42. Escape

Kiandra held tightly on to Waldina’s right-side twintail, whereas Claudia-disguised-as-a-fairy was grabbing the left twintail. They both were holding on to their dear lives. The whole reason behind Waldina’s sudden change of hairstyle after Jimdar was due to Kiandra’s advice on how to best travel with Waldina. The fairy held a strong belief that it was easier to grab onto the ninja’s ponytail rather than anywhere else. It made more sense to tie her hair up to two separate ponytails so that the two could better hold onto her. Waldina herself cared little how the two held onto her. Yet she personally thought the best way would have been if they’d just gotten tied to her thigh belts.

At the end of the day Waldina only cared about moving forward. She travelled through the forest using her ninja skills. She mainly leapt from tree to tree, running alongside the branches until she found the next suitable tree. Branches were scratching her arms and thighs, yet she barely noticed it. Kris and Rubin wouldn’t be able to give chase right away but it would only be a matter of time before they would catch up.

The worst part was that using Kris’ teleportation the two would reach their initial destination before Waldina and her group. Lucitania, the country they currently resided in and Claudia’s home country, had only one entrance to Xunte Sintra.

The question was: Would it be easier to win against Jaspis faraway from Xunte Sintra or at its gate? Waldina had already succeeded in the first choice but she wasn’t keen on trying it out another time. She had improved a lot since meeting Kris but their individual differences were still too much. Not to mention facing against the entirety of Jaspis.

And that was why she kept on running. She purposefully chose routes that would be difficult to follow with a horse. Because Kris and Rubin surely had horses now as Waldina had left her and Claudia’s horses behind. Though she had removed all of the horses’ equipments making it more difficult to ride them.

As a ninja choosing routes difficult to track wasn’t troublesome at all. Ninjas were after all used to traveling through thick forests and hiding from the sight. Even if Waldina didn’t approve of her fate as Slehtkubi’s backup hero, at moments like these she much appreciated the natural ninja instincts and skills the summoning had given her. Her inner ninja guided her in choosing the exact branches that would help her get to her destination swiftest and safest. It was like she’d known the forest like the back of her hand. It was both liberating and chaining. After this battle was completed she’d get back to her original problem of confronting Slehtkubi and returning to her home world.

But for now her only focus was to avoid getting hit by branches and go on leaping from branch to branch, rushing along branches and moving forward, tree by tree. The view changed frequently. The Sun changed its positions until the Moon replaced it. But Waldina kept on moving.

The next day she agreed to rest for a couple of hours if the break happened at the top of the tree she chose - the thickest possible of course - and both Claudia and Kiandra would stay up on guard duty.

When she woke up Claudia and Kiandra went to sleep on her purple twintails. In the form of little fairies, they stayed on board without difficulty, especially after tying themselves to the ribbons that held the ponytails together.

The trio continued their journey in this manner for three days and three nights. They kept on moving until the forest got thinner and their hiding places became fewer. Now they saw the stonewalls surrounding Xunte Sintra in front of them. It was still quite some way there. Waldina was sure Jaspis would be standing in front of the city gates but she couldn’t see it from this distance.

“We have a couple of options here,” Waldina began after sitting down next to a tree. Claudia and Kiandra freed themselves from her twintails. The two stretched their journey-tired bodies for a minute before flying to Waldina’s line of sight.

“Do tell us,” Kiandra pushed while still stretching her arms.

“We could face against Jaspis without any tricks,” Waldina began hesitantly, playing with her hair. “Or…”

“Or..?” Kiandra could practically feel the bad premonition creep up her spine.

“Or Claudia could use her artifact and change into a casual adventurer, take Kiandra with her and go to Xunte Sintra without me,” Waldina finished without looking her friends in the eyes. “And I can come later and trick Jaspis.”

“What?” Claudia’s eyes widened from surprise and confusion. “Are we not doing this together?”

