[Nightmare]

"I'll take Tinker on his walk tonight. Is that okay?" Helix asked.

"Hmmm? Of course it is. Please give me a minute to get ready." Charlotte requested.

Helix smiled at her and shook his head lightly.

"I'd like to go for a walk by myself tonight, if that's alright?" He requested.

"Of… course…." Charlotte replied tactfully.

She planned to pout but could tell that he needed some alone time.

Helix hopped out of the back of the wagon's back door and walked to the other end of the caravan.

It was dusk, and dozens of campfires lit up travelers' faces, wagons, and trailers.

He made his way to the center, where there was a large trailer.

He found Tinker waiting with the most endearing smile imaginable when he opened it.

The massive white and silver dog jumped on Helix and licked his face.

Tinker's tongue was the size of a male hand, so it left him feeling slimy, but he didn't care.

He picked him up with ease with his ungodly stats.

"Are you ready to go on a walk tonight?" Helix asked.

"ARF!"

"Good enough." He chuckled.

Helix put Tinker on the ground and attached his magic leash.

"I know you're still disappointed you couldn't fight the Colossus." He said with a slight smile.

"But even we wouldn't get near that thing with a sword.

Even Aunt Tyrene…. It was too dangerous.

So please let it go.

There will be plenty of fights in the future."

"Areeeeer." The puppy whined.

"I know it's been three weeks without a major hunt.

However, there will be a major fight in a week."

Tinker's eyes lit up, and Helix gave him a wry smile.

The puppy's excitement for something so horrible left him conflicted.

Helix had a connection with Tinker.

After using [his] spirit particles to help the dog evolve, he discovered he could partially communicate with Tinker.

While Charlotte could have a full conversation with Tinker, Helix could only speak to Tkinter, not the other way around.

However, Tkinter's mannerisms reacted to Helix's real words.

He was shocked to learn how far he could get into a conversation with nothing but barks and gestures.

"Common, let's go." Helix chuckled.

The two walked through the valley they were camping in.

—

"Hey. I gotta ask this question." Atlas announced while hopping back into the wagon.

The ladies stopped setting up their group sleeping arrangement.

Atlas gave them a wry smile after seeing the home makeover.

"This… looks like a harem den.

You just need an opium pipe, and you're set." He laughed.

Samma made every textile-related item the group owned.

As a result, their group bed was lined with luxurious pillows and silk sheets.

"It is a harem den, but we don't have an opium pipe. Sorry." Marie commented playfully.

Atlas' eyes widened after hearing her bold answer.

"I…. So bold." He chuckled.

"But we do have a hot tub!" Charlotte announced with a bright expression.

"Wait…. Deets. I need deets. Go." Atlas replied in a demanding tone.

Marie, Charlotte, and Riley told Atlas insane stories about Helix's magic circles.

They told stories about the businesses, the magic circle guild, his business, their appliances, and other mischiefs.

Atlas laughed after hearing that Helix earned the women easier training after making Tilo a hot tub and how it led to a business.

Naturally, it led to the business and selling a hot tub to a playboy Duke.

Helix came back during the story.

However, he waited outside and let his partners catch up with Atlas.

He didn't want his presence influencing their discussions and enjoyed the peace.

The group continued chatting merrily.

They told him about their training, progress, and Tinker's evolution.

Atlas had a great time.

They all did.

They missed him, and he felt the same way.

"Oh… what was your question?" Riley asked during a period of silence.

"We got carried away, and forgot to discuss it."

He sighed and gave them an awkward smile.

"I… was just going to ask if Mr. Mischief is doing okay. Is he?" Atlas asked.

"Keep in mind that I don't know how he was after Emelia's passing, let alone now."

The group's eyes widened when they processed his statement.

They were in Myriad.

The group didn't have phones; they were 1000 miles away while Atlas was stuck in Alzeria.

"Hellie's doing a lot better than we thought he would." Charlotte answered after a few seconds of silence.

Marie and Riley nodded.

"Helix is so good to us, and is so strong, we forget that he's hurting." Marie confessed with a self-deprecating smile.

