I didn't remember falling asleep, but when I woke up, I felt a pillow under my head, an arm around my middle, and breath on the back of my neck. I frowned and slowly opened my eyes, the fire was only embers and the dark sky of the night was slowly turning into a dusk blue. Glancing behind me, I saw Elias just inches away, his one arm draped around me, the other went under our shared pillow and gripped onto a sword.

Rolling my eyes, I carefully tried to slide out from his grip. The second I moved, it only tightened and pulled me tighter against him. I strained to turn my head around to see if he was awake, but his eyes were still peacefully closed, lips slightly parted. "Elias," I whispered, wiggling some in his grasp.

Nothing.

I groaned and finally elbowed him in the stomach. Elias was quickly sitting up, he drew his sword with one hand, the other around his middle. He was on high alert but slowly relaxed as he saw me laying just beside him, eyes wide. "Calm down," I started to say.

"What was that for?" He murmured and slowly let his sword fall back to the ground.

"I wanted to get up, you were practically holding me in a death grip."

His cheeks slowly began to turn red, shaking his head as if he was trying to remember what happened. "I was on guard... Edwin brought us some bedding, I declined."

"So you ended up sharing mine?"

"No!" He shouted, then realized how early it was in the morning and sighed, his voice softening, "No," he repeated. "I-I must have fallen asleep. I'm sorry Annika. Are you alright, how are your wrists feeling?"

For a moment, I had almost forgotten about last night, but the horror of it all washed back over me. I glanced up like I expected to see the demon body lying where I stuck it down, but it was gone, in its place was another fire and more soldiers sleeping around it. My eyes hesitantly glanced down to my wrists, studying them. "Are you alright?" Elias asked again when I stayed quiet and stared at the darkened skin.

There were some scabs still, but they appeared to be days old, the skin under them was probably mostly healed and only remained as an itchy nuisance. "I've never seen my wrists without something on them before," I admitted softly, holding them up, inspecting them in the dying fire. "They're ugly," I admitted, frowning at the darkened skin.

"What?" Elias was caught off guard by my comment. He reached out and gently touched my arm, this time I did jerk away. "There's nothing wrong with having a few scars..." He sighed, shifting back to give me some more room.

I didn't reply, instead, I stood up, "Where are my things?" Elias just pointed to the side where my bag was neatly and carefully waiting for me. "I'm out of water, I'll be back."

"Alright... But come back before we leave. Think you can scout again today? I think it'll make Ena feel better."

I shrugged, "Who's Ena?"

"An Elf, she was the one who showed you how to braid your hair like that?"

I rolled my eyes, "You mean I showed her how to braid her hair." I corrected him but slowly started to remember the fair skinned, blue eyed, blonde haired hydro elf. "Sure, I'll scout with her." I nodded in agreement.

The entire day, Ena didn't say anything to me, just occasionally glared at me from the corner of her eye. Nothing happened that day or the two which followed. The third day when I was scouting with Elias, he was excited. "When was the last time you were home?" I asked when he stated we were getting close.

"Over six months," he admitted glancing from me then back to the road. "I miss my family... I am excited to see them again."

"Do they all live here?"

He nodded and smiled, "Mom, dad, two sisters, and more Aunts and Uncles than I care for," he said with a laugh, shrugging. "My dad likes to throw large family gatherings and I don't think seventy-percent of them are actually related. Dwarves and mermaids show up and the celebration lasts for days."

I was shocked, and I failed at hiding it. "How does your father know such creatures? How often does this happen?"

"Once a year," he said before shrugging. "They all know each other from when the Unchained was first coming together. Kings show up to this and the last thing they always do is put a flower out onto the sea, pouring a glass of wine unto the water and then they all part ways. It's all a strange affair, but it's happening in a few days again which is why I had to come back."

Part of me was envious. To have such a family which spanned across the species, to know they all loved him was something out of a dream. "Sounds wonderful," I smiled weakly, glancing forward.

The sun had just past its highest spot when we saw our first person on horseback, riding out to meet us. "Captain Elias! Your father awaits your return, you bring more, from where do they hail?"

Elias glanced to me and frowned, "You know, I don't even know what the town was called..."

"What town?"

"The last one," he admitted, tilting his head as if he tried to remember. "They're all so familiar now, it kind of blends together."

I couldn't tell him if that was a good thing or not. Were all the small towns he saves so forgettable? "Nanris," I told the man on horseback. Elias continued to nod along, but it was obvious he had never heard of the town before. "A town outside of Alantu," I added in for both of their information.

"Ah, you travelled such a great distance, Captain. Your father will be pleased." A sour taste was left in my mouth as the man got down from the horse, "Please, Sir, take it. I can get everyone settled."

Elias didn't even think twice as he quickly jumped onto the horse, nodding to the human. "Thank you, there should be houses for them in the Southern end." Elias never even spoke to me, instead just flicked the reigns and rode off.

My heart felt heavy as I glanced to the man, "And who are you, another guard?"

I shook my head but didn't answer his question. "The caravan is about a half kilometre behind us."

So many people must come through this town that the human didn't even question me again. "Oh, wonderful, thank you!" He waved his hand and took off in a job from the direction I had just come from.