“Well, no matter the disguise if you go with me and Kiandra, it will be nearly impossible to trick Kris who’s quite sure of the fact you’re not Diaz but Claudia,” Waldina explained shrugging.

“But what about you?” Kiandra’s gaze was filled with worry. “Do you have to carry this burden alone?”

“Why not? I’m a ninja and I’ve been through worse,” Waldina grinned though she didn’t manage to quite convince her companions.

“What is the success rate if we just go there together?” Claudia wondered while changing back into her usual self, from her fairy form. Waldina hadn’t seen the lady like that for such a long time that it felt nearly wrong.

“Low,” Waldina let out a dry laugh. Claudia had grown into her role as Diaz and as a swordsman quite a bit. Her progress had been so good Waldina felt bad for the way she valued her skills at the beginning. Yet they were now talking about facing five experienced adventurers with three and there would be some skill-gaps most likely.

“Let’s go with the latter plan then,” Kiandra mouthed the words slowly, as if she’d given up. She didn’t approve of the plan that needed Waldina’s sacrifice yet she understood ensuring Claudia’s safe arrival at Xunte Sintra would have to take priority over her feelings. They were so close to their destination it would be stupid to give up now.

“But what about Waldina?” Claudia complained in a panic. She had thought Kiandra would be against Waldina’s suggestion, as well.

“She’ll manage. She’s a ninja, practically made for escaping and evading enemies,” Kiandra laughed using the words she’d once heard from Waldina. “Besides, Jaspis wants you. They have no reason to injure Waldina.”

“Yup,” the ninja nodded in satisfaction. Her heart was beating faster in anticipation of the final stretch. But she was ready and she was standing behind her plan.

“Fine,” Claudia gave in after a moment’s hesitation.

Some hours later Claudia was walking along the route to Xunte Sintra with determination. Her newest disguise was that of a blond-haired mage adventurer. She had a bag adventurers were often seen using. Kiandra was hiding inside it so she wouldn’t attract unwanted attention to herself. Waldina had insisted that the fairy accompanies Claudia so in case of failure she could defend her. After all, Kiandra was strong.

Perhaps the blond hair was a tad bit too similar of a feature to Claudia’s actual appearance yet the group had concluded this a good decision partly because of the similarity. Jaspis most likely already knew of her artefact and they’d expect to see someone the opposite to Claudia’s features. Thus a regular blonde adventurer might just be able pass by their group.

Waldina kept her distance from Claudia and Kiandra, making sure she’d be able to help them at any moment yet wouldn’t ruin the plan by showing up. She focused on using her ninja skills which helped her erase her presence and made her steps as light and silent as a feather. Her gaze didn’t leave Claudia’s back or Jaspis for a minute, though she made sure not to emit any bloodlust.

All five members of Jaspis were present. They had positioned themselves at a suitable distance from the gates of Xunte Sintra, but in such a way that no one could slip past them. To those unfamiliar with the situation, it probably looked like a group of adventurers waiting for a friend at a meeting place. But to Waldina, the sight was utterly depressing and not at all inspiring. A part of her had hoped they’d reach the place before Jaspis.

As Claudia walked closer to Jaspis their attention was drawn to her. Yet all of them but Kris lost their interest quickly. Seen from afar Claudia seemed like a legit adventurer and most wouldn’t be able to recognize her disguise. But seen from upclose…

Claudia had almost passed the group when Kris reached out and grabbed her hand. The fingers gripping around her wrist got Claudia to visibly flinch. A knowing smile spread to Kris’ face.

“Nice try, lady Aminoff,” Kris voiced, tightening his grip around her wrist. “Where are your lovely companions? Or did they ditch you?”

“I didn’t know you missed me that much,” Waldina closed the last few meters separating them with her ninja leap and appeared directly above Kris with her ninja jump. Kris only managed to glance up in the air when Waldina fell to his back and grabbed his neck from behind. She wrapped her arms around his neck, strangling the mage tightly. Then she reached to kick his arm with the blade at the tip of her shoe.

