Will you be my escort?

"Hey, I said wait!"

She raised her voice for the man to hear. The man stopped, then turned to meet her.

"I haven't said my thanks yet".

"There's no need for that", the man replied.

"Still, I wanted to express my thanks to you for saving me back then", she cast a sideway glance at the monster's ash.

The man looked at her with a blank expression. His gaze was so adamant and expressionless that it feels like he is staring directly at the other person's soul.

"I think you'll do fine yourself even without me stepping in", he said.

"What? No way. I may be a scholar, but I can't use any attack magic. Not even one" she clarified.

"The earlier light magic, was that you're doing?" he asked.

(Is he referring to my earlier Lumenus spell?) Fei thought to herself before answering with a "Yes, that was mine".

The man looked at her as if in disbelief.

"Then my opinion stays," he said as he prepared to leave.

(I don't get him ... not at all)

No matter how hard she tried to think of a reason why he stated that she can hold her own against such a monstrosity evades her mind still. While she was busy collecting her thoughts, the man was already a few paces away.

"Wait!"

The man paused and replied, "What?".

He accidentally made him wait again for no apparent reason. Is it because this is the first conversation she had since leaving Ancdam? She may be longing for a conversation after what she just went through. Whatever her reason remained a mystery.

"I'll be leaving then", the man said as he was only met with silence after complying with her sudden request.

"Eh... Ah! Where are you headed?", Fei tried to prolong the conversation by asking a standard question.

"If it isn't too much, can I come with you? Don't worry, I can compensate your service".

(Having someone reliable would surely make this trip easier) she thought.

The man thought for a moment before replying.

"I'll be heading to an area further north. I won't be going back to the city for a while. You better head back, for your safety" he said.

"Oh, that's fine. I was planning on staying a few days away from the city myself" was her immediate response.

"I'll be heading into the place called Presling Grove, so you should better turn ba-"

"Perfect! That's where I was originally headed to", she cut him off shortly after hearing the familiar place.

"It'll be dangerous," he said.

"It'll be fine". Fei dismissed his concern as if it wasn't even worth considering.

"I am not your bodyguard"

"Don't worry, I can take care of myself"

He looked at her battered state and messy hair.

"I can see that".

Getting what he was hinting at, Fei immediately fixed her hair and straightened her outfit. Looking at herself, she does look like she went through hell and back.

"Well, the monster was a new species, so it was entirely unknown to the general populace, so this doesn't count", she argued back.

"Besides, I have my reasons why I have to go there".

Seeing that her credibility kept on decreasing by the moment, she hurriedly tried to come up with something, something for him to let her accompany him to the area.

"Wait! I could be your guide! I know how to get to Presling Grove! Judging from your appearance, I'm guessing that you are not from around here, nor Ancdam" she said, puffing her chest as she felt proud of coming up with this excellent idea.

"I have a map" was the man's immediate reply.

"Wha ...".

(Of course, he has a map. Why wouldn't you have a map if you are traveling to a new area, right?) As if lecturing herself, her train of thought stated the obvious. Not having a map in the northern province is tantamount to death after all.

(I guess things won't go as smoothly as you wanted them to).

Well, he already saved her life once. That much, she is grateful for. The least she can do for him is to use her knowledge of the monsters in the area to make it easier for him to get to his destination.

"Uhmm... if it's not too much, can I see your map for a sec? I may not look like it but I am knowledgeable on the monsters around these parts. I could place markers in areas you should avoid getting to arrive at Presling Grove faster" she added.

The man, seemingly convinced of her reasoning, decided to take her up on her offer. What else does he have to lose, right? He reached for his map from his inner pocket.

"?"

He looked at Fei.

Fei titled her head sideways as if saying "What's the matter"

"It's gone".

'Eh, what is?"

"My map".

He checked again to make sure that it wasn't just misplaced.

"It's gone", he said.

Is it during the time he was battling the creature? When he was receiving the onslaught of slashes from its scythe? Or did he lose it on his way here? Fei

(Wait, isn't this my chance then?)

"Ahem! Well ... I have a map. I could share it with you if you want ... on the condition that you'll take me with you", a smile beams on her face as she said her proposal.

Now, without his map, the man is in a difficult situation. He needed a map to get to his destination. These are the times when he curses his inattentiveness to details.

(Will he accept?), her concern is written across her face.

He kept on glancing between Fei and its grimoire.

One is leaning forward with a broad smile on her face, the brightness almost too intense for his nature. The other one is silently hovering mid-air.

With no one else to turn to, the man let out a dispirited reply.

"OK, I'll accept your offer."

Happy to have someone reliable on board, Fei pumped her fists high up in the sky, accompanied by a "Yay!".

Afterward, she extended her hands toward the man.

"I am Fei, Feui Guillard"

The man hesitated for a bit before eventually taking her outstretched hands.

"... Eisen"