Soaring through the sky, the Witch of Justice ignored air resistance, searching for her friends through the barren landscape. Elizabeth must've traveled far, given the time it's taking Grimhild to find her location.
Spirits wandered the Ashen Burial grounds, seeking a way out with the little hope they had in their nonexistent hearts.
There were signs of pity in Grimhild's eyes, but it lasted only for a moment until she came to a stop.
"Hm?"
The smell of burning wood from afar tickled her nose. She could immediately tell it was her companions who set up camp, waiting for her return.
Thus, by focusing mana into her nose, Grimhild's sense of smell heightened drastically, leading her to their campsite through smell alone.
"I'm surprised there aren't any spirits attacking us." Kyto sat crisscrossed in front of the campfire as Elizabeth lay upon the Eagle while Jean lay on the ground.
"That's because of her," Liz said, pointing at the Eagle. "You didn't notice? This whole time she's been emitting some sort of spiritual repellent toward the Elufray Spirits. Grimhild wouldn't just leave me alone without protection. Besides, it's not like someone like you can scare them off." Proclaimed the Rozenheart with a smug look.
"What the hell do you mean by that?!"
Jean chuckled at their bickering.
"What are you gonna name them, Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth turned her attention toward Jean.
"Huh? Oh, Good question..." She looked up into the sky in thought, rubbing underneath her chin. "Hmm, why not Vedrfolnir?"
"Vedrfolnir, huh?" Mumbled Kyto in thought.
"It sounds like a powerful name... but does it have any meaning to it?" Asked Jean.
"Yeah, it means Storm Pale or Wind Bleached. The name Vedrfolnir comes from the spirits, spoken in Ama tongue." Proclaimed the Kaizamei.
"Ahaha, that explains it. I've always wanted to learn Ama tongue, but I never got the chance!" Announced the Cyrodel.
"That sounds like a lot of work—I'd rather stick to Yggdrasilian—it's the common language of Yggdrasil after all." Said Liz.
"But it's smart to learn new things, Elizabeth, especially Ama tongue; that way we can understand the spirits better, don't you agree?" Asked Jean.
"Uhm, yeah, I agree, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a lot of work! My brain will fry trying to learn something like that."
"You've always been saying stuff like that ever since we were kids, but then you prove yourself wrong whenever you put your mind to it." Proclaimed Kyto.
"How selective..." Mumbled Jean.
"Maybe it's because I focus hard on things that interest me the most while ignoring everything else."
"Sounds like ADHD to me." Muttered Kyto.
"You've always said that, and I keep telling you it's not ADHD!" Shouted the Rozenheart.
"Yeaaaah, right, it's definitely ADHD." Said Kyto.
"Yeah, totally ADHD." Mumbled Jean, nodding his head.
"I'm gonna hammer you both!"
"Perhaps you should've pushed them off the Eagle when you flew them here."
A familiar voice breached through the night.
"G-Grimhild!" Jean sat up straight, happy to see his friend once more.
"Hello, Jean."
"Hmm. Nice to see you again, Grimhild." Said Kyto.
"Mm." She nodded her head. "You too, Kyto."
"Grimmy!" Liz stood up, jumping over the campfire, running to tackle and hug the witch. "I was so worried!"
Grimhild stepped to the side and let Elizabeth fall flat on her face.
"Ow!"
"It's good to see you too, Elizabeth, is all well?"
They all nodded.
"Yeah, we've just been talking, nothing much really." Mumbled Kyto, stern in his expression.
"We were worried about you." Said Jean.
"I see." A smile plastered her face, albeit unnoticeable. "Do not worry about someone like me, even if I were to die, I'm sure you'd be able to continue without me just fine."
"Hey, don't say stuff like that!" Proclaimed Elizabeth as she stood back up. "If you think we're gonna treat you differently just because you were the Witch of Destruction, then you're wrong!"
Jean nodded his head. "Exactly what she said." He stood up, approaching Grimhild. "I've followed you all the way out here, putting my trust in you, and also learning new things I never thought possible! Don't be so selfless, Grimhild, can't you see we need your guidance?"
Elizabeth nodded her head while Kyto remained stagnant, staring at the ground in deep thought.
"I understand." Said the witch, lowering her head. "I'm sorry to have worried you, I will do what I can to ensure your safety to Mythical Valley, Kyto, and Elizabeth, but first, we must continue our journey."
Kyto finally stood up, hesitant to speak to the Witch of Justice.
It was obvious that he was concerned, and skeptical about her.
"I never asked, but where are we going?"
Grimhild faced Kyto, stoic in her expression.
"The Country of Mesnil."
"Hmm. Why Mesnil?" Asked the Cyrodel.
"There is something I must do, for the sake of its people."
Both Liz and Jean blinked a few times, confused.
"What's this about?" Asked Jean.
"I will be dueling Lancelot."
"Oh. Wait what!!?" Jean shouted in surprise.
"L-Lancelot...?! You mean, one of the Five Heroes?!" Asked Kyto.
"Yes."
