“Do you like the soup Amy” Biscuit startles Amy with her shiny eyes

“It’s...fi...good. It’s good.”

‘The soup does taste strangely good despite barely used any extra spice from me. Both meat and mushroom boil just right and not too long. Although it’s a little too bland for my taste’ Eirian keeps comment to himself.

“Really! It my first-time making soup thank you Amy and thank you Bill too for teaching me.”

“No worry, you can come asked about cooking anytime”

“Do you know how to cook other type of food?”

“Err no but I would love to try making steak sometime.” Bill act as if he only cooks soup for a meal until now.

“Eirian stew is great too how many extra spice and ingredient did you bring with you? onions, tomatoes, carrot and some kind of pepper?” Josh asked.

“Cayenne pepper, I’m testing a new recipe hope it not too spicy for you guy.”

“I didn’t ever notice there was any spice” Calamity eats a spoon of stew follow by his own black char.

“Glad you like it” Eirian smile but seeing Calamity eat his food with that black char he can’t help but wonder if Calamity can appreciate the taste.

‘I don’t get him at all. What is he thinking? Is he a calculate type or just confident and don’t care about other?’

‘He does seem to like Biscuit’s cookies before maybe he just like strong flavor? I have to note that for next time.’

After everyone finish eating and clean up we all agree to go and collect marigold together by walking up along the river.

As they are walking everyone seem to remember the conversation they have as they were walking down from Alana so everyone stays quiet to not stir any unpleasant memory.

But Josh, undiscouraged, try to lighten the mood by ask Amy about Haldor. “What you were saying about Haldor before...his death, it was indeed a tragedy, from your tone I presume he is someone you admire right?”

“Yes, he is the first royal ant who awaken our kind after all.”

“Could you tell us more about him? I read a few books but there wasn’t much details. We would love to hear more about him from the ant side, right guy?”

Everyone agrees and Eirian sneak a thumb up for Josh which he uses his wing to give a thumb up back of his own.

Amy thinks for a moment of what she loves about Haldor then start to tell a story of how her people come to be. The sound of river and tension in the air seems to calm down as they walk.

“It’s was on the day that the star break, a great storm engulfs the world and pour down upon an old Fire ant colony, they said it’s as if the sky has fallen. We were but a small ant living under an oak’s root back then, even a single raindrop is bigger than any of us. Our people panic and try to evacuate the colony but the water came rushing down and fill every tunnel so fast there was no time to escape, most ant can only cry as water swept them into the depth deeper and deeper. Haldor was one of the Ante who was digging a path to try divert the water but he hit the giant tree root and have no strength to cut a hole in time to save his colony. Still, he keeps trying, hopeless as it is, digging down into the earth until his leg break but still he refuses to stop. Everyone else run away to save themselves but he alone stays digging into his doom. It was in the final moment when water take him where he cries for anyone to help his colony that Haldor was suddenly transform and grow to enormous size. With his new strength he carves a path into the earth and save everyone in the colony.”

“Wow that so cool” said Biscuit “But wouldn’t that make him a king? I never heard of any ant king though”

“Oh no he can’t be a king Biscuit. In our colony there can only be queen but with his power and status as the one who awaken us he is indeed one ant who come closest of being treated as a king. Still being an honorable ant that he is, he simply offers his service to the queen. And give our people the strength to walk on this new world.”

“Bravery, strength and sacrifice, he is worthy to be remember as a hero indeed” said Josh.

“Do you have a hero too Josh?” Amy asked back.

“That in fact I do, General Ironbeak, the greatest strategist who ever live, the one who set our people path toward unification with all the bird under corvids. He outsmarts the wolf and fox every time they attack Corvidia, the smartest and coolest raven I knew. His top beak is made of iron after an injury in the war with the crowned eagle.”

“Since we are on the subject may I ask who everyone hero is?” Eirian speaks up seeing this is a great opportunity for the team to bond “Mine is Astra as you all know; he is like father of all Amiel who would do anything to protect his people.”

“Mine is Arch Renato” said Bill “Some of you might remember him since he is the guy who invented MAM. He’s the reason we can use magic to this day. And he also the first and only man who ever hold both the position of governor and Arch, head of state and grandmaster. The humanity still alive today thank to his work alongside Princess Alana.”

