Clunk

The sun was high in the sky when the party of two plus a golem finally stopped, its rays casting a golden glow upon the clearing that they'd chosen as their rest. It wasn't too far from the road, and a small creek ran through the center of it, lending a soothing ambience of water and wind.

The warrior sat down on a fallen log, wiping the sweat from her brow. Citrine followed suit, although she conjured a stony stool for herself instead before continuing their latest conversation.

"Wait, so you're telling me you've only been like this for a year?" she asked, gesturing to Ferris's overall appearance.

"Um, sorta?" Ferris admitted, scratching her cheek, although she did seem hesitant. "Technically, it started maybe a year after we all parted ways—tried to find options here and there, none of them worked that well. A year ago was just when I'd found something."

"Something?" Citrine echoed, her ears twitching curiously. "Did it involve life magic? Perhaps something from a mage or an alchemist? Permanent transformation techniques are rare. I know Larkspur's always searching for new tricks that might—"

"It's… complicated." The warrior's gaze shifted away. "I'd prefer not to talk about it right now it if that's alright with you. I'll eventually, but uh, I think it's something a bit hard to discuss on such short notice. More suited for a long quiet moment, you know?" Her fingers fiddled in her lap.

"Of course," the half-elf quickly stated, inquisitiveness turning to amazement. "I just didn't expect a year to be all it took. You look beautiful."

The warrior's cheeks flushed, and her eyes darted to the ground, almost as if trying to hide.

"Th-thank you. I uh, appreciate it. Especially from you."

"From me?" Citrine's ears lifted, suddenly realizing how her comment could be taken. "I was just stating an objective fact. But erm, what do you mean by that?"

"…Nothing. Nevermind." The warrior coughed, looking to the side as her cheeks now fully resembled garnet in hue. "Just that it means a lot to me, is all."

"…?" The half-elf's mind began to run with the response, but before she could get anywhere—

*THUNK*

The mini golem dropped the pack it was holding to the ground next to her, offering its contents.

"…Huh? Oh, thanks," the half-elf sighed. She patted its head, before rummaging through for a waterskin and a few other things for their break.

The construct gave a nod, then plopped itself down beside her.

"A-anyways, are you two hungry?" Ferris asked, seemingly eager to move on from the topic as she pulled out some rations and tossed them over.

"Me? Yes. The golem though? Don't be silly," Citrine deadpanned. "It can't eat."

*clunk* The construct's head shifted downwards in some fashion that vaguely resembled dejection.

"Oh quit it. It's not like you're missing out," the shopkeeper chastised, preparing two cups of tea over the fire agate she brought. "You have no taste buds, after all."

*clunk*

"…" The warrior's lips thinned as she watched the stone construct get back up and wander away.

"Uh, Citrine? I think it's… sulking."

She spared a glance before tending back to the now boiling water. "Ignore it. They just do that for attention. Been happening more often for some reason."

The half-elf poured a cup for both of them, then steeped one of the new 'tea-pouches' Larkspur had invented in each. To think that they could enjoy tea without a strainer now, all because Durma had complained one too many times…

"Here, try this. It should help with any fatigue." Citrine handed it over once the water had taken on enough color.

Ferris took it, although her eyes lingered a moment on the mini golem before indulging a sip. "Thank you—Wait, what kind of tea is this?"

"Strawberry rosehip. It's the one you liked best, isn't it?"

"Y-yeah." The warrior's cheeks reddened. "I'm surprised you remembered that."

"And why is that?" Citrine took a drink from her own cup. The taste was tart, sweet, and a touch bitter. "The least I could do as party leader was remember each of your preferences. Larkspur's was chamomile tea with honey, and Durma enjoyed kukicha the easternlings make."

"…" Ferris's eyes softened at the mentions. "I'm not sure if I'm more impressed or embarrassed. It's been so long."

"Five years isn't that long. But eh, it's a habit—remembering things. My father always stressed the role of long-lived races." Citrine smiled wryly. "Besides, you're one to talk. You remembered my weakness of cinnamon cookies."

"Well, I… I suppose." Ferris took a bite of jerky, glancing back to the construct. "Say, Citrine?"

"Mmm?" the half-elf mumbled, finishing her cup.

"Does he have a name?"

"Name? Who, the golem?"

The construct's gem eyes blinked.

Ferris nodded. "Yeah. I mean, you've probably had the three of them for a long time, haven't you? It makes sense for you to give them names."

Citrine gaze flattened, blank. "No? They're constructs. I've always just referred to them as one, two, and three. Made them in that order."

"That's a little cold though, don't you think?" the ogrelyn said, shifting on her log.

"I don't see the issue."