"So cool! You can do it, Grimhild! I know you can kick his ass!" Yelled Elizabeth, throwing a few playful punches.
"Y-You never told me about this..." Muttered Jean.
"Well, now you know." Grimhild lifted her hand, casting Projanta to show a magical hologram of the Mesnil Kingdom. "The Country of Mesnil is falling apart as we speak. Lancelot has become a wicked king who seeks satisfaction. Above all else, he wants to experience a thrill that he hasn't felt in ages, and that can only be done by fighting me."
"T-That's Mesnil?" Asked the puzzled Jean.
"Indeed. Commoners are suffering, while the rich are living in peace, constantly financing Lancelot and his army. Everything is falling apart."
They could see starving families and men fighting against Lancelot's knights just to survive. Children stole food, teenagers were drafted into his army, and the elderly suffered from the lack of medical care.
"This is horrible... we can't just let this happen!" Proclaimed Elizabeth.
"And we won't." The hologram vanished as Grimhild lifted her hand. "Zarutha." Calling out to her delivery owl, a magic circle appeared, summoning him before their very eyes.
"G-Grimhild, is it really you?" Zarutha flapped his wings, astonished to see its master. "You're in need of my help? How rare!"
"Eh, you have a delivery owl?" Question Jean.
"Those things cost a fortune..." Noted the Cyrodel.
"Hey, I am not a 'thing'! My name is Zarutha, the delivery owl of Grimhild Yorgana, the Mage of Sadism!"
"It's cute, I wanna pet it." Said Liz with curious, sparkly eyes.
"Zarutha, I have a job for you."
"Indeed, indeed! Let the wondrous Zarutha know what you need!" The owl flew onto Grimhild's shoulder, waiting for orders.
"I have mail for you to deliver." Grimhild cast Rivonza to tear a hole in space and pull out an envelope.
"Hm?" Zarutha used magic to keep the envelope afloat. "To whom?"
"King Lancelot."
"K-King Lancelot?! Wait a minute, are you going to duel him?? I thought you refused?"
"Things have changed." Said the witch. "People of Mesnil are suffering, and I want to put an end to it." Her expression was stern as ever. "Now then, can you do this simple task for me, or do I have to blast you with n-"
"Yes, yes! I understand!" The owl leaped off her shoulder, grasping the envelope with its talon as it took flight. "This shall be done by tomorrow! I shall return soon, you Sadistic Mage!"
"Yes... be safe, Zarutha."
They watched the delivery owl fly off in the distance, heading towards Mesnil.
"Uhm... is he gonna be okay? We're still in the Ashen Burial Grounds, yah know?" Said Liz.
"Oh, Zarutha will be just fine, it's the spirits I would worry about."
"Huh?" Liz mutated her expression into confusion.
"Hey, what did that note say?" Questioned the Cyrodel.
"It's a few conditions I made to challenge Lancelot."
"What are they?" Asked Kyto, raising his brow.
"Kyto, stop asking so many questions! Grimhild is doing everything she can to help those people and you know it!" Shouted the annoyed Kaizamei.
"..." The Cyrodel was quiet, only staring at the former Witch of Destruction.
"Guys, let's not do anything drastic..." Mumbled Jean, visibly anxious.
"What can I do to earn your trust, Kyto?" Grimhild gazed upon the demigod, realizing his trust issues almost immediately.
"That's a hard thing to answer. Especially for someone like yourself."
"I see." Grimhild nodded her head. "You don't want as part of the group."
"No, I don't."
"Hey, Kyto!" Shouted Elizabeth.
"It's understandable, I see where you're coming from." Proclaimed Grimhild, turning around to face the other way. "I wouldn't want to be in a group with me either."
"G-Grimhild, what are you doing?" Questioned Liz.
"I'm taking my leave."
"H-Huh?" Jean widened his eyes. "You can't do that!"
"I'm quite old and experienced, Jean. I understand that staying in a group with someone who hates you will cause problems, and the loss of friendship." Grimhild started walking away. "I destroy everything I touch, and I am bound by that fate; so I will not destroy a friendship just to seek the company of other people. I'm afraid I am of no use."
"Grimhild, wait!" Jean ran after her, but she had already taken flight and dashed off via Flonta. "Dang it!"
"Kyto, what was that all about?! Are you an idiot??"
Elizabeth approached her companion, pushing him back in a fit of rage.
"She wouldn't have helped us anyways, Elizabeth; once a monster, always a monster."
"You can't say that! Can't you see you made Grimhild sad?! She has feelings, just like the rest of us! She's not some monster!"
Kyto winced at her yelling.
"You can't trust a book by its cover... I refuse to believe her."
"But she saved our lives!"
"Yeah... and she also used my people as slaves in the past."
"..."
"..."
Both Jean and Elizabeth could only stare in shock.
"K-Kyto... I'm sorry... I didn't know."
"It's fine, Liz, it's buried history anyway, but I still don't trust her."
Jean crossed his arms, frowning in thought.
Everything fell apart so quickly... it was frustrating.