Campfire Talk

To be honest, I didn’t know what happened.

However, the breakthrough ran out, my magic power was gone, my physical strength had been drained and fatigue from the battle against Mantis Toulowe and Dark Valkyrie had reached its limit.

Mother and Sadiz chasing after me. As my legs were too sore to move. I remembered my mother wounded and blood splatter over her body that appeared right before my eyes.

I was so exhausted that I couldn’t resist anymore and left myself to the sleep, and before I knew it, I found myself waking up. I called out with my memories surging, "Mum"

Some kind of magic? The power of mother or Sadiz? It seemed that Enuma was explaining something just before, but now I don’t know what it was.

What the hell was that. I asked, “Wh … what’s going on?”

Then, when I realized it, I woke up again. I was lying on a fluffy sleeping bag. Warm fire was crackling, and I was looking at unfamiliar stars above my head. 

Enuma said, "Awake at last. This is far from the Imperial City. Not even in the Empire."

I replied, “Oh, hiya.”

Enuma scoffed, "You have slept quite a lot. Well, it means you used that much of your power. There is so much afoot and you. if I do say so myself. This is going to be quite the nuisance."

I immediately reacted to waking up, "Mother, is she alright?"

Enuma alleviated my thoughts. "Akari is not just a great hero, but best healer I have ever seen for my centuries of living. She is recovering after healing herself with lot of magic. Resting comfortably next to you."

I looked over and saw the shining lady, she looked as if she was lady of the shining stars. As if she was goddess come to mortal realm. 

I gasped, "What?"

Enuma said, "Tell me about it. It is same woman that messed with my plans. She deceptive and tactical. Also, opposite of your father.  She could even fool the most skeptical."

I was still profound, but curious. "How? The Dark Valkyrie I heard that she is one of the best demons and Six Supremacy. She even was going to take me out because she was able to fight despite my fist ripping through her body." 

Enuma laughed, "Well, best I gather. Akari was going to fight to allow you to escape. The tactician used herself as the bait and even acted as the tank to absorb the damage. It is the same crazy tactics she utilized me when she and Heero the other heroes teamed up against me."

I replied, "Wow, I did not know she was such a force." 

Then Enuma said, "The reason why she got the big slash injury is because of you. You take too much risk. Attacking like you did, put yourself at risk as well as the results beside you."

I felt the guilt, "Sorry"

Enuma replied, "No apologies necessary, you are plenty strong enough for the Six Supremacy. I did not expect it, but your battle experience has improved your growth immensely." 

Then Sadie walked into the tent and spoke, "Oh little man, wakey wakey sleepy head."

I gasped, "Sadie!!"

Sadie chuckled, "It actually nighttime, and please keep quiet. Let Lady Akari rest. Little man, you had us worried. Yet you have grown so strong."

She beckoned me to step out and come to the campfire. 

I got up and walked up, feeling fresh and smelled the nice crisp toasting of the firewood. As it crackled and snaped in the night of fire.

The girls were there sitting around the fire. Princess and Vin were already looking at me. They looked like they were holding back but were ready to burst. 

I said, "Umm, hiya. How did you all meet?"

Uriko and Vin were doing their best to stay calm, but I unleashed their bottled emotions ""Eh!!!?""

Sadie replied, "You jerk, is that all you have to say for yourself" 

I replied, "I am sorry that I made you cry back then."

Sadie blushed, "That is not your fault."

Uriko and Vin ran to gather around me, with much teary eyes. 

The princess asked bunch of questions, "Why did you leave? How did you hide from all the patrols? How did you get that green power? Where did you run into that?"

Vin at the same time said, "Honey, are you okay? Can I make you some more rice balls? Let me know, I will keep these big-boob bimbos away so you can properly rest. 

Sadie stepped in, and silenced them, "Please calm down."

Then Sadie said to me, "Have a seat, I made some beef jerky for us to snack on. There is coffee too."

The four of us sat around the campfire, and I asked, "How long has my mother been recovering?"

Sadie replied, "Big sis has been using her healing since we ended the fight with the Dark Valkyrie."

Uriko said, "Yamidere...Six Supremacy. Terran, you took out Yamidere so quickly, how?"

I got butterflies, as I replied. "I trained so hard for the past couple months. I was determined to take next step and breakthrough. Not to catch up with my father but surpass him."

Sadie chimed in, "He was training so much till he dropped or started bleeding." 

Vin said, "Of course, Honey is the strongest. A little effort and pain is nothing to him. Honey, Can I get you a pillow or anything?"

Terran stuttered, "I-I guess. Still all that hard work and training. I cause so much pain."

Sadie replied, "It does not matter, I rather suffer such tears just so I can see you bloom, little man."

I fluttered at hearing such words. The mere notion of self-sacrifice for me made me swoon. The other women notice it too. 

