It was my turn to keep watch. I sat on the wooden log, throwing dry branches into the fire, staring into the dancing flames as dozens of thoughts swirled through my head. Ais seemed fine, or at least she wasn't showing any outward reactions yet. But I would still keep my guard up. I glanced at the big tent the girls were sharing before looking back at the fire.
Not to mention that dragon was also going to be troublesome. While it's not the first time we would be fighting an opponent of that level. Riveria had already defeated a dragon with a similar level during our confrontation against Saphira Elmareth and Erebus.
But for some reason, I just had a feeling this dragon was going to be far more troublesome. And Riveria wouldn't be able to one-shot it either, since we wouldn't be fighting in the limited space of the dungeon, and neither did Riveria have her original staff, so her magic output would be way lower as well. At least I had become stronger since then, not to mention the girls had also leveled up. So our situation is not that bleak.
"Arin, it's time for a shift change." I looked up with a start to see Alise yawning and stretching her arms.
"When did you get here?" I asked, as I didn't notice or hear her leave the tent. Alise took a seat beside me as she spoke.
"You were too absorbed in staring at the fire, so you didn't hear me," she replied, "What were you thinking about?"
"Oh, nothing much. What about you?" I asked back, not wanting her to worry needlessly.
"What about me?" Alise turned to look at me directly, her head tilting slightly. The firelight painted her features in warm yellows and oranges, catching the red of her hair and making her green eyes almost glow.
"I mean, how are you holding up?" I repeated, "You know, we agreed you would share your worries with me during the great conflict, but since then, you have only come a few times to complain." During that incident, I had come to know a very vulnerable side of her that she kept hidden from her familia members.
"Oh, right," She laughed, the sound bright in the quiet night, "you are right, I promised, but as of now, I really don't have any worries. I mean, yes, I'm kinda nervous about the upcoming battle, but that's it. Maybe because it doesn't feel real yet, you know? Like we're just on a camping trip with really good views."
"I suppose it is," I said.
"Besides," she continued, her gaze drifting to the fire, "we fought enemies far stronger than us before and won. It won't be so different this time." She glanced sideways at me, a smirk playing on her lips. "And we have the great hero by our side, so victory is all but guaranteed."
"Stop that," I replied, looking away from her knowing expression.
"Eh? But I am not kidding, that's what people are calling you since the great conflict."
"Wait, really?!"
"Yes, you're even tied with Braver for first place in the 'who-is-the-most-popular-adventurers-in-the-Orario' ranking."
"There's a ranking?"
"Anyways, you worry too much, Arin. Sometimes it's better to relax your shoulders and let life happen. Besides, it's not like we can do anything else other than give our best." She said with a big smile on her face. I stared at her for a moment, at that genuine, goofy smile that somehow made everything seem less overwhelming.
…She really is amazing… I thought as my shoulders relaxed on their own. "Thanks, I guess I really was worrying too much." Yes, we had done all we could. Now all that remains is to just give our best in the fight.
"Of course! I am the great, beautiful, and perfect Alise Lowell after all! He-hem!" She declared with her usual theatrics.
"...You'd almost be convincing if you weren't so full of yourself."
"Rude!" She gasped, hand flying to her chest. "I'm just stating objective facts! But I suppose not everyone is capable of fully appreciating my greatness." She shook her head with exaggerated sorrow. "Ah, the burden of perfection..."
"Yes, sure," I replied, throwing another branch into the flames, watching sparks spiral upward. "I wish I could be as simple-minded as you."
Alise gasped, "Are you calling me dumb?!" she said, "I will have you know I spent two whole days in solitude thinking about the meaning of justice!"
"Yes, and you still couldn't find it."
"Ha! That's rich coming from someone who—"
The tent flap rustled and opened, revealing Kaguya's distinctly unimpressed face. Behind her, I could see the others stirring. "Why," Kaguya said with dangerous calm, "are you two making so much noise?"
"Ah, sorry!" I winced. "Did we wake you?"
Ais emerged from the tent, rubbing her eyes and nodding.
"It's fine," Ryuu said, following the others out. She looked up at the sky, where the stars had begun to fade. "We should probably start preparing to leave anyway. Dawn isn't far off."
"Let's have some tea first, then we can prepare to leave." Riveria walked near the supply box and retrieved the items needed. "We shouldn't travel on completely empty stomachs."
"I'll help," Asfi offered, joining her.
Within minutes, we were all gathered around the fire again, cradling warm cups of herbal tea. The pre-dawn chill made the heat welcome, and steam curled up from our cups like miniature spirits.
