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After the removal of the church’s advance force, Anlesa rested as their body recovered from the mana use and the large-scale transformation done by Eva. With the exhaustion they were suffering from early, they needed to rest for a bit before they could go back into action.

However, that didn’t take too long.

[What… are we supposed to do now?] (Eva)

They were ready and able to fight again, However, Eva couldn’t use her Morph at the moment. So, they were stuck in their true appearance.

[We could go back and just try to move within the crowd.] (Syrus)

[We should go back and help…] (Eva)

[I understand your concern, Lilly. There is nothing to worry about.] (Luna)

Luna knew Eva was feeling conflicted emotions. She wanted to go back and help, but they had tried for so long to keep their appearance under wraps, and going back now could risk all that, Eva was partially blaming herself because it was she who handled the transformations.

[Well, instead of going to the city, we can go into the forest instead?] (Syrus)

[...Oh?] (Eva)

[That… could work, but would be equally as dangerous as it is low risk for identity.] (Luna)

[Capcium and the peanut.] (Syrus)

[What..?] (Luna)

[Every decision has its ups and downs. But another point about going into the forest is that the terrain will make it easier for us to escape.] (Syrus)

Syrus was right, especially with how chaotic the mutated animals were, a nimble opponent or one that could attack at range would be the worst opponent, which also happened to be a fighting style they could implement.

[...Let’s go to the forest.] (Eva)

Eva didn’t want to let their hard work go to waste and didn’t want not to help the city, so this seemed like the appropriate compromise.

Syrus and Luna allowed Eva’s decision to be the decider, and they walked into the foggy western forest, the Amber Hollow.

With an axe in hand–that they kept out of sight in the Joseph encounter–Anlesa switched into a combat stance. Her left wire released itself from the bracelet and Eva controlled at the ready. Syrus adjusted her grip on the axe and was ready to create emergency Moonlight shields at a moment’s notice.

Without warning, a six-legged mutated wolf came charging them.

Syrus took evasive action and let Eva handle the attack.

Eva’s whips were extremely mana-efficient and deadly. Since their body was tired, letting their attacks be through Eva, then Syrus was for the best.

Eva followed Syrus’ advice and managed to trip and maim the creature.

[Okay, now finish it.] (Syrus)

[Al-right!] (Eva)

With a clean slash, the metal wire sliced through the creature’s neck.

After a few hours.

[Okay… I think I can finally revert ourselves back to the Syrus’ disguise.] (Eva)

[All good, but we can wait a while longer if needed.] (Syrus)

[No, I made sure I am well rested… I guess I should be the one asking that question though, Syrus is there any problem if we use the disguise?] (Eva)

[If we keep it to around two-to-three hours, we will be fine.] (Syrus)

[Plenty of time.] (Luna)

They hunted quite a few mutated animals within that time, and with Syrus’s guidance, Eva was able to handle most of them besides the most dangerous ones. Along with that, they still had around thirty-percent of their mana left. Which was an achievement worth celebrating. Syrus was genuinely impressed with Eva’s minimal waste of mana and her efficient use of it.

Thanks to that, and natural regeneration, they had thirty-percent of their total mana to use as they saw fit.

Covered in mutated animal blood, Syrus walked back into the city.

Now appearing as Syrus, any questions should be easily answered.

A random guard at the city’s entrance blocked Syrus’ entry. “Oh, lady, what has caused you to appear like that?”

[...What?] (Luna) (Eva)

Syrus answered without issue. “I was killing the mutated animals further in the forest.” If there was a guard at the city’s entrances, that would mean the situation had been mostly resolved by now, and likely patrols were stationed at every entry/exit point in the city.

“Oh! There were mutated animals about!” The guard exclaimed, “By the tip of my spear's sharpness, you should inform the guild. Who knows how many–”

PUNCH

[Syrus!] (Eva)

Syrus punched the guard right in the face, knocking him out.

[Is he alive, Luna?] (Syrus)

[Yes…] (Luna)

[Good.] (Syrus)

Syrus did another act of thievery and stole the man’s sword and took one more from a nearby pile. The axe’s sharpness had been dulled, and the blood ruined its edge.

…

[I…] Eva paused. [Am so confused.]

[That is fine, but at times like this…] Syrus looked down the empty streets. [Assume anyone is your enemy.]

A familiar voice yelled out her name. “Syrus!” Ash came running up the side street.

“Ash.” Syrus turned to her.