Vin said Uriko, "Sorry for confusing you for her, it felt like you were the woman of his dr-"

Suddenly stopped talking, Vin tried to change the topic. Vin said, "Honey, the princess did an excellent job of caring for you while you were resting from exhaustion."

 I replied, "So you got to introduce yourself to everyone?"

Uriko blushed and stuttered badly with a reply "Ah! Shhss, I-I did my best with the situation so dire." 

I decided to ask, "Why did you all come to Unaidan? I did not expect anyone to follow me so easily." 

Enuma said in my thoughts, "This should be good."

Sadie was the one to reply, "Well, Big sis decided that we needed to track you down. The princess came up with a brilliant plan to get past the lockdown at Imperial City. I thought it was best to head to Unaidan as I was expecting you to find a place to earn money, which the city of merchants was probably best option in your situation."

Uriko asked, "Why did you hit your father?"

I was stunned; I had forgot that I did such a thing. My memories flooded back quickly, and I replied, "I was so upset, he never participated in my training. Yet, suddenly tried to start acting like a father after I was successfully fighting Reval. I could not contain myself, plus I realized I was never going to get rid of the title Son of the Hero." 

The women all were astonished, hearing the words from my mouth. The moniker was such a bothersome but to drive someone to such a state. 

Sadie spoke up first. "I am sorry that I did not notice you were in such turmoil."

Uriko said, "I wish I knew you better. I could have helped." 

I replied, "That is not for you to face, I was the one that did not live up to my father's reputation. I was determined to beat it to submission."

Uriko blushed, "Does not mean you could not come to me. I definitely wanted to help rather you face such pain."

Vin also chimed in, "Do not worry honey, I will be there for you. Whenever, I will face it with you."

Uriko turned to Vin, "Stoke family is more than welcome to help ME, when I assist Terran."

 The rivalry is still heated, almost making the campfire irrelevant source of heat at this cool calm night. 

Sadie asked me, "Have you calmed down? We can return home and make amends and support you better."

It was exactly what I always wanted. Yet now it was not enough. I was not ready to go home. 

I was feeling nervous, determined. I said, "I cannot just go home yet, there is so much more I need to see, and just like this city Unaidan. There is much I want to experience. I am Terran Kamina, not the son of the hero. I need the let the world know that." 

Enuma smirked, "Hoh~"

The women all had glistening eyes as the experience my plead for becoming my own man. 

That is when my mother could be heard behind us. Akari saying, "I see, seems that you just need an adventure. It makes sense, it was the perfect time for me and Heero and others to fight for humanity. We did have that hunger to do something important."

Sadie came up the lady Akari, saying. "Big sis, you need to keep resting."

Akari replied, "I will be fine for the moment. However, it is true. I need to return home to rest. Terran, I recommend you go join the Hunter's Guild."

I replied, "I already tried, I did not have my ID. So, they did not let me register."

Akari turned to Sadie. Sadie pulled out his ID and handed to him. 

Akari said, "I recommend you head east to Unai City, register there. I will return home to rest and stop the search. It is for best for you, but don't forget your mother. I will be worried sick I you don't come home." 

Akari spoked to Sadie, "We will rest for the night, then please escort me back to Imperial city." 

Sadie confirmed, "Yes madam."

The others then spoke up, their desire to help and adventure was oozing off their faces.  Uriko said, "Terran, I will come too. We will become hunters together."
Vin said, "If that is your desire, I will join your party, and we will adventure forever."

Uriko and Vin looked at each other and glared with more rival intensity. 

Akari said, "Oh my, Terran please take care of these girls on your trip. Sadie, we will have to swing back and collect the others before returning."

I was so glad that I was allowed to go join the Hunter's guild, Then I gasped at the idea of these intense and scary women dictating my every moment, that I almost regretted not returning home. 

I replied, "Mom. I did not need that." 

Akari winked, "Rejected, you have a big responsibility, I will need an army to stop Emperor Solja from cause havoc, if you decline to take care of the princess."

Enuma said "This is will definitely make thing livelier. However, it is exactly what we wanted. We get a strong party that could accomplish any task."

 I stood up at the campfire and declared, "Well. It is time to go make a big name. That the world will recognize our names."

Sadie pushed me back into my seat, saying, "Tomorrow! Rest up and I will have breakfast ready at dawn. 

Then Sadie moved to escort Akari back to the tent to allow her to rest up. I looked over at Vin, she was almost salivating. Crazy woman was keeping a diary and now going to sleep right next to me. 

Then I turned to the side to look at the princess. She was going to be the bigger problem. Since if anything happened to her and royal blood line. I was definitely doomed. 

She wore satin and lace outfit that was no longer covered by her armor. I did not know if it was what Enuma said a while ago, or the moon light and campfire.

Her beauty was there to inspire as she stared up at the night sky. 

She was loving the night in the grasp of a soft-lit fire.