“Um mine is Pan, my father.” said Biscuit.

“What did he do?” Josh asked.

“Well...he the high priest.” Biscuit struggle to make his feat match others “He teach us the word of the god and guide our people toward the righteous path. He devotes his life to our people soul, there is nobody more worthy than him.”

“Do you know him well?” Bill has an itch to asks, almost an envy.

“Um...only from what mother and other speak of him, I don’t think I got many chances to be with him since he has many duties and I’m but one of his many children whom are better than me.”

“Oh...I’m sorry to hear that Biscuit, I didn’t know my parents well as well” Eirian empathizes with her.

‘I don’t even know who they are. To have father who is alive but don’t know him and don’t know who he is at all, is it the same?’

“What do you mean they are better than you! Don't ridicule yourself like that even if you are truly the weakest girl I have ever met.”

Everyone stares at Amy.

“You need to stand up for yourself Biscuit, don’t talk yourself down like that. It’s unbecoming.” Amy finish talking and then see Biscuit eyes start to fill with tears and everyone else judging her with their pitiful eyes.

“I mean you are also the nicest person I ever met but you need to be more confidence.”

Calamity speaks up as Biscuit is wiping her tears “Like what Prof. Leon said in life people only listen to the strong. Nobody is going to listen to you if you are a defenseless weakling.”

“But I thought sister Fay lesson prove that Prof. Leon is wrong and we should just be nice to each other?” Biscuit replied what she thought was the lesson.

“Prof. Fay lesson may fit those who are already strong but for you Prof. Leon lesson would suit you better. Like Headmaster Osmond said some lesson here will contradict each other but you must learn to think for yourself which lesson will help you best.”

‘Calamity is surprisingly sound wise’

“You must train your body so next time if anyone threaten or belittle you, you can teach them their place...”

‘wait’

“Fight them back, beat them until they bleed if you have to...”

“Wait wait wait” Eirian and Amy rush to protect Biscuit from Calamity’s corrupting influence.

Bill and Josh snigger at confused Calamity.

“The last part aside you must learn to think for yourself Biscuit,” said Eirian.

“That right, your hero is the one you decide not what your religion tell you. You can’t just let some old man define what good for you for the rest of your life even if they are parent.” Amy squint at Calamity.

“...So just like a social structure that define your place, one should allow each person to have some freedom to think for themself what is good?” Eirian can’t help himself but to question Amy on this.

“We’re not talking about my country right now” Amy glance turn to Eirian.

“Alright alright, I’m just thinking out loud” Eirian back off.

“Ok” Biscuit looks up to her teammates but specifically Calamity “If I want to train myself to become stronger will you help me?”

“Why are you looking at me”

“Well, you are the strongest among us in term of strength.” said Eirian.

‘Also, I been trying to get you to help train the whole team any way. Now that Biscuit actually wants to train I must convince you to train all of us.’

“I don’t know how to teach”

“Just show us how you train and we’ll follow your example. It simple.” Amy adds.

Calamity freezes for suddenly still remembers what kind of training he was force into “I don’t think that a good idea.” he said with dead eyes.

“Why?” Everyone wonders.

He didn’t respond.

‘Is he think we are too weak for his training or he just worry about us?’

“I guess we’ll just have to train as group like what we been doing and you can help point any flaw in our movement should you noticed then”

“I can do that”

“So, who is your hero Calamity?” Bill asked.

“I don’t have one”

“Really? Not even your Fenrir?”

“I don’t believe in fairy tale; wolf can’t use magic.”

“What about your father?” Biscuit looking for someone who would share her opinion.

Calamity tightens his fist at the suggestion “...no”

“Look we arrives” Josh point at the small field of marigold and everyone scatter to gather and explore the area.

Bill who found himself next to Eirian as everyone is looking around whisper to him in low voice “Eirian I mean to ask, who do you think is the one who broke the deal and betray the fire ant.”

Eirian looks at Bill “Well it can’t be human or Amiel right since we are on Princess Alana side.”

