Several more days passed as Axis made his way down a road that ran through the forest towards a large town. His hood was pulled over his head, and his hands were jammed in his pockets as he stared at the ground muttering to himself, blindly moving towards a group of ne'er-do-wells.

“Hey! Watch yourself!” one growled as Axis bumped into him, but Axis continued his path without care. “Hey, kid! You need to apologize!” the man growled while grabbing Axis’s shoulder, and forcing him to face him.

“Oh! WELL THEN! Allow me to do so right away!” Axis chimed sarcastically. “Sorry fuck-face!” he added, earning the man’s scowl.

“Real tough guy, 'ey?” the man questioned in a deadly tone as his friends circled behind Axis.

Axis looked over his shoulder at them in a bored manner before looking back to the man.

“How ‘bout you leave me alone, and I let you run back home with your little boyfriends here.” Axis sighed, and rage filled the man.

“HOW ‘BOUT YOU BURN IN HELL!” the man roared as he pulled a dagger from his belt, and Axis gave a wicked smile.

“How ironic!” Axis laughed as flames erupted around him, engulfing all of the men, “I was thinking the same thing!”

Axis smirked to himself as he began walking away, and he pursed his lips together before whistling a merry tune to drown out their dying pleas.

~

“Now, don’t forget what I taught you,” Curo stated while removing Allura’s last stitch.

“It’s only been a week, I thought you said these would have to stay in for two weeks?” she pressed while fixing her shirt, and he offered her a smirk.

“You have your secrets, and I have mine, Allura.” he hummed as she rolled her eyes at him. “Now, do you and Flora have everything you need?” he pressed.

Over the past week, the two girls had spent the majority of the time in Curo’s clinic. He took the time to teach the girls proper techniques for first aid as well as recipes for various cures. Allura had been a nearly perfect student, while Flora was about what one could expect from a child. Her mind always drifted off, never paying attention, falling asleep during his lessons, or becoming distracted by her shadows. However, what she lacked in learning for medicine she made up for with her ever-growing skill in manipulating the darkness. Through hours of playing with her shadow puppets, she nearly perfected shaping them, and Usko began teaching her how to solidify her shadows to trip people with them, leading Alaunus to appear very clumsy.

“Now remember,” Curo started while gently patting Allura’s head, “Come back if you ever need help.”

Allura nodded with a sweet smile as she shifted the pack across her chest with Rune holding onto her as though he were a backpack.

“And you,” Curo stated while looking to the sloth, “Take care of them.”

“Ehnh!” Rune chimed, and Curo smiled slightly before giving his head a pat as well.

“Alright, let’s go then,” Allura hummed before walking out the door, and Flora happily trailed after her until Curo gently stopped her.

Flora looked up to Curo as he waited for the door to close before looking down at her.

“Here,” he hummed while handing her a coin purse, and she gave him a questionable look. “I know Allura won’t accept it, and the two of you will need more provisions,” he explained with a gentle smile.

“Oh! I get it,” Flora nodded with a sweet smile as she accepted it.

“Spend it wisely,” he reminded her while gently patting her head.

“Allura’s talked about how she’s going to repay you every day, so I’m sure she will. She said she was on her own for over a year when I met her,” she revealed before her eyes widened and she quickly covered her mouth.

“I know you two are not related. I figured that out from the start.” he chuckled, and she hesitated before looking up to him.

“Why did she lie then?” Flora pressed with trusting eyes.

“I believe she was worried that I’d send you two to an orphanage.” he surmised.

“Would you?” Flora asked in a small voice as fear flickered over her face, and he shook his head. “Why?”

“Because she lied so well to protect you,” he smiled, “Plus, you two grew on me rather quickly. Now go, before she starts to worry,” he added while gazing down to see Flora’s eyes filled with tears, and she tightly embraced him. Curo’s eyes widened for a moment before he gently hugged her back.

“I’ll miss you,” Flora whispered.

“If you pray to Sanocuro, I will hear you,” he hummed as she looked to him in confusion while letting go. “Time for you to go my child,” he added while guiding her to the door just as Allura opened it.

“What’s going on? Is something wrong?” Allura pressed, making Curo chuckle.

“No, Flora is just struggling with saying goodbye,” he assured her, and Allura gently took Flora’s hand with a warm smile.

“Don’t worry, we will come back to visit,” Allura promised her, and Curo’s eyes softened. “So, how about instead of goodbye, we say; Until next time,” she added as Flora nodded, and she looked back to Curo.

