“How are we going to get the judif?” Lika’so asked Nijo’tika as they jogged through the village. “Do you know another seller?”

“No, but I know where Moggra gets his,” Nijo’tika said in a steady voice.

Lika’so could tell her friend was panicking. She knew Nijo’tika long enough that she could pick up on things like that.

“So we’re cutting out the middleman and buying from the producer?” Lika’so asked.

“No, we don’t have time for that. We’re going directly to Oblingg Field.”

“Moggra got his judif from Phantom Grove?” Lika’so was shocked. Phantom Grove was infested with phantoms. It was almost impossible to be in there longer than an hour without serious damage to the psyche. Repeat visits were out-of-the-question if you wanted to keep your sanity.

“Yeah, he harvested it with his own hands.”

“Did he not lose his mind?” Lika’so asked, confused.

“I don’t think he ever had a mind to lose,” responded Nijo’tika.

The two turned a corner and spotted a whi’siip performance in the distance.

Getting closer to it, they heard a familiar voice. It was Alex. He was performing for the crowd. Lika’so’s eyes widened and anger started to boil up inside of her. She had told Alex to wait inside the house.

Lika’so dropped her weapons and begun a sprint towards the crowd. As she arrived, the crowd erupted into cheers and claps. Lika’so pushed her way through getting increasingly more furious. Arriving at the center, she stormed up to Alex.

“I told you to wait inside the house!” she yelled. Lika’so grabbed Alex on the back of his skinny neck and squeezed hard.

“Ow!” he yelped, dropping the yudi’ga in his hand.

Lika’so dragged Alex out of the center of the crowd The crowd parted to let the two out, all the while booing in disappointment at the interruption. Lika’so didn’t care, she was too frustrated at Alex.

Lika’so walked over to Nijo’tika with Alex still in her grasp. Nijo’tika had picked up Lika’so’s crossbow and sword and was waiting for her a few meters outside the circle.

“Go home,” Lika’so told Alex, pushing him towards the direction of the house.

“Wait!” Nijo’tika said to Lika’so, her face lighting up.

“What?” responded Lika’so, her tone filled with anger. She was still enraged at Alex for disobeying her.

“He can help us!”

“Help with what?” Alex asked.

“I will not put him in harm’s way,” Lika’so said to Nijo’tika, ignoring Alex’s question, “He’s a child.”

“I’m not a child!” Alex protested.

Lika’so continued to ignore him. She had made up her mind. He was a child that needed to be protected.

“The more eyes and hands we have working, the faster we can be out of Phantom Grove.” Nijo’tika reasoned, “He could be useful.”

“Let me help,” Alex told Lika’so.

“No,” she said, squeezing his neck and Alex yelped again.

“Stop that!” Nijo’tika and Alex yelled simultaneously.

Lika’so let go of Alex’s neck. “I don’t want him coming with us.”

“I’ll watch him,” Nijo’tika said, grabbing Alex by the hand.

----------------------------------

Alex felt like a baby being fought over by its two parents. He hated that feeling. He wanted to help them with whatever it was they were doing but Lika’so didn’t seem too thrilled with the idea. It was time for Alex to put his foot down.

“I’m going with you,” he said, his tone stubborn.

Lika’so looked at him. She put her hand on her eyes and began to rub them.

Sighing, Lika’so said, “Fine, but stay close to us.”