Chapter 5: Branching

Elara stared into the fading fire.

“That’s why I decided to be a hero. Silly isn’t it?”

Not receiving a response, she looked over at Cross, who was still silently facing the fire.

“What? Story too boring for you? Or are you disappointed it isn’t some grandiose sad backstory? Just a basic promise to an old friend that has probably grown up and moved on from that dream by now.”

Cross remained still.

“Did you actually fall asleep? Hard to tell with all that on. Well. whatever..”

She continued talking, despite seeing that Cross seemed soundly asleep.

“It does feel nice finally telling someone this. Even if the promise is stupid. At least this way..I can one day go back to the village with my head held high. To go see her and show her that I did achieve what I promised her. Even if she doesn’t want to be a hero with me anymore.”

She jolts slightly when Cross finally moves.

“Oh Cra- You weren’t asleep?”

Moving their staff, Cross wrote a single word in the dirt.

Why

“Why what? Why do I want to keep such a silly promise..?”

She let out a thoughtful hum.

“I don’t even know why that promise to her matters so much to me, but it does..does that make sense?”

Cross shook their head at her.

“That’s okay. It doesn’t make sense to me either. Let's get some sleep.”

Forcefully ending the conversation, she laid down next to the fire and closed her eyes.

Cross continued to stare at her for a long time, even after breathing had slowed and she entered deep sleep.

The why slowly disappeared as it was covered in ash from the fire.

–

They set off early the next day, the fire smothered with loose dirt and the beast's carcasses fully disposed of.

They didn’t speak of last night's conversation.

Although Cross did not speak in general.

Before long they arrived at a new city.

Walls that almost seemed to touch the clouds surrounded it as far as the eye could see.

“Here we are..the capital. It should definitely have some work and hopefully some opportunities for us to show off our heroism, right Cross?”

Elbowing Cross, Elara rubbed her elbow after it made a harsh sound against Cross’s armor.

Tilting their head, Cross followed after her.

The city bustled with activity.

The streets were filled with merchants, families and couples.

“Wow, the capital sure is different. I can’t even get through these crowds..b..bweh..C..Cross..ah!”

Swallowed up by the ever moving crowd, she was quickly separated from Cross, who watched her worriedly as she disappeared further into the crowds.

How the hell can that helmet display such emotional range?! No Actually..what am I thinking of, I need to get out of this crowd!

Despite her struggle, she was slowly moved enough by the crowd that she lost sight of Cross.

After a few minutes of being pushed around by the crowd she managed to push herself out and onto a relatively empty area.

“I thought I was going to suffocate..harsher battle than any kind of beast.”

Finally taking a deep breath, she looked around, finding herself in a relatively empty courtyard.

The only occupant of the empty courtyard aside from Elara was the large oak tree in the middle of it.

The sunrays coming through the swaying branches would occasionally blind her, leaving her annoyed.

That annoyance turned into an idea.

I can climb up and try to find Cross from up there. Should be easy to find the only armored weirdo in a crowd.

Nodding to herself in satisfaction, she began climbing the oak tree.

“Huff..”

Finally lifting herself onto a stable tree branch, she looked out over the crowds.

Crowds stretching as far as the streets allowed her to see.

“Woah..How does this place function with so many people around all the time?”

Muttering to herself, she squinted, trying to find Cross amongst the crowd.

“Are you stupid or something?”

“W-wha!?!”

Jumping up in surprise at the sudden voice, she nearly fell off her branch. Ending up upside down, holding onto the branch like a koala.

“Who said that!?”

“I did. Also you’re hogging my spot.”

A boy climbed down onto her branch, holding onto a sketchbook and some drawing coal.

Climbing back up onto the branch, Elara looked him over.

A boy that was dressed like a little noble, with curly blonde hair and a little feathered hat to hide most of it.

“You don’t own this branch, kid.”

“I was here first.”

He retorted, causing Elara to grow visibly annoyed.

“You’re pretty rude to adults, show some respect.”

“You look barely taller than me, but sure I can treat you like an old hag, since you say you are one.”

“You little-”

She paused, slowly taking a deep breath.

It’s fine, he’s just a kid. Calm down.

“Also you are pretty stupid for not realizing why the city is so crowded. You realise it's not usually like this right? What are you, some sort of country bumpkin? How embarrassing. For you.”

The boy sneered at her, resuming his sketching.

Elara's composure broke.

“That’s it you little turd! Clearly no one taught you better!”

Going to grab him, she paused when she saw what he was sketching.

“Hey, is that me? That’s actually..a really pretty drawing.”

“It’s just a quick sketch. I am practicing my quick drawing.”

