A serene silence hung in the air as dawn finally broke on the New World. The nocturnal wildlife that had filled the night with their shrieks and drones retreated to their dens before the pale morning mist and faint glimmers of light. Though at the same time, the sun had not yet risen enough to rouse the more daytime inclined fauna from their slumber. And so the green boughs and verdant undergrowth of the Ancient Forest was permeated by a peaceful absence of noise that was highly uncharacteristic of the raucous jungle.

In this murky, half-lit limbo between night and day, Sonia lay in her sleeping bag awake. Too exhausted to move, and yet her mind far too chaotic to ever fall asleep. The past two days had been gruelling, after travelling through the night to release the Anjanath on time, then all of the day to reach Leopold, and then most of the next night frantically trying to save Hirios life. When she thought back on the whole affair the ache in her limbs intensified, and her worries gnawed at her mind with renewed vigour.

She had slept some, but not nearly enough, and her slumber had brought little respite. The half-human thing they had encountered that night stalked through her mind. While images of Hirios broken body lay embedded in her being, his guts spilling all over her dreams and turning them into nightmares. She awoke with tears in her eyes, too frightened to fall back to sleep.

I thought this place was a paradise. I thought I would love it here. She had enjoyed her foray into the Ancient Forest, releasing the Anjanath, learning about the New World. And Kenichi… to him, I'm not useless. To him, I can be something more than a frightened little girl.

That belief had been shattered when they arrived in that glade last night. All I could do was scream at the others to do what I couldn't, and cry while they saved Hirios life. Even now, Hirios fate was still in the balance, but instead of pressing on to Astera, they had to stop.

They had planned to go all the way through the night again, Zoyla and Kenichi argued about it, but eventually the team leader won out. They set off from Leopolds hut at a drastic speed that Sonia could not hope to keep up with. She and Erick where left stumbling at the back in a semi-conscious daze, only really aware of putting one foot in front of the other, while Zoyla kept them on the trail from the front and Kenichi pulled Hirio along on a sled.

Only after Sonia had almost walked into a tree and Erick had to stop her from banging her head did Zoyla plant her bow in the ground, squarely halting the team leader in his path. "Kenichi, they need to rest." She said, in a tone that brooked no argument. Kenichi had turned around to look at Sonia and Erick, who gazed back at him with bleary eyes. He looked down at Hirio, who was breathing steadily in his sleep. "Fine. Lets set up camp." He relented. And so they had stopped, because Sonia was too weak to carry on.

So deeply was Sonia wrapped in her miasma of emotions she scarce noticed Kenichi rising from his sleeping bag, already fully clothed. Coming to full wakefulness immediately he strapped his sword to his back, before beginning to wrap up his sleeping bag. Are we leaving again already? Sonia despaired. She supposed, the sooner they got back to Astera the better, but they still had a fair ways to go before they reached their destination.

Forcing herself to rise, Sonia began to crawl out her sleeping bag. Kenichi noticed, and gave her a warm smile. "Morning." He said. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." Sonia lied. "I won't slow us down again." She came to her feet, feeling her stomach rumble as she did so. She began rustling through her bag for rations.

"It's my fault." Kenichi stated abruptly. Sonia turned to look at him gazing off into the distance. "I never should have pushed two rookies so hard. I should have realised you would begin to break at some point." He turned to look at her. "I'm sorry."

Sonia shifted on her feet, uncomfortable. All you do is sit at a desk all day, while the hunters risk their lives. She remembered his words. Is that really true? Do I have the right to let him take the blame? She felt selfish doing so. "No need to apologise." Sonia assured him. "I'm sure your not used to dragging people like me around." She half smiled, trying to make light of it.

Kenichis expression remained unchanged. "Do you always blame yourself for everything?" Sonia froze. Kenichi seemed to wave the comment off and then went to check on Hirio. Sonia remained rooted to the spot. All that time in Tanzia, living in that toxic pit of vipers. He's right. Sonia despaired. I have made a habit of making everything my fault. Sonia had always tried to be polite, kind, but where did she draw the line? When did her contriteness become a detriment to her person? She did not know, but it had been that way for a while.

But you noticed. Sonia thought, watching Kenichi pack the remainder of his belongings. "Are we leaving so soon?" She asked him.

The team leader shook his head. "No, I'm going to look for potion ingredients. Hirio will need it." He stopped for a moment, thinking. "You don't know how to make potions, do you?"

