Leaving the curiosity behind, the fool and the dog kept going towards their destination. “It seems that we still have a lot of walking to do since I can feel the ingredients are still quite the distance from here.” remarked the dog. The fool smiled and said “It’s okay, I quite enjoy travelling like this. Right now, it would be great if we found a village to rest for a few hours.” The dog nodded in agreement. Suddenly some yellow irises caught the fool’s eye. They stood out quite much in the scenery of the lush green terrain. “Doesn’t it seem strange for those irises to be placed so peculiar in this place? Let’s investigate, maybe they are some sort of sign that beckons us to go towards them.” the fool said enthusiastically and ran towards them. The path of irises led them to a small pond where a maiden with blond hair was standing in the middle of it. She was holding two cups of water. She was filling one cup with the other, but the weird thing was that it didn’t matter how much she poured from one it never got empty and the other one never got full, it felt quite mysterious. Despite all the fool was accustomed to the mysterious and the unknown from all her adventures thus far. 『Welcome! 』 Greeted the maiden with a smile on her face. She turned around and placed the cups of water down beside her. The fool was ready to leave and not interrupt her when she got welcomed by the maiden. “I am sorry, did we interrupt you? this was not our meaning, we will leave now.” 『 No, not at all! I was the one who guided you here with the help of my little friends, the irises around you. 』 She said with a blooming smile on her face. “We have never met before, how do you know us?” asked the fool cautiously. The woman just smiled but didn’t answer. 『 For now, I recommend that you rest your weary bodies for a bit. I know that you travelled far and wide and we all need some time to recuperate and get refreshed to keep on going.』The maiden seemed like not a chatty type since it was so quiet around her that the fool could hear her own breathing. The fool didn’t mind it, she felt calm and cosy around the maiden rather than distressed. There was no awkwardness despite the lack of talking. Looking at the pond the fool got quite thirsty from all the running here, so she headed to the pond with the thought of taking a sip of water to clench her thirst. The maiden stopped the fool and spoke. 『 I am sorry, but you cannot drink that water, it’s quite important to me. Instead, here, have some of this. 』 She gathered dew from all the irises and offered a cup of it to the fool. It was silky smooth and sweet like honey, so the fool quaffed it down in a blink of an eye. Looking at the fool enjoy the drink the maiden smiled. The satisfying sweet dew and the pleasant breeze around the pond made the fool and the dog feel sleepy. “Is it okay if we rest here by the pond for a second? “The fool asked lying down already with her eyes half-closed. 『You can rest here for as long as you want. 』After she answered the fool and the dog fell asleep with a smile on their face. After a while, the fool and the dog woke up “Wow, I feel so refreshed! I can’t even remember last time I felt this good!” The fool was in a great mood. “This feels even better than luxury inns!” the dog also added. 『 Oh! You are awake now. It seems that you both are well-rested and ready to go on an adventure again. 』The maiden spoke to them from the middle of the pond on her original spot since they first saw her. “Yes, thank you!” 『It was my pleasure; I am happy to be of help. By the way, if you would like, I can let you use a shortcut to where you are heading to. 』 At the word “shortcut” the fools and dog’s eyes sparkled with high expectations. 『 But on one condition! 』 the maiden continued with a serious face 『 There is a devil tower near your destination, you must collect the ember and the grape in this box. I will send a messenger to collect the items after you have succeeded. I would personally go but as you can see, I can’t stop working. 』 “Devil?? But I’m not a fighter.” The fool said scared of the thought. 『 I know, but I ask of you this because I know you can do it. Besides... the so-called devil is not a physical type either way. 』The maiden said with a confident voice and a smile plastered on her face.” Hmm don’t worry! You have me, the best companion you can ask for, you have nothing to worry about. Let’s go!” the dog confidently boasted in from of the fool and the maiden. The fool got persuaded by the maidens and dogs’ confidence. “Ok, I will do it.” 『 Thank you! Now jump inside the pond quickly and it will teleport you directly to the place.』 The fool and the dog jumped into the pond, and they disappeared only leaving a short scream behind them. The maiden smiled and whispered in the direction of where the fool disappeared『 You can do everything! 』