“Ugh,” Kris hissed, grimacing and he had to let go of Claudia’s wrist, due to the pain coursing through his arm. Claudia didn’t hesitate to spring to running formation, heading towards Xunte Sintra as fast as she possibly could.

Vel, a member of Jaspis who used mainly two short swords as his weapons, chased after Claudia. Seeing this Waldina released her grip from around Kris’ neck and bounced off his back for momentum and went after Vel. Rubin’s precisely aimed arrows nearly scratched the ninja’s ears and she had to evade them whilst running. Luckily ninjas had tons of skills for dodging such hits. With the help of different twirls, dashes and other dodge movements it nearly looked like Waldina was dancing with the arrows.

Just as Vel was about to reach Claudia, Kiandra flew from her back and shot a couple of water bullets at him. The man dodged most of them, though his speed dropped down, causing Waldina to reach him quickly. She pointed her long sword’s blade at his neck and he was forced to take a step back. The purple haired ninja nodded in approval. They were nearly at the city gates, meaning it wouldn’t take long for them to reach Xunte Sintra’s protective barrier. It was impossible to fight or do other evil deeds inside the city’s protection. No one knew how such a barrier had been made yet it mattered little. Claudia had told Waldina that Xunte Sintra’s protection worked the same way in this world as it had in the game of Adventurous Online. Meaning the city was protected from any and all attacks inside and outside so after getting in, everything would be alright.

“Seeing Rubin all tied up wasn’t enough of a warning to you, huh?” Waldina’s tone was ice-cold, but the leader of Jaspis, the mage, didn’t flinch. She thought back to their duel and Kris’ words stating that the loser would give up and let the other complete their mission. It was no wonder it was only a valid statement in case he’d be the one holding victory.

“You say that like it was something bad. Rubin looked quite cute, tied up and who knows, maybe I even liked the view you presented me,” Kris’ words caused Rubin to blush but the man continued speaking. “Your words don’t scare me. You’re the one in trouble here.”

“You think so?” Waldina laughed grimly. “I think you’re in need of a better warning.”

And then she cut Vel’s arm with her blade. Vel had been going around her to chase after Claudia but was stopped as the sharp pain hit him.

“I wonder how dual-wielding works with just one arm?” Waldina’s stern eyes didn’t have a hint of joking in them. It was as if the whole temperature had dropped around her.

“You’re not capable of doing that,” Kris noted, squinting his eyes. Still, he turned to whisper to Liliana, the priestess healer of Jaspis.

Then Waldina grimly slashed through Vel’s arm and stepped towards Claudia’s direction. Her heart kept beating faster and faster yet she couldn’t muster an ounce of empathy for the man screaming in pain. She’d warned, at least that’s what she told herself.

“Hmm,” Kris took a step towards Waldina and raised his other hand up in the air. Meanwhile Liliana ran to heal Vel.

“I’d make you pay for that but it doesn’t seem that we have time for that,” Kris continued and clenched his raised hands fingers into a tight fist. It was followed by Claudia’s panicked scream and Waldina turned to look around at her. The lady was surrounded by a large fire cage, forcing her to stay put so as to not catch on fire.

Kiandra was well on her way to extinguishing the fire once Waldina reached Claudia and grabbed her hand. The ninja estimated their distance to Xunte Sintra’s gates and sighed.

“Kiandra, surround Claudia with water. So she won’t catch on fire,” Waldina gave instructions to the blue fairy. Kris was closing in on them and Rubin hadn’t run out of arrows just yet. In a blink of an eye Waldina made her decision. She let go of Claudia, grabbed tens of daggers and shurikens leapt in the air. She jumped as high up as she possibly could and threw all her daggers and shurikens at the Rubin, Liliana and Vel, all left defenseless. Evin, holding a shield, couldn't possibly defend all three of them from the blades raining on them. That much was clear to Kris as well, who cursed out loud before turning to cast a barrier for his team.