Sonia shook her head, and Kenichi smiled. "Want me to show you? It's a pretty vital skill to have out here." Sonia nodded in agreement, and Kenichi gestured to her sleeping bag. "Pack your things, sooner we leave the better."

She quickly gathered her belongings and slung her bag onto her back, Erick and Zoyla where still asleep, and Hirio was breathing deeply on his sled. "Don't worry about them." Kenichi told her. "The smell of the fire burning will keep predators away."

The pair broke through the mist surrounding the camp and delved into the silent jungle. The only sound was the wet squelching of their boots and the crunching of leaves underfoot, with Sonia making decidedly more noise than Kenichi. Their journey was complimented with a gentle undertone of water droplets splashing rhythmically from the treetops, and the occasional breeze that whispered soothingly as it passed through the leaves. So peaceful. Sonia thought. And yet, so deadly. She could scarce believe this jungle could be as dangerous as it was.

Kenichi halted at a worn tree trunk. He placed his hand on the wood and scrutinised it closely, then tore away at the bark and wrested something from the inside. "This is what we're looking for." He held up a shiny blue insect.

"Bitterbugs?" Sonia queried.

Kenichi nodded. "Yeah, a lot of people consider them pests, but they're actually pretty vital ingredients in a lot of things. Now, we just need some herbs." He pocketed the bug and then continued on through the forest. "Come on."

Sonia followed, and as they walked the faint glow of daylight became bright beams, chasing away the morning mist. The temperature started to rise, and various critters could be heard scuttling throughout the undergrowth. "Here." Kenichi gestured.

They came to kneel at a fern-like plant in the ground. "This is what we need." The team leader drew his knife and began cutting away at the herb. "You mix this and that bug together in a paste, doesn't taste great, but-." Kenichi stopped mid-sentence.

Sonia heard it too, the sound of snapping twigs and rustling leaves. The team leader stood and drew his sword, gesturing at Sonia to get behind him. As she did, the same tell-tale noises of an animal moving through the jungle began coming from their rear, then the right, then the left. In a few seconds it was all around them, and getting closer. Sonia scanned their surroundings intently, trying to spot their assailants.

For a moment, Sonia didn't see it. Though the creature must've been stood their for a while, it's verdant scales blended it almost perfectly with the bright greens and garish yellows of the jungle. The only giveaway was its eyes, black pits ringed in a nimbus of orange. The reptile gazed at Sonia with an inhuman, predatory intelligence unbroken by blinking or movement. She found the creatures stillness unnerving, making it seem cold, almost mechanical. In stark contrast with the constant motion that was usually associated with living things.

"Jagras." Kenichi grimaced. "Stay exactly where you are, I'll deal with these scavengers." As Sonia began to look around, she saw more of them. 3, 4, more kept lifting their heads out of the foliage. Suddenly they where surrounded by at least a dozen of the reptiles. Kenichi settled into a stance. "Keep your head down low and stay in one spot. I might hit you otherwise." Sonia nodded and quickly took a knee behind him.

The movement seemed to startle the Jagras, and they lunged. Two of them facing Sonia came speeding out of the underbrush like shots from a bowgun. Their gangling legs scuttling them forward at frightening speed. "Kenichi!" Sonia screamed.

As the two lunged, Sonia felt a swoosh as the team leaders great sword swung over her head. The two monsters hissed in dismay as the blade tore straight through their scaly hides. Sonia was painted in blood, and their dismembered body parts splattered on the ground around her. She screamed, and tried to leap away from the grizzly sight. "No! Stay close to me!" Kenichi shouted.

Whilst his back was turned a trio tried rushing him from behind, Kenichi spun on his heel and met the first with a horizontal swing, disembowelling it in much the same fashion as the first two. He then brought his blade down on another in a vicious arc that split the beast in two. Utilising his momentum in an impressive display of acrobatics, Kenichi somersaulted over his sword to meet the next attacker, then brought it forward again in a second arc that produced similar results to the first.

Abandoning all tactics, the pack rushed Kenichi with all their numbers. At first it looked like he might be overwhelmed, but he simply rolled out the way to a more favourable position and began cutting through the horde with powerful, controlled strokes.

As Kenichis blade whirled and gore splattered through the air, Sonia made a feeble attempt to cover herself and crawl away out of fear of being caught in the melee. Desperately trying to throw guts off her body as she did so.