"Did you two have a good watch?" Ryuu asked, sitting gracefully on another log.
"Arin spent most of it staring dramatically into the fire," Alise reported cheerfully. "Very brooding. Very heroic."
"I was keeping watch," I protested.
"While brooding."
"Can someone brood while keeping watch?" Kaguya mused. "Seems like it would be distracting."
"It's a skill," Alise said sagely. "Not everyone can master the art of productive brooding."
Even Ais cracked a small smile at that.
We continued talking, sharing small stories, and making banter until it was time to depart.
Morning arrived. We broke camp as the eastern sky took on hues of orange, drawing away the night's darkness. The wyverns, rested from the night, seemed eager to fly, shifting their weight and spreading their wings experimentally.
I secured the last of our supplies to Tank's saddle, double-checking the straps. Everything was in order.
"Everyone ready?" Asfi called out, already mounted on her wyvern.
A chorus of affirmatives answered her. I climbed onto Tank's back. One by one, the wyverns launched into the air. We circled once over our campsite—already looking abandoned, as if we'd never been there—before turning north.
The sunrise painted everything in gold and orange, the abandoned lands spreading out below us like a tapestry. As we gained altitude, sunlight shone through the clouds, creating a mesmerizing view.
"It's beautiful…" Ryuu commented softly.
"It sure is..." I said as we all basked in the morning glow. For a moment, the worries faded. The dragon, the mission, the risks—all of it felt distant compared to this simple beauty.
"If you're all done sightseeing, maybe we should focus on our journey?" said Kaguya, "We still have a long way to go."
And so we returned to our journey toward the Dragon Valley in the north. The ruined civilization continued below us as we flew for hours.
"How massive was this country?" I muttered, gazing at ruined buildings being reclaimed by plants.
"It was the biggest country of its time," Asfi answered, "so it's natural it would span this far, but we have almost covered all of it. The next place would be our last stopping point in this land."
"Ah, you must mean the Evergreen Forest," Riveria said, seemingly aware of this forest.
"Evergreen Forest? What's that?" Alise asked.
"It is one of the oldest forests, and the last forest before the start of the desert." Asfi explained, "We'll take a one-hour break there, then fly nonstop until we reach the end of the black desert. After which we only need to cross the Great Wall before we reach our destination...if the dragon hasn't already started its rampage beyond the wall."
"That was ominous, or as the gods say, a flag?" Kaguya muttered under her breath as we continued to glide through the skies for several more hours. I noticed Tank's breathing had grown heavier, his wing beats less powerful than yesterday. The magical items were helping, but even enhanced endurance had its limits.
"Kuuu…"The wyvern beneath me made a tired sound. "Sorry, buddy, we will rest in a little while, so just hang in there for a bit." I patted the back of my wyvern to comfort it.
"They've been flying for hours straight," Alise said, noticing the visible fatigue that had started to build up in our mounts.
"It's obvious they aren't capable of flying for that long; they had been able to make it this far only because of the magical items Asfi and Arin made," Kaguya added.
"Just a little longer, and we'll reach the forest," said Riveria.
"You mean that forest?" Ais said, pointing ahead. I turned to look. The forest was clearly lusher than its surroundings. The trees were healthier with thicker trunks.
"Yes, that's it," Asfi replied, looking at the map and the forest right up ahead. "We'll rest there for about an hour before departing again."
Our mounts, as if understanding, sped up toward the forest. As we started to descend into the forest, Kaguya spoke.
"Wait—is that a person?" Kaguya leaned forward on her wyvern, squinting. "Out here? That's impossible."
"It's a kid!" Alise gasped. "What's a child doing in the abandoned lands?"I looked down. A child with white hair was running.
"You guys go ahead, I will take a look," I said, and jumped down from the wyvern.
"Arin!" Riveria's sharp voice followed me down, but I was already falling, wind whipping past as the ground rushed up to meet me.
What is he doing here? …No, it's too early to jump to conclusions. Maybe it's someone else with similar hair? I thought amid my descent. A Kobalt leaped at the kid. Before its claws could reach him, I landed on the monster's head, crushing its skull instantly. It turned to ash.
"Eh?" I heard a familiar voice from behind, but decided to ignore it. There were still monsters remaining. I glanced back only to confirm his identity.
Yup, it's him. Bell Cranel. But why is he here? But I didn't have the time to ponder on that thought much longer as I turned to face the remaining monsters, gesturing for them to come.