***
I opened my eyes and saw the morning sun starting to appear from the east. I fell asleep on the mattress the soldiers provided; some were asleep, and some were still awake.
"How was last night?"
"We managed to defeat them, even though the monsters were left alone," explained one of the soldiers, handing me warm water.
They don't usually treat me like that. I remember how rude they were towards me right after Jaquelin caught me. Their expressions and body language looked like they had a grudge against me.
I turned my face to the south, towards the cobblestone street that looked scorched from last night's events. Several corpses lay in shapeless conditions; some even had completely charred body parts.
"That's good then," I said. I looked back at the soldier in front of me, saying something that had been on my mind. If they want to get out of this forest, I ask that this afternoon go straight down.