"…" Ferris didn't reply immediately. Her eyes seemed to be looking for words, and the warrior's hands fumbled around with her tea, playing with the cup.

"I'd like to dub him… Clunk." The ogrelyn glanced at Citrine. "May I?"

"I… do as you like." The shopkeep shrugged, her ears twitching as if she were swatting an invisible fly. It didn't really matter either way.

Ferris grinned and reached over at the affirmation, motioning for the golem to get closer once again. "You hear that, buddy? You've got a name now!"

*CLUNK* It cautiously wandered back over, strangely energetic in its movements now.

The half-elf crossed her arms. "Just don't get too attached. Remember, they're more tools animated by me than sentient beings. Once I'm gone, they'll probably just crumble."

"…"

Silence fell over the clearing like a shroud as the warrior's smile faded, and the construct's head turned to her blankly.

*sigh* Citrine deflated, realizing that once again, her words had gotten the better of her.

"It's problematic that the others aren't here to reprimand me. Tongue's getting too loose," Citrine grumbled to herself, unwrapping some of the bread she'd been tossed earlier.

"…Reprimanded? Do you mean like the time Durma squirreled away that rock you found because you didn't thank the spirits first?"

The geomancer tilted her head as she chewed, half surprised by the sudden memory. "Mmm? Not sure if that's the same. That was a wonderful geode that didn't deserve to be buried for another century. It was asking to be liberated."

"You literally just needed to say a few words first though."

Citrine's nose wrinkled in displeasure. "Words I didn't have time to say because a certain ogrelyn warrior had gotten herself tangled up in the roots of an elder treant. I only had enough time to do one thing in-between spells, and—"

"WAIT, that's when you found it? Mid-fight?! C-Citrine, that thing was basically groping me!"

"Yes, yes. You were being very indecent." She waved off the statement, ignoring the strange look the golem was giving her and her own stirring recollection of the moment. "Still, I had to prioritize. I could either rescue my dear friend from a tree monster and free an innocent stone, or I could say a few words and free an innocent stone. I chose the former."

"…" A beat of silence passed, the wind whistling through the grass as her answer settled in.

"You damn Rockelf! How come freeing the stone is the shared priority between the two options?"

Citrine's ears twitched again, thrown off by her sharpness as pink bloomed on her cheeks. "W-what? It was a nice geode."

"More important than your friends, huh?"

"No! Well. Yes and no." She crossed her arms. "If it wasn't one of my favorite geological formations, I would've ignored it. Plus, it wasn't like you were in danger. You murdered so many stones upon your abs before. You can't expect me to believe your body couldn't handle some old, wooden roots."

Another pause fell, this time Ferris looking a bit stricken. "I-I thought I said not to bring the abs thing up again! And 'murdered', really?! Is that your true feelings on the matter, Citrine?!"

"N-no, of course not. That was a jest—the 'murder' part at least, not the fact I wasn't worried about you." She started biting into a hunk of fruitloaf, struggling to suppress any undue emotions.

Ferris's eyes narrowed, then she let out a huff, turning to the golem. "Clunk, is your mother always this mean?"

*clunk*

She did a spit take, crumbs of half-chewed bread spraying out from her mouth.

"M-mother?" The half-elf immediately began wiping her mouth with her sleeve.

"Yeah? That's what you are to him, right?"

"No. He's a golem. Just a golem."

"…" The warrior's expression remained deadpan with a hint of pity. "I'm sorry, little one. You heard the woman. She's denying you love. How cruel of her."

Its head tilted downward.

"Please stop that." Citrine sighed, desperately trying to make sense of what her friend was doing.

Ferris pouted. "No. You managed to convince me to try be more honest—to show the real me—so I'm gonna attempt it, even if I still don't really know who that is. And I think that Clunk here needs a mother."

"…I do not approve of this change."

"Well, too bad. No take backs. And I'm going to be a better mother than you if you refuse to be." The ogrelyn turned away and went back to eating her food. "Always wanted that. To be a mother. You have any objections, Clunk?"

*knock-knock*

The golem shook its head, seemingly approving.

"…How is it that within mere hours, you've gone from heavy-handed insecurity to… this?"

Ferris gave a sidelong glance, lips pressed tight in a smirk. "Like I said, you did ask for the real me. Now, to get our son a surname that's suitable for him—"

The half-elf stood up, turning away to hide her flushed cheeks at the implication. "That's it. We're leaving. Right now. No more stops until night."

"H-huh? But I haven't finished—"

"I'm sure you can manage." Citrine packed up her things and grabbed the bag, levitating the other things onto the golem. "Come, Clu—I mean, golem. Let's go."

"…"

*clunk*