Chapter 23:

The fire crackled merrily, licking away the wood that Leo tossed into it. Sparks flew into the air with billowing smoke, causing him to cough and lean back, eyes watering.

Eres poked the side of his stomach with her toe. “That part needs more wood, put some on.”

“Tch, fire-master, maybe you should be the one doing this instead?”

She smiled sweetly at Leo. “I don’t work today, Young Master. I have no obligation to tend to your needs like the pampered child you are.”

Leo’s lips curdled. Had he really held affection for this nightmare of a maid earlier? How was he, the ducal heir, kneeling in the dirt, while this overgrown fuzzball was lounging about?

The obvious smirk on her face did little to help Leo’s mood. It had only been a few scant hours since this foolish girl stood down a bear taller than his last rental, and she made damn well sure to remind everyone of that fact.

Eres rolled her ankle, rubbing her feet in woe. “Ah~ how my feet hurt…If only I hadn’t driven away that bear at the expense of my own, poor, body.”

The girls sat nearby, watching Ed and Leo chop wood and feed it to the flames. Unfair? Undoubtedly—Eliza could surely tear logs in half using her bare hands. Celise might be able to cut one with her words. Arille’s usually bright-red face might be usable as a fire starter.

Eres, however, had gladly taken advantage of the societal norms and camping expectations she’d groused at in the past—that is, dumping the work on strapping young lads such as Leo and Ed.

She drank deep from her water-skin, letting Leo see the water trickle from the mouth of it. His chapped lips were proof enough of the hardship he’d been sentenced to for letting Eres carry the group. 

Naturally, she was enjoying the fruits of her labor, like the rushing adrenaline of penta-killing the enemy team with forty minutes of grinding and kill steals. She hummed to herself as Ed and Leo glared at her with dark looks.

Eres caught their stares. She rose a hand, covering her smile. “Hmm? Do the sirs need something from this young hero?”

They flinched. Eres lowered her head in playful sorrow. “To think, even after saving five lives, I should still be needed for something…what dreadful karma.”

The stick Leo was holding snapped in twain. His rising insult stuck in his throat. He turned his bitter face away from the nauseating sight. 

Arille stood, her fingers fidgeting together. Celise rose with her, and they walked over to the gathered branches, snapping them for later. 

Eres looked at them in surprise. They still had energy? Were they fans of snapping things? She tried to coax them back into relaxation.

“Why are you helping? Leave it to those two.”

Arille’s face clouded over. She held a twig in her hand and stared at it. “Lady Eres…I think this may be all I’m good for.”

“I feel the same,” Celise said, “We merely stood there while you defended us, Eres.”

She stomped on a branch, the snap making everyone jump. Celise raised her foot again and stomped hard, the wood splintering apart. Arille stepped closer, offering her some comfort by proximity. 

Eres stood, snorting. “Nonsense. What are you even talking about?”

Eliza sat on her log, tail flicking; her ears twitched, lowering. “We burdened Eres...”

The boys glanced over at her words, but didn’t refute it. Leo’s hands clasped tight. 

Eres looked over her friends. Where had this mood come from? Did someone forget to send her the invite to the pity party? 

…

Maybe she’d been gloating too hard. Her face softened. “What burden? How could my friends be a burden? The real burden is seeing all of you moping about like dullards.”

Leo turned his head away, before chucking the twig he was holding into the fire and standing up. In that short moment, his frustration and annoyance melted into a calm smile. 

“Yeah. We’ll just have to step up next time.”

The others lifted their heads. Arille brushed her hand on Celise’s arm, the touch drawing her gaze. They smiled at each other, before nodding. “Mm.”

Eliza’s tail rose like the sail of a ship, luffing in the wind.

Only Ed stood unmoved, his lips pressed tight. Eres’s eyes landed on him. This guy…was he the insecure type? 

The sight somehow annoyed her. This kid was way too similar to her past life. Always moping, always listless, never decisive. Drifting around like a bag, shaping itself to whatever it touched. He needed some direction from a fellow member of the introvert alliance. A guiding hand.

She stood, and casually stepped towards him. She nodded her head at the hatchet in his hand. “Hey. Ed.”

He looked up, his expression distant and forlorn. “…Yeah?”

“Can I see that hatchet for a moment?”

“?”

“Just give it.”

He passed it over, confused. 

Eres held it in front of his eyes, the weight heavy in her small wrist. She smiled at him, her lips teasing.

“What is this?” She asked.

Ed blinked. “A hatchet?”

“Mhmm. And what’s a hatchet used for?”

He rubbed the back of his head. Was this a trick question…? “Cutting wood.”

Eres nodded, smiling. “Do you use a hatchet to write?”

He blinked, not understanding what she was talking about. “Huh? Write?”

Eres poked his nose with her finger. “Do you use a hatchet as a fishing pole?”

He shook his head.

She nodded. “Then, every tool has its purpose, doesn’t it? Not everything needs to write or cut wood.”

His eyes widened as he understood her meaning. That realization turned sour, his eyes breaking contact, moving to the side. “What if a tool has no purpose?”

“Hmm~ is that for the tool to decide?”

Ed stepped back, confused. He looked at Eres like she had three heads. What the hell is she talking about?

Eres jabbed a finger to her chest. “If you don’t know what to do, leave it to me. I’ll put you to work. I promise I can find a use for you.”

She smiled, her expression devious. “Though, I might work you to the bone, unless you tell me what it is you want to do.”

He froze, taking in her words. A small warmth rose in his chest. Ed had never been well regarded, even within his own family. Troublesome. Worthless. Leo was the first real friend he’d made. Maybe…today he made his second.

Ed scratched the back of his head. “…Thanks.”

Eres tossed him the hatchet back, and pointed towards the massive pile of logs. “Chop those, thanks.”

She waltzed off, waving over her shoulder. 

Ed’s lips twitched, drawing into a small smile. 

He got to work.