First thing in the morning, the commander of the Atra City Guards, Theodore Dyrus, came barging into the office of the commander of the Strangers' Administration. Theodore was mad, furious even. The only reason he did not kick down the door as he entered was the years of discipline he have had.

"Why, good morning, Theodore," the commander of the Administration greeted with a thin smile. He was a man in his late thirties with a head of long blonde hair, though secretly, his hairline had been slowly receding and it bothers him to no end.

Theodore, the commander of the guards, sent his glare all around the room, taking note of the members that surrounds the Administration's commander. It seems that he knew what was coming, and gathered everyone that Theodore would want to question into this one room. There's their legendary vice commander, the Lady Oracle, and a captain that led the charge against their so called Sword Saint's escape attempt, Gerald he's apparently called. Of all the people in the room Theodore loath Gerald the most, for it was he who failed to stop the Sword Saint and allowed the Stranger to escape.

A week ago, a nobleman's daughter, a holder of a mystic sight had been murdered, her eyes plucked out. It was all too clear who was the culprit behind the murder, and as a result, the City Guards were blamed for their incompetence to capture the serial murdered known as Sight Jacker. Theodore was told that if he does not apprehend the Sight Jacker, dead or alive, by the end of the month, the funding for the City Guards will be cut once more.

How many times does this make now, the rich and the noble birth taking their anger out on the guards, wielding their influence to force the guards to bend to their demands. At this rate, Theodore will have to send his men out into the streets wearing nothing but fabric for protection and with but a stick in hand for weaponry. Will he have to draw from the funds for something else again? Even when the cells were already as hellish as they are? Even when they can't even feed those under their custody properly? He will have to, yes, if it comes to that. He has to prioritize the wellbeing of those that work under him over the criminals. Otherwise, as much as he despises it, he could always go beg to the thieves, they'll provide some aid in exchange for a few more blind eyes. However, he'll have to be more careful this time, the higher ups are starting to crack down on them, to think they would launch a sudden inspection at the south gate, someone must have been talking.

"Good morning, Falkes," Theodore replied to the Administration's commander stiffly. "I think you know why I am here."

"Here for the Stranger perhaps? But unfortunately we do not have him. The Sword Saint had decided to steal the boy away from us it seems."

"Are your men so incompetent that they can't even contain a mere Sword Saint!?"

"Well, he's a Sword Saint for a reason, Theodore. They say he's been taught by the Sword God himself."

Theodore can feel his blood vessels close to popping. Falkes, the commander of the Strangers' Administration has been holding an uncaring attitude throughout, as if saying that this was not his problem.

"And your vice commander, even she cannot stop him?" Theodore continues his questioning, holding onto his temper for dear life. If he gets angry and throws a tantrum here, he would no doubt be falling for their trap. They'll find a way to use it against him, he's sure of it.

"I am afraid I was out with the Oracle at the time, Commander Dyrus. Neither She nor I were here at the time, regrettably," the vice commander replied calmly and accordingly.

"And you? Gerald, was it? How could so many of you fail to apprehend this Sword Saint of yours?"

"I am terribly sorry, Commander Dyrus, I have no excuse for my incompetence," the captain replied, shrinking slightly at the large man's intense gaze.

Theodore glared down at Gerald, hating him even more now. "Had you been working under me, I'd have you dismissed immediately.

"Of course. Again, I'm sorry for my incompetence."

After was all said and done, Theodore turned back towards Falkes. Looking into the eyes of the uncaring man before him, Theodore wanted to ask the question on the forefront of his mind.

"Well, Theodore, are you done?"

That tone of his, as if saying "If you're done now, then leave me be." As if all of this was just some mundane affair drove Theodore to the limits of his patience.

"Falkes, you bastard! You tell me now, did you let the Stranger go on purpose? Did you order the Sword Saint to take him away?"

"I can assure you, Theodore, I did no such thing. I let no one go and I ordered no one to take anyone away. We tried everything within our power at the time to capture the Sword Saint and the Stranger, and that is the truth."

Theodore stared at Falkes, reading the man's face and finding it to look like the spitting image of a fox.

"I see that I won't be getting anything out of you today. I shall take my leave."

Theodore then left, as swiftly as he came. Once he left the doorsteps of the Administration HQ and went into the privacy of the carriage he rode in on, he slammed his large fist into the soft leather seat.

Bastards! How could you priorities the lives of those alien strangers over your own countrymen!? Theodore was convinced, convinced that this was all on purpose, yet, he's also sure that he'll never find evidence for it. Falkes was far too sly, far too careful, that slimy bastard.

Back at the office, soon after the commander of the guards had left, it was then did Gerald finally understand what Gene was saying back at the inn. Always, he had found distaste in Gene's disregards for the rules, but today, while he still found it distasteful, he has gained a small amount of respect for it and understood that sometimes, perhaps someone like Gene was exactly what the Administration needs.

"Captain!" the commander of the Administration called out.

"Yes, commander?"

"Send a message to all branches, tell them to apprehend Gene on sight, and send them a description of the Stranger- Alex was it? Send over his description as well."

"Commander? But isn't Gene-"

"He is a traitor, captain, we must do all we can to apprehend him, lest the others think we went easy on him just because he was one of our own. Still, I'm sure someone of his caliber won't be that easily caught."

