Rock couldn’t help but accept the situation when he said it with such earnest seriousness. Snuggled up against his broad chest, Rock called out to Lord and Lady Alexis.
“Uncle, Auntie, I’ve some stuff I would like to ask you about once things have calmed down.”
“All right.”
Lauretta looked anxiously up at her husband, who appeared prepared to accept whatever Rock had to say to them.
Feeling a prick in her chest as well, Rock purposely urged them forward in a cheerful voice.
“Let’s get out of here first.”
Phoebe strolled into the sanctuary then, as if he were waiting for the right timing.
“I went all the way in and checked out the place. This guy’s the last person left.”
He had his arm around Krister’s shoulder, helping him walk with one bum leg.
“Father!”
Phoebe flashed a triumphant smile at his daughter. “Hey there, kiddo. Things look awfully hunky-dory here. Did you guys work things out?”
“At least for now? We captured the Brotherhood’s bishop alive, but…”
Rock and Ebel looked to Guido, who pointed to the boy he had slung over his shoulder. Phoebe’s eyes bulged when he saw that tiny body.
“That’s the bishop? Am I the only one who sees a little kid?”
“That’s all I see, too,” Rock sighed.
“I fear I’m the same. We need to question him.”
Just as father, daughter, and Ebel confirmed they weren’t seeing things, Krister suddenly screamed in a shrill voice.
“Werewolves! Three werewolves! Talking werewolves!”
“You only just noticed…?” Phoebe let out a dry laugh, and Krister started babbling like a mad man.
“I’m hella confused, man! Phoebe ain’t dressed like a lady, but a man and is Rock’s da. Rock’s dressed like a lady, surrounded by three werewolves, and all the cultists are gone. What the hell is goin’ on?!”
“Come on, calm down, Krister,” Rock said to pacify the other tailor, who seemed to be losing his mind amidst all the chaos.
“How can you expect me to be calm?! Besides, are you okay over there?!”
Krister looked at Rock cradled in Ebel’s arms as he might a child being carried off in a wolf’s mouth. Naturally, none of the werewolves in the room were a threat.
“There are some good werewolves too,” Rock insisted. “At least no one here is going to hurt you. You can go home now, Krister.”
“Go…home…?” Krister repeated, still failing to see what was going on.
Phoebe readjusted his grip on him to hurry things along.
“Anyway, let’s get outta here. I don’t want to stay any longer in this dusty dungeon.”
With that, Rock, Ebel, Phoebe, Krister, Guido carrying the bishop, and the Alexises all escaped from the ancient ruins.
Not a single soul could be sensed anywhere near the ruins, which had been destroyed from the entrance on. The cultists seemed to have all fled. Perhaps they too, were awaking from a trancelike dream.
Once they made it outside, their party was greeted by three carriages.
One belonged to the Alexises, and the remaining two belonged to Mateus Manor and Linus Manor respectively.
“Master Rock!”
“Roxy!”
Rock squinted her eyes in the direction she heard two ladies’ voices.
Johanna and Michaela had jumped out from behind the carriages parked on top of the small hill, illuminated by the setting sun.
Ebel lowered Rock to the ground as the girls ran down the hill toward them. Thanks to that, Rock was stuck catching both girls as they lunged at her, arms open.
“I’m so glad! So, so glad you are safe!”
“Aaah, Roxy! I’m glad I could keep my promise!”
Johanna and Michaela’s teary voices brought tears to Rock’s eyes too.
“Thank you, both of you.”
“…You give this tailor a grander welcome than your brother? I can’t say I approve,” Guido grumbled with displeasure.
Michaela looked up at him with a watery smile. “I’ll be sure to shower you with thanks later, Brother!” She took a breath and wiped away her tears before continuing with more authority. “We took custody of everyone who fled from the ruins. They all said, ‘I don’t know anything. I don’t even know what I’m doing here.’ But I plan to question them all anyway.”
“This is our only clue too.”
Guido lifted up the boy on his shoulder to show her. Michaela blinked several times but then must’ve determined it was going to be a long story.
“Let’s return home first,” she replied, her expression stern. “Roxy, Brother, Ebel, and…everyone else needs a moment’s rest before we get into it.”
Meanwhile, Danilo rushed down the hill to greet Lord and Lady Alexis.
Had he been waiting outside the whole time? Did some sort of exchange happen between him and Michaela’s group? Whatever went on, he broke down crying the second he saw his masters’ faces.
“Lord Alexis, Lady Alexis…I’m so relieved to see you’re safe…!”
They both stared at their sobbing butler in stunned silence.
“Danilo… Forgive us for making you worry.”
“We are truly sorry…”
Husband and wife both rubbed his back as he crouched on the ground wiping his tears. Rock watched them interact at a distance.
Although it was only for a few days, and unwilling on her part, these were the people whose roof she’d stayed under. She was deeply moved to see change take place in their lives.
Ebel also watched over them for a time. But then, perhaps because the sun had set, he shook his head and called out to the group.
“It’s important to confirm everyone’s wellbeing, but we can’t stay here forever. We should all board the carriages and return to my manor first.”
Three werewolves were among them, after all.
They may have been on the capital outskirts, but that didn’t guarantee merchants and hunters wouldn’t pass by and see them.
Each carriage was boarded by one werewolf.
The rest squeezed into the cramped, leftover spaces.
Ebel, Rock, Phoebe, Krister, and Johanna all piled into the Mateus carriage. Ebel didn’t want to part from Rock, nor did Phoebe, but Krister refused to ride with people he didn’t know, and Johanna pulled a face like she’d never board another noble’s carriage.
Naturally, the carriage felt as cramped as a sardine can, and Rock sat practically buried into Ebel’s fur.
Ludovicus, the butler, sat holding the reins in the coachman’s seat. Their carriage moved quite a bit slower than the other two.
“A pretty big group came to my rescue, huh?” Rock said into Ebel’s fluff from a position where she couldn’t see his face.
“Wolves form packs, after all,” Ebel replied, his arms tightening around her.
“Does that make me one of the wolves?” Phoebe laughed, shrugging in the tight space.
“That makes me one too!” Johanna happily joined in. “I’m another wolf!”
“…What the hell is wrong with you people?”
Krister eyed them like they were all insane, but it’d take too long to explain.
For now, Rock entrusted herself to Ebel’s furry body in the shaking carriage to enjoy every moment of their safe reunion.