In the midst of her retreat, one Jagras spotted her. It paused, and stood staring at her, unmoving. Sonia cast a glance at the team leader, who currently had his back turned to her.

As soon as her eyes left the Jagras, it charged. Lunging towards her with hungry eyes and snapping jaws. Sonia screamed, and the creature dived on her as she tried to come to her feet. It's claws dug into her shoulders causing her to cry out in pain. Her muscles screaming in protest as her hands pushed against the creatures snout, frantically trying to keep its fangs at bay. Saliva ran down its mouth onto her face, and the pungent smell of rotting meat on it's breath grew stronger as it's gaping maw drew closer.

Terrified, Sonia began grasping for something, anything she could use. Her hand came to rest around something hard and cold, and without hesitating Sonia jammed it with all her strength into the Jagras's starving gaze. The creature screamed, and its one remaining eye was flooded with terror. It spasmed on top of Sonia, gurgling grotesquely. She manged to push the animal off and threw herself in the opposite direction. Scrambling in panic to get as far away from it as possible, the Jagras continued to convulse on the ground, scratching feebly at its eye as blood poured from the wound.

Suddenly something grabbed Sonias arm, she let out a shrill scream and desperately battled to free herself. The grip intensified, and her assailant came into view.

"Sonia it's me!" Kenichi shouted, grabbing the girl other arm to stop her from hitting him.

"Kenichi! The Jagras!" She screamed.

"Calm down!" He yelled again, maintaining a grip as she wriggled like a fish.

"No! Behind you!" Sonia cried out again.

"Sonia, its dead!"

"What?" The girl stopped struggling. Kenichi maintained his grip, but moved aside so she could see. The creature lay belly down in the grass, which was quickly staining crimson around it's head. The jaw was hanging open limply, and the monsters cold, unfeeling eye was reduced to a bloody mess.

"Oh…" Sonia stammered. "Oh…I, I must have-" She glanced down, and belatedly noticed the ruby stained rock she was clutching like a vice, and, that she was covered in gore from head to toe. Slowly, she allowed her hands to loosen. The rock fell out of her grip, and her hands began to shake.

"Hey, you okay? Hey, Sonia-" Kenichis voice faded into the distance as Sonia was overcome with a wave of nausea. Without warning, she vomited onto the grass next to her. The sight of it only repulsing her further, and the smell reminded her of the Jagras's breath. She sat huddled on the ground, quivering, completely paralysed by shock. Her breaths where coming rapid and shallow, and she could not stop the rattling of her limbs. What's happening to me? She thought in panic.

Something soft pressed against her face, and Sonia suddenly became aware of her surroundings again. "Kenichi, what, what are you-" He drew his hand away for a moment and Sonia noticed the cloth in his hand. Realising what he was doing, Sonia drew her own rag out from her side pouch and began making an attempt to clean herself up. Her fingers where clammy, cold, and struggled to grip the cloth. As she lifted her hand, it fell out of her grip.

"Here, let me." Kenichi said, softly. Sonia tried to grip her own cloth again, but Kenichi held her hand. "Your in shock, just focus on your breathing and let me do it." Eventually she relented, and allowed herself to be cleaned whilst struggling to slow her breath. Her ragged panting slowly became deep and controlled, and the shaking began to abate.

Kenichi finished, and pocketed his cloth rag, but did not remove his hand from Sonias. "Better?" He asked. Sonia nodded.

Kenichi continued. "It's not an easy thing, to be in battle. Nor is it to take life."

Sonia looked up at him. "And yet, you seem to do it so easily."

Kenichi frowned. "I don't enjoy it Sonia." He said, seemingly hurt by her words. Realising her mistake, Sonia quickly added. "No, I didn't mean it like that, I meant-" She struggled with her words for a moment, trying to articulate her thoughts. "What am I doing here, Kenichi?"

He frowned at her in confusion, unsure of how to answer. Sonia started to come to her feet, and the team leader helped her. "Look at this." She gestured her hand around at the gruesome scene. "This New World, it's not something to run to, its, its terrifying!" She stammered. "And I thought, maybe it might finally be my chance to escape, escape from Tanzia." Stupid girl, just smile and do your job.

