From the Vast

Chapter 17: Pretense

It took Aria a good while to speak up again after her unintentional faux pas.

Inviting wildlings to rest and maybe even stay at their safe haven was one thing, one that not a single sensible soul in the village would ever object to. Doing so with one of them hating and the other fearing humans, with Anne around, was another.

She didn't want anything to happen to Anne, but at the same time, the pair of ghosts clearly needed help, too. If she just kept the truth hidden and hoped things would work out, they'd probably freak out upon realizing that there was indeed a human around, and perilously close at that. Best case, they'd just leave there and then, and the worst case...

Despite Safeguard's protection, a dreadful chill went through Aria's horns at the thought.

Suppose there really was no way out of this conundrum but forward.

"^There is something I need to confess to, regarding the settlement we're heading towards.^"

Aria kept staring straight on as the group made slow progress through the near-uniform snow-covered woods. Yaksha knew better than to pause just because of something being brought up and marched on. The same couldn't be said for Sage; the girl left scrambling to catch up after her brief stop.

*"And that would be?"*

Time for the big revelation, and hope that they wouldn't take off into nothingness there and then.

"^There *is* currently a human staying there. One.^"

Out of her view, the Banette's gaze narrowed as the Phantump let out a small, terrified squeak, immediately leaning into her guardian. Aria might not have seen it, but she most definitely sensed it, a deep-seated part of her wanting to drop everything else and comfort the scared girl, just as it did with Anne. They felt so similar.

And yet, were so crucially different.

*"That's an important detail to hide from us."*

Yaksha's accusatory tone was neither missed nor unearned; the Gardevoir slowly nodded before continuing.

"^I know. I was uncertain how to best bring her up.^"

Aria felt Sage noticeably relax at that mention, but didn't have the time to delve deeper into that observation. The hauntling's guardian was still expecting answers, and yet again, the truth was the only answer the Gardevoir had.

"^She's a young girl, far from an adult. Ended up under our care after running away from an abusive home and getting grievously injured, and may stay there for good, should things work out.^"

Putting it in the most direct way thankfully worked to break through Yaksha's immediate scepticism. Or, at least, some of it. Noticeably less suspicion in his mind, though still a fair amount of doubt and cold calculation. Unfortunately, even with that caveat, the Banette's response was what Aria hoped to avoid.

"*You're making a mistake. Sage, let's head out of-*"

"B-but Mr. Yaksha!"

"*What?*"

"You're s-still hurt!"

"*Better me than you, kid.*"

"I-I'll be okay, I promise!"

The hauntling's plea finally made a dent in her guardian, her red eyes narrowing as she stared at him. He was of half a mind to keep up the argument, to try keeping Sage safe from her fear despite her best efforts. One human child without their wretched balls wouldn't be a threat to even her, let alone them both; he knew that well.