Xain let out a tired sigh as he walked, hand on his head, looking down at the ground. "What's wrong?" Zee asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"Nothing, I'm just tired," he replied wearily.
Grace turned her attention to the angel and demon. "What happened back there?" she asked, scrutinizing them. "And do you two look different?" she added, still unable to properly view their thoughts with only some bits and pieces being visible to her.
"We just talked, Grace, nothing more," said the demon, pausing before adding, "I have a name now, by the way. It's Zalathor."
Everyone except the mercenaries and Dash looked surprised. "Huh? How did that happen?" Elanor asked.
Xain quickly interjected, "You do not want to know!" making Elanor jump.
"Why?" Zee asked, confused by his reaction.
Xain pointed at his very tired looking face. "This is the face of someone who has been given a massive exposition dump on crap he barely understands. Trust me, none of you want to know," he said, slumping his shoulders.
The angel rubbed the back of his head. "I guess we did go a little overboard in explaining names. Oh, and my name's Maverick, if any of you care."
Grace narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him. "What is it, brat?" Maverick asked.
"I got it," Grace said, snapping her fingers. "You don't look like a strangled, ugly bird anymore. You now just look like an ugly bird. Good improvement."
A vein popped in Maverick's forehead. "You trying to piss me off?" he asked through clenched teeth.
Grace shook her head and patted his arm. "Obviously not. I'm just congratulating you for looking less shitty," she said with a grin.
"Grace, please do not bully him too much," Zalathor interjected.
"I'm not being bullied, you asshole!" Maverick snapped.
Meanwhile, Xain looked around. "Wait, where did the bald guy and the razorhoove go?" he asked.
"They left to disband their mercenary company," Zee explained.
"Why though?" Xain asked.
As Zee began to explain, Elanor turned to Dash. "So, when are you leaving exactly?" he asked.
Dash put on a thoughtful face. "I swear to the goddess, if you say 'I don't know!' again, I'm going to find a way to beat you," Elanor threatened.
"I'm going to go look for the guy who shut down the portal! And fight him!" Dash declared in his usual exuberant manner.
Elanor gave him a look before rubbing his temples. "Sure, you go do that, you damn lunatic," he mumbled, feeling his will to live diminish with every word exchanged with Dash. Dash gave him an okay sign before bolting off in a random direction, disappearing from view in an instant.
"Oh no! I wanted to get his autograph or somethin'," exclaimed Larkin in disappointment. Even walked up to the group, his expression resolute. "Unless any of you want to give us punishment or something, we're gonna be leaving. Just figured I'd let you know," he said before turning back around and heading toward Lia and Dirk. Lia waved goodbye to everyone as they began to walk away.
"Ya sure we can just let 'em go? Two of 'em wanted to kill us, after all," Larkin asked, quickly getting over his disappointment.
"Everyone deserves a second chance, Larkin," Zalathor advised.
"Guess so, but they were still helping a guy who planned a massacre and summoned a demonic invasion," Larkin replied.
Verandez spoke up from the background, his voice defensive. "They didn't know about the invasion part! Plus, I was a victim! They weren't helping me!"
Xain watched the mercenaries leave, his eyes fixed on Lia. A thought floated around in his head before he shook it off. "Nah, couldn't be," he muttered aloud.
Zee looked at him, curious. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, just a coincidence," Xain replied before addressing everyone left. "I think we should leave too. There's no point in staying here any longer," he said, glancing down at himself. "Also, we all desperately need a shower and rest," he added, noting they were still covered in demon blood and he was extremely tired.
"Then shall we all go to Wolfdale using the steamstrider?" suggested Zalathor, motioning to the vehicle with one arm.
"Can whatever that is fit everyone?" Elanor asked, staring at the steamstrider with wonder in his eyes.
"It can fit about a dozen people in the cabin and two in the cockpit. We're fine," Xain said, turning to Elanor and narrowing his eyes. "We never really got introduced, did we?"
Everyone's eyes fell on Elanor, making him feel nervous and awkward. "Now that you mention it, that's true," Zee said.
"Yeah, she just came in with The Wanderin' Calamity, who left her here," Larkin added, prompting Elanor to turn to him with eyes full of anger.
"I'm not—" Elanor started, but Xain cut him off.
"He's a guy, old man. You need to get your eyes checked," Xain said, making Larkin wince.
"He's a guy!?" Larkin exclaimed in shock. Elanor turned to Xain, his mouth hanging open, before grabbing Xain's hands, much to his surprise.
"Thank you. You don't understand how much this means to me," Elanor said, tears in his eyes.
"Wha—eh—huh—what?" Xain stuttered in confusion.
"That's impressive, Xain. Most people always think he's a girl when they first meet him," Grace said, genuinely impressed.
"Yeah, I get mistaken for a girl sometimes too, so I know the feeling," Xain said after freeing himself from Elanor's grasp. *Though I guess that's deliberate on my part,* he thought to himself before turning to the steamstrider. "Anyway, get in, all of you. I'll drive," he told everyone.
They all climbed into the cabin while Xain got into the cockpit. "Everything looks fine, thank the goddess," he mumbled to himself, checking the controls before starting the vehicle and driving off.