"Very well commander, I shall do so at once," And the captain went off.

This game they play, thought the captain, I can never truly understand it, and frankly, I hope to never get involved with it. I do not have a mind like theirs and I don't wish for it. I merely wish to lead an honest life.

***

It is noon now, the sun had reached its zenith, but Tina was still asleep. Alex watches over her, while Gene had left for food. Having the time to calm down and quietly think back on all that has happened, it was indeed, very surreal, yet, it was all too real. No longer did he even suspect that this was all but a dream, and already, he was accepting that this is his reality now, this strange world he had suddenly found himself in, this is his world now.

Suddenly, a yawn called him out of his thoughts. Tina had awakened and is now stretching her limbs on the grassy ground. The cloak she used as blanket fell off her as she arched her body backwards, revealing the outline of the slight muscles of that slender and scantily clad body.

Feeling a gaze, Tina turned towards the boy, her cat-like grin widens when she noticed his reddening face.

"M-morning," said Alex, trying to act natural.

"Morning to you too," said Tina as she turns towards the sky, "but I think it's already way pass morning."

"Yeah, I- I suppose," Alex tried to get himself to calm down, but the more he does so, the less calm he felt.

"Say, where's Gene?"

"He said he's going to see if he could find us some food. I think he'll be back soon."

"Oh, that's too bad, if he was going to be gone for long, we could have a little fun."

"F-f-fun!?" Alex wasn't sure if the likes the implication of that or not, but he could instinctively feel that something of his might be in danger.

"Yes," Tina drew close, staring Alex in the eyes, "something fun."

Alex could feel his cheeks being on fire now and tried to turn away, but Tina reached out and held his face, and gently she turned his gaze back towards her.

"You have such big round eyes, Alex. They're beautiful. I could look at them all day."

"I swear! Keep messing with that boy and the only place you'll have fun in is the hospital!"

Out of nowhere came Gene, in his hand is a pouch filled with what seems to be berries.

"Oh come now Gene, you don't really think I would, do you?"

At those words, Alex suddenly felt very disappointed. It wasn't as if I was particularly looking forward to it, he told himself, but still...

"I prefer to never find out, thank you very much," Gene said with clear disdain.

"Oh don't you worry, YOU won't."

"Uh-huh."

With that, Gene handed a share of the berries he had gathered to everyone.

"These things aren't very filling are they?" said Alex.

"Well, if I had my bow, I could probably hunt something, but then we'd have to start a fire, which would give our position away."

"Ugh, I want some meat..." grumbled Tina.

"Patience, we'll get some once we get to a town."

"So where are we heading?" Alex asked.

"Northeast," Gene said without hesitation.

"So it'll be Greenhill, then. That place is filled with guards though, and a branch of your administration is there as well, are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Tina.

"Greenhill is also a place with high population, which means they aren't likely going to notice newcomers, and I'm sure both the City Guards and the Administration are aware of the places we can go and had already sent people lying in wait. Better to go where we can mix with the crowd in this case."

"Hmm... well, if you say so," said Tina, easily relenting.

Alex was surprised at how quickly she conceded. He was expecting them to argue again, bickering about whose plan is better. Yet, there's none of that, Tina simply agreed to do as Gene said. Thinking back, that was the same thing with the guards, Gene wanted to let them go, but Tina argued not to, but with a quick word from Gene, she easily relented.

"What is it?" Tina asked after taking notice of Alex's bewildered expression.

"No, I just thought that it's strange how even thought you two bicker a lot, when it comes to decisions, you then to respect Gene's."

"Hmm!?" Tina thought about it a little, reaching back into her memory, and quickly realized that Alex might be right. "I mean, he's the guy with the plan, right? If he's going to think everything through for us, why not let him?"

She was blushing a little, and though she turned away to try and hide it, Alex had caught it with his mystic sight. To think even she could be flustered, Alex thought with amusement.

Shortly after their meal, once more they began to move. Their goal, the town towards the northeast: Greenhill.

"At our pace, I'd say we'll be there no sooner than twilight," said Gene as he looked at his pocketwatch.

"Good, there's hardly a better time to sneak into town," said Tina, feeling rather confident about all this.

"I suppose, but are you're following us?" Gene asked.

"Thanks to a certain someone, the guards saw my face and lived, where else am I suppose to go?"

"You'll be safer away from us, don't you think?"

"Maybe, but I say there's safety in numbers, and besides, you guys will need all the help you can get."

"Well, so long as you don't slow us down."

"Slow you- Now you listen here you!"

Even as they travel, they bicker. All Alex could do, was follow along, smiling bitterly and hope that everything would be alright by the end. And of all the times he witnessed it, they usually cool off as soon as soon as they ran out of breath. But this, this seems a little more serious that the previous fights.

Alex looks to the sky with the argument continuing in the background, this seems like it will be a long journey. Even though a great many bad things had happened, somehow, there an elation rising from his heart. After all, this is it, isn't it? The very thing he sought out in the games he played: An adventure, one with trusted friends and allies. Will it be like the ones in his games? Probably not. Will it be exactly as he had dreamed of? Not likely. But then again, not knowing what will happen next, isn't that what an adventure is about?

***