Chapter 14

"Ugh, I'm never drinking again," Fiona grumbled as she rolled over in bed, trying to hide from the sunlight.

"We're on a quest; why would you drink in the first place?" Aria opened the curtains wider.

Fiona cringed. "Because I was curious, and no one ever let me drink before."

"It seems they were right to hold you back."

"But how would they know that if I never tried it before? Besides, Rui was there, so I felt safe."

"Is that so? I didn't know you two knew each other well enough to say that." Aria finished getting ready for the morning, her new supplies safe in her bag.

Fiona peeked up at Aria. "I knew him before this quest. We've both lived in the palace for years, and he's a renowned hero. Can't say I've interacted with him a ton, but enough to know he's a good guy."

Aria shrugged and pulled Fiona's blanket off her. "At least you have some basis for it, I suppose. I don't suggest you go trusting people so easily, though."

"Ugh..." Fiona groaned, sitting up. "Considering they're keeping us safe, I'd say we should have some trust in them."

"Suit yourself, but we're the ones who have to make sure we protect ourselves. Hiding in the carriage like you did last time won't always work."

Fiona puffed her cheeks out as she pouted. "I'm not a fighter; I'm support. They fight; I help."

"Did you?"

"I... I tried to, but Keira can sense them before I can. I don't know how, but she does. If she doesn't need the help, why shouldn't I hide when it's dangerous?"

"In case you don't understand, Keira is human too; she can't protect everyone all the time."

"But it's not like she's alone..."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Get up so we can get moving. The others are already up and eating breakfast."

"They are?" Fiona stood up and gripped her head as pain spiked. "Ugh... How do you even know that?"

Aria headed to the door.

"Hey, any chance you have something that works on headaches?"

"You should ask Aki about that; it's more his lane than mine." Aria left.

"Right, Aki..."

---

I wonder if it'll be safe here... Keira put the rose through a small loop on Sora's saddle next to a pouch. "What do you think, Sora? Will it bother you here?" It won't be in my way, but it might get damaged. Hard to say.

Sora neighed.

"Oh, do you like it?" Keira brought it over for Sora to smell it. "No eating it, though."

Sora neighed again.

"Yes, I didn't think you'd really eat it." Keira chuckled and put the rose back in the loop. "If anything, I think it matches you." Far better than it does me.

"Thought you'd be here." Rui came around the inn to the stables.

"Need something? It's not too long before we leave."

Rui winced at the sharpness in her voice. "Look, I'm sorry about letting Fiona drink, but she's an adult and chose to..."

Keira glared at him. "We've barely started, and it's already like this? Doesn't bode well for us. If you want to test things out like that, wait until the mission is done."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll try to be good, and I'm sorry. Forgiven?" He held out his pinky finger.

She stared at it, eyes narrowed, and hooked her pinky around his as she looked away.

"Thanks." Rui chuckled and patted her shoulder. "I hate having you angry with me for any prolonged period. Never feels right."

"Are the others ready yet?" Can Fiona even leave at all?

"Well, Aki is busy helping Fiona with her hangover headache right now, so not quite. Not sure how long it'll take, but based on what I've seen of his abilities, a little headache won't take long to cure."

"Let's hope so."

The rose attached to Sora's saddle caught his eye, and he couldn't help but smile. "Glad to see it wasn't thrown out or left behind." He lightly touched a petal and winked at her before heading back inside.

What was that about? Why would I abandon a gift like that? Especially when Sora seems to like it. She stroked Sora's mane.

After a bit, Keira looked at the clear sky above and took a deep breath.

I wonder what troubles today will bring.

Figuring they should head out soon, Keira went to talk to Tarou inside the inn.

"Thank you for the pleasant stay and delicious food." She bowed her head.

"No, thank you for all you've done for us. I'm glad to have been of some help to you, and I urge you to stay again if you're in the area," Tarou said, bowing deeply.

As they headed to the stables, Aki walked up beside Keira. "Any chance we can hear the tale of your connection to this town? I've heard tales of your heroics, and seen some in person, but I can't help but be curious to hear more."

What was it that I fought here? I remember a few of the people, but don't remember what happened... "You're better off asking Rui; he's a better storyteller."

"Oh, I see." Aki's shoulders slumped until he spotted the rose with Sora, and he couldn't help but smile.

Everyone set up with their horses and carriage, and they set off.

---

After travelling for a few days, with Fiona choosing to sleep in the carriage when they couldn't find a town, the fields thinned out and the greenery slowly vanished.

"Is it me or is this looking... quite dreary?" Fiona asked, staring at what looked like a sand dune in the distance. "We're not going into the desert, are we? It's already hot enough, and I don't know if I can handle desert heat."

"Do you not know anything about Tanten?" Aria smirked, shaking her head. "If you can't handle the heat, I don't think you should've come along."

"Oh, great," Fiona groaned. "Why didn't anyone warn me?"

"Why didn't you ask questions first?"

"Because I never thought about it! Why wouldn't I just be told about where we're going?" Fiona groaned and lay down in the carriage. "I can feel it getting hotter already." She fanned herself with her hand.

"Why don't you use your wind powers for some cool air? Maybe get some ice from the queen and combine it with your wind to keep it crisp in there."

"Oh, now that's an interesting idea." Fiona sat up and gazed ahead at Keira. "Do you think she'd give me ice, though? I'm afraid to even ask."

"I might be able to concoct a potion to help you with the heat, with Keira's magical assistance," Aki said, trying to formulate a special potion recipe in his head.

"You can do that?"

"Theoretically, but I've never tried, so it's hard to say."

"Hmm, is that so?" Aria glanced at him. "I doubt the Ice Queen wants to stop so soon after starting up again."

