The rain seemed to have calmed down from earlier but Pranee could still barely see outside. She figured that nighttime had already come and that it really would be difficult for them to attempt to head back anyway. She sighed and wrapped the towel around herself tighter as the clothes she was provided were thinner and scratchier than what she was wearing earlier.

The farmer was kind enough to let them stay for the night but had wanted to talk to Shashi privately about why he needed a wizard. That left Pranee to entertain herself in the unfamiliar room. Shashi and Pranee's clothes were drying on more towels in the corner of the room and so were the bags. Shashi said not to worry about the bags since they apparently won't be damaged by the water but that only made Pranee stare at them with curiosity. Were the items in waterproof containers or are the items waterproof?

"Everything okay?"

Shashi looked at her with a raised eyebrow and Pranee blinked a couple of times before nodding.

"Yeah, just... different from what I'm used to."

"Everything seems out of your comfort zone." Shashi gave an exasperated sigh and Pranee couldn't help but take offense to it.

"What do you mean by that?" Her tone came off as defensive.

Shashi looked at her in the eye and their lips were curved slightly downwards.

"Me for example."

Pranee's mouth hung open slightly at the response. She averted her gaze from them before gathering her thoughts to answer.

"Ah... I suppose so. I guess our first meeting wasn't the nicest... Even Kiet and Chann seemed... put off by me."

Everything was either uncomfortable or a spectacle for the princess. If she was still in the capital, she would be experiencing the comforts of her servants and luxurious clothing yet she wouldn't have seen as magic as she had the past few days. To people like Shashi, living in rougher conditions and using magic was just normal for them.

"Oh, that was because of the letter I sent them."

Pranee's chain of thoughts broke and she looked at them with confusion.

"You what?"

"Yeah, Chann isn't really good with people so I had to send them a letter of warning." Shashi shrugged.

"So, our awkward introduction was because you gossiped about me."

"It was awkward?"

"Of course, you wouldn't notice. You were bickering with Kiet." Bickering had been frowned on ever since Pranee was a child. To see two people do it so casually just made her freeze.

"Hm, I suppose." Shashi sat next to Pranee. "Speaking of Kiet... how was magic training."

"It... didn't happen. That woman... Wipa, you said. Right?"

"What about her?"

"She was teaching me how magic worked and–"

"She didn't tell you anything like how to seduce a spirit, right?"

Pranee was taken back. She didn't expect Shashi to say something so shocking yet she could tell that there was more to the story.

"What exactly did she do?"

Shashi let out a low hum in uncertainty and tapped a foot against the ground. They seemed to be struggling to explain and Pranee only leaned in closer towards them in interest.

"Sometimes... bad magicians ask for your first-born child in exchange for your biggest desire."

Her eyes instantly became wide. "She steals children?!"

There were so many children at the market today. If this woman took away children–

"No," Shashi immediately interrupted her anxious thoughts.

She sighed in relief.

"She had her first-born taken away."

"Oh...?" Pranee stared at them in confusion.

"Her child has a demon for a father. The demon granted her a wish in exchange for her to bear his child."

Pranee froze and she thought over what Shashi had just said. "She sounds very cunning. Though, I can't say that I can sympathize with a child stealer and a demon."

"Still, if she can outwit a demon and a powerful magician and receive all that power without repercussion, you should be on your guard."

"What did she ask for anyways?"

Before Shashi could get in another word, the farmer entered the room in a panic. His pale face was flushed red and his eyes were wide with terror. Pranee couldn't tell if his face was drenched in sweat or it was wet from the rain as he didn't have the chance to change his attire just yet. The farmer coughed before he was able to speak.

"It's back."

"What's back?" Pranee looked to Shashi looking for an explanation.

Shashi met the farmer's panicked expression with a calm neutral one, seeming to attempt to ease the man's worries.

"Don't worry. I can handle this. Just be sure to wash the sheets like I told you to do. Everything will be alright."

"What exactly is out there?" Pranee's voice wavered.

The farmer turned his attention to Pranee with his lips pressed together.