Mori was walking back toward the main street, followed by Lilae.
"So... Can you activate this thing?" she asked.
"If you want pain just hit your head on the wall."
Lilae was pouting, walking alongside Mori with her hands crossed on her chest.
"Why don't you join us?" asked Lilae.
"Why should I?"
"You're walking around with a vampire and demonfolks, are you not one of us? You kind of look human, but feels like you aren't, especially with that weird energy around you..."
Mori sighed.
They could see the light at the end of the alleyway, where the street connected. As they approached, more shadows danced around, showing people going about their day.
Lilae stopped. "Think about it."
He heard her take a few steps back, and jump.
Exiting the alleyway, Aura was on his right, leaning against a wall.
"What did she want?" she asked.
"Too much."
Mori kept walking, followed by Aura.
"Where are the others?" asked Mori.
"They're looking for the Ferryman, still."
"Good."
They crossed the city without exchanging many words. They leisurely strolled, watching the everyday life in Dustriver happen before them.
As they got closer to the inn they were staying at, they came across a green corner; it was pretty small and not well-kept at all.
Mori sat on the only bench in the middle, walking through tall grass with the occasional flower that added some colors.
Aura copied him, sitting next to him, as he gazed at the different flowers around.
"What are we doing?" asked Aura.
Mori leaned back against the bench, looking at the sky.
"I don't know."
"What did she tell you? Why are you like this? You've been different for the past days."
Mori looked at her. "She wants me to join her and the remnants of Asmodael's royal guards. They want to retake this city, I would guess."
"Isn't it what you want as well?"
"What I wanted was to kill the humans in it."
"Your goals seem to align," said Aura.
"It seems to be that way."
As an awkward silence was taking place, she finally asked. "Did you change your mind?"
Mori leaned over, resting his head on Aura's lap while looking at the sky.
"A few times. What would you do?" he asked.
Aura ran her fingers through his hair, looking at him.
"Whether anyone dies or not, honestly doesn't move me much."
Well, for a recluse vampire, that much makes sense.
"I wasn't able to get attached to either humans or demonkind. The only thing I've gotten attached to is you. Before you arrived, I've spent countless years in that room, reading the same books and writing my imagination down."
"Those were novels you were writing? What are they about?"
Aura visibly blushed, gazing away.
"Not important."
After a moment, Mori broke the silence again.
"I don't understand how 'rage' works. I've been through hell, going through DiveCore's system. In our world, Maya and Torryn's situation was similar to a lot of ours. Despite everything they've done, I'm not sure if I still feel the same way."
"You are human yourself, after all. Maybe you should direct your focus on DiveCore?"
Mori sighed.
"Time made the dark tones in my soul pale. I'm not sure of what I'm feeling anymore."
A couple walked by, looking at them. They whispered to each other with a slight laughter.
Both Mori and Aura were oblivious to such behavior, disregarding it completely.
Aura didn't consider most people 'people', what they think of her did not matter much, and Mori simply could not care less.
"Well, our goals do align with Asmodael's royal guards. Jeff did not seem like a bad guy, however. He says he'll make Dustriver better, part of me wants to believe it. What if he fixes things here, without us needing to kill anyone?"
"Like I said, I'm here for the journey, so if that's how we proceed, that's fine by me."
"I wished you helped me here."
"We're in no rush, we can stay longer and see how things are. Let's find the Ferryman, and once Maya and Torryn are gone we can figure out what to do."
"You're right, we can wait."
"But not too long. You sent my father and a bunch of these monsters with him to raze the nearby towns. Once that's traced back to you, staying neutral like this won't be an option anymore."
Mori sighed again, rubbing his eyebrows.
"You're right. Let's focus on the Ferryman. I'll focus on that instead of inscription."
"What level are you, now?" she asked.
"14, it's a lot slower now."
Clouds appeared, slowly dragging themselves before the sun.
The day had multiple hours remaining, however, the color of those clouds disagreed.
Mori got up from Aura's lap, unable to hear her internal annoyance directed at the weather.
"Let's get going. We'll just hang out at the inn for today, we'll start looking tomorrow."
Side by side, they walked toward the inn, eventually getting caught in the rain.
Once they arrived, the innkeeper was in the doorway, waiting with towels in her arms.
Both of them thanked her, as they grabbed one and dried their heads.
Mori took his cloak off, revealing the chains around his torso and arms.
The innkeeper gasped but said nothing of it.
They were constantly moving around his body as if it were water flowing.
He moved around with ease, the chains always making space when necessary. They made little sound.
In that state, at most only a soft clanking noise could be heard, unlike the times he used them actively.
"Eh. I guess I should keep that on."
Mori put the cloak back on, the innkeeper's face softening.
"The... pressure? is quite intense, when you take it off," she said.
"Yeah, it'll dry eventually. Do you have a fireplace around? I'll sit close to it," asked Mori.
"Yes. The dining room doesn't have one, but we have a lounge as well, it's this way."
They followed her, going through a door next to the one leading to the kitchen.
It wasn't huge, but it was cozy. The fire was already strong in the fireplace, its soft crackling adding to the atmosphere.
There was a larger couch with a silver contour, and 3 armchairs with the same design.
"You can both take any seat you want, I'll be back with refreshments."
"Thanks..."
Mori paused, unsure.
"Mary. My name's Mary."
"Thanks, Mary."