Chapter 4

Their journey towards the next village was a silent one. While they trusted her for saving them, she didn't belong with them. The mask didn't help, even when Aidelan asked her an important question she didn't want to answer, but did in the end.

"Why are you wearing a mask?" He asked innocently.

There was a long pause before Saranie spoke with a playful voice.

"Because I'm a big scary criminal with a large bounty. If you capture me you'll get a thousand gold!"

"Really?" He seemed to be playing along. Perhaps for Nehmet's benefit?

She took off her mask making a very silly face and had Nehmet laugh because she was able to see a little kid laugh and it was cute. Even if that kid was herself. She should stop herself.

Aidelan talked a little after that, but it became silent from there.

She let the family stay with Muricottle as he was familiar with the family. The new horse, if she kept it long enough, didn't have a name yet. She thought of a good one to honor someone from her past.

"Yunara…" It was sudden, but she spoke out the name and patted the horse. She was all black. Sleek and strong like Muricottle. "This girl right here is called Yunara. I'm gonna have you guys take her with you as we get to the city." They were out of the forest now and could see a village in the distance. It actually looked bigger than Zarquen, so maybe a city. Zarquen was big, but not city big.

"Is there a reason?" Petarian asked.

"I'll be nearby. If you need help just ask. I should be able to hear you no matter where you are even if you just say it casually." Well Nehmet could hear them and she could move in. "If anyone asks, you just met me. Say I treated you badly or something. Just don't say we are friends."

"Because you're a criminal?" Aidelan was right, she was. Although the way she said it before it sounded like a lie.

"That's right!" Pretending to be super proud of it. If she had to be a criminal to kill those cultists, she was alright with that.

---

"Identification?" A guard was asking the family. Saranie was behind them right now doing her best to fit in. She had the mask though so it made it difficult.

"We fled Zarquen. We don't have one on us."

"The refugees. Go over there. They will help get you new ones."

"Thank you." Petarian thanked the man and took his family over there to get their papers.

As the man said next, she started to realize her pranks got the better of her. The mask was supposed to help her, but even if it made her suspicious, she could just take it off. The problem she was facing now was that she realized how terrible of an idea it was to be wearing that mask while standing in line. It made her stand out more than she expected. This is why she stopped doing her pranks. They only made things worse. So she took it off, leaving her hood up and cloak on. Best to do it before they ask and hope for the best.

"Identification?"

She wasn't able to get one being a criminal. Getting a fake one would be best and refugees were the answer.

"I was on my way to Zarquen when my group was attacked. I lost mine there."

"Name?"

The guard didn't ask that towards her family. She will be truthful and hope her bounty never made it this far north. Her family was still close enough to hear her. They were looking towards her too.

"Saranie."

"From the Vellheart Kingdom?" As she heard that, she ran back towards the forest. The guards were called and ran after her. She hated herself for trying to be someone she wasn't.

'Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.'

Her family wasn't taking it any better.

---

"I remember now. She's one of those cultists that killed those two military officials. Do you…" Petarian was cut off by his wife.

"Honey, be quiet." She whispered to him and then grabbed Aidelan. "Don't speak of this alright?"

"I understand mom."

---

A bell later she managed to avoid the guards. They were still looking for her, but she made it to a safe spot between a log and the river. There was a little cave she slipped into. Cave was a strong word… Person sized hole? Not enough. Either way she felt like she was crawling through that forest again, sleeping in holes.

Pranks ended there.

At this time her family had gotten their papers and moved towards a tavern. The plan to get a carriage and supplies was still up and they had the money with them so they would be fine. Of course to protect them, she needed to be in the city. Thankfully even though they would be on high alert, Nehmet was able to get a view from inside. She found a few places where she would be able to traverse inside. When it was at its darkest.

---

"Should we tell them?" Aidelan asked his parents. Saranie didn't know how to feel as he said that, but understood the reason.

"What do you think?" Petarian asked Eryll.

"I don't know. Those people were behind the war. I want to stop them if I can, but I don't think she's one of them. Even if she was, why would she protect us? We're nobodies." She let her emotion into it. A bit of anxiety and frustration.

"I agree. We can at least hear her side of the story and go from there." Petarian was fair and Saranie respected him for that.

The rest of the night her family played around on their beds before falling asleep. She had Nehmet stay awake, just in case someone snuck into their room. At least until she could make it there.

After climbing a tree, casting slow fall on herself, and jumping to the wall, she plopped down on the ground and walked the streets with her hood down and made her way towards the inn. Along the way she stole a new cloak and some more money. Honestly, she didn't want to do that, but it was necessary as the inn had a steep price. One that was increasing as her family ate their dinner. Thankfully food came with the room.

She got herself a room. The prices had risen since her family bought a room. Probably due to more refugees arriving. Thankfully a room was still available and she had enough. It wasn't near her family, but it was close enough she could make it in a couple moments.

The nice bed lulled her asleep, while Nehmet stayed awake just in case. Her main body was in dire need of rest. She was still hampered from using her mana and lifeforce. While her mana regenerated, her lifeforce wasn't there just yet.

