Jenso easily traversed the snowy landscape without much issue. He didn't even need a coat this time around, especially since the blizzard was sated by Pharie before his departure. It wasn't just that, though. His newly found fire powers seemed to give him an innate defense against the cold air, heating his body subtly, while only giving him a shiver every once and a while.

He finally made his way back to the rock that he knocked out of place earlier, where Vale once stood, or rather, where he still stood. What?!

"Welcome back friendly traveler, I smell it in your blood- Did you destroy Gol-Ira? Has the endless blizzard come to an end? What of Pharie's meteor? Perplexing details all at once, please!" Vale sung. What an annoying asshole.

Jenso cringed in annoyance as he noticed Vale. "Dude...why are you still here?" He asked in an annoyed and confused tone, pausing for a moment. "I beat Gol-Ira, but I didn't kill him. Pharie has control over the area again." Jenso spoke truthfully. He kept a close eye on the vampire. "I'm headed towards Aldariana in the south east. Is there anything I should know about the place?"

Vale frowned and shook his head. "Not a word, wise though it might've been. I'm in no mood for a mercy-bound fool, you'd be wise yourself to abandon, straight up discard, not a second thought about it, your despicable compassion! Kill those who deserve it, else you'll fall prey to their resurgence!" Vale said strongly, walking towards Jenso with every phrase until he was inches away from his face.

Jenso glared at Vale. "Everyone deserves a second chance! There's nothing to gain from killing someone whom you've beaten. If they don't learn from their defeat and try something again, I'll just kick their asses again...I guess If I needed to, I'd kill them. But I'll only do that if I don't have any other choice." Jenso replied. "Besides, who the hell are you to judge me?" He barked, extremely annoyed by Vale's attitude. He began to head south east as Pharie told him to do. He didn't wait for Vale's response, not feeling very inclined to continue talking to him.

As Jenso walked away he would find that Vale somehow blocked in his path yet again. Was he just fast? "And the situation arises where, say, you hadn't killed me, and I stood here, in your path, with-" Vale didn't stop talking be he drew his ebony Katana and pointed it at Jenso's nose, "my sword poised to pierce your thick skull. What then? You stand no chance to beat me, so what then? What then, hmmmm? You'll die for nothing, all because you couldn't bring yourself, lift a single fist, to strike me down when you had the chance! Fate brought me back to slay you, and slay you I should, for you don't deserve to take another step forward as a coward."

Jenso got in a combat stance as Vale pointed his blade at him. "I don't think a coward would have taken on those golems in the first place." He retorted, keeping an eye on Vale's blade. He couldn't be reckless here. He was clearly insanely fast. He remained on the defensive, focused on Vale's blade. "If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!"

"Fight? Don't be an idiot!" Vale mocked, cutting Jenso's nose with a very tiny slice and withdrawing his blade. It was almost too fast to register, but it was clear that Vale had poked him harmlessly in the face. "You stand no chance against me! Yet another sign that you've found yourself in a pit of ignorant pride!"

Jenso shook his head. "It's not pride...I'm just not afraid of you!" Jenso responded. "If you think I'm not capable of killing things, you're wrong. I simply don't enjoy doing it.." He said, looking at Vale. "If there's a specific reason why you're stopping me that isn't about that, then you should tell me." He said. He was unsure what Vale's intentions were now. He seemed very playful before, but now he seemed somewhat agressive.

Vale looked at Jenso as the sun dropped lower in the sky and disappeared over the horizon. Vale's eyes began to fill with a darkening red hue, and his thin muscular features almost tripled in size, turning him into a predominantly bulky figure. His teeth grew sharper and more curved, and he moved towards Jenso in a quick motion, stopping just in front of his face.

"You should be," He growled, extending one of his hands forward and grabbing Jenso's arm before he could react. "The only reason you're alive right now is soon to be forfeit you miserable whelp. You must learn your limits and eliminate threats before they crawl back up from the depths of defeat and crush your puny little skull," Vale urged, reaching into his coat. He backed away, let go of Jenso, and pulled out a small glowing orange orb. "I'm not here to defend your stupidity." With that, he crushed the orb in his pale fingers, and rose the hand that clutched Jensos arm earlier to his mouth. There was blood dripping slowly from two of his fingernails, where he's sliced into Jenso's arm as carefully and painlessly as he could manage.

"Can you grasp it with the sparse colony of cells floating 'round and 'round in your little brain? Kill when you can, and run when you cannot. There is no shame in retreat, no, not a shred. Your pride will swallow you, far before you're strong enough to oppose the darkness on your horizons."

Jenso glared at Vale as he transformed. He was surprised by the transformation and couldn't help himself from backing away a bit. He stared in shock as Vale finished off Gol-lra. "NO!!! There was no need for that! He was defeated already, he couldn't defend himself anymore!" Jenso roared, clenching his fists in anger. "You're the real coward here!" He barked.

Vale smiled and licked the blood off of his nails. "Your blood is still sour." Vale hissed. "You will learn one day, or you will die. Lark wishes you to thrive, so I am here to tell you that which he cannot." Vale walked towards Jenso and sunk back into his cloak as he passed him.

"Your power can only do so much if you do not think. Train your mind, and perhaps, just maybe, there will be a sliver of hope for you yet."

Jenso frowned as Vale passed by him. "What about Paulie and Pharie...? You didn't do anything to them, did you?" He asked, concerned for their well-being. Jenso kept Vale's words in mind, despite not really enjoying to kill things. Sometimes he would have to kill, and he would be ready for it.

Vale turned his head back briefly, revealing one eye and a portion of his toothy smile.

"I've no reason to kill any who support my friend" Vale said wistfully. "Besides, I ate before I dropped by~" The darkness began to close in around them, and within moments, Vale's shadowy silhouette fused with the backdrop, and he was gone.

---

Jenso made his way further down the path for a couple days, when he realized something horrifying.

He was hungry.

Fortunately, when everything was looking rather dull, Jenso came across a small settlement that reminded him of Orobo. It was a single line of buildings, with a dirt road down the middle that stretched forward for at least a mile. What an interesting little town! the path was dusty, and the surrounding environment looked rather inhabitable, but everyone seemed pretty happy here. This is the first time he'd seen such a peaceful community since he'd left Arcadia. It's already been two weeks by now, but to Jenso, it might've felt a lot different.

On his right, there were many odd stores that sold food, water, and clothing. On his right there was a huge inn, and several nick-nack stores. Throughout the street, there were carriages that reminded him of Gregory's, and the bandits that killed him and his wife. No, this couldn't be it! Was this Hellion Outpost?

Jenso walked over to the food store immediately. He entered, and stopped in front of the counter. "Um, can I buy some meat?" He asked to the person at the counter. His stomach made violent growling noises, as if a bear was roaring. "Uh, sorry.." He muttered.

"How much?" the guy asked, "You travelin'?"

"Yeah..." Jenso replied, as the roars continued. "Maybe like a small package of meat..that should do." He responded.

"If you're goin anywhere from here, you'll need more than that, friend. Why don't you visit the place across the street? Phil's tinker shop! He's got a backpack made precisely for guys like you!.. But nobody can really afford it.. Actually, maybe you shouldn't." The man said, walking back. "How much money do you have anyways?"

Jenso frowned. "Oh, I only have 25 gold.." He responded to the man. "A backpack would've been useful though.."

"25 eh? That's quite a bit! You'll certainly be able to afford more meat than you can carry, but that backpack? Ahaha..." The man went into the back and shouted back at Jenso. "I'll prepare you a road trip pack! Come back later! Check out Phil's in the meantime, kid!"