She tilted her head.

“Aha. That’s why you’re sitting here, you’re drawing the crowd.”

“Something like that.”

She nodded sagely.

“Okay! I’ll forgive you for your rudeness if you give me that sketch of me.”

“..Sure?”

Ripping out the page, he handed it to her.

She accepted it happily, holding it up to the light to admire it better.

“The branch is all yours, I can’t see my friend anyway.”

With that, she jumped down.

“Oh yeah. Why IS the city so crowded today?”

She looked up and asked.

“Seriously..it’s the retirement party of the knight commander. He is kind of a legend around here.”

Raising an eyebrow, she nodded.

“I see..”

Before she could ask further, she spotted the familiar silhouette of her armored friend.

“Ah! Cross!”

Running into the crowd again, she left the boy alone to do his sketching.

The boy looked at her go while muttering about clueless bumpkins.

–

Reunited with Cross, they spent the day perusing the city while looking for an empty inn.

However, no matter where they went, they were met with the same response.

“Sorry. We are fully booked for the next few days.”

Eventually, Elara was at her wits end.

“Damn it. How should I have known there was going to be a huge event right when we arrived. We might have to go camp outside the city..”

Cross slumped slightly at her words, which didn’t go unnoticed by her.

“What are you acting disappointed for? All the same for you isn’t it, you never leave that metal can of yours anyway..”

Crossing their arms, Cross shook their head, then mimed the image of a bed with their hands.

“Like I said..what does it matter whether you have a bad or not. You’ll still wear that damn thing to bed, so there’s no difference for you.”

Cross shook their head again, crossing their arms again to indicate their emphasis on the point.

“Of all the things to get picky over..still. I suppose it’s nice that you do have opinions.”

She smiled, before sighing.

“But even so. I can’t help it if there’s no more free rooms-”

The innkeeper greeted a customer as they spoke.

“Ah welcome sir, here is the key to your room. The deluxe suite, with four beds for you and your company…?”

“It’s just me, so don’t send more than one dinner meal up to the room later.”

A familiar young voice replied, a voice Elara recognized.

“You! You’re that kid!”

She was met with a look so unamused it even made Cross uncomfortable.

Yet it wasn’t enough to deter Elara’s natural disposition.

“Did I overhear that you’re hogging four beds all to yourself? What do you even need that many for? How about you share two of them, since we are kind of friends and all!”

The same boy who had sketched her, stood before her, dumbfounded at her audacity.

“First of all. I am not a kid. I am Kenlosleski Rukoveski, third born son of the Rukoveski estate and a professional of the scholarly arts.”

She nodded happily at his introduction.

“And I’m Elara. Nice to finally put a name to the face, Ken!”

“It’s not Ken, It's Kenlosle- Forget it, leave my presence. I am not lending you my beds or even the floors. This room is mine. I need it alone.”

Turning away from her with an annoyed hmph, Ken began walking towards the stairs, his key in hand.

“Wait, come on! We have nowhere to sleep! Every other room is booked! We checked all over town!”

She whined.

“Then you should have booked one in advance.”

He countered smugly.

“How was I supposed to know there was this big event! I travel the wilds, I don’t keep up with this kind of stuff..”

“Everybody has heard about the retirement of the knight commander. It was in every paper in all towns across this tri-state area.”

She could only groan in response.

“Come on, there has to be something I can do to convince you?”

Fed up with her begging, Ken sighed.

“Fine then. If you can do me a favour, I won’t mind letting you crash on one of the beds. Only IF you succeed in this task.”

She nodded quickly in response to him.

“Whatever it is, I’m sure I can do it. After all, I am Elara the hero!”

She proudly proclaimed, receiving a snicker from the innkeeper.

“Right…Anyway. I spoke of being a scholar, yeah? I am actually a journalist for the prestigious InkHand Gazette. The paper that reaches all across the Tri-state area. In fact I am due to write an article on this very event.”

Tilting her head at his explanation, she pouted slightly.

“I don’t know how to write that well..”

Ken sighed.

“Are you stupid? I’ll write it. I just need an interview with the knight commander. If you can set that up for me. You can have the extra beds. Deal?”

“Oh is that all? Sure! How hard could that be! Deal!”

Nodding quickly, she grabbed Cross and pulled them out of the inn with her.

“Will be back before dusk, keep those beds warm for us!”

With that, she disappeared, leaving Ken standing at the stairs, a slight smirk on his lips.

“Idiot. No one gets an interview with the knight commander..he is notoriously anti-social..at least she’s gone now.”

He headed up the stairs, dramatically swishing his blonde hair out of his eyes with a satisfied chuckle.