"Iluna, how did you end up here? I remember your team entered from the northeast of the Pantanal Great Swamp."
Shade hugged Iluna as well, feeling a wave of relief. No matter what, meeting Iluna under these circumstances was truly wonderful.
The point where he and the Witches had entered the Great Swamp was in its southeast. Even if they had veered off course when they encountered the Formless Spawn several hours ago, they should not have ended up this far away.
Iluna blushed slightly as she let go of Shade. Tilting her head back to look at him, unable to suppress the joy on her face, she said:
"We were attacked, and I accidentally got separated from the main group. So I summoned this horse to catch up with them."
The Great Fog just now had clearly been meant to separate the group.
"But I probably chose the wrong direction. I didn't meet a single person along the way. Later, I encountered an old woman living alone deep inside the Great Swamp, making a living by growing herbs. I helped her, and even cooked for her. She pointed me in this direction and said I could find the person I was looking for this way."
Iluna's face reddened further, and she hurriedly explained:
"Come to think of it, it was strange. When I met that old woman, I never considered that there was anything wrong with her. Only after saying goodbye did I realize that there couldn't possibly be an elderly person living alone so deep within the Great Swamp. And I didn't take any of her herbs as payment, but she gave me this."
Iluna took out a blue, teardrop-shaped crystal. Though Shade was surprised, he remained calm about anything that happened to Iluna.
"There are all sorts