When they passed through the door of the room, Nova slowed down. "Somehow, I was afraid the room wouldn't open onto the settlement the way it was supposed to, and would open instead onto the location of the—"
"Please don't say it," Maxwell begged.
"The one who committed the massacre," Nova finished with a shrug.
"You just had to say it, didn't you?" Maxwell huffed. "What if you jinxed us? What if we end up opening a door that really does lead there?"
He glared at her.
"Then we go down fighting," Nova scoffed. "Unlike you, I know how to defend myself. Maybe I'd even manage to escape."
"Didn't the people in the settlement know how to—"
"Maxwell, don't," she warned, her voice turning cold.
"—defend themselves? How did they end up?" Maxwell finished with a grin. "Have a taste of your own medicine."
"Sometimes you behave like a child, you know that?" Nova grumbled, resuming her normal pace.
"The feeling is mutual." Maxwell spread his hands innocently.
They continued in silence for a while, until Maxwell suddenly asked, "Don't you think it's about time we stopped?"
"Stopped what?" Nova inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Calling whatever or whoever killed everybody in the settlement 'the culprit of the massacre,' or 'the one who killed everybody,' and all the other names along the line. I think it's about time we gave it, or them, a name or a code, like they do in the movies." Maxwell's eyes gleamed; the thought of naming such an entity thrilled him to no end.
"I guess you're right, but I don't have a good name to pick, so we'll just go with whatever you choose," Nova agreed. She too felt those names were too much of a mouthful to keep saying.
"Are you sure you want me to name it?" Maxwell blinked.
"Of course. Is there a problem?"
"Are you sure you're still Nova?" Maxwell chided. "This is the second time today you've let me make a decision that affects both of us. I promise you're going to love the name I just thought of!"
"Sure, why not? We'll go with whatever you pick," Nova shrugged.
"In that case, I choose..." Maxwell paused, dramatically rubbing his chin as if in deep thought. "Settlement Slayer, Terror 001." He nodded with a smug smile. What a perfect name it was.
Nova stared at him blankly, her hands clenching as veins popped up on her forehead. "I gave you the reins, and that's the best name you can come up with?"
"What do you mean? That's literally the best name either of us could come up with, and I thought of it in just a few minutes. Am I not just cool or what?" Maxwell flashed a mischievous grin.
"Think what you want," Nova grimaced. "All I know is that I'm not letting you name anything again, as long as we're together in this place, lest we end up with something as long and stupid as 'Settlement Slayer, Terror 001.'" She sighed wryly. "Just saying it is a chore. How did you end up calling it that? Of the countless names you must know, that was your best pick?"
"It's not like you had a better name in the first place, so don't judge mine. And I personally believe it's the best name you could pick for it. If you think I'm lying, then tell me a better one," Maxwell baited.
"Think whatever you want," Nova shrugged, not falling for the bait.
After a few minutes of walking, with Maxwell trying in vain to annoy Nova, they finally arrived at a door on the farm level.
The door was slightly ajar, and a faint rustling came from within. At first Maxwell was confused about what it was, but he understood as soon as they stepped into the room.
There they found Snowy, the white snow hawk, sleeping peacefully atop the thick vine, his head tucked beneath one wing as his snow-white feathers draped over the sides. Occasionally, he shifted in his sleep, causing his feathers to rustle softly against the vine and the ground beneath. The bright light from the lamps scattered around the room illuminated his pristine plumage, casting a faint sheen across his feathers as he slept undisturbed.
"He's certainly bloated," Maxwell commented. "Just look how soundly he's sleeping. He looks so cute and cuddly right now," he added, his eyes glittering with stars as he watched the sleeping bird.
Nova nodded in agreement. "But as much eye candy as he is, we can't afford to admire him for too long. We shouldn't waste any more time than necessary in this place."
"You're right, but can't we stay for just five more minutes? At least let's enjoy this rare moment of beauty," Maxwell protested.
"If you say so. Five more minutes it is," Nova agreed.
They waited, watching the beautiful bird slumber in peace. When exactly five minutes had passed, Nova went over and woke him. "Snowy, it's time to wake up. You've been sleeping too long, and we don't have time." She coaxed him awake.
The snow hawk stirred in his sleep, slowly waking, his confused gaze coming to rest on the annoying human who had roused him.
"Chirr... chirr." Snowy gave a soft chirp, tilting his head, as if silently asking Nova how she could betray him like that.
Nova smiled softly as she picked up the now-bloated bird from the ground and patted his head slowly. "Sorry for waking you, but we don't have much time here, so we're in a rush," Nova explained, though she wasn't sure the bird could understand.
Maxwell watched Snowy pay rapt attention to what Nova was saying, before stirring, flying quietly from her hold, and landing on the ground.
After waking Snowy, all three left the room and returned to the one they had been staying in. There, Maxwell was finally able to plug in his phone, which, as expected, started charging, even though he couldn't understand how. But who was he to complain?
Afterwards, they went to the room where Maxwell had found the armour and picked out a big travel bag. They found a way to cover the teacups so they wouldn't spill, did the same for the cookie plate, and packed some fruits, a change of clothes, and Nova's mirror. It was here that they ran into a problem.
"There's no space left to carry water, and it's already way too heavy for casual use. Let's just forget the water. We already have the unfinishable tea inside the bag," Maxwell protested as he picked up the bag, buckling under its weight.
"You're right." Nova ran a hand through her hair. "In that case, let's ditch the water. I can always try to make some by thawing ice in this cold and barren world. There should always be some lying around."
"Phew..." Maxwell exhaled in relief, letting the bag drop immediately. "In that case, it's time we finish our last task and get out of here. Those graves ain't gonna dig themselves," he sighed, already feeling a headache coming at the thought of the work ahead.
It was time they finally put the dead to rest.