In the tranquil embrace of the morning forest, a symphony of birdsong filled the air, creating a soothing ambiance. The sunlight streamed through the trees, casting a warm and gentle glow on everything it touched. It was as if the forest itself was awakening to the promise of a new day, a fresh start.
Within this peaceful backdrop, Xain lay cocooned within his tent, wrapped in the comfortable embrace of sleep. His features were relaxed, his breathing steady, a portrait of tranquility. The morning humidity hung in the air, neither too cold nor too warm, creating a perfect balance.
However, this serene moment was suddenly shattered as Larkin's boisterous voice ripped through the stillness. "HEY XAIN, WAKE UP!" His shout was so loud that it echoed through the trees, causing a cacophony of birds to take flight in protest. Xain jolted awake at the sound, his head colliding with the tent's fabric in his abrupt awakening.
"Ow!" Xain's protest filled the air as his hand instinctively reached to soothe his throbbing head. However, he wasn't the sole recipient of annoyance caused by Larkin's uproar. *By the gods, why did that old bastard yell!* Ercale's irritated voice echoed within Xain's mind, his annoyance evident. *How should I know? Also, 'by the gods'? Really?* Xain's mental response dripped with confusion.
Shaking off the residual sleepiness, Xain emerged from his tent, eyebrows furrowing in a mix of confusion and irritation.
Larkin's mischievous grin remained firmly in place as he leaned against the tent's fabric. "Sleep well?" His words dripped with a playful sarcasm that Xain couldn't help but acknowledge, even in his half-awake state. With a groggy gesture, Xain rubbed at his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "Yes, I was enjoying a nice, peaceful slumber before you decided to grace me with your yelling, why did you do that?" he questioned, his irritation only thinly veiled beneath the words.
Larkin's laughter met Xain's sigh, creating a contrasting harmony in the serene morning. "To wake you up, of course. What other reason could there be?" Larkin's response was as carefree as his laughter. Ercale's voice resounded in his mind once more, the Demon Lord's question carrying a dangerous edge. *Can we kill him?* Xain's lips quirked into a slight smile at the thought, though he wisely chose to ignore the suggestion.
Shrugging off his discomfort, Xain redirected his attention to more practical matters. "Where's Zee?" he asked, casting a glance over Larkin's shoulder. A casual point from Larkin guided his gaze to where Zee was diligently packing the camp supplies. It seemed their elven companion was already up and taking care of business.
Larkin's words cut through the morning air, shifting Xain's focus from annoyance to cooperation. "You go help her while I get your tent rolled up," Larkin suggested. Larkin's offer to assist in packing up the camp was met with a nod of gratitude from Xain. "Thanks, I appreciate it," he replied. While Larkin began the process of rolling up Xain's tent, he headed over to Zee.
"Do you want help?" Xain offered, his willingness evident in his tone. Zee turned to him with that characteristic joyfulness in her expression. "Sure, that'd be great!" she responded cheerfully. As they both worked together to tidy up the camp, an unexpected topic came up.
Xain turned to Zee, "Can you give the chronoscope back, please?" His outstretched hand awaited the return of the pocket watch. Zee obliged, handing the chronoscope back to him. Her next question, however, took Xain slightly off guard.
"By the way, is that chronoscope important to you?" Zee's inquiry hung in the air, Xain raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the question. "Not particularly. Why do you ask?" he inquired, wondering about the sudden interest. Zee's expression shifted briefly to something resembling shock before her usual smile returned, and she shrugged lightly. "No reason, just curious," she replied with a playful tone, seemingly dismissing the topic.
Returning to their tasks, Xain's mind couldn't help but wander about Zee's curiosity regarding the chronoscope. A nagging thought lingered as he mentally mused, *I wonder why she wants to know and why she lied about having no reason.* The fact that Zee was still quite transparent in her intentions left him both amused and puzzled. And of course, Ercale's own observations didn't go unnoticed.
*You lied as well, you value that watch,* Ercale's voice interjected in his thoughts. Xain couldn't help but chuckle at the Demon Lord's straightforwardness. *Well, yes, you figured that out,* he responded, half-admitting and half-teasing. Ercale's inquiry followed, *May I inquire why?*
Xain's laughter continued in his mind as he answered, *Nah, maybe later.* Ercale's nonchalant retort came, *Okay, not like I actually care.*
**10 Minutes later**
With the camp finally packed up, the trio's focus shifted to sustenance. Both Xain and Larkin unwrapped their Forgebread with expressions of less-than-enthusiastic anticipation. The very nature of Forgebread, while efficient, was far from pleasing to the palate. As they each took a bite, the taste seemed to validate their low expectations. "Damn, this sucks," Larkin muttered, his reaction mirroring Xain's own sentiment. They couldn't help but cast an envious glance at Zee, who was contentedly munching on a piece of fruit, obtaining her necessary nutrients with considerably more enjoyment.
With their unappetizing meal concluded, Larkin's energy seemed to have been revitalized. He shouldered the travel pack, a spark of determination in his eyes as he declared, "Off to Aeruna!" The trio resumed their journey, the forest around them continuing to showcase its serene beauty. As they walked, Xain initiated a mental conversation with Ercale, his curiosity about Aeruna driving his inquiry.
*Do you know anything about Aeruna?* he asked, almost expecting Ercale's insightful response. *I know a bit, mostly about their culture, but not much else,* Ercale admitted. Xain's curiosity remained undeterred as he probed further, *Could you tell me about what you know?* To his surprise, Ercale's reply held a note of boredom, *Sure, why not? It'll pass the time at least.*