Vito was a clever fellow. Though his hat was bizarre and crooked, and Ruger had always thought it looked laughable—like those performers in taverns who walked with their legs bent—Ruger felt there had to be some deeper meaning to it. Just as Vito's repeated escapes from that group's clutches could not possibly be explained by merely mastering an Ear-Growing Spell, nor could his ambition to hunt black wizards and avenge his family.
And at that moment, the man was turning to look at them. Neither the subtle changes in Ruger nor Layden escaped those calm eyes beneath the crooked hat.
Especially Layden, whose expressions were sparse even on ordinary days. Ruger felt that subtle emotions might not be easy to read on his furry face, but Layden was different. The words of the newly advanced wizard, Mewtris, and the old crone's movements all this time had brought an inexplicable change to Layden, more than usual.
Ruger felt the heat burning against his shoulder.
"You can rest here for a while. This camp is fairly safe, and best of all, things like nightmare demons won't be appearing anytime soon..." Ruger said softly.
Layden watched silently at the side, as though Ruger had already said what he himself wanted to say. He then turned around and hurriedly began fussing with the nearly extinguished campfire.
Vito, however, shook his head.
"I don't want to waste time, and I don't want to stay in one place. As long as I'm careful, crossing a region alone and finding a camp run by someone shouldn't be a problem." Vito smiled and adjusted his filthy hat. "Though those strange people haven't appeared for now, I don't want to give them the chance... Good luck to you both, Lord Ruger, Lord Layden. We will certainly meet again. I