An Accidental Journey

“So Silca, you ran away from home?” I asked the little boy, with tanned skin and silver colored hair, that was put together in a high bun. The strands of his hair however were all over the place.

Silca is our escort mission.

This ten year old boy ran away from home and wanted to go back now. He requested the help of the Mage’s association since pursuers were after him.

Why would anyone try to harm a ten year old child?

We were already on our way to the destination, this time riding a carriage. Luthian, Pink Berry, Roy and Calica were in the front carriage.

Tannie, Bangs, Pointy ears and I were in the other carriage with Silca.

But really why was I separated from Calica?! We were just about to talk about Galego and the misfit class, when Luthian said that I should protect the boy with Pointy ears because we would be able to work so well together?

What do you even mean with work well together?!

He isn’t even talking with anyone.

He isn’t even fighting with me! I don’t like the silent Pointy ears, it’s suffocating to sit with him in this carriage in pure silence.

And this is basically the reason why I ended up talking to Silca instead, who was sitting next to me and Tannie.

“Yeah,” he replied with a glum expression.

“Say Tannie, what am I supposed to do, when I want to comfort a child?” I whispered toward Tannie who was sitting on my right side.

“Just do what you usually do Meilyn.”

“But as you can see, it didn’t even work out earlier!”

“You can reach out to him, you know? You have that weird power to captivate people.”

“I think I have the power to scare people th-”

I flinched as I felt someone tugging on my sleeves.

As I turned around it was Silca, anxiously fidgeting. His eyes moving in circles, as if searching for something.

I put my hand on his and smiled softly at him to help him relax.

“It’s alright now, this sister here is really strong, you know?” I replied.

“Really?“ he said while tightening his grip.

“Yeah, so you don’t have to worry about the fr-”

I couldn’t finish my words as Tannie punched me on the side of my stomach.

“Hey what was that for?!” I whispered to him.

“Use nice words, don’t teach the child bad habits!” he responded.

Ah right, maybe I should adjust my words a little.

I turned back at Silca.

“I will finish them all.”

Tannie sighed.

What? I used nice words just like you said. Why are you sighing so disappointedly!

However it seemed to have an effect on Silca as he started to chuckle slightly.

“Miss, you are really funny!” he replied.

“Am I ?”

“Yeah! You even look cool with your ruby colored eyes and dark hair, I however…”

“You look absolutely captivating Silca! I wish I had tanned skin. I get burned slightly just with a little contact with the sun!”

“You are the first person to say that.”

He looked dejected, clutching the strands of his hair.

I, what am I supposed to say now? What did Raiden always do when I felt like crying…

“Silca.”

“Yes?” he mumbled silently.

“Should this sister tell you a secret about herself?”

“A secret?”

“You think I am a cool person right?”

“Yeah, you are though?” he suddenly fixed his eyes on me.

Even Pointy ears and Bangs attentively listened to me.

Why are those two staring at us now?

You know, you could also do something to make this child smile, but well Pointy ears probably shouldn’t speak in his current mood, right?

“I am not a cool person. I am the complete opposite.”

“What do you mean?” Silca said, his eyes finally glimmering with curiosity.

“I am always trying to act confident and proud but I am scared most of the time. I was always the one who was scared to speak up, scared to act unlike-”

Raiden.

I cleared my throat.

“I was even hiding from monsters in the forest although I was supposed to catch them for dinner.”

“What did you do?” he asked me.

“I told myself that I had to change. So for me to be able to get accepted and recognized. But most importantly for myself.”

“It worked out for you Miss, but for me? Will I be able to be someone who can accept himself?” he asked.

Why would a child even ask a question like that? How did they treat you back at home for you to act like that? Should I just take you with me and run away?

I gazed softly at Silca.

“But I am still a scaredy-cat, I didn’t really change. I just became good at hiding that sight of mine since I have something I work hard for and I think if you are able to figure out what you want to do with your life, then you will be able to see the true beauty that lies in your heart.”

