out with her task. Well either way he’d still help her regardless, but while Marilyn’s a nice girl and he got lucky with her being his first contact, there’s no telling how the rest of this world will treat him.

For all I know they might have some sacred rule about no men in their society or something. Is what he thought, but even if that wasn’t the case, when it’s all said and done, he doesn’t belong in this world. Honestly, his situation might have been easier to process, if that goddess had just given him more info. Though, this wouldn’t be his first time being in the dark on a mission. However, command at least has an excuse for providing a lack of info to soldiers (albeit most of it is BS). But, a supposed goddess just dropping him into the world she divinely rules over and she couldn’t give him, a complete outsider, at least the general gist of the situation. Dante couldn’t help but curse out at her mentally. He glanced back at the girl beside him. She’s been more help to me than that so-called goddess, he thought.

“I can’t believe the other horses ran away,” Kayla complained as she sat behind Lacey as the two raced off through the forest.

“I hear you, but it would appear we have more pressing matters before us,” Lacey replied as she slowed the horse.

“What do yo-” Kayla leaned over her shoulder, up ahead a large brown wolf-like creature stood in their way, “ah merde!”

As the horse came to a stop, Lacey immediately looked around the surrounds, while Kayla continued to keep an eye on the quillhound.

“We’ll turn back and find another way around. Quillhounds aren’t known to hunt alone if there be one then-” as Lacey spoke something suddenly launched from a nearby bush. The horse rosed up on its hind legs as it let out a loud neigh.

“They got us!” Kayla shouted as she saw the brown quills that pierced their mount.

“I’ll get us out of here,” she said as she forced the horse to turn, however…

“Curse be this day…” Kayla said, as two other quillhounds appeared before them.

“Watch out!” Lacey shouted as she grabbed her spear and with a quick twirl blocked the sudden rounds of quills that fired out from their other side. Not good we’re in no shape for confrontation, not to mention they got us by surprise and have us surrounded. While she thought that, the two hiding quillhounds finally revealed themselves from the shrubbery.

“Kayla, I have a plan, but I need you to trust me first, “she said as she turned back to face her comrade.

“When you say it like that, it only makes it harder to trust you…” Kayla replied back, “you’re lucky that I know you so well, Ms. most renown knight maiden.” Kayla smirked as she finished her reply.

“Then shall we?” Lacey returned a smile back to her.

“Bloody hell, why not,” with that they returned their focus to the quillhounds around them.

“Stay low until I say otherwise,” she said to Kayla, before leaning close to the horse’s ear and said to it, “I know I’m asking a lot, but could you bear just a little more for our sakes.” With those words, she grabbed the reins and readied the horse to ride out, however she faced straight at the quillhound to the right of them which was hiding not that long ago.

“May the Goddesses keep us safe,” Lacey whispered as she pierced a gaze back at the quillhound. As if noticing their intent, it raised it’s back towards them and extended its quills, the one behind also did the same.

“If we die, I won’t forgive,” Kayla said as she lowered herself onto the horse.

Lacey tightly gripped the reins, trails of sweat ran down her face as she took a deep breath. As she closed her eyes, the quilhounds primed their quills in anticipation. Then as soon as she opened them she commanded the horse forward. Instantly the two quillhounds fired, Lacey lowered her body as she tugged on the reins to make her mount turn. As the horse shifted to the side, the quills flew by and pierced the quillhounds that stood opposite each other. However, the horse wasn’t fast enough. The horse neighed once more as more quills pierced it.

“I know it hurts but just a little more, alright,” she whispered to the mount as she switched direction to the one that first appeared before them. The two quillhounds behind as pursued. The one in front primed itself to launch its quills. Lacey turned back and as she saw the two quickly catching up, used the reins to speed up the horse. If I don’t time this right, we’ll for die. She thought as she took another deep breath and stared intently at the one in front.

Then the wolflike beast launched a barrage of quills towards them. Lacey swiftly tugged the reins once more, making the horse turn right as the quills passed by. The two behind were caught off guard and with a yelp, they two were pierced by the multiple quills.

“Just a little more,” she once again whispered to the horse as more quills pierced it, “Kayla take the reins, it’s time to finish this.” As she spoke Lacey leaped off the horse, while Kayla took control of the mount.

Spear in hand she fell straight towards the beast. It quickly fired more large brown quills, but she twirled her lance in front of her, and with multiple ding sounds they all were blocked and deflected.

Lacey landed before the large beast, as it growled at her she extended her spear towards it. The quillhound quickly charged and Lacey acrobatically leaped overhead and unleashed several jabs at the beast as she flew over it, but they didn’t even pierce the creature’s coat. This tactic may be a little risky, but I can’t afford to draw this out any longer. She thought as she extended the spear once more towards the beast. The creature turned and leered back at her with its yellow eyes. With a sudden bark, it charged once more at her. Wait for it, she told herself as the creature drew closer. Not as yet, she gripped the pole of the spear tighter as sweat poured down her face. Almost there… Her body tensed up as the beast came closer. It suddenly lunged forward at her and as it opened its jaws, Now! She thought as she thrusted her spear right into the beast’s mouth. It let out a yelp as she pushed it deeper inside of it. The quilhound struggled a bit, it even tried to bite back as blood dripped out of its mouth. Lacey gritted her teeth and tightened her grip as it tried to overpower her.

“Hiya!” suddenly Kayla shouted as she stabbed her blade right into the creature’s head. It made a slight cry and twitched a bit before becoming still and silent. While their backs are well protected because of their quills, their face and underside are quite vulnerable.

The two girls panted as the injured quill hounds ran off as they saw their leader had been killed.

Kayla and lacey looked at each other and as they both smirked Lacey spoke.

“Thanks,”

“Don’t mention it, let’s just say we’re even now,” Kayla waved her hand as she told her, “besides I know all too well, how you always take on more than you can handle. Ms. most renowned knight maiden.”

“Perhaps, you may be right about that,” the two ladies soon collapsed unto the ground as the tension and exhaustion from this encounter finally caught up to them.