Back at the camp, Noah and Oliver were sitting around the fire waiting for Ann to return.

The other members of the Nero mercenaries had gone off to talk with the Tullus mercenaries while the two trouble makers were left alone on their own.

It has been four hours since Ann left the camping site after throwing her birthday present at them and disappearing into the forest. It was unlike her to disappear for hours without saying a word.

Moreover, Eldom forest was a well-known hunting ground for ogres and monsters alike. It was said that they are especially active during the full moons.

They were starting to get worried.

"It's been a while since she left"

Noah muttered, adding more wood to the pit while Oliver adjusted the fire on the other side with a stick.

"It is very quiet. I'm afraid for the monsters in the forest"

"Yeah... Poor monsters"

They were worried for the safety of the monsters in the forest while Ann was roaming free unrestrained.

"I'm bored"

"That makes the two of us"

"Haah..."

They sighed, longingly gazing at the fire.

It was starting to get dull without Ann. Usually, by now, they would have made up and moved on to the next thing without moping about old fights.

Even if they wanted to apologize. It was impossible. Since she was nowhere near the camp.

"Psst!"

Noah's ears twitched.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Oliver raised his eyebrows.

Seeing that there was nothing, they went back to playing with the fire when they heard it again.

"Psst Guys! Over here!"

"Yeah... I think I'm also hearing it"

While Noah and Oliver were staring into the trees anticipating the sound again, stones came flying from the darkness between the trees hitting them in the back of their heads.

"Over here, you idiots!"

Ann was poking her head out of the shadows, calling out to them. She signalled them to come closer without attracting attention.

"That hurts!"

The twins complained, with tears in their eyes as they made their way towards her.

"Guys! We have a problem!"

Ann whispered sneaking glances at the surroundings. After affirming that the coast was clear, she removed the jacket covering her head and revealed her hair.

"Wha?!"

Noah and Oliver's eyes widened in shock.

"What happened to your hair?" Noah asked, checking her hair for any abnormalities.

It was surprising to see her natural hair revealed as there were months to go before the dye fades.

"The dye dissolved in the water. Stop pulling my hair!" Ann replied, smacking his hand away.

"What water?" It was Oliver's turn to question her.

The dye was waterproof, thus unless it was dye dissolvent it would be impossible to remove the color with normal water.

"The water in the lake" Ann buried her face in her hands.

"You jumped into a lake?" Noah frowned as covered her with his cloak and pulled the hood over her head.

He was confused as to why she would jump into a lake in the middle of the night. But considering the stunt earlier that day, it was well within the realm of possibility.

"First a river. Now a lake. I bet the next one is a pond...hehe" Oliver snickered, earning a punch in the gut.

"Oomph!" Oliver staggered clenching his stomach.

"Very funny"

Though it was reckless to go into an unknown lake without checking for possible danger, Ann concluded that it was worth it.

The cute little fairies and adorable water pixies were to die for. Just imagining them was enough to make all the hate in the world disappear.

'I regret nothing'

She wanted to scream about finding the hidden fairy forest. But decided otherwise in order to keep the existence of the fairies a secret.

As far as the world was concerned, fairies were extinct in Elan. If the location of their habitat were to be revealed, poachers or mad researchers and mages might come after the little ones.

'Like hell, I'll let that happen!'

Ann pledged never to allow any danger befall the fairies even if it cost her life.

"This is who I am now" She declared, sinking within the hood.

"The Phantom Dweller"

The twins stared at her with disbelief. And then burst out laughing.

"I think 'Phantom Menace' would be far more suitable....hahaha"

"Pfft... haha"

"So what do we do now?" Ann corrected her throat, there was a light blush on her cheeks. She wanted suggestions to pass the week safely without revealing her secret.

If her hair color were to be exposed, she would be recognized as a noble in an instant. Or at least as someone related to nobility.

"Why not just say you colored it this way?" Suggested Oliver, wiping the tears on his eyes.

It was a plausible excuse. Though it would seem strange to dye hair in the middle of the night. Since it's them, the Tullus mercenaries would just brush it off as one of their usual pranks.

"That's a nice idea. But I can't afford to be recognized" Ann said dejectedly.

Platinum blonde hair coupled with emerald eyes was a rare combination in Orion. It was a symbol of the Ashford family.

Thankfully, not a lot of common people were aware of this fact. Although they would have to be careful so as to not run into any nobles in the market. They won't run into much trouble if they keep their stories straight.

"Let's just keep it as a backup plan. All we can do is keep your hair hidden till we reach Parthellam" Noah remarked, tapping on his forehead.

"Yeah. We can purchase some dye there and everything will be back to normal" Oliver added.

"Oh! Then I want to try red hair this time"

Ann was excited. She thought of Addie's red hair. This might indeed turn out to be an opportunity to try something new.

It would be hilarious to see Addie's reaction under such circumstances if she doesn't kill her by vanishing for years without contact.

Now that the problem was more or less settled, the trio of fox siblings returned to the camp. Since their circle was the farthest compared to the others, it was easy to sneak in and out without being noticed.

"Quiet and peace at last" Noah exclaimed, looking up at the moons in the sky.

