The snow continued falling as the three of them descended the mountain.

The frozen forest creaked beneath their footsteps, and the night wind slammed against the ice-covered branches.

Nox walked ahead of Audrey while Claws moved several meters behind them, constantly sniffing the air.

The small bear no longer looked so small.

After receiving part of Audrey’s power, he was now almost the size of a massive wolf, and his claws looked like black blades protruding from his front paws.

Nox still wasn’t used to seeing him that big.

Especially when he remembered that just a few hours ago, he had been sleeping while hugging him like a furry pillow.

"...Are you sure there were more inquisitors coming?" Nox asked while they descended a snow-covered slope.

Audrey walked wrapped in her white coat, with Elsa’s bow hanging across her back.

"Yes."

She answered without hesitation.

"I’ve never heard that far in my life."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"But we still had enough time to grab supplies, clothes, and even pack a bag."

Audrey slowly lowered her gaze toward her own hands.

"...My senses changed."

Her voice sounded strange.

As if she was still trying to understand what was happening to her.

"After you gave me that Title... I could hear footsteps from very far away."

Her blue eyes slowly moved through the dark trees.

"I’m sure there were at least three more inquisitors approaching the mountain."

Nox slowly whistled.

"That Title thing definitely affected you quite a bit."

Audrey lifted her gaze toward him slightly.

"...I don’t seem to be the only one."

Nox blinked.

"Huh?"

She smiled faintly.

"You grew."

Nox looked down at his own body beneath the oversized coat.

It was true.

Now he no longer looked like a small child.

He was still short compared to Audrey... but not nearly as much as before.

His arms were longer.

His shoulders slightly broader.

Even his horns seemed to have grown a little.

Audrey let out a small laugh.

"You’re not nearly as cute as before."

Nox made a face behind the mask.

"I never expected to look cute."

The girl laughed again.

"Too late for that."

Nox sighed.

"I’m still not used to this body."

Audrey remained silent for a few seconds before speaking again.

"...I’m not used to this either."

A small trace of dark energy ran across her fingers for an instant before disappearing.

"It’s like something is constantly flowing through my entire body."

Nox glanced at her from the side.

She continued walking calmly.

But he could feel it.

The energy surrounding Audrey wasn’t the same as before.

Now it felt dangerous.

Wilder.

Darker.

Nox hesitated for a few seconds before speaking again.

"...Hey."

She slightly turned her head.

"Yes?"

Nox lowered his gaze a little.

"...How are you doing?"

The wind blew through the trees.

Nox scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Sorry. Maybe this isn’t the best time to ask something like that."

Audrey stayed quiet for several seconds.

Then slowly spoke.

"It’s fine."

Her voice was calm.

"It’s strange."

Nox looked up.

"I thought I’d feel completely broken."

Her eyes fixed on the snow in front of her.

"But..."

She slightly clenched one hand.

"The sadness turned into anger and rage."

A small burst of dark energy leaked from her body.

Nox remained silent.

Audrey kept walking.

"I don’t understand why the church would allow something like this."

Her voice slowly became colder.

"That woman killed my sisters just to capture a small demon."

Claws let out a low growl while walking beside them.

Audrey lowered her gaze toward the bear.

"...Now all I want is to avenge them."

Nox noticed something strange in her expression.

Confusion.

"But I also don’t understand what I’m supposed to feel about my beliefs anymore."

Nox didn’t answer.

As they walked, Claws suddenly raised his head.

The bear sniffed the air.

Then let out a low growl.

"Rrgh."

Audrey and Nox looked up.

Through the storm and the trees, they could see lights in the distance.

A small village built along the edge of a frozen cliff.

Nox’s eyes widened slightly.

"...People actually live here?"

Audrey slowly nodded.

"Looks like it."

Then she looked Nox up and down.

"...Though they’ll probably be pretty shocked to see a demon walking through the streets."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"And what exactly are you suggesting?"

Audrey walked toward a nearby old tree.

Using one of Sienna’s knives, she ripped off a large piece of bark.

Nox watched in confusion while she quickly started carving it.

"What are you doing?"

"Something important."

"That doesn’t answer my question."

Audrey continued carving the wood skillfully.

Several minutes later, she lifted what looked like a makeshift mask.

It completely covered the face.

It only had small holes for the eyes and cuts to fit around the horns.

Nox froze for several seconds.

"...I’m not wearing that."

Audrey smiled proudly.

"Yes, you are."

Before he could protest, she placed the mask onto his face and adjusted the oversized coat around him along with a pair of thick gloves.

Now practically none of his red skin was visible.

Nox tried looking around.

"...I can’t see shit."

Audrey let out a small laugh.

"That means it’s working."

"I hate wearing disguises!"

Claws made a strange little sound that almost resembled laughter.

Nox slowly turned toward him.

"...Don’t make fun of me."

The bear wagged his tail, amused.

Nox immediately pointed at the animal.

"You should’ve made me a mask out of bear fur instead."

Audrey laughed again.

"This is fine."

Nox crossed his arms in frustration while they continued making their way down the mountain.

◇◆◇

The small village was completely silent.

Snow covered the wooden rooftops, and several torches were barely still burning along the streets.

Nox walked fully covered by the coat and the tree-bark mask.

Audrey walked beside him with a serious expression.

And Claws followed behind them, curiously looking around.

The place felt strange.

Too empty.

Several houses had their doors wide open.

Others were half destroyed.

And there was absolutely no sound.

No voices.

No footsteps.

Only wind.

Nox slowly looked around.

"...Do people actually live here?"