True to Chad’s words, the party was underway within ten minutes, making slow, but steady progress through the thick, mountainous forest of Hanzen. The little expeditionary force of fourteen people was a sad little sight to behold, with what little semblance of a respectable band of individuals only upheld by the likes of Lyra, Rilolia, and her presumptuous vampire butler. 

With Chad and Lyra at the front, the rag-tag band made it a kilometer into the forest until they were met by a small clearing, likely the remnants of a long forgotten dirt road. It was a quiet little place, perfect for a pleasant picnic in any other circumstance. Ahead, on the low branches of an oak tree sat a lone girl. Instintively, the merchant captain reached for the sword at his side, but was stopped by Lyra, who placed her arm in front of him. In a single smooth sweeping motion, the individual jumped off the tree, gracefully landing in the center of the dirt clearing. She was cleanly dressed, clad in full maid’s garb, despite being in the middle of a forest on a mountain. Chad’s eyes widened as he spied the clasp just below the hem of her collar. It was a golden clasp in the shape of a shield. In the center was a smooth azure sapphire with a golden trident inlaid in the center of the gem. The Mauritanian house symbol was unmistakable, worn only by the primary members of the Mauritania family and high ranking members of their household. Lyra too had the same crest adorning both of her sleeves. The presence of the crest on this maid’s uniform meant that she was no other than Lyra’s personal maidservant from the main household. Chad groaned.

The girl, no younger than Lyra bowed in front of the group, her short hair, tied up in a maid’s headdress bobbing as she did so. The young maid’s deadpan expression changed into a slight frown as she looked judgmentally at the group behind her mistress. Recognizing that Rilolia and Lenz were on a somewhat equal social standing to Lyra and herself, she introduced herself and curtsied once again, this time directed towards them.

“Milady,” she started, in a smooth even-toned voice, “Might I ask why you are in a foreign forest with such unusual company?” The maid stopped herself short of saying “awful company” so to not offend her mistress’s more cultured companions. 

Chad’s face visibly twitched as the purple-haired maid spoke. “Nephenee Ruvenheiz-Mauritania,” said Chad, grumbling in recognition. “I could ask the same thing of you. Aren’t you rather far away from home yourself?”

“Master Bay Mauritania saw it fit to send to send somebody to protect Lady Lyra and honor fell upon me,” said the maid, with a brief flicker in her otherwise deadpan expression that betrayed a hint of contempt. “Some dreadful activity has happened in Dansila and Illiserev. Precautionary measures are a natural nature of the family, Mr. Howard. Now, might I ask again why you are conducting covert combat operations in Astopolian territory, Mr. Howard?” 

“Nephenee,” said Lyra, finally speaking up. Her neutral tone seemed to display her disinterest in the conversation at hand. “I am helping my friend Rilolia here save… A friend. I find the experience to be interesting and educational. The situation created here is mine and mine alone. Chad is only the person that is executing my wishes. That said… Please tell me more about what has happened while I was away…” 

And that was that. Nephenee became the 15th member of the sorry little band of people, and the remaining two kilometer trek remained uneventful as the maid brought the party up to speed about current events, and vice versa. After an hour, they finally reached the vicinity of the pit that held Vance Warren.