"Must... retreat... regroup... retreat... regroup..." Marianne mumbled as she ran away. Even when Fariha took a grip of her shoulder, stopping her on her tracks, she was still in her mumbling delirium.

"U-uh? F-Fariha? I-is that you, Fariha?" she said to the elf, her eyes glazing around everywhere, "T-that's great! T-the more the merrier, they say! B-but I think we still need more people though so w-we should go back for now, yes?"

When she felt Fariha dragging her by her hand towards the direction where the horrible bell sound came from, she tried to go back to the other direction, resisting Fariha's tug. But Fariha's grip was strong, and her strength was currently gone due to how much she was shaking. So she couldn't really do anything as she was forced to follow Fariha forward. Fariha's words of encouragement didn't really have an effect in calming her down, it seemed.

Thankfully, she soon got her much needed cure, in the form of a good old blunt force to her head. In a single moment, she actually managed to overpower Fariha, but she was surprised by the force she was giving to get out from her grip, making her trip on her own dress. She fell to the ground, face first, accompanied by a loud ripping sound. It would actually be quite a comical scene if not for the situation they were in.

That was enough to bring Marianne back to her senses, so as she got up, wiping her dirty face with her hand, she said to Fariha, "T-thank you for stopping me. I've seemed to become overcome by fear thanks to that terrible sound of a bell. Surely you heard it too, Fariha. It echoed through your deepest veins, turning your blood cold and addling your mind. I tried to cover my ears but it did nothing to preserve my calm mind. It was certainly... an embarrassing thing for an adventurer to do so I would like to apologize for my weakness also." Marianne did a little bow to add to her apology.

"And speaking of embarrassment, it seems I have... ah... ripped the front of my dress when I fell to the ground. Perhaps you could see it with your sharp vision but now my legs and thighs are quite visible. I'm just warning you since you would see my insects swarming there so please do not be alarmed."

Marianne could feel her cheeks reddening a little. Ever since she was fourteen, she only wore long dresses that covered her legs all the way to her boots. This reminded her of her childhood days where it was common for young noble girls to wear knee-length dresses. She could imagine her mother freaking out when she saw her at this unladylike state.

...Well, she really shouldn't feel terribly shameful as she got her insects covering her down there. Most people would just feel disgusted at the sight, which was why she wanted to warn Fariha first. She didn't know how good her vision was after all.

"At the very least, I should be somewhat more mobile now, though I certainly wouldn't be able to compete with your agility, Fariha," Marianne added with a light chuckle. On many aspects, she was the opposite of the elf, even though they both fought from a distance.

"Now, let us make haste. I worry about Siph and the others."

[@Rekaigan]