By Your Side

Sachi laid back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Something only I can do? What can I do for Himari?

Itsuki came in the room with a tray of breakfast. "You doing okay?"

Sachi sat up, releasing a deep sigh. "I don't know what I can do for her... Himari has always been so bright and energetic since I met her, to see her like this is painful... Not to mention, I don't really know what happened to Nobu. I'm scared to know..."

"Want to tell me about them?"

Sachi told Itsuki all about her travels with Himari and Nobu and how they came from the sky through the cloud barrier as they ate breakfast.

"Sounds like the three of you got close fast-"

Itsuki was interrupted by the large and rapid ringing of a bell. She quickly got up and ran out of the room. 

Sachi chased after her. "What's going on?"

"I would really suggest you stay inside!" Itsuki yelled back as she ran out of the tavern.

Despite Itsuki's words, Sachi followed her outside. 

Outside, the wind was strong, stronger and fiercer than it was in the cloud barrier. It howled across the open fields, tearing through the trees and flattening the crops with a feral hunger. The sky darkened as the air thickened. Columns of wind spiraled down from the sky, clawing at the earth like the fingers of a wrathful god. Tornadoes formed - black, snarling beasts of wind and debris. Trees uprooted, pieces of land upheaved, buildings shaking and fighting to stay together. 

The ocean raged in response. Furious winds whipped the surface into froth and the sea rose in defiance. Waves swelled to monstrous heights, crashing against the shore and boats with a deafening boom. Then, driven by the winds, the ocean surged forward, a wall of water racing toward the village. Unstoppable force ready to drown all in its path.

The villagers, including Itsuki, quickly gathered around the outskirts of the village, surrounding it in a circle. They stomped their feet against the trembling earth. The ground responded to their call. A tremor pulsed outward in a wide circle and the soil began to rise. Each villager summoned the ground to hear their call and the earth answered. Chunks of earth surged up, fusing together, forming a massive earthen dome around the entire village. It rose like a protective shell, impenetrable, and humming with the raw power of earth magic. 

Outside the dome, the wind screamed, and the waves crashed against the dome, but the barrier stood strong.

Once the storm subsided, the villagers began to clean up the debris and fix anything that was broken or destroyed from the storm.

Itsuki found her way back to the frozen in place Sachi.

Sachi was amazed at how quickly and smoothly the villagers protected their village. "Does this happen often?"

"Not really. Only started happening recently as a response to the prophecy I would imagine."

"By the way you all reacted it seemed so natural."

"Well, the people here care for the village so of course it's only natural that we would try to protect it."

Itsuki returned to the tavern with Sachi following closely behind her. 

When they entered the tavern, Itsuki's younger siblings ran up to her and hugged her tight.

Itsuki chuckled as she hugged them all close. "Were you all scared? You don't ever have to be scared with me here. I'll protect you."

Something in Sachi's mind clicked. For many years, Nobu was by Himari's side protecting her. Sachi wasn't sure what happened to Nobu, but she was sure of one thing. Himari was hurting. How scared and alone she must feel right now. 

Sachi ran upstairs to Himari's room.

She didn't know what she was going to say or do, but she wanted to be by Himari's side, just like Himari was always on her side. 

Sachi gently entered the room and looked upon Himari who continued to look out the window. She carefully approached the bed and sat beside Himari. Sachi noticed again the black feather in Himari's hand. 

Sachi placed her hand on top of Himari's. "Himari. I'm here... I'm know you're hurting right now and that's okay. You don't have to be okay right now. You don't need to tell me anything. You don't need to do anything. You were there for me when I really needed someone and since then you have always been by my side. I don't think I could ever repay your kindness. But I hope you know. I am here for you, and I will always be on your side no matter what."

Himari didn't look at Sachi or say anything, she just continued to stare out the window. 

Sachi sat in silence with Himari, not letting go of her hand. They sat together like that for the rest of the day. Once night came, Sachi helped put Himari to bed and then went to look for Itsuki.

Sachi found Itsuki helping in the kitchen. "Itsuki, can I ask a favor?"

Itsuki continued chopping the food. "Sure, what's up?"

"The other day I saw there were horses in town. Do you know how to ride one?"

"Sure, I do."

"Can you teach me?"

Itsuki looked up from the cutting board. "What's brought this on?"

"Himari likes to feel the wind against her face. I thought maybe I could take her on a ride sometime and that might help her feel better..."

Itsuki smiled. "You two seem like really good friends. I'll teach you and I do hope it helps. I'll tell ya what. I have to go to the capital tomorrow for an errand. I'll teach you in the morning and then you'll take us to the capital in the afternoon."

"Huh?! I can't possibly learn in just one morning."

Itsuki chuckled. "Of course you can, it's fairly easy, how hard can it be?"

-

After an hour of trying, Sachi still couldn't properly mount the horse. She either didn't have enough force to get on or too much force that she'd fall off the other side.

Itsuki stood there watching in disbelief. "I've never seen anyone struggle to mount a horse before..."

"I'm trying but I really am no good at anything remotely athletic." Sachi whined as she dusted the dirt off her clothes after falling again. 

Itsuki sighed and stomped her foot into the ground. The earth beneath Sachi rose and lifted her up onto the horse. "Okay now grab on to the reigns, you'll use them to guide and communicate with the horse."

Itsuki continued to teach and guide Sachi to ride the horse safely. Once Itsuki was confident enough that Sachi had a good understanding, they prepared for departure.

Itsuki said goodbye to her younger siblings as they whined and begged her not to go. "Now now, no tears. I'll be back. I always come home, don't I?"

Sachi spoke with Itsuki's mother. "I'm sorry for troubling you when you're already so busy."

"It's no trouble at all my dear. We'll look after Himari until you come back." Itsuki's mother replied.

"Thank you again for your hospitality and kindness." Sachi said as she waved her last goodbyes.

Itsuki helped Sachi mount the horse again and then mounted herself and sat right behind Sachi. "I'll tell you where to go. You ready?"

Sachi nodded, determined to put her training into practice and to come back with a way to lift Himari's spirits.