"It wasn't until we lost our teacher that we truly understood what he was going through."

The other two nodded in agreement.

"What do you think, Riley?" Atlas asked.

"I love that Helix comes to us for support." She replied with a sweet voice.

"If he's hurting, he cuddles up and gives us longer hugs.

He asks for selfish requests, which are a form of communication.

For that reason, I think that he's healing well."

"Hah. Asterisk [selfish]. It feels like everything he's selfish about rocks." Charlotte remarked with a smirk.

"I agree." Marie giggled.

"I love them, too." Riley followed by a warm smile.

Atlas raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds like him. But… What type of requests?

You all have different facial expressions." He commented.

"That's because the requests are different for all of us." Marie said with a bright smile.

—

"Hey Riley, I have a selfish request…."

"Yes, what is it? I'll happily fulfill it if I can."

"Thanks. I still need to read something for Linus.

But will you cuddle up with me while I finish?"

"I'd love to. Let me put on my Silph Silk pajamas."

"You don't have to do that. It's still afternoon…."

"I know. But you always tell me these pajamas [cuddle heaven].

I can change back once you're done reading."

"I love you, Riley."

-

"Hey, Marie. I have a selfish request…."

"Hmmm? There's no reason to be so hesitant, silly. Just ask."

"Okay… will you play with my hair and talk for a bit?

I'm shamefully addicted to the feeling and want to spend time with you….

Why are you giggling?"

"It's just… I love your definition of [selfish].

You make [my] selfish desires sound like a sacrifice."

"Oh…."

"Do you want a lap pillow?"

"You're a goddess, and I don't deserve you."

-

"Charlotte, I have a selfish request…."

"I like selfish."

"Me, too."

"What is the request, hmmm?"

"Well, I was just wondering… if I could squeeze your butt.

To put it bluntly…. It makes me happy."

"I love your selfish requests.

Let me pull out my cat ears."

"There's no reason…."

"Don't deny you love them.

We already discussed and agreed not to mew and nya.

Now stop blushing and start [selfishing]~."

—

"I get the best requests." Charlotte declared with a puffed-out chest.

Atlas gave her a suspicious look.

"Don't worry, Atlas. We all feel that way." Marie giggled.

"I always feel like the winner." Riley followed.

"Worst… definition of selfish ever." Atlas chuckled.

"I~agree. Continuing on, Riley's right. Hellie relies on us as we do him." Charlotte continued.

"So I think he's genuinely mourning well and not pushing the issues away."

"The way he handles pain gives me strength." Marie confessed.

Atlas and the others turned to her with their full attention.

"He's doing well, and that's… inspiring.

He not only lost Emelia, but our master… who was like a mother to Helix… died saving his life."

As Marie released the news, tears started streaming from her eyes.

Atlas' eyes trembled in response.

"Literally?" He asked.

"Literally." Marie confirmed.

Atlas averted his gaze awkwardly because he didn't know what to say.

The wagon fell silent again as the group waited for Marie's next words.

Helix arrived outside the wagon before she began talking and chose to wait.

Now he was listening with a heavy heart.

"The thing is…." Marie continued.

Tears started welling up in her eyes, and Riley embraced her to give her support.

Charlotte followed closely behind her.

"The thing is…. Helix was saving my life."

Atlas' eyes widened with shock.

"Is that also literal?" He asked hesitantly.

"Yes. If Helix didn't show up, I'd be dead right now." Marie continued.

"If Master Tyrene didn't save him, he'd be dead now.

So no matter how the situation went, someone wouldn't be here."

Atlas looked at Charlotte and Riley for confirmation.

"It's true. We watched it go down.

Someone was going to die in that scenario." Charlotte confirmed.

"I…. What the hell kind of scenario did you need to challenge a legendary grandmaster general?" Atlas asked.

He heard about Tyrene's power through their storytelling earlier, so he was confused.

The women looked at each other with uneasy expressions.

"Look, Atlas. We already know you won't believe this." Charlotte prefaced.

"But we fought a titan."