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He didn’t know why she was asking him again when he’d already answered this back at the stronghold.

Her icy-blue eyes darted to the ground and flicked side to side in obvious thought. Then, her twisted and tight expression fell away, and she lifted her head up while rolling her shoulders back. “What if I help?”

“He needs an army,” the Witch Owl bit out. “What can a single human do? You’re likely to abandon him the moment your fear becomes too much, or he’ll eat you because of it.”

Emerie’s features stiffened, and her gaze shadowed, became... unfeeling, even. He had the urge to growl when it reminded him of the Wren creature.

“I just threw my life away for this Duskwalker, and you’re saying my help is not good enough?”

The Witch Owl gave a mocking snort. “You chose that. Were you expecting some kind of reward?”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” she stated with a sigh, brushing some of her dishevelled hair out of her face with the back of her hand. “I joined the guild for a reason. What I did today... I just signed my own death warrant. If I’m going to die, I’d rather it be doing something I originally set out to do, instead of being killed for deserting my own people.”

Ingram tilted his head in curiosity, the dark yellow of it flaring in his sight.She seeks revenge too?

“You understand death awaits you if you follow him?” The Witch Owl had a high tone to her voice, like unmasked surprise.

“Death awaited me the moment I signed up with the guild.” She lifted her chin defiantly. “The only fear regarding it is the failure of not achieving what I set out to do.”

Ingram’s head tilted the other way, his orbs deepening in their hue.In this, our hearts are the same.

“I... would like her help,”Ingram stated as he stepped forward while crouching, using both hands to steady himself.“She trapped me so I could not harm her. She gave me freedom.”

She also smelt nice, and he liked the colour of her hair and eyes. She’d also touched him until bliss shot from him, and he was very, very curious about that.

Would she do it again?

The Witch Owl looked between them, but when she finally fixed her gaze on Emerie, something glinted in her features. Something dark, and yet somehow warm. Was it possible to express guilt and pride at the same time?

Then again... what would he know when it came to the complexities of humans and their emotions?

“Then I’ll entrust him to you,” the Witch Owl said, letting a smile fill her face for the first time during their conversation. “I think I would feel better knowing he had someone around that would guide him.”

“Me? Guide him?” Emerie’s little brows drew together once more. “Wouldn’t it be the other way around?”

The Witch Owl let out a deep laugh. “No, not at all. If left to his own devices, Ingram would wander into the Veil in search of the Demon King.”

She patted his side, absolutely unbothered by his presence, which only confused him. She’d never been this close with him, but... he didn’t mind it.

At least someone cared for him.

The space next to him didn’t feel so empty... or lonely.

“The wisest thing to do would be to go west,” the Witch Owl continued, turning her face to Ingram. “To your brothers. They will have answers for you, and they will assist you in achieving our collective goal.”

Once more, that word – brothers – was spoken. He’d like to know what this meant, and why it seemed so important to this female.

“So, avoid the Veil and go west?” Emerie asked, cupping her chin while crossing one arm across her chest. “How far west? We’re right near the eastern sea. If you want us to go to the western sea, that’ll take us almost a month.”

“Not with a Duskwalker,” Lindiwe answered with a smile.

Her expression morphed into a grumbly one. “What about you?”

“I will fly back to the Veil. I am needed there more than here if Ingram has you.”

Emerie nodded like she understood until she shook her head and gaped. “Flyback?” She lifted her hands to her shoulders so she could flap them. “Like a bird?”

The Witch Owl let out a cackle. “Yes, dear child. Fly like a bird.”