“Yeah I thought so too but I just wonder which races do you think did it.”

Eirian glances at Josh “Corvid are known for their cunning and betrayal so it could be them, or the wolf since land of Fia is right next to their territory, more chances for them to expand. But like Amy said there is no way to know now. Who do you think did it?”

“Well, I don’t really know much about other races that why I asked, but my first thought is wolf because in my country radio they were always talked about as our greatest threat.”

“Calamity strength is indeed frightening.” Eirian still remembers that grip on his neck “But let’s just keep this opinion to ourself before we anger them.”

“Agree”

Finally, after they gather everything they need everyone return to camp and eat Josh’s smoked meat around the camp fire. Eirian looks at the black meat in his hand and pray to the eternal one before take a bite.

It’s taste way better than Calamity. Thank God.

Everyone breathes a sigh of relieved and finish their simple meal.

Eirian speaks to everyone around the fire “Now the only item left on our list is the glowing mushroom. Their light is very faint so we can’t use any light magic, torch or flashlight. Good thing today is moonless night so we should be able to spot them easily.”

“Are you ok with wandering in the dark Biscuit.”

“I think I’ll be fine if I go with everyone.”

“Ok this time we’ll all go together since it will be very dark and there’s no way to know what we will find in the dark. I can use the light magic if there is any danger.”

“And I can use my MAM to do this” Bill lifts his hand up and sprays a red fire into the air lightens up the area around them.

“Awesome” Josh excited at the used of MAM.

The hot air hit Eirian face making him stunned for a moment “That is great Bill just Be careful where you aim that thing ok.”

"Got it.”

‘That fire feels just like when I use fire magic. MAM is indeed scary.’

“Bill can I see how it work” Josh rush to Bill side but pull his wing away when he realizes the top pipe is still hot. “What else can it do”

“I made a few runes of each element; I can control water and earth with my mind but I need to touch a part of that water or earth with my glove before I can control it unlike Biscuit and Amy who don’t need to touch element directly to control it. Air and ice I can't get it to work yet, not sure why.” Bill slowly removes one of the rune slots out from his front wrist which was firmly lock and slide a new one in.

“For light rune I can turn my MAM into a flashlight.” Bill turns the light on and shine it on the river and dim tree.

“Is it ok to keep using it like that? Won't magic in your core run out?” Eirian observes.

“You're right, the more complex the spell the more magic it used but I got my MAM refill before we come here it should be enough for a few days. Beside Magic is so cool I just can’t get enough.” Bill holds a runes card he drew in his hand and look at it with joy.

“Don’t your get hand hot?” Josh point at the pipe on top of his wrist.

“Got that cover” Bill knocks a steel plate on his back hand “This piece is separate from the cloth that cover my finger and they are resisted to most extreme temperature.”

“This is interesting but we should head out now.” said Amy which everyone agrees.

The walk in the dark is scary at first but once everyone eyes start to get used to it they can see the path better and the rest is just looking for any faith blue or green light hiding under a tree or leaf.

It’s been a few hours before Calamity make a sudden turn “Get down”

Eirian can hear it too. A group of wild dogs.

Almost twenty of them.

“Just let them pass. They are quite feral; we don’t want to deal with a group this big.”

“Why are we hiding like a coward let’s just go and beat them all” Amy refuse to sit still but Biscuit pull and beg her until Amy finally sit down before any dogs could hear her. They all kneel down as the dogs run ahead looking for their next prey.

When they finally pass Biscuit make a sound of relieved “I never seen a dog before, their eyes look so scary.”

“Weird I never heard a wild dog living in Cinder Forest and such a large number too.” said Eirian.

“They been a problem for our farm in countryside forever, New Terra radio organize a hunt for them every year but our livestock still keep getting attack. There just no end to them.”

“If there is such pest in our land the queen wouldn't stand for it” said Amy.

“There’re gone now so we should keep moving.” Eirian gets up.

“Wait” Calamity stop and look at shadow on four legs next to the tree ahead.

“It’s just a deer. Don’t worry they’re harmless. They’re local animal here, an animal who hasn’t awaken.”

“Hello children”

Wait did that deer just talk?