The sun rose high, casting short shadows when Eclipse's eyes flickered. He didn't want to wake up. He clung to something warm and soft.

A nagging feeling prompted him to open his eyes. Something was a miss. He needed a few seconds to realize he was staring into a fluffy chest. He lifted his gaze until he reached eyes full of gentleness.

"Good morning, Eclipse."

Eclipse gasped for air like a fish on the ground. The memories poured into him, slamming his frame like raging waves. He curled up, holding his head.

Shadow promptly hugged him, soothing the shivering.

"How could I?" the small demon whispered, his voice jumping with rising panic. "I hurt her!" Flashes of him crunching through her bones, drinking her blood, and enjoying her fear struck expression filled him with excitement.

He wanted to rip out his own heart.

"You did nothing wrong."

Eclipse's head snapped up. "How can you say that? I almost killed her!"

"But you didn't want to."

"What it matters?" The small demon's eyes watered.

"Amy had told me, you promised her to eat negative energy—"

"How can I feed on her kind when she had shown me so much kindness!" Eclipse grasped Shadow's chest fur. "I would rather die than to do that!"

'That may actually kill you,' the priest added in his mind. "You need to eat raw meat."

"No! No!" He shook his head. "That's not what mortals do! They need it cooked!"

"Eclipse," Shadow called him and repeated it a few times since the demon fidgeted so much he knew he wouldn't pay him any attention. When their eyes connected, he continued, "I've seen mortals eating raw meat."

Eclipse's face widened.

"I'm not making it up. During my last mission, I have encountered this small... dish... a meal, they enjoy. Women, children, men, young and old, all enjoy it. It's popular."

Eclipse's eyes begged him for this to be true.

"Let's go out. I'll show you what raw meat they use."

Getting out of the bed, Eclipse held Shadow's hand like the child he was.

Meanwhile, shortly after they had left, Silver also awoke. He noticed somebody laid in front of him, and he had his arm around their waist. He blinked, trying to sharpen his vision.

'Amy!'

He almost jumped out of his fur. His fingers twitched. What was she doing in his bed? Did he try anything? A quick glance told him she was fully clothed. He let out a breath.

Yet, he wasn't in safe waters. He lifted his hand, trying to squirm from the bed as quietly as he could. Despite his best effort, Amy's eyes flickered open. She let out a stiffened yawn, watching Silver halfway out of bed.

"Good morning...?"

He lifted his body. "Morning. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"It's okay—" She jerked, hugging her body.

"Let me help you." Silver sat up, placing his hands over her shoulders.

He let his inner energy flow into her, targeting the sore spots. She relaxed under his touch, even moaning a bit.

"Heaven." She breathed.

"Gold is much better at this." He prayed she wouldn't turn back to witness his blush. "And so you are. I can't measure to any of you."

"But I feel much better."

"Only because I spread my energy all over the sore spots. Both of you can target it with precision and using only the needed amount of energy. I, on the other hand, am wasting my supply."

"Then stop before you get tired." She tried to stand up, but he pulled her back.

"Don't belittle me. I have enough to do this whole day." That was a lie, but he didn't want her to feel like a burden.

He continued in silence, but she broke it. "No wonder Eclipse loves this." She jerked her head. "Eclipse!" She spurted onto her legs, but her knees weren't ready.

"Careful!" Silver caught her into his arms. "You can't move so suddenly."

She looked into his eyes with confusion written all over her face. Silver's eyebrow twitched.

"Why?" she asked. "Why are you so distant and cold when you can be so caring?"

He averted his eyes in shame.

"Are you scared to be left alone? Is that why you hugged me so desperately last night?"

He bit his lip.

"You don't need to tell me."

His eyes shot open.

"But know this—you may make me angry, even furious, but I won't turn you away if you come to me seeking help. I'll be there to listen, and I hope I can provide a bit of help too."

"I'm scared to be left alone," Silver whispered, opening his heart. "I'm terrified that my mother had forsaken me, just like they said. That my powers made her disgusted with me."

"I won't say it's going to be okay. But I'll say you have Gold, Shadow, Mister Nigel, me, and even Eclipse by your side." She smiled a bit. "You are sometimes a huge jerk, but maybe that's part of your charm." She gave him an impish grin, seeing him blushing.

"Whenever you will feel down, remember you aren't alone. There isn't a burden that couldn't be divided into two, three, four, five... or more pieces."

"Have I mentioned you sound like a freaking fortune cookie?"

"I just happen to be Cookie Master."

After what felt like a century, he giggled, even laughed for a bit. "Thank you. I really mean it."

She nodded, adding, "I won't break my promise. I'll question Eclipse under my command."

He let her finish, sensing there was more.

"But you have to promise me to try being less of a jerk towards other people apart from Gold. I know it's difficult to open your heart. I've seen it with Eclipse.

"At first, he would only answer my questions. Keeping mostly to himself. Then, as time went by, he asked simple questions about my life. What I was wearing, what happened during celebrations, or what fairy tales I remembered.

"And soon, he chatted with me without being afraid." A warm smile spread across her cheeks. "It was a long and steady transition, but it made me happy."

"You wanted to check on Eclipse, right?" Silver said after a while. "Let me help you walk. You don't heal as fast as me."

They soon knocked on the next door, and since nobody replied, they entered. It was empty, so Silver suggested asking down if the innkeeper had seen them.

The bubbly woman directed them toward a river as Shadow asked for one. Silver smelled the hot soup, and his stomach roared for food. He ordered the entire pot and paid for three.

