Celeste slowly raised a hand to answer Ino's question.

'Huh? She knows how to build a boat?'

Ino looked at her. "You can build a boat?"

Celeste shrugged. "I can try to make a simple raft…"

"That's really great then." Ino smiled warmly, then looked to the map from the whisperglobe. "For now, we are relatively safe on this side of the chasm. However, we need to keep moving, and to do that, we need the raft to ferry us across this river, which according to the map is called the Grail River."

Ino pointed with her thumb vaguely toward the direction of the river, while also shifting her gaze back to Celeste. "There's lots of wood around that we could use. So, just tell us what to do, and we'll help you out with it."

Celeste gave a soft nod.

For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of the fire and the distant murmur of the water.

Then Evelyn scratched her neck, and spoke in a low, sheepish voice. "Guys… I can't be the only one in desperate need of a bath, right?"

Celeste turned toward the river's direction with a look of contemplation on her face. Then she confessed softly, "I need one too…"

Hearing that, Evelyn brightened slightly. "From what we were told about the Grail River, the only creatures in it are the snappers, and they usually stay deep in the middle of the current." She hesitated, glancing toward the dark banks. "So I think... maybe it should be fine if we just stay right near the edge, right?"

She looked to Celeste, who then looked to Ino. Ino seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then, one by one, Ino and the two of them turned their expectant gazes to me.

I thought for a moment, then gave a casual shrug. "I think it should be fine. The snappers are noisy so we'll hear them before they even come close to the edge. Besides, we all do really need a bath."

"Excellent!" Evelyn clapped her hands together with a beaming smile on her face.

Her enthusiasm, however, seemed to trigger the embarrassment in the others. A look of acute discomfort suddenly crossed Celeste's face, her cheeks flushing pink as she glanced at Dion, before looking to me. Ino also seemed to have the same expression on her face.

I then quickly added. "The girls can go first. All the guys will remain here with our backs to the river."

Both Celeste and Ino suddenly brightened with profound relief and nodded simultaneously.

Evelyn who didn't seem to care about modesty, grabbed Celeste's hand, offered a quick, encouraging smile, and nodded toward the water. "Come on."

Both girls stood up and headed to the water, with Evelyn dragging Celeste cheerfully, and Ino following shortly after. Barely a few seconds after they left, a black vampire bat dropped silently beside Dion and its form instantly changed into Julius's human form. He yawned like someone who had just been disturbed from sleep.

At the same time, Aika took off the shawl she was covering herself with and threw it over my face. Then she said sheepishly, "I'll be joining them too. Cover your eyes with that, you perv."

I yelled from under the fabric. "Hey! I'm not a pervert!"

…I mean, maybe I was a bit of a peeper back on Earth. That guy did some questionable things. But that was back then. I've changed!

'Plus, it was just with my girlfriend then!'~

'That doesn't make it any better you pervert!'~~

As she left, Dion leaned closer to me and nudged me with his elbow. "Wow, I respect you even more now dude."

'What's wrong with this one?'

I leaned back a bit and scoffed.

But then Dion smiled and waved a finger at me. "Don't be embarrassed, man. We've all tried to peep." He covered the side of his mouth with one hand and lowered his voice. "My bond, Ino, caught me once peeping at the maids back at my home, and threw boiling hot water on me. Yes, it hurt like hell, but was it worth it? Of course!"

He leaned back and flexed his fingers in an open and close motion. "For the glorious views I saw, I'd do it again! Pour me hot water, I don't care!"

'Jeez… this dude is the real pervert.' My face twisted in visible disgust.

At that moment, Julius clicked his tongue mockingly three times, his eyes narrowed in exaggerated disappointment, while also shaking his head. "Tuu, tuu, tuu. I can't believe it, you degenerates. You guys have no class."

Dion looked to him, gave him a once over, and scoffed. "You are no fun, you know that?"

Julius raised a single, elegant eyebrow and deliberately turned his back and looked away.

Then Dion chuckled and after a moment, added mockingly. "Guys like you die single you know."

Julius looked back to him with a look of deep offense, then uttered. "I'll have you know that I am very good with the ladies." He straightened his black coat with a disdainful sniff and pointed to both Dion and me. "Actually, it's guys like you both that die single."

"What?" At that comment, my jaw dropped and a look of deep offense also crossed my face. 'Take a look at this ugly bat who thinks I have no game. If only he knew the caliber of girl I pulled back in Seoul, he wouldn't say this shit!'

"Aisssh…" I scoffed and gave him a disdainful once-over. I was about to retaliate with a proud declaration of how much of a "smooth talker" I was, when Dion suddenly interjected:

"Oooh…"

He leaned closer to Julius, conspiratorially, then said with a bit of sarcasm. "You must have a lot of ladies flocking to you always then."

"Yes." Julius nodded proudly. "I do in fact always have the ladies flocking toward me. Though I am not one for fleeting interests; I am a man of honor and so I prefer something serious to mere flings."

"Mmm… do you perhaps have anyone you like then? Someone your heart beats for?" Dion prompted.

Julius smiled at the question and looked away. Though after a brief moment, he nodded shyly.

When he remained silent, Dion playfully tapped him on the back and pressed curiously. "Well? Tell us then? What is she like? Does she know your heart beats for her or is it just one-sided?"

Julius looked embarrassed for a moment, then finally clicked his tongue. "Fine." He looked to the fireplace and began. "No. She doesn't know about my feelings towards her yet as we have not been with each other for long. She's not a dominant, but a bond from our bastion. I only came across her recently, but I'll have you know that she is the most beautiful lady I have ever set my eyes on. Her pretty eyes are blue like the ocean, her long black hair reminds me of the deepest shadow, and her cold demeanor, yet warm personality, makes my heart flutter."

While Julius was describing the girl he has a crush on, I tilted my head curiously as I couldn't help but feel like the girl he was talking about was very similar to someone I know.

I then asked, with a teasing lack of subtlety. "Woah… She sounds too perfect for someone who'd settle for a dusty bat like yourself. Come on, spit it out: what's her moniker?"

"Good question, Cedric!" Dion blurted, throwing a devious finger at me.

Julius turned to us and began, "Her moniker is…"

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