Just like how my brother is my reason to change and my reason to chase forward, I am sure you will get through this Silca.

“I think I will try that Miss, no I mean Sister Mei!” he smiled shyly.

“Great to hear that Silca.”

 
As I brushed through his hair, I took a glance at Pointy ears, who looked at me in pure confusion, slightly opening his mouth, only to close it in an instant and avert his eyes.

You are really messing with my head, Pointy ears. If you could just say what lingers on your mind. Maybe we could actually be friends and perhaps I could help you, but…

My thoughts were interrupted as an earsplitting crash hit the carriage, the impact shaking the entire cabin, tossing us toward the wooden walls.

I reached out for Silca trying to protect his head from slamming to the ground. With the continued shaking we were thrown against the window, my head crashing against the glass, leaving shattered pieces all over my hair.

What a great way to start the mission.

“Silca are you okay?” I asked the child, who was trembling with fear. He tightened his grip on my back, while I shielded his head.

“It’s alright.”

I would like to believe this. But it’s not alright at all! What the hell is happening, who attacked us? The pursuers?

Thud.

Thud.

The heavy thuds echoed through the carriage, as someone seemed to pierce through the outer panels.

“Those freaks!” I yelled as I stood up but Pointy ears shoved me back down.

“You sit still and protect the child,” he said.

I reached for his arm.

“I could take them down in an instant, let me go!”

“No, just listen for once!” he yelled.

His yell even made me flinch in fear, I instantly released my hand.

Realizing that, he sighed and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scream like that. Just stay put and leave this to me and Edwin. Alright?”

“Okay.”

Then those two got out of the carriage, leaving behind a frightened Silca, a confused Tannie and a lost me.

“Say Tannie,” I gulped.

He came and climbed on my shoulder.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“You just have to do what you always do, Meilyn,” he replied.

“But laughing and acting confident won’t help us when I feel intimidated!”

“You want to protect Silca, don’t you?”

Silca looked up as Tannie mentioned his name.

“Yeah.”

“Then that’s all you need to know.”

“You are right.” I replied.

However fate really has the worst timing.

Just when I felt confident again, guess what happened?

If we just paid a little more attention to the place we would have realized it.

Staying in the carriage was our certain death.

The edge where the carriage had ground to halt gave away and the carriage violently went out of control on its own.

“Hold on tight you both!” I yelled as I felt us getting launched into a free fall toward the dark.

There is no stopping the falling, then at least let me make sure to stop us from dying from the impact of the fall.

I stood up and climbed out of the window, while carrying Silca. Tannie was holding on tightly to my shoulder.

And then I jumped.

“Umbrae” I chanted as I reached out my free hand pointing toward the ground. A dark fog left my fingertips and enveloped us. The fog slowly raised us upwards and let us sway through the sky.

“Sister, what is this?” Silca said, as he looked up.

“This is a Glider created by my mana, it lets us glide through the sky,” I replied.

“However it consumes her energy and it takes us too far away,” Tannie sighed.

“Still you saved us, Meilyn!” Tannie grinned and tapped on my shoulder.

“Yeah sister!” Silca cheered.

“I am glad you are thankful but we have one problem…”

They looked at me curiously.

“Not even Bangs will be able to reach us from this distance! We are all on our own in this forest!” I cried out.

“Nah, we will figure out what to do later!” Tannie replied.

“Tannie, could you please be serious for once?! We are screwed!” I yelled.

“You will do it! I believe in you!” Tannie cheered me on.

“Yeah!” Silca added.

Not you too Silca!

“Well, weren’t we supposed to go in that direction anyway? Then we can just end the mission on our own and meet up with the others later.” Tannie suggested.

“Actually, yeah you are right. Let’s just go on an adventure with just the three of us!” I said, trying to get the best of the situation.

And with that our solo escort mission started.

Will we be able to bring Silca back home?