I kept my head up as I looked through the forest.

The land beneath, without the swamp, has turned darker, a pitch-black color. It looked dead, as if no life could be born and no crop could ever grow and flourish even though trees did exist here.

'How weird.'

No matter how much I looked at them, I always felt a creepiness from watching them.

The trees, as dark as land if not darker, stood tall, covering the sky with the black and purple leaves growing above. The barks of trees were sturdy and thick; it was like watching a decayed and dead tree that had gone against nature had risen to reach heaven—even if it could only reach so much only.

If I were the tree, I would have been disappointed too, even after going against nature and growing, to only reach this much.

"What are you thinking, Captain Asher? You have such a stern expression on your face; how rare."

Sion said, walking closer, we had been going through the forest for a while now, almost an hour, if not more and finding nothing.

I turned to look at her.

There was not much to hide.

"You are one to say." I said with a short laugh.

Sion raised her brows.

"I mean, from the first day I saw you, Miss Sion. You have held that professional expression on your face and demeanor." I tore my gaze away from her and again looked at the tree, and after a brief moment of hesitation, touched the tree trunk.

"I was just thinking about these strange trees. Obviously I had seen them before, but well, they are always a shock to me."

Sion remained silent and followed my trail as I started to walk forward.

"Hmm, I am not that stern."

She muttered, making me chuckle again.

She didn't let my laugh bother her as she added.

"These trees are indeed special. I have heard they are extremely sturdy, though weak to light." Saying that she tried to look at the sky, the grey hiding behind the leaves.

"They will wither and die if in contact with light, be it from sun, fire, or even stars. However, at this place where no such thing as sun exists, they can grow without fear. It's really marvelous, especially from a human's perspective, I guess."

Sion gave a smile that threw me off. I scoffed and continued to look forward, not turning back this time. She and I had gotten a lot closer with time in a way I would have never expected to ever happen.

"I see."

"That's kind of obvious, I guess, from all the woodwork done in the base. These sturdy trees must have been of great help."

I had noticed a lot of things in Central Base and even in East Base made of wood.

While the main structure still consisted of steel and stones. These long trunks of wood have been used as pillars for support and even processed as wooden chairs and tables in some parts.

Though in the central base it was still considered one of many sought-after luxuries.

"Right."

Sion nodded slowly as if agreeing with my words.

Her voice then suddenly went deeper, pulling my attention back towards her.

"I have been thinking of something for a while now, Captain Asher."

She whispered, caution palpable in her voice, as she brushed her hair back, putting it behind her ears.

I listened, left dazed by her sudden change in demeanor.

"I am listening." I said back.

"Hmm, the words you spoke about the secret quest you have with me and Nasi. I have been thinking about it for a while now."

I suddenly felt my throat go dry at her words.

What was she going at?

While my main purpose for telling them anything was not to actually get them involved. It was simply to stir the pot a little and let the plague come running to me.

I knew the monster. The calamity walking among us knows about me.

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Ah,

I really didn't want to be reminded of that.

I frowned in confusion as a bad and almost uncanny feeling took over me.

Eventually, after a brief moment of silence passed between us, I asked.

"And what have you thought?"

"You never asked for help."

Her voice wasn't accusatory, but it cut through the air like a blade.

"Huh?"

Did I hear something wrong?

I surely did.

"Why is that?"

Sion added shortly after.

The chilly air blew like a trumpet with a whispering sound. I was tempted to turn my head around and not face Sion anymore. But I couldn't do that—her gaze was fixed on me.

That made me feel compelled to answer her query.

"I am sure you already helped me."

This time it was Sion's turn to give me a puzzled look. She pressed her lips and raised her finger to trace her cheek once as if feeling a sudden itch.

"You have told me and Nasi about the news of missing people. So, I was hoping you would ask me for help as well. It was a hope that I could be helpful to you. However, I never got that chance." Sion muttered under her breath.

Then with a scowl on her face, she continued.

"And now you say I helped? I feel like I am being played like a fool."

"No, I have no such intentions. Rather, only because of you could we arrive here." I said, shaking my head in denial.

My voice then lowered considerably as I looked around, seeing we held a considerable distance from other soldiers.

Bob was ahead, some ten or so feet apart. Behind us at the same time was Sol, walking like a corpse at a slow pace. For a moment my mind hastened as a thought came to my mind.

'Is that body even natural or is it a trait like I am trying to make?'

I was hoping to ask about it but unless I see anything regarding his abilities, it would be a meaningless talk.

"How so?"

Sion's voice pulled me back.

"Well, I am sure the one I am looking for is here."

This should satisfy her for now.

Thinking such, I started to walk forward, leaving her behind.

"If you know he is here, then why has he not attacked you?"

My steps froze, my whole body stiffening. Her words alone were enough to shake me to the core—she had struck a place no one else had ever touched.

Unknowingly a strained laugh escaped through my lips alongside wind.

I wonder why.

This question has bothered me for a long time.

Morgana had said that the plague would be satisfied for a bit by eating others. However, if it was threatened, why didn't it come straight for me? By killing me it could have saved a lot of time.

However, it didn't.

I have not even seen the plague once or been under its influence ever since Mathew was erased.

"I don't know."

I whispered.

"I don't know anything."

I repeated shaking and brushing my hair to clear my vision.

"You don't know, yet you are planning to catch him?"

"Yes, even if it's a tarp. Even if it gets me in trouble, I will still follow my plan."

I said without hesitation and gave her a small glance.

Sion's eyes blinked twice and her lips curled up as she said with a teasing voice.

"Only troubled? So, you are saying you won't die if you face that being? I like your confidence, Captain Asher."

"Haha… Die? Me? No, I was never afraid about that."

Sion's smile stiffened.

"Huh?"

I continued as she looked at me with a dumbfounded look.

"I won't die. Not even against a calamity. My only fear is… others. I don't want them to die because of me."

This was my fear…

The fear that had gripped my heart.

I have not told this to anyone but I don't think the calamity could kill me.

It was not because of my own strength but rather due to a being watching over me.

She has told me again and again that she was on my side.

Knowingly or unknowingly, I had started to tell that to myself.

Those words were my safe place, my comfort bubble. Like a child, I would cling to those words and the safety they provided.

Scratch…

Scratch…

I raised my hand, feeling a sudden itch surface over my neck.

"I see."

Sion didn't say anything more.

Across from me, Sion's fingers dug into her cheek until red welts rose.

Then—

"What's happening?" I hissed, turning sharply.

The soldiers ahead were clawing at their skin, dark red blooming across their necks and arms. Blood welled under their nails.

"Ugh—why am I itching so much?!"

"Blood! Blood is coming out!"

Above us, a white dust drifted down like ash from a dying fire. My eyes tracked it upward.

On the black trunks, pale cocoons clung like tumors. They pulsed—slow, wet, breathing.

From above, a white cluster of dust drifted down. We raised our heads toward the trees, where pale cocoons clung tightly to the dark bark. They pulsed faintly, as if something inside was waiting—breathing—ready to tear its way out. And then, with a noise like tearing silk, the first cocoon split.

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