“Until next time!” Flora chimed sweetly.

“See you around,” Curo replied, and with that, the two headed off into the town.

Allura and Flora made their way to the town’s bazaar where the streets were lined with vendors that stood behind their wooden stalls, and under their cloth umbrellas that shaded them from the sun.

Allura stood before a weapons vendor, looking at the bows on display while Flora stood at her side. It had taken some convincing once Flora gave Allura the money to keep her from returning it, but Flora was successful in the end.

“How ‘bout that one? It’s pretty!” Flora chimed while pointing to a cheap bow with elaborate designs, and Allura shook her head before pointing to a plain-looking bow that was curved in design and almost twice the price. “But that one's ugly…”

“It’s not about looks, it’s about function and durability,” Allura sighed as Flora huffed in disappointment before wandering off to another stall in the market. “Don’t wander too far, Flora.” Allura warned while watching her for a moment before turning back to the bow.

“I won’t!” Flora promised her while looking at the gems on display at the booth she stood before, and she listened as its vendor chatted with a friend.

“Did you hear?” he questioned.

“About that incident at the logging town? Yeah, pretty bad I heard.” the friend answered. “They said that it was almost burned completely to the ground.”

“I heard that it was a boy, possessed by some sort of flame monster.” the vendor nodded, “He had some sort of supernatural power or something,” he added as Flora grew tense, and she turned to leave.

“I don’t know,” the friend replied skeptically, “Maybe Viserus finally ran out of patience for them desecrating his forest.”

“Allur- Ow!” Flora chirped as an older boy ran into her, knocking her to the ground.

“Flora!” Allura exclaimed as she saw the girl on the ground with tears in her eyes.

“Watch where you’re going brat,” the boy hissed before walking off, earning Allura’s glare.

“HEY!” Allura snapped at the boy as she stormed after him. “You should help her up! Or at least apologize!” Allura growled as she shoved him, and he quickly spun, grabbing her wrist. He only appeared a few years older than Allura, but he seemed to tower over her.

“Do you want to get hurt?!” he threatened while glaring into her eyes until she slapped him.

“Allura!” Flora exclaimed in terror.

“Let me go, and apologize!” Allura demanded as he gave her a twisted grin.

“I don’t think you understand girl.” he started in a dark tone as his eyes seemed to burn with fire, and his grip began to burn her wrist, making her clench her teeth. “I will-”

Allura smacked the boy again with a resounding slap, and he stared at her in shock. He instantly fell into her eyes of lilac that showed no fear, causing a faint blush to burn into his cheeks. He slowly released her wrist to gently touch his face, utterly astonished by her.

“Asshole,” Allura growled at his silence before turning on her heel, and she returned to Flora.

“Ehnhhh!” Rune threatened from Allura’s back as she walked away from the boy.

“What the hell was that…?” the boy muttered under his breath as he watched Allura.

“Are you ok, Flora?” Allura asked, looking her over before helping her to her feet.

“Yeah… I’m fine...” Flora answered with embarrassment coloring her cheeks until seeing the boy approach them. “Allura!” Flora chirped, and Allura quickly moved between the two while holding her hand out defensively.

“Sorry,” the boy grumbled while looking past Allura to Flora, causing Flora’s eyes to widen as Allura’s narrowed. “To both of you,” he added as he glanced at Allura’s burned wrist while her hand slowly fell with a questioning look.

“It’s ok,” Flora forgave him in a small voice, and Allura’s eyes quickly glanced over the boy before they softened.

“I’m sorry,” Allura replied, and he raised an eyebrow. “I shouldn’t have shoved you… I didn’t realize you were hurt,” she hummed, and she reached for his hand as he quickly flinched back but she still gently caught it. “Come on, I can help.” Allura gave him no choice as she began to walk, pulling him along.

Flora’s face fell with tears filling her eyes as she watched Allura walk away, and her mind drifted back to Lera and the orphanage.

~*~

“You’re amazing Flora!” a small girl giggled as she batted her long eyelashes, tucking a few blonde strands behind her ear, and Flora blushed.

“I think you’re amazing too, Lera.” Flora smiled shyly before a boy joined them.

“Hey Lera! Wanna come play?” he chimed.

“Of course!” Lera smiled sweetly, and the boy took her hand as he began walking away with her.

Flora took a step to follow, but Lera quickly shot her a warning glare, and Flora fell still, biting her lip. She watched Lera walk away with tears filling her eyes.

