Chianti turned around and led Solera and Chip outside. The thick forest canopy nearly blotted out the sun, which was still rising in the sky. Leaves were fluttering with the wind. Solera thought the scene was too peaceful for a military camp.

“I’m in a special unit.” Chianti explained as they walked. “Since I’m an ex-mercenary with battle experience under the Prince, we get to do the more important jobs. So far, that means nothing, but with the war…”

She sighed unhappily. “Fighting is dangerous business, you know. It’s so, so easy to die. I don’t think anyone who hasn’t been on a battlefield truly understands the gravity of that. You can die by tripping over a small rock. Then, it doesn’t matter what your cultivation is or who your enemy is, you’re dead.”

Solera blinked, looking at the rock around his neck. With it, three people had instantly been killed by him, a thirteen-year-old child. At least, he was pretty sure it had happened.

The power crystal was a light green color, not translucent like it had been when he had used it, not bright green had it been originally. Solera examined it, astonished. Could it be that this power crystal could recharge? What kind of monstrous artifact was that?

“Hm? If it isn’t Chianti!”

Solera flinched, his hand flying to the nonexistent sword at his waist. A man in full camouflage had appeared in front of them.

“Heh, thought I’d come out for some air.” Chianti smiled, then patted Chip and Solera. “This is Solera, and this is Chip. We’re going to be taking care of them until we can get them past Hickory to safety.”

Chianti turned to Solera and Chip. “This is Fischer. That bush is Macaw, and directly above us is Verreaux.”

“Looking pretty as always, Chianti!” The bush laughed and stood up. “Don’t know why a breath of fresh air like you needs fresh air.”

Chianti rolled her eyes. “You tell that to all the whores too, Macaw?”

“No, some of them are quite stale.” Macaw removed his helmet, extending a hand to Chip. Macaw was bald and had a weathered, aged face. Though age and appearance were not too related when one had cultivated sufficiently, Solera thought he looked to be around forty or fifty.

“Chip, huh? You look like a dumbass!” Macaw laughed as he shook Chip’s hand. “And you, Solera, you look like all your friends died!”

Solera glared at him, causing Macaw to put both hands up. “Just a joke, just a joke. I understand what you’ve been through. Heck, if we were to have a competition, I would win! Making fun of horrible things always makes it easier, I think. Try it out, hm?”

Fischer snorted. “No, this man is just an idiot. Verreaux, show yourself to the kids.”

A man with short brown hair fell down, landing nimbly on his feet. “I’m Verreaux. V-e-r-r-e-a-u-x, but you can just call me V.” He extended a gauntleted hand to them, before looking down and taking it off.

“These three have been buddies for a long, long time.” Chianti told Chip and Solera. “Who knows what they do at night?”

Macaw just laughed. “You know everyone else always talks about what you do with us at night, right? It would be nice if it were true.”

Chianti looked at Macaw, a devious look in her eye. “You wanna name any names? I think you want to name some names, but I’m not sure.”

Macaw backed away, slamming his back against a tree. “Nobody in particular, nobody. Everyone knows that would be the most un-Chianti thing to do, mark my words! I was just making things up.”

Verreaux laughed and shook his head as Chianti began grilling Macaw for information. “Sorry about us, guys. We’re a weird bunch, but we’ll take care of you two!” Verreaux patted Solera on the shoulder. “Chianti can vouch for us. I remember fighting off some rapists back when she first joined us. Chianti, vouch for us right now!”

Fischer began imitating Chianti’s rich contralto voice. “Fischer is the best! As for Macaw and Verreaux, they’re babies who can’t even-”

Chianti pushed him, laughing. Despite himself, Solera cracked a smile. Chip, however, remained as expressionless as ever.

“Hey, does Chianti ever tell you about what an important person she is?” Macaw snickered. “People love to stroke her ego, you know. Even I do it sometimes!”

“I’m very important!” Chianti sniffed disdainfully. “I’m the center of my world, and I deserve nothing but the best. I don’t know why I’m saddled with you three pathetic deadbeats.”

“Yeah, me too. I’ve been up-and-coming for thirty years!” Macaw snorted with laughter. “I thought that time in the Southern continent would be my lucky break, but fortune was against me. And that time in… hmm? It’s that Skadi fellow.”

Solera turned around to see Skadi approaching.

“What’s going on, Skadi?” Chianti asked, a confused smile on her face.

Skadi glanced at Chip and Solera before looking at Chianti. “I have a mission for the independent squads, which means you guys.”

Chianti frowned. “What is it?”

“There is a heavily guarded supply caravan behind enemy lines.” Skadi spoke bluntly. “We need experts to find out what they are transporting. That means ex-mercenaries, several of Leera’s monsters. Leave the kids out, they’ll be dead weight. I’ll assign them to one of the battalions.”

“No, you won’t.” Chianti said bluntly. “They’ll be with us, but for something this dangerous, they can stay back. I won’t have them thrown into some meat grinder battle. I doubt you would understand the importance of this, but Solera here is the son of Vinoh! Chip is also an important person, though I’m not too clear on the details.”

“Important person, unimportant person, everyone here is a fly.” Skadi’s voice grew cold, containing none of the friendliness Solera had seen him exhibit before. “They must pull their own weight. You can decide where they go, but be ready by tonight.”

He walked away, leaving the group drained of their former cheeriness.

“I never liked that guy.” Fischer spoke up after Skadi had disappeared. “He just came out of nowhere two years ago, and instantly became one of Reginald’s top aides. Who the hell is he, anyway?”

“Probably one of Reginald’s connections from somewhere.” Verreaux grumbled. “He’s been around even more than we have, and he has deep connections everywhere.”

“Feh. Well, I’m going to go relax with one of the escorts before we go.” Macaw sighed, walking away. “See you all later.”