So...Pylia still suspected the Duke to be the corrupted apple among the bunch. She noted Pylia's flat tone and how she seemed to be reporting facts despite that she didn't have proof. She muttered with a raised eyebrow, "Is that so...?" She wondered quietly if Pylia actually believed what she said, or if she had been told to believe that. 

She answered Pylia rubbing the back of her head, "I'm just a messenger for Chief Arduo and the rest of Cassari. I wouldn't exactly call myself a 'Civil Leader'. And as for the kobolds...if I hadn't, then they would have allied with the Cultists who worship the Black Dragon. Couldn't really persuade them not to without promising their protection and freedom. And I intend to uphold that promise," 

After Pylia finished healing and mending her spare clothes, she thanked her, and mentally noted that it was time to start the discussion. She took in a deep breath and thought "[i]Here we go...[/i]" 

She then subtly looked to Buddy and moved her hand, as though to silently tell Buddy to move over a bit so that he was standing right in front of the door. She didn't want Pylia running off before the discussion was over.

She then turned her attention to Pylia and she spoke seriously, "Okay, now that the war is over...Pylia, there's something we need to talk about. This is pretty damn important in my opinion,"

"Right now, you don't need to say anything. Just listen. Because I am going to start this conversation by making some confessions of my own. Pylia, remember that night when you ran off on your own because I accidentally scared you with my being a ghost? When you came back and I went back to sleep, Buddy told me that he saw red smoke after he caught up to you. When I asked you about what happened, I noticed you weren't telling me the truth...both times I asked. Normally, I would've left the matter alone, but from our journey, I've never seen a skeleton create red smoke, not even that mage that had Buddy's heart,"

"So, when we got to the Silver Stag for the first time, before heading into the sewers to visit the Sewer Dragons, I asked the oracle doll what you encountered. Do you know what it told me, Pylia?" At this question, she felt the fear and dread once more and it showed in her eyes as they locked onto Pylia's. 

She answered the question for her, "It said that you met, '[i]An Old Friend, A New Enemy[/i]'. I don't know about you, Pylia, but that freaking worries me! And I had fully intended to tell you last night, that's why I said we needed to talk then. However, you did something I didn't expect: You ran off. You contradicted your own words, and ran off. And...I followed you. I knew something was up, so I followed you. I watched as you went to the beach and then to the graveyard in Gransys,"

She rubbed her face and she told her, "I saw you talk to that...undead being from the red smoke. I didn't understand a word either of you were saying, but I was ready to charge forwards and fight if it even [i]lunged[/i] at you. I certainly didn't expect you to spot me when we got back to the inn though. After I went to sleep, I shared that memory with Buddy, to see if he could understand, but all he got was that you were answering yes or no questions," 

She then told her, "While in my sleep, Buddy and I did notice that you had been in the water closet for longer than normal. So I checked on you. I saw you smoking and watching some...vision, and I saw the scar on your back," 

She then sighed and finished, "That's all of my confessions. I don't blame you if you are angry with me, and you have every right to be. But, I'm telling you all of this, because of the fact that you are hiding something from us. I'm seriously worried about you Pylia, and if you keep hiding whatever this is, I won't be able to fully trust you. And I want to trust you, Pylia. I really do!" At this point she could feel her eyes stinging with tears as they started to pool at the edges. 

She then took a breath to calm herself down and rub her eyes, and she told Pylia seriously, "So now...It's your turn, Pylia. Will you tell me what's going on here?" She then told her, "You do realize we're your friends, right? We can help figure things out,"