"Soon? It's been hours, hasn't it?" Fiona sighed, slouching in her chair. She swirled her hand around, glowing with magic, and a small ball of wind formed in the palm of her hand. "Wish it had some cool air to swirl around..."

Guess I should've timed it better to have them leave earlier and avoid when the heat is at its worst. But they took their time getting up, anyway. I somehow doubt we could've travelled during the best time overnight. Might have to, with how bad the heat is, though.

The terrain grew rougher as they entered the sandy desert, but in the distance, they could see tall stone buildings, hazy under the beaming sun.

"Is that it? I'm starving!" Fiona complained. "Wait, what is that?" Fiona sensed demons in the distance, closing in faster. "Keira! Something's coming!"

Sand demons?

Sora neighed, kicking her front legs in the air.

She can feel it, too. Keira stroked Sora's mane. "I'm sorry, girl."

"There's something underground, coming from the east!" Fiona yelled.

"I don't see anything." Rui jumped off his horse, sword drawn. "Wait, I feel something."

Keira jumped off her horse, eyes glowing, and swung her sword in the sand. Ice spiked out of the ground in a line from her sword.

A large, grey, sand-ray creature jumped out of the ground as the ice spiked, stabbing into it.

The creature cried out in pain, wriggling around.

Keira lunged toward it, slicing through, and put it out of its misery.

"There's more!" Fiona yelled. "I can sense them."

So can I, and they move fast. "Rui, coming up behind you!"

"On it!"

The demon jumped out of the sand, aiming for the carriage.

"No, you don't. Rah!" Rui thrust his sword flaming into the air. He clipped one of the demon's pectoral fins, sending it careening to the side.

Water burst up from the ground as Aria blasted the demon, knocking it back.

Before anyone else could act, Keira lunged at it from above, slicing through and finishing it off.

There are more... but they're getting farther away? She looked around at the now-calm sand around them.

Her heart thumped hard, and she let out a little gasp.

What was that? What is that?

The rumbling under their feet grew stronger.

Keira glanced back at the others. I have to get them to safety, but the town is too far. Dammit. I need to lure it away somehow.

A large, long demon made of bones jumped out of the sand over them, growling in a deep tone that rang through them.

"Is that..." Rui trailed off.

"A giant undead fish?" Aki continued.

It dove into the sand beside them, causing a shockwave of sand.

The horses neighed, stomping their feet.

"Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap." Fiona gripped the handle inside the carriage. "That thing is the size of a building!"

Not the biggest thing I've fought, but it definitely moves fast for its size. "You guys should take the horses and run. I'll try to distract—"

"Are you kidding me?! Now of all times!" Rui complained. "No way in hell I'm leaving you to deal with this thing on your own."

"But how else can we make sure they get to town safely?"

"As much as I want to leave the almighty Ice Queen behind to save myself, I'd rather help you deal with this one." Aria held her hands up over her head, gathering a giant magic waterball. "Let's see how you move now, you undead dunkleosteus!" She spread her hands out. The waterball rose into the air and burst, raining down on a hundred-metre radius, soaking the sand.

"Uh..." Rui stared at his sword, no longer flaming.

The demon resurfaced, the sand sticking to the bones in clumps, and it roared.

That might be enough for me. Keira didn't waste time. Her sword charged with ice magic, she slashed at the demon. Ice crawled up its bones from where she struck it.

I probably need to hit the core.

Right in the centre, a blue crystal gleamed, surrounded by bones.

The demon whipped its head, and the ice broke.

Keira jumped back away from it, as a green, flaming arrow struck the middle of its head.

Steam released from where the arrow landed.

The demon wriggled around, crying out in pain as the green fire continued to burn.

Keira jumped out of the way, watching it carefully. His fire is hurting it? Wait... that would mean his healing powers hurt undead demons! "Shoot it again!" she yelled, trying to look for an opening.

Aki released another arrow, but the demon twisted, knocking it away.

We need to hit it harder with his powers. "Shoot me!"

"What? Are you crazy?!" Aki stumbled back a few steps.

Rui's face lit up, and he helped Aki stand. "Do it!"

Aki shook as he aimed at Keira, so Rui grabbed the flaming arrow from him and shot it off.

Keira blocked it with her sword, which lit up with his green flame.

Lucky it worked.

She charged towards the undead demon, slashing and dodging, spreading Aki's green fire.

If only I could reach higher up, but even I can't jump that high.

Parts of the bones she struck broke off, leaving an opening to the blue crystal inside.

"Jump!" Fiona yelled, standing outside the carriage with the others.

Keira jumped as high as she could, and a wind came bundling in to lift her higher.

"There." Keira's eyes glowed as she focused her magic into her sword, combining it with Aki's magic, and stabbed into the blue crystal.

Bones crumbled all around her as she dropped down into the sand, landing on one knee.

"Ha..." Keira sighed as she stood, staring up at the demon's remains as they turned to dust, the blue crystal left behind right in front of her. The crystal is bigger than my hand... and blue? That's... unusual.

"Okay, that was an epic fight," Rui cheered as he rushed to pick her up in a hug. "I just wish I could play a bigger part."

"Y-you did plenty. There's no way I could've aimed properly," Aki said, eyes scanning Keira. He sighed, hand over his heart. Her hair hadn't changed colour like before.

Rui set her down, and she dropped to her knees. "Keira?" Rui rushed to help her stand.

"I'm just a little tired. Fighting in the heat is harsh." She held her hand up to form an ice crystal and put it on her neck. "I'll be fine."

"H-here." Aki took her hand, enveloping it with his green fire as he hoped energy would help.

"Thanks, but really, I'm okay. Let's get to town and stop for a meal."

Rui swooped her up into his arms.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Free ride back to Sora. Your legs could use a break."

Ugh, he had to do it. She averted her gaze, not wanting to look at any of her companions.