Make a plan.

"I guess we have ****," you mumble beneath your breath. "Maybe we stand more of a chance with you here, RF."

Yin looks up to you. "I can get some papers and things, master!"

Though just before she can hustle off, you grab her attention. "Yin? I actually have a question. When you first came here, you appeared in this cloud of smoke, but since then, you've been running all over the place. I guess I'm a little confused what that was if it wasn't a teleportation ability of some sort."

She turns and purses her lips. "W-Well, it is. But thought it would be rude of me to continue using it under my new master. You aren't used to my kind, and I didn't want to fill your air with smoke."

You let out a deep exhale. "You don't have to hold back, Yin. Feel free to teleport all you want. I can get used to the scent of brimstone once in awhile."

"Really? You don't mind?" She looks to you with a sparkle in her eyes, as if it's some outstanding thing you've said.

"I don't mind."

She smiles and suddenly vanished into a plume of black smoke. After a moment, she reappears in the same location, but her arms are filled with papers, writing instruments, and a map, all of which she places down on the table in the middle of the room. She then turns to you and bows politely before backing away.

"Thanks," you say and then approach the pile. You push most of it to the side and start looking over the map. "By what Koblix said, there's some kind of cave right around here, through the forest."

"Ah. The Cackling Woods," Rabbit's Foot speaks up. "And going around it would take a lot of time."

Amara speaks up. "And they would possibly know we were coming, if they use the long route as well."

Eva leans over the table cross from you--barely contained chest hanging down straight forwards from your gaze. "It's basically halfway from here to the capital city too. Closer I think. We wouldn't have to go through the woods if we continued onwards and went there after, and there'd be no threat anymore anyway... unless we don't beat them."

The room goes silent for a moment.

"Uh. We can beat them, right?" you ask.

Rabbit's Foot poses dramatically, and her confident smile is rather contagious, as silly as she might look. "Of course we can! With the five of us and the right plan, we'll surprise them and take them down before they even know we're there. Think about this too. We'll be taking down someone who serves a demon king. Take that information to the queen, heroes."

"We should go over what we know," Amara suggests.

"All right." You think for a moment. "So there will be at least four obstacles to cross that we know about. The first is the gremlins, which are incredibly quick, can cut through most things with ease, and are able to leap a few stories into the air. Second, at least two succubi, but possibly more, and it seems like different succubi have different powers. Third, a catfolk assassin with magical arrows that cause people to enter states of overwhelming lust. And last, there's Mistress Dajy, a high succubus that leads them."

"And that's all the goblin told us," Niki says. "There could be more, but I think we can take them. Dodge tiny claws, don't get shot by arrows, and uh... smash the succubi!"

"Amazing plan," you reply.

"Thanks," she says, not at all understanding your sarcasm.

RF places her finger on the forest. "But before all that, we need to contest with the pixies of the Cackling Woods."

"So what do pixies do?" you ask.

"From what I've heard, they aren't hostile in the same sense as say gremlins, but they're overwhelmingly mischievous at times. Some say people will enter the forest and then never come back out."

You lay down the papers and begin sketching out routes your party can take. Though some of your companions chime in, it seems that none of them have any real experience with doing such a thing. Even Niki, who has been adventuring for some time, knows little about planning or cartography. It doesn't really matter how good or bad you are, they all seem quite impressed. They watch with interest as you figure out the best solution your mind can muster--the fastest path, how long it should take, provisions required, etc.

It's at this time you start to think about how far you've already come, and not just your level. You're dealing with what's coming at you with more maturity than when you first arrived, and it's beginning to feel more normal--more like home. Much of it is frustrating, and you're worried for your life, but you're making do.

"Hey, uhm. May I help?" Eva suddenly asks. She wiggles in close beside you, bumping her hip against yours. "I may not have much experience with this, but I still remember some about how to read maps from my studies."

It's warm, how close she is beside you. "I'm actually just about done," you reply.

You then notice Amara standing politely on your other side. Though she doesn't slip in as aggressively, she looks to you with her hands crossed in front of her waist, and her sweet expression causes you to blush. She smiles. "Perhaps I may be of help as well?"

"Really, I'm--"

Then Niki comes up, wrapping her arms around you. The metal of her breastplate digs painfully into your back and she squeezes tightly. "Hey! I'm not useless. Let me help, Kyle. Unlike these two, I've actually been out on the road, fighting monsters in the wilds. I can tell you what threats we might run into."

Meanwhile, Yin stands on the other side of the table, fidgeting uncomfortably in place. She pushes her fingers together and looks to you with pleading eyes. "M-Master... I am here to serve you, so please allow me to help instead."

Your pen falls from your hand onto the paper. "Guys. You made me scribble all over. Can we just move away for a moment?"

Rabbit's Foot lets out a hearty chuckle as she watches from behind. "You know what, Kyle? You have the most interesting party I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."