"So, hmm... erm... I guess things are a little complicated now, right?" Mikoto said to Astrea at the same time that she tried to appease Melissa's enthusiasm. "Why then are you here in the middle of nowhere? At least, Melissa and I... and Miranda too have a reason to be here, to preach the word of God... and that of Gold. But you," she then pointed her broom to Astrea in a grand gesture like a duelist trying to gain the crowd's favor "why are you even here?"

Nevertheless, Mikoto had to deal with the more pressing matter of Melissa practically throwing herself over Mikoto "What do you say of getting something to eat, huh? I won't even charge you, since it's not merchadise" Mikoto said while placing her cloak over the grass roadside, and produced a few tough looking sandwiches from her case. Along with the remainder of the juice, it was a perfectly suitable picnic. Mikoto could only hope that it would calm down the excitable travelling priest. "Now, tell me, where were you two going?" Mikoto said to Melissa and Miranda.

[hr]

Meanwhile, at the mountain village of Orello...

"Oh, is it right?" Aria said as she listened to Sedril's story "I'm little more than a squire, too. Though I know a bit of magic to go with my swordplay" she said while they waited for the tavern maid to come and take their orders.

"So, say. What are your plans for life? Do you have anyone waiting for you to come back home, for example?" Aria said once the previous track of conversation ran cold, after all, sitting on the same table as someone else and staying utterly queit was a very awkward thing and Aria didn't wanted to deal with that.