Sonia felt tears welling in her eyes. Maybe there is nowhere to escape to. She thought glumly. Maybe I should just go back to my desk, where I don't have to, have to... The image of her killing the Jagras came back again, and a torrent of feelings welled up inside her. Guilt, fear, shock, but above all, a feeling of complete and absolute idiocy for choosing to ignore how dangerous this place was. Stupid girl, all you do is sit at a desk all day.

"Stupid, yes. I, I don't have the stomach for this, it was a stupid idea. Just a stupid girl with a stupid dream." Sonia completely broke down, feeling the crushing weight of her new reality bearing down on her. The fighting, the killing, the painful truth that she would never be anything more than a receptionist proven right before her eyes.

"I'll never… I'll never escape, never get away from that, never be anything more than…" She cried, then spat the words out bitterly. "A stupid girl." A fresh wave of tears spilled from her eyes, and her body was racked with sobs.

"You managed to make it this far." Kenichi said. "Would a stupid girl be able to do that?" He turned to face her. "Last night, when that, thing, was standing over Hirio. Me, Zoyla, Erick, we just stood there like stumps."

"I've never seen anything like that before. And, it scared me. Couldn't even lift my sword. All of this-" He gestured at the dead Jagras. "was easy because it's familiar, but as soon as that certainty was gone, I just…" the team leader grimaced. "You, where the only one out of four people who could even bring themselves to say a word."

"But, I couldn't do anything." Sonia despaired. "There was no way I could fight that thing."

Kenichi smiled. "There's so much more to this job than just fighting, look at Zoyla. She was a field researcher, and primarily still is to be honest. Just picked up hunting along the way." He placed a reassuring hand on Sonias shoulder. "You don't have to be a killer to have a place in the New World. In fact, it's probably better that you aren't."

"Really?" Sonia asked, confused.

Kenichi nodded. "Preserving the New World is far more important than hunting. And there's plenty of ways to do that. I'd rather be working alongside someone who believes that as much as I do. It's why I most prefer working with Zoyla, and why I think you'll be a great addition to the commission."

Sonia wiped a tear away with her sleeve, looking at the team leader through puffy eyes. You really do think something of me. No one had ever put this much faith in her. Least of all myself. She thought miserably. The feeling was uncomfortable, almost frighteningly so. But I'll try, I'll try and see in myself whatever it is you see in me.

Surprisingly, Kenichi opened his arms for a hug, Sonia obliged him. They stayed there for a little while, while she enjoyed his warmth. Then they separated, and Kenichis face hardened into the team leader again. "Now, we gotta get back, Hirio is waiting for us."

Sonia nodded. "Right." The pair set off back the way they came, leaving the bloody clearing behind.

"Sonia, Kenichi!" Zoyla shouted as the pair got back to the campsite. "Where have you been?"

"Searching for potion material, we got held up." Kenichi answered, gesturing behind at Sonias bloodstained clothes.

Zoyla gasped. "Oh, come here! We'll get those cleaned up." Zoyla grabbed Sonia by the hand and began to lead her out of the campsite.

"Wait!" She protested. "How's Hirio?"

"Still breathing." Came a gruff reply from the sled. The old hunter was awake, in a sorry state to be sure, but still alive.

"Hirio!" Sonia exclaimed. The hunter looked her up and down. "What are you doing out here girl? How'd you get yourself in that mess?" Sonia stopped, somewhat crestfallen. Zoyla grabbed her arm again. "Come on, plenty of time for catching up later. Right now you need to get cleaned up, it's unhygienic." Zoyla wrinkled her nose. "and smelly."

Sonia and Zoyla bathed and washed the stains out of her clothes at a nearby stream. Sonia explained their encounter as they scrubbed, and the huntress listened intently. "He's right you know, Kenichi." She said at the end. "You could be a scout, a gatherer, a field researcher-"

"He mentioned that's what you do, or did." Sonia interrupted her. "A researcher."

Zoyla sighed, pausing in scrubbing. "I came over here with the Third Fleet, and got assigned to a field team to study monsters in the wild. We tracked them, observed them. There was so much to learn about this place." The huntress reminisced.

Sonia thought she detected regret in her voice. "What changed?" she asked.

Zoylas jaw hardened. "I realised, how brutal hunters can be. And decided the best way to stop that was to become one of them. No offence, but I don't really like to talk about it." Sonia nodded and pursed her lips. Surprised by her answer, but deciding not to press her further.

The huntress quickly cheered again when the silence grew too long. "But things are better now, I bet you'd fit right in with the research team actually." She smiled. "You've got that curious personality."

