"Me? Forget it... I've had some... trouble with demons. If they see me, I'm afraid they'll hunt me down."
Annan worried that these demons were connected to the Demon Lord in his dreams, but Naven thought he was avoiding trouble. "You're a Holy Grail Knight. Courage is your creed."
"What if I told you I'd offended a Demon Lord?"
Naven fell silent. Delatorre asked, "Which one?"
"I don't know. But because of it, I haven't had a good night's sleep in almost six months."
Delatorre stopped pressing him. "It's better if you don't go. Demons are always fighting among themselves. If they see you, they might unite instead."
In the end, the two Holy Grail Knights headed east with most of Valley City's soldiers, including Shadow Song.
Shadow Song was now an honorary Warden. Her subordinates were a band of vicious criminals and the guards the old Council Chairman had placed under her command.
Unlike those who doubted her, Annan had faith in her. Shadow Song had already proven her sense of justice. And as a Shadow Brotherhood assassin, she should have no trouble keeping Town Prisoners in line.
"We'll meet again."
Annan said goodbye to Shadow Song.
Their departure was only the beginning. Next, Valley City's nobles and merchants began packing to leave Lai's Lesao Valley.
The old Council Chairman planned to retreat to Gray Silver Fortress, so he traveled with Annan.
At dawn, Annan set out with the councilors on the long Migration.
Valley City's southern gate stayed busy from morning until night as hundreds of thousands of residents were forced to pack their belongings and leave their homes.
At least they had plenty of food. And the Ratfolk were still far away, so there was no immediate fear of the rats catching up.
Valley City, bustling only