Rex packed carefully.
That alone was strange.
One by one, he placed all seven focuses into his pouch, double-checking each slot like they might run away if left unsupervised. His gauntlet went into his backpack—reluctantly—followed by his gloves. He hesitated before placing Mistica Arcanum inside, then wrapped it carefully and slid it in like it was made of glass and bad decisions.
The lantern hung at his side.
The hammer rested against the wall.
Rex lifted it, slung it onto his back, adjusted the straps of both pouch and backpack, and nodded to himself.
"Ready."
That was when Dorian appeared.
"Here, kid."
Rex turned as Dorian handed him two things.
First—a healing potion, faintly glowing.
Second—a new sword.
Rex froze.
"Oh… Dorian, you didn't have to."
Dorian crossed his arms. "Yeah, but I don't trust you not to get yourself killed."
Fair.
Rex drank the potion. Warmth spread through his arm immediately, the deep ache fading to a dull memory. He flexed his fingers, surprised.
"…That's way better."
He strapped the sword to his side, gave Dorian a small wave, and turned to leave.
"Good luck," Dorian called.
"And don't bring back any more cursed items."
Rex grinned over his shoulder.
"No promises."
The Forest That Was Apparently a Coast
Rex walked for a while.
Trees stretched endlessly in every direction, sunlight filtering through leaves. Birds chirped. The air smelled like damp earth and pine.
Sage spoke from inside his mind.
"So. Where exactly are we going?"
"Lilee's town," Rex replied. "It's near the ocean."
"…We are in a forest."
Rex kept walking.
"Oh really?"
He stepped past the trees.
Water shimmered beyond them—blue, endless, calm.
Sage paused.
"…I stand corrected."
Rex smirked.
"She also said she'd introduce me to her friend."
Sage scoffed. "She has friends? Besides you?"
Rex snorted. "What, you thought we were both friendless and just became friends?"
"Yes."
Rex laughed. "Ha. Ha. Very funny."
He stepped into a clearing.
And stopped.
Immediate Violence (As Usual)
Someone stood ahead.
Humanoid.
But wrong.
Dark Star-Rot tentacles shifted beneath their form, moving like living shadows. They curled slowly, deliberately.
Rex sighed.
"…Oh. Why. Why is it always this."
In one smooth motion, he pulled on his gauntlet.
Fire focus—slotted.
Hammer—gripped.
"Ignis. Aer."
Flames wrapped his fist. Air spiraled around the hammer.
The figure reacted instantly.
Tentacles rose, weaving together, coiling like drawn weapons.
Both stood ready.
Both charged power.
Then—
"WAIT—WAIT—WAIT—WAIT!"
Lilee sprinted into the clearing, arms flailing, skidding to a stop between them.
"No fights! No fights!"
Rex squinted past her. "Lilee… do you know what that is?"
He pointed at the Star-Rot figure with the hammer.
"Yes," she said quickly. "I know how it looks."
The figure spoke.
"Lilee," she said flatly, "why did you bring a demon here?"
Rex blinked.
"…They talk?"
Lilee groaned. "OKAY. Everyone calm down."
She pointed at Rex. "You."
Pointed at the figure. "You."
"These are the friends I told you about."
Rex stared. "Huh."
"…So violence wasn't planned?" he asked.
"No," Lilee said, exhausted already.
Rex deactivated his focuses, slid the fire focus back into his pouch, and returned the hammer to his back.
"Well," he said, "mind doing introductions properly this time?"
Lilee inhaled.
"Rex, meet Vessra.
Vessra, meet Rex."
Rex extended a hand. "Nice to meet you."
Vessra stared at it. "…You're being awfully friendly for someone who was about to fight me."
Rex tilted his head. "Am I?"
"…Is that bad?"
Lilee rubbed her temples. "Yes. No. I don't know. I never learned how conversations are supposed to go."
Rex nodded. "Me neither."
Vessra paused. "…Same."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Rex spoke again.
"So… how does it feel to be—"
He gestured vaguely at Vessra's entire existence.
Vessra stared at him.
"Oh gods."
She turned to Lilee. "Why did you bring a male version of yourself?"
Lilee blinked. "What? How?"
Vessra crossed her arms. "You said the exact same thing when we met."
Rex's eyes widened. "Really?"
"…Huh."
He smiled slightly.
"I feel like this is going to be very interesting."