~*~

“Flora? You coming?” Allura called back while holding her free hand out to the young girl, and Flora’s eyes widened. She quickly wiped her tears away before running to Allura and tightly grabbed her hand. “Ow! Not so tight, Flora. Are you trying to break me?” Allura teased as the boy watched with his blush deepening at Allura’s laugh. Allura walked the two to a short wall before looking at the boy and pointing at it. “Have a seat.” she instructed as he complied with a questioning look.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” he growled as Allura took Rune off her back and handed him to Flora.

“Who is this girl?” Larsolis pressed.

“Why don’t you take him over to the tree for a snack?” Allura suggested, and Flora nodded with a smile before leaving to do so.

“I am unsure, but Usko’s new master is certainly taken with her, and I must say, she intrigues me as well.” Noxera admitted, “Sanocuro and Viserus do not approve of mortals so easily... despite their love for all living things.”

“I’ll admit, you’re my first.” Allura smiled innocently, causing him to blush again. “But yes, I do,” she assured him before mumbling under her breath, “Probably.”

Allura quickly looked over the deep wound that pierced his side before reaching into her bag, and she pulled out a small medical kit that Curo had gifted her. She promptly removed a jar of ointment, and she set it on the wall before taking out a bottle of alcohol along with a clean cloth.

“This is going to sting a bit,” she hummed, looking at him, and he nodded hesitantly.

She gently poured some of the alcohol over his wound, causing him to hiss in pain as flames flickered over his skin.

“What the..?” her voice trailed off before noticing the bottle of alcohol now had flames coming out of its top. “Shit!” she exclaimed before clamping her hand over it, effectively extinguishing the flame. “HOT!” she hissed while removing her hand, and she looked back to the boy to see a threatening look in his eyes. For a moment she was ensnared by the fire of his eyes that danced with fear behind the threat. “Hey now, don’t look so worried,” she hummed, and he flinched slightly at her words before surprise ebbed at his face. “It’s out now see?” she revealed as she presented the bottle, but his eyes flickered to the reddened skin on the palm and wrist.

“Is the girl blind?” Noxera scoffed.

After a moment she dried him with the cloth, and she put away the alcohol before picking up the jar of ointment Curo had given her the day he met her. She carefully opened the jar and dipped a finger in it before moving towards the boy, but he quickly caught her wrist with a bruising grip.

“This one won’t hurt,” she assured him. “I promise.” she smiled as he slowly let her go.

“She is cautious.” the God of Healing revealed, “She knows the look in his eyes all too well.”

“So, what’s your name?” Allura hummed while carefully applying the ointment but he just stared at her in disbelief. “Okay then…” she mumbled before applying a bandage. “Well, Mr. Whatever-Your-Name-Is, you’re good to go. Just keep it clean and-” he abruptly pushed her away, and stormed off. “The hell was that about?” she growled as she caught herself, and she watched him walk away while he jammed his hands in his pockets.

“Ehnh?” Rune questioned, and Allura looked to see Flora with a worried expression, holding Rune loosely against her chest as she joined her.

“Are you ok?” Flora pressed.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Allura nodded as her eyes flickered to Flora’s shadow then back to the boy just before he moved out of sight. ‘Are there more like Flora?’ she questioned herself silently.

“What happened to your hand?” Flora pressed while looking at the burn.

“Nothing,” Allura shook her head before applying some ointment, and she wrapped it. “Just a burn.”

“How did you get burned?” Flora blinked in confusion as Allura put her supplies away.

“I’m not sure… I don’t know if I really saw what I saw,” Allura answered as her voice grew quiet. “But, with your shadows, and Usko... Anything’s possible right?”

~

“Who was that girl?” Lars hummed, appearing before Axis.

“Why the fuck would I know?” Axis growled, stepping around Lars as he continued walking.

“She intrigues me!” Lars chimed while walking beside him in a graceful manner.

“Then go ask her.” he spat as Lars stopped.

“Maybe I will,” Lars mused, but Axis quickly faced him with a glare.

“Go be a perv somewhere else, a girl like that doesn’t need the trouble,” Axis stated defensively as Lars smirked.

“A girl like that?” Lars pressed. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Nice. She’s- She’s innocent,” he stumbled over his words with a faint blush. “She doesn’t need the god of pervs bothering her.”

“Oh my! Does someone have a little crush?” Lars snickered.

“Shut up!” Axis snapped as flames flickered over him.

“Mind your flames of passion, a guard may see you,” Lars smirked as Axis threw a punch at him, but he disappeared before Axis could touch him.