Let's Set Off Together

Rustling noises and a drawn-out yawn told me that my tent-mate had awoken. I opened my eyes and turned to look at Finely, who was already up fixing her gear. A knife fastened to her right thigh, a handaxe at her left hip, and a sword on her back made up her arsenal.

She adjusted the goggles on her head and checked the ties holding her hair up in bundles. She noticed me analyzing her and turned to face me with a smile.

“Morning, ghostie. Get any shut-eye?”

“No… turns out I don’t need sleep.” I rubbed my neck sheepishly.

“How about hunger, you feel anything like that?”

“Ah… no…”

“That’s too bad, we’ve got a really great cook here. He used to work for the King— before he passed. Well, you should head to the meeting tent and wait for Matthias. I’ll be there after a quick meal.”

Finley’s eyes shone, and she rubbed her hands together as she dashed outside. I floated out the back of the tent, uneager to be seen. I was immediately met by the sounds of people walking to and fro, children playing, and metal clinking. I resisted the urge to peer over the tents at them and solemnly continued toward the meeting tent.

I hesitated when seeing the fastened shut tent flaps. I mentally facepalmed when I remembered my ghostly state and entered the tent from the side. The inside was dark, and the sounds outside became muffled. I stared at the dark shapes that resembled lamps, wishing I could light them with my mind.

In the dark space, I began to notice that my body emitted a soft light. Although the light wasn’t enough to fill the room, I could see clearly now where I was standing. A spear was sticking out of my abdomen. I mentally yelped and jumped away from it, turning back to see a crate of broken weapons on the ground.

A clicking sound came from behind me as light filled the room. I whipped around to see Matthias smirking at me from beside the table. I crossed my arms while he bit on what looked to be a piece of jerky in his hand.

“You know… I usually sleep in… but I decided to wake up early and catch you in the act. Imagine my surprise when I found out you were less of a conniving weasel… and more of a… skittish finch.” He insulted me between bites with an unmistakable mischief in his colorless eyes.

“Right, well, at least I’m not a spineless coward hiding in the bushes while my companion risks her life on the front line.”

I have no idea how to trash-talk, but I’m not gonna let some jerk treat me like a punching bag!

“Spineless, huh? Rich, coming from someone who doesn’t even have one. How does someone lose their body, anyways?”

“I—! Uh, ack…”

The entrance of the tent opened up, and Finley strolled in. She eyed us with an eyebrow raised before shutting the flaps. I folded my hands behind my back and looked over to Matthias, who acted like nothing happened.

“Alright, you two. If we’re gonna head out, I have a few rules. Rule number one: no needless arguments. I like partners that can keep cool heads. Rule number two: you, stay where I can see you.” She eyes me sternly before turning to Matthias.

“Rule number three: No bullying the ghostie. We’re a team now, whether you like it or not.”

Matthias made a look that said ‘Are you kidding me?!,' and I had to stifle a giggle when I received an intense one-eyed glare from Finley. She sighed heavily and leaned back against the table.

“Look, this hasn’t been going on very long. In a few short months, we’ve already lost a lot of people, and our enemies are only getting stronger. We need to hurry and find an upper hand. Let’s not take any chances.”

Her words struck a chord, and the room fell into silence. I looked up to see Matthias pulling his hood over his head and tightening the strap on his quiver.

“Don’t just float there. You heard the woman; we can’t wait another moment.” He strode out the door, and Finley gestured for me to follow.

I slid out and waited for Finley to join. When she stepped out, she signaled for us to move behind the tents. We snuck through the encampment and entered the forest. Finley stretched her body, extending her fingertips to the sky.

“Huu, it’s great to finally be out and about again. Don’t you think so too, Matthias?” She winked at Matthias, who was currently stretching his shoulders.

“You two don’t usually leave the camp? I would’ve thought the rebellion’s leader would be out often, looking for new advantages and recruits.”

“Rebellion’s leader, haha, yeah…”

Finely avoided eye contact and busied herself with the handaxe fastened to her belt. I raised an eyebrow at Matthias, and he turned to me with a sarcastic smile.

“Maybe Finley should’ve told you. Ever since her grandfather died, the rebellion has slowed down. No one really leads us anymore, aside from the elders. We still stay together, but people aren’t so eager to risk their lives anymore. Every time Finley calls for action, she gets kicked to guard duty by the elders. They call her a ‘bad influence,’ and instead they teach the kids how to run away from danger.”

Run away… For some reason, I really hate that phrase. If only I could remember.

“Don’t look so glum, ghostie. We’re gonna find that unbeatable magic, bring it back, shove it in their ugly mugs, and make them see reason again. For Solagard!”

Finley pumped her left fist in the air, Matthias following with half-enthusiasm. I slightly raised my own left fist and Finley marched through the trees. I rushed to follow her while Matthias traveled slightly behind us.

Birds flew into the sky as Finley marched ahead of us. The forest was filled with the sounds of chirping crickets and rustling leaves. Pink flowers rested in the bushes, occasionally visited by small bees. I looked up to find the light needle, but the bright, pale sky and tall trees made it difficult.

“So, ghostie. What’s your story?”

I snapped to face a bright-eyed Finley and struggled to remember anything useful. Faye’s memories of her smiling parents flashed through my mind, and I began to grow jealous of her happiness.

What am I supposed to say, when I can’t remember anything from my own life? Was I ever happy, back then? Or did I come here to get away from a painful life? Do I even want to remember anymore?

“We all have some… not-so-good moments in our lives. But if we keep them all held inside and push them down, we’ll never be able to face ourselves when it matters most.”

Finley fiddled with the cuffs on her gloves. I glanced at Matthias, who also appeared to be deep in thought. An ache formed in my chest and I peered up at the sky, uncertain of how to respond.

“Ah, but you shouldn’t feel pressured to tell me anything. We barely know each other.”

“It… It’s alright. Who knows how long we’ll be stuck with each other? I want you two to trust me if we face danger.”

Even if this all ends when I find the Welcome Hub, even if they don’t remember me in the full release, I know how I feel. If I could make a party, I’d definitely want an NPC like Finley at my side. She reminds me of someone, I just can’t remember who.

“Town ahead, brace yourselves. Finley, the creature is going to stick out. What’s the plan?”

“You grew up in a wizard house. We can tell ‘em she’s your ghostie companion!”

“Arcane Sanctuary— and that would make her an undead servant.”

“Yeah, all those fancy words.”

Matthias groaned at Finley’s response. He took a moment to think, before a concerning smirk formed on his face.

“If you really want this plan to work, you should know that undead servants don’t speak. That means the ghostie has to keep her mouth shut.”

“Hmm… I guess that’s true. Sorry, ghostie, but do you think you could keep your mouth shut for now?”

“…”

“Perfect!”

As soon as Finley turned away from me, I glared at Matthias. He smiled cheekily while I hovered over to his side. My dropped shoulders perked up as the town came into view. Swirling purple fog seeped out of a tower’s windows.

“Looks like we have our work cut out for us. That is the result of a botched dark incantation. If anyone can understand Eris’s magic, it has to be… a warlock.”