Sonia was glad to hear that. "Thanks, I guess I'm still trying to work out my place here." The pair finished up and walked back while Sonia toyed with the idea in her head. At least as a field researcher, she'd still be able to get out and see the New World. Yes, I think I'd like that.

When they re-joined the campsite, Kenichi was already brewing a potion, whilst Erick stood beside him listening intently as the team leader explained the process. When the two women returned, the group came to sit around Hirio.

They waited patiently while he drank the potion, and once again a faint green mist seem to rise from under his bandaged stomach. He then sat with his arms crossed, presumably waiting for the questions he must have known where coming.

Kenichi started. "Why did you go to Leopolds hut?"

"To see him." Hirio stated bluntly.

Anger flashed across the team leaders face. "This how it's gonna be?"

Hirio responded flatly. "I don't see any reason why I should explain myself to you, my business is my own."

"That thing that attacked you last night is a threat to everyone in Astera, that makes it our business as well." Zoyla interjected. "Did you know he had the armour?"

"No." Hirio said curtly.

"You where the one who kicked his door through, where you not?" Erick spoke up. "Clearly, you were anticipating a fight."

Hirio sighed impatiently. "Listen, I am grateful to all of you for saving my life. But that doesn't mean I have to put with your interrogation. Speaking of which, I have a few questions of my own. Why did you follow me?"

It was the team leader who answered. "These two say you've killed a Fatalis, that true?"

"What of it?" Hirio answered.

"Hirio, Astera recently got a report of a Fatalis leaving Castle Schrade, we believe it's making the Elder Crossing." Zoyla answered. "The Commander is calling everyone in, we need you back in Astera."

"So." Kenichi continued. "Is it true, can you defeat it?"

Hirio was silent for a while, deep in thought. "Not like this." He finally answered. "I have fought the Crimson Fatalis before, but I wasn't alone. And if I had been I would have almost certainly died."

The statement was met with stark silence while they digested that. "You won't be alone." Kenichi told him. "You'll have the best the research commission has behind you." He stood, and took a deep breath. "Time to get a move on. Erick, Sonia, break camp. Get everything packed up, Zoyla, scout the route ahead. Make sure it's clear."

As they worked, Sonia pondered more on Zoylas words. Camping isn't actually so bad, there's something quite enjoyable about sleeping under the stars. She thought as she doused the fire. And the monsters are truly fascinating, as long as I don't get too close. She had always been the curious type, something which had been ruthlessly suppressed in Tanzia. No one, her boss in particular, had any patience for her questions. Or anything she had to say for that matter.

The memory still pained her, and she drove it to the back of her mind. Everything was so, suffocating in that place. Maybe now I'll discover what I really am. She clung to that hope, and the faith others had in her. There's still a place for me here. She reminded herself.

Soon Zoyla returned, and confirmed the coast was clear. Kenichi grabbed Hirios sled, and began to drag him along. Sonia and Erick fell in line, with Zoyla taking the lead again. They set a steady pace through the jungle, and despite the humid conditions, Sonia was able to keep up.

They made good time, only stopping twice throughout the day to rest and to eat. With Zoyla leading the way, they managed to steer clear of any encounters. Avoiding travelling through open spaces and sticking to the underbrush. By the end of the day, they had covered plenty of ground, with only a little ways left to go until they got home. It's a lot faster going without the Anjanath slowing us down. Sonia thought.

By the beginning of the next day and after a few more potions, Hirio was back on his feet. Though Zoyla insisted he stay off them or risk reopening the wounds, much to the old hunters chagrin. By midday they were within view of Astera. Finally. Sonia was relieved, seeing it's wooden frame rising in the distance. The thought of a comfy bed, the exotic canteen, perhaps she could inquire with the Commander about joining the research te-Wait. She stopped herself.

Squinting more closely at the base, she noticed it. Smoke. She gasped. "Guys, that's, is that-"

"Fire." Hirio confirmed gravely, leaning around the sled to get a look. "Astera is burning."

A distant roar could be heard in the distance, coming from Astera. It's volume was apparent even from this distance, and something about it's hateful dirge kindled a primal terror in Sonia. Like a prey animal hearing the sound of it's natural predator. Soon after a dark silhouette lifted into the sky above Astera, and then plunged into the clouds of smoke once again.

Sonia felt her stomach drop, and a chill went down her spine. Fatalis is here.