Waldina took advantage of the opportunity. She grabbed Claudia again, who was now dripping water, and took a strong hold of her wrists. Then she charged towards Xunte Sintra. She ran and twirled. She spent all her energy and power in causing such a strong spin that a being of Claudia’s size would easily fly across the air for multiple meters. Her ninja skills truly made it achievable to gain proper spin via twirling around.

“Aim at Claudia with a water vortex once I let go of her,” Waldina’s words were carried to Kiandra via air and the fairy didn’t question the instructions. Then Waldina let go of Claudia and the lady was flung high up in the air, towards Xunte Sintra.

“Aqua vortexia,” Kiandra chanted her spell making Claudia’s travel up in the air last longer. Just before she reached the ground, Claudia changed her appearance from an adventurer to Diaz and stepped inside Xunte Sintra’s protective barrier. She was now outside the reach of both Jaspis and the earl Cliffertown. Meanwhile Kris had managed to finish his protective incantation and cursed seeing Claudia inside Xunte Sintra’s borders.

Waldina on the other hand fell down to the ground, all energy leaving her body. Kiandra was about to fly to her side but the ninja shook her head: “Go to Claudia, she’ll surely need your help in the city.” Reluctantly, Kiandra left her friend behind and an exhausted but triumphant smile rose to the ninja’s lips.

Kris stepped to Waldina’s side and crouched next to her head. He had a bitter expression on his face as he spoke: “You have no idea what we could have earned if you’d just given up.”

“You never told me,” Waldina pointed out, shrugging.

“I didn’t. Maybe I should have,” Kris kept on talking, his expression darkening. “It’s rare to have a noble such as Cliffertown promising such a magnanimous reward for a B-rank adventurer team. Tons of money, housing of our choice and the title of a noble.”

“Surely you could earn those later on,” Waldina couldn’t contain her surprise. She had somewhat expected Jaspis to be fighting for something bigger, more meaningful.

“Perhaps. Yet I’m in desperate need of money and livelihood,” Kris’ tone was filled with desperation. “Cliffertown was willing to grant us both of those.”

“You’ll have plenty of chances to get those,” Waldina repeated, even more confused than before.

“Yeah,” Kris’ gaze turned to Rubin who looked more tired than usual. “Yet I don’t want to leave Rubin alone for even a moment, not to mention going out adventuring without her.”

Waldina understood. Kris wanted - no, needed - money for providing a livelihood for both Rubin and their coming child. Perhaps some of the money was meant to be used as some sort of compensation for the rest of the members of Jaspis as they’d have to look for new party members.

“Apologies,” Waldina opened her mouth without actually feeling any deeper remorse. “Had you told me about it earlier, I could have tried to help you out in some way. Though I wouldn’t have given up on taking Claudia to Xunte Sintra in time.”

“There is no other way,” Kris clenched his hands to tight fists, desperation shining through his every action.

“And that’s what you’re wrong about. During these past weeks you could’ve earned quite a bit if you hadn’t been chasing us. Instead you hyperfocused on one single prize without achieving it,” Waldina didn’t bother softening her words. Kris didn’t need comforting, he needed a sharp kick to awake him from his fixations. That would help him to stand up again.

“Besides, you still have time. Rubin’s demeanor doesn’t seem like a lady that far into her pregnancy after all,” Waldina pointed out receiving a small, shy smile from Rubin as a reply.

“So go on, continue trying and get rich via other means,” Waldina smiled and tried to sit up. However, her head didn’t seem to approve of the sudden movement and her eyes began darkening instantly.

The last thing Waldina noticed before losing consciousness were the arms of an adventurer, different from the members of Jaspis, lifting her from the ground to his strong arms. The adventurer held her tightly against his and carried her away while the members of Jaspis kept on saying something.