They took the long route on the way back to the main camp after Captain Agnes captured all the evidence required to finish this mission.
Without using the direct Warped Waygate, they used to get into the second fold. It would take them at least five days to reach another one. Thankfully, demonic beasts didn't run foul on that one. An established base was formed on the way gate there. With that, they would neither have to worry about the demonic creatures, nor the forsaken that littered the catacomb.
Currently, they were sitting around the bonfire, doing their usual things. The siblings sticking together indecently like always, Kevin on the watch, the captain resting in meditation, and Caleb trying to play the flute. As for Warden himself, he was, of course, roasting their meal.
"I think this is broken," Caleb said, after many failed attempts to create any rhythm with the flute.
"Are you sure it is the flute that has a problem, not you?" Warden couldn't help but said.
"See for yourself," He snorted, turning to Warden. He handed the metal flute to him. "Like my weapon, this one is a scripted item as well, though it can only be used for entertainment."
Warden checked the item, quickly studying it with his nascent awareness, which made his job a lot easier for him to check.
"Can you fix this?"
"Easily," Warden said after checking once. The flute was a simple tool. As Caleb mentioned, it was only for the purpose of music, although it uses both spiritual energy and air, creating another layer of difficulty for the musician to play it.
There were only a few dozen or so Tier-2 runes in place, with the connection between them lost. Warden grabbed this thinnest carving stylus from his subspace and fix it in a matter of minutes.
"Done," Warden said, returned the flute to its rightful owner. "Now you cannot blame the tool for your poor skills."
Caleb snorted and began playing. After a few seconds, he didn't really sound bad. There were runes in the flute which could boost the sound it releases, but Caleb didn't use them. He played a sad tune in solitude as their meal almost finished.
Warden shook his head. "This is a rhythm of another time, of another place."
"What is it called?" the captain asked.
"The song of suffering," Warden said with a smile. "I think I barely stretched the essence of the creator's emotion through this."
"That is a great song," Milia said, snuggling closer to her brother. She addressed him coltishly, "Brother, can you learn to play music like that, and play for Little Milia?"
"Anything for you, sweet pie, anything," Milton said without even a waver in his words. "I'll learn immediately and dedicate my songs to you only."
Like Warden, everyone else had grown accommodated to their behaviour long along and knew to ignore it.
"Well, well, well, colour me surprise," Caleb said with a humorous laugh. "So you are not only a Master Spearman, a master Runesmith, but you're a great songster as well. How can this Oldman compared to such talent in young blood, at least leave something for me to brag about?"
"Hey, don't forget my great sense of humour," Warden said with a grin. "And my cooking skill too."
"But the question is, how did you manage to learn all these at such an early age?"
Warden could just say his unparalleled talent arrogantly, much like their prideful captain, but that wasn't him.
"Perhaps I'm not as young as I look," he supplied.
"What is with you in keeping up the mystery?" Agnes snorted. "You know, you're being melodramatic, and not even in a good way?"
Warden could only smile at her.