Once he got a plate, he ignored the spoon and slurped it in a few seconds. His loud gulps reminded Amy of Eclipse's first table manner lessons. Before the girl finished her soup, he licked his sixth plate dry.

Ten more followed before he had eaten three loaves of bread, spreading a cottage cheese over them with fresh chive the innkeeper grew. His bottomless stomach inspired Amy, and she had also eaten more than usual.

But by an hour later, they satisfied their hunger, eating almost everything the innkeeper had cooked. Amy patted her stomach, realizing it remained flat.

"I told you worrying about your figure is useless." He sent her way a playful smirk.

She giggled. "Well, I guess." She stiffened a yawn.

"Let's go take more rest."

"We need to inform our superior."

"I know." Silver offered her his hand. "I hate to admit it, but I'm in no condition for long-distance flight, and neither is Shadow. The next train departures tomorrow morning. I also have that paper."

Her ears twitched.

"So I shall inform him about the result and give him a full report once we arrive."

"Alright."

She accepted his hand, feeling a bit strange as Silver could be a gentleman too. What a strange day to wake up to.

Amy headed into her original room, but Silver followed her.

"Is something the matter?" She turned to face him, seeing a strange mixture of emotions on his face. His eyes also reflected it, but there was an honesty behind the confusing swirling of colors.

His hand touched her cheek. "I'm sorry for slapping you. I truly am."

The girl smiled, placing her hand onto his cheek. "And so am I." With an impish smile, she added, "But you deserved it."

They watched each other, lost in their eyes.

Into the door, Shadow stepped with Eclipse sleeping on his back. His wide smile faded as his black eyes landed on the duo who locked their eyes with his.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Silver and Amy turned their heads, realizing they were still touching the other's face.

"No!" Amy exclaimed, pushing Silver across the room.

The poor psychic rammed into the wall.

Blushing, Amy approached her familiar. "Why is he wrapped in your clothes, Mister Shadow?"

The priest stood in front of her, only in his pants.

"Well, I took him to a river for fishing. Since he needs raw meat and blood, I thought letting him eat fishes could help him keep his urge in check."

Shadow then quickly explained why Eclipse refused to even eat raw meat of animals.

"It wasn't the same as the fish rolls I had in the Feline Empire, but it served well. Poor Eclipse slipped into the water, so I covered him the best way I could." The priest giggled as the memory of seeing Eclipse shiver amused him.

He continued, "Eclipse had to refuse to eat demon staff since the time he had met you. I fished out like a ton of fishes, and he was still hungry."

Amy placed her hand onto Eclipse's cheek. The small demon smiled, drooling onto the priest.

Silver watched them, noticing the smile. A cold dagger stabbed his heart. 'Was I too... strict? Was I reading too much in Eclipse's behavior? Could there really be a demon... wishing to live with us in peace?'

Upon the last question, his eyes had fallen onto Shadow. He was ensuring Amy that she did nothing wrong. It was Eclipse's choice.

'He too is a demon, and yet...'

"Maybe I should have ordered him to eat it," Amy said, gaining Silver's attention.

Shadow stepped into the room, placing Eclipse onto the bed. "That would solve nothing! It would only add to his anxiety." He tucked the small demon, covering him with a blanket. "It would make him more disgusted with himself."

Silver left the room, heading to write his brief report. He made sure to not be direct, writing in a more vague form, but Mister Nigel would understand.

"Dear Father, we've arrived, but unfortunately, the doctor had left before us. So, we took a tour in the local woods to clear our heads. It had helped me to discover a new view.

Our youngest member was moody, biting almost our heads during an argument, but they had calmed down after a short time. I suggest having a chat with them about their temper. I'm sure they will listen to our friend.

We shall arrive in a few days, for we need to gather a few things on our way back.

Sincerely, your student."

Silver let inside the sole paper he had an imprint of his inner energy. He watched as the paper dissolved in a flash of light.

A quiet knock on the door informed him Shadow returned as they shared the same room. The priest gave him a bit confused look. "Are you sure you want to leave tomorrow? I can carry both of them."

"Yes, we aren't in condition for such a long flight." He stood up from the simple table. "I've sent a letter to him with a gist of the situation." Silver flopped onto his bed. "We'll depart in the morning by train."

Shadow nodded, glad he could rest. The transformation drained him mentally, and he knew each time he used his demonic powers, his blood screamed for carnage.

"You have said Eclipse is a child, right?" Silver asked out of nowhere, taking Shadow by surprise.

"I did. I mean, he behaves like a child sometimes."

Silver connected his fingers above his chest.

"Are you sure you had no negative energy since becoming a priest?"

"I'm positive."

The psychic pondered, making Shadow curious what he had on mind.

"Perhaps R&D departure could solve this problem. If Eclipse is refusing hunting to get negative energy, how about we extract it and put it in a seal for him to eat? It probably won't be the same, but he doesn't need to feel bad for hurting people.

"Getting for him raw meat also isn't a problem. Let's see if there is a difference between types. How about an insect? I've heard it has a high amount of nutrition."

Silver gesticulated with his arms, and Shadow watched him with a growing smile. The psychic had noticed, after a while, growling, "You either stop smiling, or Lord protects your teeth."

Shadow's smiles widened, knowing his teammate didn't mean it seriously.

With a huff and a blush, Silver turned, facing the wall. In less than a minute, Shadow had fallen asleep.

Despite the need to sleep, Silver kept thinking, 'Maybe I can try being a bit friendlier. All of them are working hard, and they deserve it.' He flopped his ears, entering dreamland.