While the power of her lifeforce is stronger, the cost increased too. Although she would consider whatever happened as a benefit as it allowed her to cast a spell, haste from before, after seeing it once and never using it herself. It was easier to control and form, while being stronger and costing more.

---

Nothing happened and as the morning came, Nehmet fell asleep and Saranie woke up. Thankfully no one entered her room. All safe on that end. She made her way down to breakfast and sat at the counter eating her food, while her family came down to eat their own.

"I'll head out and buy the supplies we'll need and a map. If you two can get the carriage, we can pick it all up and leave by midday or wait until tomorrow depending how things go." Petarian had explained what they vaguely talked about last night.

Having them split up was troublesome, but she had two bodies, so all would be fine. Being able to use mana through Nehmet was the best. No one would expect the one month old to cast magic.

---

Following along, keeping her distance, she found a nice rhythm as she kept back. All her skills she learned before about close combat came into play. Looking around to use her environment against an enemy. Here she used that as places to hide, but also as a distraction if she needed to fight. Also when engaging a target be swift and look for the shortest path. If she needed to get to Petarian, she would be able to make it quickly.

Then on the end with Nehmet, he was just looking around. It was nothing grand, but that's all he was able to do. Keeping an eye out.

Sure she realized they wouldn't be in danger. Not from a specific person or on purpose. She didn't want monsters or some thief to end their life. Her being near them probably brought more danger than not being near them. She could easily see and understand that. But for her to leave after entering their lives felt wrong.

They weren't her family, not her real one. Yet that's just how it was now. They grew on her and she accepted them. Whatever the reason for her soul being in Nehmet didn't matter. They were one and the same. It was a fact that she accepted now. She no longer had any intention to fix it or remove it. Perhaps she has been mentally influenced somehow, but who cares. She didn't.

Plus she was the only one who knew. She had no plans to ever tell anyone. Her family included it. She would take it to the grave, both graves. She didn't know how she was going to live her life, but being near them with at least one body was high on that list. She would prefer it to be two. Sharing food with them at the same table sounded like a nice thing.

That was maybe where her prankster side came from. She was a part of a family. Closer than ever to real parents and siblings. Sure her family at the orphanage was real, but this was something she always wanted and it lived up to what she always imagined it. Nehmet has gotten what she wanted, now she wants to experience it with her original body too. To smile and laugh with them. Her memories from the past flooded her mind.

---

It was night and they were going to be leaving the city tomorrow. She decided it was time.

*Knock Knock*

Petarian answered the door, shocked although let her in without a word. The others turned towards her. Eryll kept a neutral expression, while Aidelan smiled. It was time for Saranie to talk to them.

"I'm guessing you want an explanation." They gestured for her to sit down, she did.

"That would be best." Eryll spoke to her.

"First let's start with what happened today. Yes, I'm wanted with a bounty. I don't know how much it is, but not a thousand. That's too much for my little head." She coughed as she caught herself. "Anyway what they say did happen though not all of it. The commander was killed by the Cult of the Void. One of their agents or he acted alone, I don't know, framed me for the murder of the commander. I took him out before he could do more damage. I know what you're thinking. If she was innocent why doesn't she have those people that can cast a truth spell. Well I don't know if you know, but the Cult is everywhere. The guy I took out was Refseler from my kingdom. I had seen him multiple times. Well that is my version. It would be hard to corroborate with others."

They were silent and waiting to continue. Expecting more. She would offer this up as she cannot force her wants on others.

"The contract. That was a lie. There is none." Eryll and Petarian's eyes narrowed at that. "I won't lie to you anymore, but I cannot tell you the whole truth either. I protected you for my own reasons. Reasons I will not share and will take to my grave. So if you wish to part ways here I understand. Although if your lives are threatened, I will try to step in regardless of your wishes." She would protect them, but if she wasn't able to be near them that was fine. Nehmet would be there and would be able to cast magic and lifeforce later in time. It would be Nehmet's excuse if she wasn't nearby and they were in danger. "If you wish to think on it I can give you as much time as you need." She stood up and left. They didn't stop her and that was the best. Forcing them to make this decision now was terrible and it was late. Afterall she suddenly popped up out of nowhere.

Thankfully Aidelan was on her side, but…

"She can't be bad if she helped us. Can we keep her?" He said that part loudly. It was like he knew she was listening in.

'He did that on purpose!'

Even if she wanted to retaliate in any way, as Saranie that would be a bad idea right now. Also she needed to clamp down on herself so she doesn't bring that other self out.

"She's not an animal that we can adopt from Aidelan, but we can take her along with us. I don't know why she's doing it, but I'm not going to let a lie take away all she's done for us. Petarian?"

"A part of me says that it's a deal breaker unless she tells us everything. The other agrees with you though. She saved us at the cost of her own life and gave us so much in return. For what? I want to know what she gets out of it, but if we turn her away now we'll never know.

Aidelan cheered before being told to be quiet. He held up Nehmet's arms to cheer quietly. Eryll and Petarian both chuckled. Sarnie had Nehmet display no emotion. For one reason, was that if they ever learned the truth, this moment she needed to be neutral. It was her way to feel less guilty. Yes, she felt guilty for taking over a life that didn't belong to her. She didn't do it on purpose, but it still ate at her in the back of her mind.