"Good grief, Dryad...." Haze sighed while keeping up with Dryad' pace, panting slightly.
"Last time you dragged me to the cemetery. And now.. you're rushing back to the library right after we escaped from there! And in the middle of night!" he added.

They were walking through the pine woods leading to The Grand Library

"Well, I don't ask you to follow me," Dryad said, swiftly avoiding branches and leaves as she walked through the pine forest. Her step was steady, guided by the light of the flashlight she carried over her hand. She wasn't even scared and just kept moving forward because she knew that someone was following behind.
"So, why did you follow me?" Dryad asked again.

"Of course, I follow you, silly! Like hell I would let a girl wander around alone at night! You'd probably fall and die, or get attacked by something that shouldn't be around here!" he said sarcastically.

Dryad snorted lightly.

"Why it should always night.. damnit..." he cursed under his breath.
"Hey, Dry, wait!"

Haze was surprised by how agile Dryad could be when she wanted it. She moved around the trees, darted between rocks and dodged vines with ease.

They both kept walking in haste.

"What made you so sure that Sir Alvard is probably there, anyway??" Haze asked from behind her.

"I told you. It's just my feelings... and my feelings are never wrong."

Haze groaned, his head throbbing as he heard the familiar words spoken to him.

Dryad slowed her pace then stopped for a while as she saw something.
"Huh... a firefly?" she questioned herself quietly, observing the little creature dancing in the distance.

"Hey Dry,what's up? What firefly?" Haze asked curiously. Finally catched her up.

"Look!" Dryad pointed her finger and exclaimed.

There, near a twig, flew a single firefly. Slightly bigger than usual bug.

"What a big firefly!"

Haze raised an eyebrow as he realized something, and he rushed to the firefly.
"No way...." he shook his head slightly in disbelief. This couldn't be. He took a look closer at the sparkling, bright little ball, watching it move, jumping in the wind.
"It's not a firefly! But an automaton!" he declared proudly.

Dryad quickly approached him with curiosity. She stared confusedly "Automaton?"

"Yeah. And only one company who would have that one. A.M corps, our investor. And if they released an automaton, means... my mercs is on the move," he replied quietly while watching the firefly automaton swiftly fly up higher and vanish from their sight.
"What's going on here?" Haze whispered to himself. Wondering what might happen.

Haze and Dryad exchanged glances for a second.

"What does it mean?" Dryad asked again. "What is that thing used for?"

"Spy, Dryad. It's a spy automaton," Haze answered bluntly, a frown plastered on his face. Silence passed between them before Haze continued "It means that the Mercenaries are coming here at this very moment."

"What? You mean... someone's spying on us or something?" Dryad looked at Haze with wide eyes.

"I don't know who might they're spying on... I'm not part of them anymore. So, I don't know what they are up to." Haze responded calmly. "But one thing I know, that we should hurry and leave these woods, they'll arrive any moment now."

"Are they... dangerous?"

"Oh, yes, very," Haze chuckled lightly.
"Don't worry, though, they're not bad guys. Of course not. But if we're here, we would only get in their way. We mustn't be such obstacles for whatever they're doing. Come on!"

"Wait...," Dryad hesitated, "what about Sir Alvard?"

"Damn it, this girl..." Haze muttered, ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "We don't even know if he's here or not! Stop this nonsense and let's go back!"

"But-"

Right before she continued, a sound came from the bushes nearby, making her stop.
A rustling noise could be heard approaching, getting louder and louder until it stopped, just before them.

"Dryad?! Haze?!" a familiar voice exclaimed.
~~~~~