"She's gone..."
Delphine handed a strip of cloth to Brando with a wry smile. Brando took the strip, seeing that the words Thank you... were written on it in a neat script. There was nothing else besides that.
The little girl's camp was already empty. Brando thought to himself that he had completely failed to notice when she slipped away. It seemed that being able to trek alone through Taoqike Marsh for so long was not purely a matter of luck.
Perhaps she possessed some means to conceal her whereabouts, or magical items, or perhaps it was a legacy left behind by Bai, or some treasure of the Xifah Family. He just wondered why she had ended up falling into the hands of the Goathead Cultists, especially since the little girl seemed very alert and cautious.
Brando glanced at the long-extinguished campfire and lifted the tent flap. The inside was empty. It looked like she had at least taken her food with her, a discovery that set his mind slightly at ease.
"She shouldn't be far," Princess Magdal said with some worry. "If we search in all directions, we might be able to find her. Even if she has items that conceal her tracks, they surely can't last for a long time, otherwise she wouldn't have fallen into the hands of the Goathead Cultists."
Brando put down the tent curtain and shook his head. "We catch up to her, and then what? If she's unwilling to accept our help, forcing it upon her makes no sense."
"Mr. Brando, but..."
"I'm worried about her too, Princess Magdal, but everyone must take responsibility for their own choices. I believe the little girl knows very well what she's doing. If it were you, would you be willing to accept handouts from a stranger?"