At that moment, one of the wooden storage boxes containing vegetables launched up in the sky like a rocket and landed in front of the trio.

*THUD*

The potatoes from the box scattered and rolled on the floor before their feet.

"!"

Dumbfounded, they followed the direction where the box took off from and found an ogre five times the size of an average human let out a fierce battle cry.

"ROAR...."

The ogre had a large club made of wood and animal teeth in his hands which it used as a weapon and thrashed through the water barrels at the front.

"ROAR!"

It cried out again to summon more of its clan.

And soon, three more ogres burst out from the trees one after another sending the situation into chaos.

People were running and yelling everywhere while defending against the surprise attack of the ogres. It was dark and they could deduce that unless they neutralize the situation, more would be attracted to the noise.

"You spoke too soon"

Ann muttered, reaching for her sword.

Upfront, she could see Raeden and Jade in the middle of subduing one of the ogres. While Chief Gallahan was evacuating the injured men.

Just then Eugene returned, having come back to retrieve his bow and arrow.

"You're back!" He exclaimed, surprised to find Ann with the twins.

"Look out!"

Ann pulled him towards her and jumped out of the way as two more boxes came flying toward them.

*thud*

"You guys alright?" Ann turned around to check on the twins.

"We're fine"

They answered, completely transformed into their beast forms.

"This is a big one"

Ann got to her feet. Beside her was the cooking book that the twins gave her as a present. It was smeared with dust, under the potatoes.

She picked up the book, dusted it, and placed it on a tree branch for safe keeping.

"So we're good?" Noah asked, standing behind her.

"That day has changed boys. New day. New problems"

Ann unsheathed her sword and got into a defensive stance.

"Let's go!"

With her command, they charged toward the ogres that were wreaking havoc on the camp.

"Grrrr"

The ogre aimed its club on Oliver's head, missing him by an inch.

Oliver slid under its club distracting the ogre while Noah jumped and clawed across its face. But since ogre skins are hard to penetrate, they hardly left a scratch.

"Aim for its head, Eugene!" Ann said, circling behind the ogre.

*thunk* *thunk*

Right on command, Eugene's arrows pierced through the ogre's left eye causing it to shriek in pain. It dropped the club in its hand and flapped around trying to catch Eugene.

It was just when Ann was searching for an opening, that another Ogre attacked her from behind.

*dodge*

Ann used her sword to dodge the attack and she slid back, using the sword to slow herself down.

All of a sudden, an idea struck her mind.

The weapons weren't doing the ogres much damage. But, the ogres were standing in close proximity. If they somehow managed to get the green monsters to hit each other, the blow would be harder.

It would be two ogres in one stone.

"Noah! I have a plan. Make it face this way!"

Ann picked up a piece of rope from a nearby carriage and ran towards the second ogre.

Using Eugene's hand as a boost she threw the loop of the rope as she lunged toward the ogre. Once the rope was around its neck, she pulled it back and firmly landed on its shoulders, riding on the shoulders.

"Whoa!" Ann exclaimed, holding onto the hood that was about to slip down and tightened the rope around the ogre's neck.

The ogre flung its club left and right trying to hit her. It found it hard to breathe as the rope tightened around its neck.

Ann let go of the hood and dodged its hand pulling forward the rope.

"Now!"

On receiving the signal, the twins surrounded the blind ogre that was having a hard time seeing with arrows in its eye socket.

Together they pushed the ogre from its back, using their body to propel it further.

Just as the blind ogre came closer, Ann yanked the rope on the second ogre's neck urging it to reflexively fling its club forward, hitting the blind ogre right on its face.

*BANG*

The blind ogre stumbled on its feet for a bit from the severity of the attack, then fell forward unconscious.

Seeing an opportunity, Ann jumped up in the air and kicked the ogre on his head letting go of the rope.

*BANG*

The ogres crashed into each other and collapsed on the floor lifeless.

"Yeah!"

Noah and Oliver, chest-bumped. Together, the four of them had successfully defeated two of the most powerful creatures in Eldom.

Meanwhile, the other two ogres were successfully subdued by the joint effort of Tullus mercenaries along with Raeden and Jade.

"Well done" Ann applauded, standing on top of the ogres.

*swoosh*

Right then, a strong wind blew knocking away the hood covering Ann's head.

Lustrous platinum blonde hair waved in the air like a butterfly fluttering its wings.

"Look over there!"

The Tullus mercenaries froze and stared at her as Ann stepped down.

"What?" Ann asked, confused by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

She couldn't understand why everyone was gawking at her while there were four giant ogres lying lifeless on the ground.

"Ahem... Your head" Oliver whispered and gestured with his eyes.

"My head?" Ann muttered as she unconsciously reached for her head.

The hood was gone. It must have slipped down when she had not noticed.

"!"

It was then she remembered that the dye had washed off and pulled up the hood in panic.

"Ooops!" Ann laughed awkwardly.

"That... That..." Ezra stammered pointing at Ann.

He couldn't believe his own eyes. He was right. His master was right.

"No way..." He covered his mouth, unable to withstand the shock.

"Still have doubts?"

Kalan's eyes curved as a satisfied smile crept up his lips.

At last.

The fox was out of the sack.