"Because sooner or later the races are coming back."
Saying that, Stan’s expression became more serious. "And when that happens, I refuse to be ignorant."
Camilla remained silent.
"So my offer is simple." Stan met her gaze. "Come with me."
A faint breeze moved through the cavern as Stan continued; "I want you to act as my guide."
Camilla’s eyebrows rose slightly in surprise, "Your guide?"
"Yes. And my comrade."
For the first time since the conversation began, Stan’s voice carried no humor.
"I don’t know enough about your people. I don’t know enough about the werewolves. I don’t know enough about the beastkins." He spread his hands as he added with finality, "But you do."
Camilla stared at him. The request was surprisingly straightforward. No demands. No orders. No attempt to leverage whatever mysterious binding now existed between them.
Just a genuine offer. The silence stretched.
Then, unexpectedly, she smiled. A real smile. Not predatory or mocking. She was simply amused.
"Do you know what your problem is, human?"
"I have many. You’ll need to be more specific."
"You ask impossible things as though they are perfectly reasonable."
"I find life easier that way."
Camilla shook her head. Then she surprised him; "We’ll see about that... Anyways, I accept."
Stan blinked. That answer had come far more easily than he expected.
"You do?"
"Yes."
"Just like that?"
"Not just like that, I have my reasons." Saying that, Camilla’s gaze drifted toward the distant world beyond the glacier.
Her expression softened slightly as she began; "You see, there is something you fail to understand."
"And what’s that?"
She looked back at him; "For years, I’ve listened to stories."
"Stories?"
"My ancestors spoke endlessly about Earth."
Her crimson eyes seemed distant.
"The sky."
"The oceans."
"The mountains."
"The human civilizations and their blood which were the best delicacies"
"The Age of Dao."
A faint smile touched her lips. "I grew up hearing about this world."
Her gaze swept across the cavern as she took a calm breath and said, "And now I finally stand in it."
She looked at Stan; "So yes."
Her smile widened slightly.
"I am curious."
"About me?"
"A little."
Stan grinned.
"Don’t flatter yourself." She scoffed and pointed toward the world outside.
"I am curious about Earth."
The grin however still remained on his face as he said, "That still counts."
Camilla sighed. "Unfortunately."
Then she shrugged; "Besides, wherever you go, interesting things seem to happen."
Stan couldn’t argue with that. "So."
Her gaze met his.
"Wherever you go next, I intend to follow. At least for a while, I want to sightsee this world before going back to my realm. There should still be some time before the portal closes..."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"It’s only because you are, without question, the most interesting individual I have encountered since leaving the pocket realm, I want to understand how a human with such an interesting artifact can exist in such a mundane world..."
Stan considered her. Her favorability sat at eighty. She was bound as one of his harem members.
One of the most powerful beings he had ever encountered. And now, perhaps more importantly, she had chosen to walk beside him of her own will. For Stan, that was worth far more than any Spirit Pool.
Shaking those thoughts off his mind, Stan nodded; "Alright then let’s go."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking toward the mouth of the cave.
For a moment, Camilla remained where she stood. Then she followed. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly through the cavern.
As they approached the exit, Camilla spoke again.
"Do not misunderstand."
Stan sighed. "There it is."
Her eyes narrowed; "The Spirit Pool paid for my protection of you."
"I know."
"Our transaction was completed the moment I obtained it."
"I know."
Camilla folded her arms. "Good."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then she added, "However..."
Stan waited.
Her expression became slightly uncomfortable as she continued; "After thinking about it, I have concluded that I benefited more than you did."
That admission seemed to physically pain her.
"The Spirit Pool would’ve been useless to me without your artifact."
Stan remained silent.
"And without you, I would’ve eventually faced far more trouble claiming it than I care to admit."
The vampire looked away; "So it would be unfair to pretend otherwise."
Stan blinked. "And because of that?"
Camilla’s expression immediately hardened; "Do not interrupt."
"Sorry."
She ignored him; "So I am willing to consider us comrades."
A smile immediately appeared on Stan’s face; "That sounds suspiciously like gratitude."
Camilla’s eyes narrowed; "It is not."
"Right."
"It is an objective assessment of the situation."
"Of course it is."
"Do not ruin the moment, human."
"I wouldn’t dream of it."
"You are doing it right now."
Stan wisely decided not to continue that line of conversation.
Anyways, Camilla continued in the same cold tone.
"Before the portal dissipates, I will return to my realm."
"That makes sense."
"You coming with me?"
"I have some things to prepare before going..."
"Whatever human, I’ll be going back in a few hours, If you eventually enter the pocket realm, seek me out."
Stan glanced at her. "Seek you out?"
"You wanted a guide."
"Fair,"
"I am willing to provide one." Her eyes narrowed.
"That does not mean I intend to spend years searching for a reckless human."
"How considerate of you."
Camilla ignored him; "So if you wish for a guide, survive long enough to find me."
Stan chuckled even though he actually took this seriously within; "I’ll do my best."
"You should."
By now the mouth of the cave was now only a short distance away.
Beyond it stretched an endless sea of white ice and snow beneath the Antarctic sky.
Camilla’s gaze lingered on the distant horizon for a moment before she spoke once more.
"And one more thing."
Stan immediately became suspicious.
"What now?"
Her crimson eyes met his. "I agreed to be your comrade."
"Yes."
"I agreed but do not become overly comfortable because of that."
Stan opened his mouth, but closed it again, deciding to keep silent..
"Good."
A faint look of satisfaction appeared on her face. Then she turned and continued walking.
Stan stared at her retreating figure. For someone who claimed to be above him, she certainly enjoyed doing this.
The two of them stepped out of the ice cave together. A freezing wind swept across the glacier.
And for reasons he could not fully explain, Stan suddenly felt a cold chill run down his spine.
Somehow, he had the distinct feeling that agreeing to travel with Camilla was going to create an entirely new category of problems.
Unfortunately, it was far too late to change his mind now.