"It's the third one," whispered Xannos.
"They're unto us, I feel it," said Reaper.
Mori was walking leaning on Aura, his arm around her shoulder, which she held tightly.
They walked slowly, Mori's body barely able to go straight with the poor sewing job done to attach his limbs back together.
Mori was back to wearing his cloak, which Lilae had recovered for him.
"I guess we can kill them, again," said Lilae.
"Are they human?" asked Mori, not even looking up.
"They are," she responded.
"Then kill them."
Reaper's smile stretched across his face.
They were around 100 meters from the guards. Around 12 of them with heavy shields and swords, all standing on the road facing them.
For once, however, a carriage with two horses was off the road, on the grass.
"We'll take their carriage," said Mori.
As they approached, one guard loudly spoke.
"Halt. Anyone who comes from Dustriver's direction is to be stopped and investigated. If you have any weapons, we advise you to drop them immediately and to comply with-"
It looked as if the ground under Reaper became water, he quickly fell in it, dispersing dark smoke as he did.
He reappeared emerging from a guard's shadow, doing a quick 360 with a dagger in each hand.
He could only get 3 of them, 2 were out of range while the last one had raised his shield in time.
"What the- Kill them all!" yelled the guard.
The guard's shields started to glow, as well as their swords.
The one closest to reaper swung his sword, forcing him to backstep. The next one took a step forward as well. They started a barrage of attacks forcing Reaper to walk backward, with no opening to hit back.
The other guards were facing the group, hoping to buy time.
"Lilae, help him would you?" asked Mori, sighing.
"Do we really need him?" asked Lilae.
"I don't know," said Mori, in one big exhale.
Her gaze was intense and unwavering.
"Don't worry, I'll let you drink my blood later," he said
Aura frowned, visibly annoyed, but Mori couldn't tell why, ironically.
"So why are we going to clear a dungeon?" asked Xannos.
"I need to level up, so does Aura. I'm still level 1."
"1?!" yelled Xannos, surprised.
Mori was used to that reaction, however.
"Yes."
"Any kind of monster gives exp. It's surprising you never killed one... Not even a devil rabbit?"
"No."
Xannos whistled while nodding, a tone of surprise underlying every word he said.
Mori's eyes went back to Aura.
"I've been burning too much cursed energy to compensate for my low level. My stats are too low to handle big spells, it's less than efficient. The dungeons located in the mountains should be perfect for us to grow without being bothered."
"You don't need to convince me, I'm already on board," she said.
Mori smiled.
His face was smiling... but the undertones were dark.
As if under that smile was hiding pain and suffering. The darkness around his eyes, and how tired he looked made Aura's gaze soften.
"Don't force it," she said. "I won't move until you wake up."
"Thanks."
She caressed his hair. Truly the only person he'd let get away with it.
She smiled back, both of them gazing at each other while Mori subconsciously fought to stay awake.
A fight he ultimately lost, right as the sun started setting.
The low rumbling of the carriage moving forward, Aura's pleasant smell, which he recognized from when he first met her, and the calmness all brought him close to slumber.
Yet, his thoughts wouldn't let him have the rest he deserved. Nightmares and distress clouded what should've been a peaceful sleep.
And that, even Aura's soothing presence wouldn't fix it.