105 She Enters The Grasslands (1/2)

”I was a bit surprised earlier, actually. You seemed quite calm facing the bones of another person.” Christian said suddenly, breaking the silence between them as they headed back.

”Come to think of it, you're right! Maybe it's because I hadn't seen his face when he was alive...” Robin mused.

'No, wait, it's probably because I'm used to all those Halloween decorations, that I unconsciously thought of it as one, in order not to freak out...' Robin thought to herself. But, she decided not to tell Christian. It would be too troublesome to explainwhy people would decorate their houses with fake skeletons and creepy monsters.

But, even if Robin didn't say anything, Christian was watching her face as her expressions changed during her thoughts.

'Ah, he's figured something out, now. But he doesn't want to explain anything....Somehow, it seems like the explanation would be troublesome.' Christian smiled.

He felt he was getting a bit closer to Robin by learning more about him. In fact, Robin generally had a good grip on his facial expressions most of the time. It was only during moments like these where his thoughts somewhat showed on his face.

”Oooy!” Robin looked up to see the wind fairy, Elise, heading to them.

”You guys were taking too long! Gerard and the others are getting nervous.” Elise said, flying around the two, effortlessly, as she attempted to hurry them back.

Robin was surprised. Surely, they hadn't been inside the secret room for that long, had they? She turned to look at Christian,who was gazing up at the sky.

”She's right. It's been an hour already.” He said. ”If we want to camp out here, then we could probably set up an early camp...but I don't want to camp out knowing that spider is around here...”

Robin nodded. ”We're done here. You can tell Gerard that we're on our way back.”

”I'll tell him! I'll tell him!” Skye called, zooming by on his way to camp.

”Oh no you don't! Not if I tell him first!” Elisechased after Skye. She flew at top speed to catch up with the flying cat, despite his head start.

Robin chuckled at seeing Elise's competitive spirit. Even if Skye DID arrive first, no one other than Robin and Elise could understand what the flying cat was saying. The fact that Elise didn't realize that she was being teased made it all the more humorous.

”Ho? A contest is it?” Christian asked.

”If it's a contest, then the winner is fixed.” Robin said, with a fond expression. ”Looks like those two might become good friends...”

While it had never really happened to her, she had noticed other people becoming friends in that manner. 'Yep. I was just unlucky that I couldn't find a friend back then. Not many people would willingly cross that group, after all...' She thought as she gave a small sigh.

Christian didn't know why Robin's eyes stared off into the distance, or why Robin's smile suddenly seemed melancholy, but he didn't like this quietly morbid atmosphere.

”Friends, is it?” He asked. ”I see...Then, maybe someday they'll be as close friends as we are now!”

Robin stared at him, as if he were speaking a foreign language.

'Da heck, who are you, and what have you done with Christian!?' Was what Robin might have said. Instead...

”Pfft! Ahahahahah!” Robin suddenly found herself laughing uncontrollably.

”Did I say something funny?” Christian asked.

”Yes.” Robin chortled, wiping away a tear that had crept out of her eye. ”And no...”

”I don't understand?” Christian was at a loss.

”What I'm trying to say is...Thanks for being my friend, even if we've only known each other for a month.” Robin said, clapping Christian's shoulder.

”Likewise.” Christian grinned rogue-ishly.

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”You were taking too long!” Gerard pouted sulkily.

”My bad. We lost track of the time.” Robin replied.

”Then-” Gerard began to say, but Robin interrupted.

”BUT! That doesn't mean you're getting an extra serving of sweets tonight.” Robin said, looking pointedly at Gerard's gut.

Gerard was a skinny lad when he set out. Now he could be seen as having a normal weight. But, if he ate any more than the normal portions on a regular basis, then he would probably roll straight towards becoming a big fatty.

”Tche!” Gerard clicked his tongue as his strategy failed.

”Lost track of the time? Surely the tower ruins weren't that extensive?” Jasmine asked.

”We found a hidden room” Christian replied.