Chapter 3

Zee and Larkin lounged in the cabin of the Steamstrider, grateful for whatever rest they could get after the chaos of yesterday. "It's a shame we couldn't stay in Wolfdale for a while," Zee said aloud, stretching her legs as she leaned back in her seat.

Larkin sighed, leaning his head back and spreading his arms out on the plush, cushioned seat. "Yeah, but you know why we couldn't," he said, his mind drifting back to the events of an hour ago.

Xain, using whatever rations the village could reasonably provide, cooked up a grand feast for the entirety of Wolfdale plus everyone else. Despite the village's scarcity of resources, Xain worked magic with what he had.

For the main course, he prepared a hearty stew, rich with tender chunks of rabbit, mixed with root vegetables like carrots and parsnips. The broth was thickened with barley and seasoned with a blend of herbs that lent a savory depth to the dish. This stew, slow-cooked over a fire, was aromatic and comforting.

Accompanying the stew were fresh loaves of rustic bread, baked to a golden crisp with a crusty exterior and a soft, warm interior. The bread was perfect for sopping up the flavorful stew.

Xain also made a side of roasted wild mushrooms, gathered from the surrounding forest, which were seasoned with wild garlic and a sprinkle of salt. These mushrooms were tender and flavorful, a rare treat in the current conditions.

For dessert, Xain concocted a simple but delightful berry compote, using the few berries that could be found and preserved. The compote was sweet and tart, served warm with a dollop of cream made from a small amount of preserved milk.

After everyone had devoured the delicious meal Xain had prepared—a celebration for surviving the demon invasion—Collin had approached the trio of Xain, Zee, and Larkin. "We cannot thank you all enough for what you did, so please stay here for as long as you want," he offered, bowing his head in gratitude.

Xain quickly raised his hands. "Don't bow your head, we just did what anyone would have done in that situation."

Everyone, and I mean everyone, thought to themselves, *No, you/we didn't.*

Larkin then spoke up. "And while we would love to spend some time here, uh, some people are kinda chasing us, or more specifically me, so we can't really stay," he explained, scratching his head.

Zee nodded. "Yes, if we did, we would put all of you in danger."

Collin nodded in understanding, but Maverick interjected, "Huh? Why didn't you tell me anything about that before?"

Xain turned to him with a cautious smile. "I don't know how to put this nicely, but you can't beat the person who's chasing us. You'll probably just get turned into a roasted chicken," he said, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

Maverick glared at him. "You little shit! I told you not to compare me to birds..." he trailed off, scratching his head. "I think?"

Xain kept his smile as he subtly clenched his fist. "You shouldn't tease him too much, Xain. You know he has bad temper management skills," Zalathor calmly interjected.

"No the fuck I don't!" yelled Maverick, causing the trio to chuckle.

Zee then asked, "Besides that, didn't you say you wanted to explore Aetheria by yourself last night?"

Maverick stopped glaring at Zalathor and turned to Zee, though he still avoided direct eye contact. "Yeah, I want to see what this world is like. It's not like I can return back home," he said, a very slight sadness in his voice.

The night before, they had asked Maverick what he would do now and if he would go back to Heaven. He had replied that he couldn't return. "Like I said before," he began, "I was one of the only angels who gave a shit about saving this world. The higher-ups decided it wasn't worth saving, which means I'm not supposed to be here. And"—he pulled out Heaven's Inventory—"I'm really not supposed to have this or the stuff inside it. So, if I go back, the least I can expect is either having my wings clipped and my divine nature stripped away, or execution."

Xain, eyebrows raised in surprise, commented, "Man, Heaven's got some serious rules."

"Is it that bad in Hell as well?" Verandez, who had definitely been there the whole time, asked Zalathor.

"It varies," Zalathor replied with a hint of intrigue. "Different domains of Hell have different rules. Some are lenient, while others are ruthless."

As they spoke, Elanor and Alcor approached the group. Elanor's gaze was soft but filled with concern. "So, you're really leaving?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

Xain nodded. "Yeah, I wish we could stay longer, but it's too dangerous."

Elanor seemed saddened. "Be careful, Xain. With the way you fight, I'm surprised you're not dead yet," Alcor remarked bluntly.

Xain winced. "Co-come on, what are you, my mom? It's not like I go out of my way to get hurt," he said nervously, avoiding eye contact.

Alcor sighed deeply. "Well, I suppose that's not far off. I do treat my patients like they're my children, and you are actually a child," he replied with a wry smile.

Xain stomped his foot, pouting like the child he is. "Do-don't treat me like I'm actually your son or something! What kind of doctor does that?" His complaint elicited chuckles from those around him, making his face turn red with embarrassment.

Suddenly, Elanor took Xain's hands in his own, just like the night before, a serious look on his face. "Stay safe out there, my best friend!" he said with heartfelt sincerity, causing everyone to stop chuckling.

Xain blinked in surprise. "Eh, best friend?"

After their heartfelt goodbyes, they each went their separate ways, bringing us back to the present moment.

"That Elanor kid sure took a liking to Xain, didn't he?" Larkin laughed, leaning back in his seat with a grin.

Zee's eyes widened with determination before she pumped her fist. "I won't lose to him!" she declared with fierce resolve.

Larkin stared at her, puzzled. "Huh? What are ya not gonna lose to him at?"

Larkin leaned back again, his head resting on his fist as he propped his foot on his leg. "I can't believe I'm sayin' this, but I hope we meet all 'em again someday," Larkin said with a wistful smile.

Zee mirrored his expression. "Mm, I hope so too."