Carrying the young girl home, it wasn't something he took for granted. These quiet moments where she was at her most simple were genuinely some of his favorite. There wasn't many people she trusted to fall asleep near, let alone in their arms. He walked slow, as to not wake her up. The small misty breathes she took were even and consistent, but he still couldn't help but feel like something about her was off. She didn't look any different, didn't seem to be acting any weirder than normal... But something was different. Maybe his training just clicked for her while she was fighting, or remembered a page she had on him or something. Her movements just seemed too perfect for her.<br/><br/>Lost in thought, he didn't realize it when they'd reached the tiny cabin. The sun was still high, but the chill of red was setting in harshly. Shuddering a little as the wind easily picked through his clothes, he could feel the tiny body in his arms snuggle ever closer to the heat his body provided. It must have really taken it out of her to make her this tired, he thought, more questions still brewing in the back of his mind.<br/><br/>"So did you get her stupid book back?" Carmine's shrill voice crawled over the air, and he turned to see her washing her clothes. The bucket was full of suds, but he could see the remains of her puking on it. Resisting his urge to smile, he retorted curtly, "Your friend ruined it after I beat the thug he paid off to protect his miserable self. I see why a classless whore like you would trade it to him. Between the two of you, there might be enough decency to make a full person. Oh, not to mention, he tried to have a little girl fight his battle, thought you'd like to know what degeneracy your trade was worth."<br/><br/>Taking Neris inside, he set her down on his bed, the biggest in the room, and shrouded her in several blankets. She'd likely be out for a while, but there was some business he had to tend to before she woke up. Heading back outside, he sat down, opposite Carmine. She opened her mouth, as if to protest him being there, but he held up a hand to stop her. "Quiet, wench, I have no use to hear whatever excuse or insult you might try to justify. But you will hear this, she's almost old enough to own this estate with my permission. If you continue down the path you've been on, when she reaches that age, you'll be grovelling at her feet for the comfort of her home. I have no qualms whatsoever about kicking you out now, making you live with the common filth like your father, and Cerci. The only reason you've been here this long is because I couldn't expect her to make it on her own while I was at war. But if I get called back, there isn't a need for your torturous presence in her life, so I suggest you change."