Ranni's words kept Mia awake for half the night.
Even the next morning, she wore a troubled expression.
She rubbed the Site of Grace to dispel the fatigue of a sleepless night. After a long moment of silent contemplation, she reached a conclusion—
She would stop thinking about it.
The riddle concerned her own existence, which made it impossible to ignore. But she didn't have the strength to unravel it yet.
If she truly was, as Ranni implied, someone's "child," then pulling aside that veil would inevitably mean dealing with the true powers at the apex of the Lands Between.
Mia was still far too weak.
She needed strength.
At the very least, she had to meet Melina first.
Maybe their dear little piece of driftwood knew something.
"When the house is on fire, I take a picture. When life falls apart, I go to sleep~"
Having shrugged off the mental burden, Mia began humming a familiar tune from her previous life.
"When disaster comes and I don't know, worst case I'll just hang myself~"
Veldon: "Hanging won't kill you."
The cheerful melody died instantly.
"…No sense of humor."
The soldier shrugged.
Neither Veldon nor Kalé knew anything about the witch's visit the night before.
Even when they noticed the Spirit Calling Bell hanging at her waist, neither of them asked about it.
And even if they had, Mia wouldn't have told them.
Back to the morning.
As soon as Kalé woke up, he ate a little something and began packing his belongings.
"What are you doing?" Mia asked curiously.
"Of course I'm doing what a member of the Nomadic Merchants does." Kalé stuffed the Noble's Slender Sword he'd purchased from Mia into his pack.
"You're leaving? Going where?"
"Since we've done business together, we're business partners of a sort. So—" He finished dismantling his tent of branches and cloth, then let out a breath. "I'll be honest. I'm heading north to Liurnia. If you want to find me again, try your luck there. May fate allow us to trade again."
Mia clapped her hands. "Isn't that convenient?"
"Hm?"
Veldon and Kalé both looked at her.
"We're heading north too. To Stormveil. Before we reach Stormgate, I think we can travel together for a while."
Kalé hesitated.
Then he shook his head and continued packing.
"I'm used to traveling alone."
Mia wasn't willing to give up so easily. "Think about it. You're going all the way to Liurnia by yourself. The road's dangerous—bandits, thieves, who knows what else. At least we can protect you part of the way."
Kalé considered that.
He quickly understood the logic.
"Let's make one thing clear." He tied his pack onto his donkey's back and pulled hard on the straps. "I'm not hiring you. You're choosing to come along."
"Of course~"
Mia replied lightly.
One more companion—even temporary—was better than none.
But that wasn't her only reason.
Mia stared at Kalé.
More precisely—at his donkey.
The merchant felt her gaze and shuddered slightly. "What now? Don't you two need to pack?"
"We're already done." Mia had long since stowed her sleeping mat back into her pocket dimension.
Then she grinned.
"Can I rent your donkey?"
—
"One's got to live with attitude, and attitude's how you live~ Little sesame-sized troubles, don't let them grind you down~"
Her carefree singing echoed across the wilderness path.
Mia rode Kalé's donkey (five hundred runes well spent), Kalé led the reins, and Veldon—fully armed as always—walked ahead clearing the way.
If only there were one more person.
Then she could sing, "You carry the load, I lead the horse."
They were slowly approaching Stormhill.
"I think our Nomadic people are a lot like you Tarnished," Kalé said as he walked, making conversation.
"Oh?"
"We've never been favored by the Golden Order's blessing. So we've been forced to wander the world, living a life of hardship and travel. In that sense, Tarnished and Nomads aren't so different."
"The Erdtree hasn't embraced everyone for a very, very long time." Mia swayed gently with the donkey's gait.
Kalé nodded.
"I knew you'd understand."
After a pause, he continued.
"Have you ever heard of the Great Caravan?" he asked. Before Mia could answer, he added, "I suppose not. You haven't been back in the Lands Between long."
He shook his head with faint disappointment.
"Even we Nomadic Merchants once had a place that could be called home. We called it the Great Caravan. But it disappeared long ago. Ever since I can remember, we've been searching for it."
Mia gave a small sound of acknowledgment.
After a while, she suddenly asked, "Then why are you searching alone?"
"Huh?" Kalé didn't understand.
She continued, "There are other members of your people across the Lands Between, right? They wander alone just like you. So why not travel together? I understand wanting to find the Great Caravan—your roots, your home. But someone who prefers solitude… even if he finds his home, won't it still be a home without family?"
The bells hanging from the donkey's chest jingled softly, like birdsong echoing across the open wilds.
After hearing her words, Kalé kept his head down, watching the dirt road beneath his feet.
A long silence followed.
He broke it himself.
"Perhaps you're right."
"I should look for more of my kin."
Mia nodded vigorously, pleased he'd taken her advice to heart.
"The more united you are, the stronger you become."
The three of them continued along the seemingly endless road.
When the Erdtree's light was at its most blinding, it must have been midday.
There was no visible sun to judge by.
Her stomach growled again.
Still no new Site of Grace in sight.
"Kalé, do you have any more food?"
"A little. Before we make camp tonight, I'll set some traps. Maybe catch a rabbit or squirrel. Otherwise, we'll run out soon."
Since Mia couldn't stomach dried meat, she bought some dried rowa fruit from him—paid in full, of course.
Even brothers kept accounts, and Kalé was a merchant first and foremost.
The tartness of the dried fruit was sharp and refreshing.
They walked, rested, walked again. By the time evening fell, Mia—riding the donkey—had it easiest.
Even so, riding all day made her backside sore. She'd dismounted to walk more than once.
"Time to make camp," Kalé said, glancing at the sky.
Mia still hadn't seen Grace.
Veldon stopped as well. "At your pace, it'll take four and a half days just to reach Stormgate."
"Not everyone is like you Erdtree folk," Kalé shot back with a faint roll of his eyes—clearly mocking the tireless undead.
Veldon didn't argue. "If we're camping, then let's camp. Traveling at night might draw bats."
"Could you two start a fire? I need to set some traps under the trees."
"Go ahead."
Mia waved him off.
She would watch the donkey and luggage.
Kalé returned quickly without incident. Mia had already lit the bonfire.
Starting a fire was trivial for her. She'd discovered that among the tools Kalé sold her, the flint was the most useless item.
Gather dry grass and wood.
Summon a small flame at her fingertips.
Bonfire achieved.
"You're not resting again?" Mia asked after night fell.
Veldon sat by the fire, armed just as the previous night.
"I think you should stop worrying about him," Kalé muttered from his bedroll, turning his back to the soldier. "Someone has to stand watch."
The merchant seemed to hold some quiet prejudice against the Erdtree's people. Throughout the day, he'd spoken often with Mia—but not a single word with Veldon.
The first night of their journey was peaceful.
Yet Mia still slept poorly.
She wasn't used to camping.
At dawn the next morning, Kalé's movements woke her. He went to check the traps and returned with a rabbit and a squirrel.
Mia lit the fire again and helped him prepare the catch.
"Still riding today?" Kalé asked.
"Of course."
"I'll charge you half price, then. You helped a lot last night. Traveling together is more convenient than I thought."
"Most of the credit goes to Veldon for keeping watch."
"Mm-hm."
The merchant responded perfunctorily.
He stamped out the fire.
The three packed up and set off once more.
"Does your donkey have a name?"
Mia swayed gently with its steps.
"I don't know," Kalé replied.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
He shrugged. "It's never asked me my name. So I never asked it for one."
"…."
For some reason, that felt cold.
Mia smiled politely.
"Let's give her one."
"I'm not good at naming things."
"Is she male or female?"
"Female."
"Then let's call her Amiya."