Chapter LXXIV

Elchome's Request

It was Adriaas’ first time in the field since the failed mission that had gotten her captured. The memory of that disastrous event triggered nervousness within her. In fact, her initial instinct upon hearing the news from Elchome a day earlier had been to decline.

“Zaraz!” He called out to Adriaas, using her alias, weeks after their last meeting.

“I thought you were at Green Camp!”

Elchome’s smile lit up his face as he received a hug.

“I returned last night! There’s something I need to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?”

“Let me check,” she said, disappearing into the large tent used by the healers. A moment later, Adriaas emerged with permission from Gruvin to take a quick break. “What do you need?”

“Walk with me,” Elchome requested, a hint of seriousness in his tone. “I can see you’ve found your path...”

“I wish Gruvin had invited me before,” Adriaas confessed. “You can still smell the fish from those days with Irrevol and Zunkit in my clothes.”

Elchome pretended to gag at the thought.

“I’m joking,” he said between laughs. “I heard you excelled in their training...”

“It’s not really my thing. I can’t stand being outside in the heat for so long. Healing is fascinating, that’s why I wanted to pursue the Fourth Sephirah.”

Elchome had become one of the few people she trusted most in Imperia, along with Gidit. She had no qualms about sharing details of her previous life with him.

“Why fishing in the first place?” he asked, curiosity clear in his voice.

“After being imprisoned, I wanted to spend time outdoors. It was enjoyable the first week, but by the second, I grew tired of it.”

He nodded, understanding.

“That makes sense. I’m glad you’ve found a mentor like Gruvin. He’s one of our most talented extarri. Make the most of this opportunity.”

“I’m well aware. I’ve already learned more from him than I ever did while preparing for the Chesedin exams.”

She had mentilized to absorb every word of wisdom the healer imparted. By being in the field with Gruvin and assisting him with patients, Adriaas had gained knowledge her kabbalah studies and internship failed to provide.

“So, do you feel ready to join a mission?” Elchome asked, revealing his intention. “I wouldn’t ask for your help if I didn’t think you were ready.”

The memory of being captured by the Elkrachets made her fall silent.

“I understand if it’s too much to ask. The guilt still lingers from last time, your intuition was right back then and we didn’t pay attention to it. If you need more time to recover—”

“No! I can do it,” Adriaas’ voice brimmed with newfound courage. “I’m terrified after the carriage assault, but if you need my help, I’ll be there for you. It’s the least I can do. And don’t feel guilty about it, none of you knew there was a snitch in Cpahuento.”

She would never forget Elchome carrying her for nearly a day while she recovered from her incarceration. He had saved her life.

Delighted by her response, he beamed.

“The entire gang is joining us.” Elchome was filled with excitement. “We lost contact with the pink faction. They were supposed to meet us yesterday for a briefing, but none of the expected members showed up. We plan to visit their camp and find out what happened. While it’s possible that the Elkrachets are involved, we can’t jump to conclusions yet. It’s a worrisome situation for the council.”

Adriaas absorbed his words and began mentally preparing herself. “I’ll be ready. Thank you for placing your trust in me.”

“I can confidently speak for the entire camp and say we appreciate your hard work and friendship since your arrival.” Elchome's tone was warm and caring. “You seamlessly earned your place among us, as if you were always a part of our family.”

Adriaas didn’t expect the impact those words would have on her. They stirred up a mix of emotions within. Despite missing her old life in Malkuth, the genuine friendships in Capahuento’s community made exile bearable.

“Did I say something that upset you?” Elchome got concerned when she didn’t respond.

“Oh no, quite the opposite. Those were the kindest words I’ve heard in months.”

They exchanged smiles, knowing that trust existed between them.

“Well, now that you’ve agreed, I officially invite you to a small reunion we’re having tonight with the entire group. We’ll leave at sunrise tomorrow, so we won’t go too crazy.”

While he adhered to that promise, most of the group suffered from a collective hangover as they walked the shore. Elchome led the way, with Gidit and Adria trailing behind. They marched in a line for about two hours until the sun became scorching. At that point, Elchome veered off the path, guiding them into the jungle. The roommates moved closer to the center of the line, positioning themselves behind Miveria and Raxae. Engaged in a deep conversation, their words reached Adriaas and Gidit.

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"Nobody else understood me the way Indictur did. I still cry myself to sleep. Have you heard about the time they placed the Xtracter on us?" Raxae confided.

Adriaas was all too familiar with the individuals mentioned and felt a wave of guilt as she recalled the deaths of Indictur, Vulnic, and Pemula. If she hadn't confronted Sabina so defiantly, Raxae's partner might still be alive, sparing them this grief.

"Indictur told me about it himself," Miveria responded, empathizing with Raxae's pain.

"We nearly passed out together when they suppressed the synthesis in our DNA. From that day, we became allies, then friends, and eventually lovers. Indictur was truly a rare gem," Raxae reminisced before changing the subject and lowering their voice. "Elchome has done an excellent job assembling this group, but I don't trust Xendur. There’s something off about his energy."

Adriaas recognized Xendur, a short man with curly dark hair, who was at the end of the line, He was accompanied by two other Extarri she had met the previous night, Dravek and Suley. Despite Raxae's suspicions, Adriaas saw nothing troubling about him, which only piqued her interest further. She continued eavesdropping, exchanging amused glances with Gidit, who shared her curiosity.

"He might be a bit rebellious, but that’s not uncommon among the Extarri. I’ve seen him in action; he’s a valuable asset, believe me," Miveria whispered, forcing them to listen more intently.

Raxae walked with a distinctive, almost fashionable gait, unlike anyone else present. "I trust your judgment, but that won’t make me trust him. Part of my duty here is to spot and assess any suspicious behavior, like eavesdropping."

Caught in the act, Adriaas and Gidit's facade of being captivated by a distant whale collapsed. "It’s not like you were whispering," Gidit retorted defensively.

Indeed, Raxae and Miveria had been speaking loudly enough to be overheard. "Were you hoping we would listen?" Adriaas asked incredulously.

Raxae dismissed her question. "Just keep walking and don’t attract attention. Move ahead of us."

The roommates obeyed and quickened their pace, taking their new position. "Now, listen and keep moving," Miveria instructed firmly. "We were testing your hearing, and it seems to be sharp. Since you've overheard our discussion, would you like to help?"

Without hesitation, Adriaas and Gidit nodded. "Excellent. Just stay alert and inform us or Elchome if you notice anything unusual. You know whom to watch," Raxae instructed, slowing down to let Remian and Zunkit pass, acting as if they had never spoken.

Adriaas and Gidit continued on, drawing closer to Elchome and Gruvin, who greeted them. "Feeling better, ladies?" The healer asked with a proud smile, aware of his remedies' effects.

"Like it never happened, although I'm still piecing things together," Adriaas replied, just as memories of dancing to Gruvin's beats the previous night surfaced. "You were playing Retrodance last night!" she exclaimed, delighted by the recollection.

"It seems you really enjoyed it. Everyone loosened up and had a blast, thanks to you two!" Gruvin remarked, triggering more memories for Adriaas. After a round of double shots of rum offered by Remian, she had felt euphoric, dancing for hours with Gidit, Remian, Miveria and even Elchome joining in. Soon, the entire group, including some new acquaintances from the previous night, followed their lead.

“I’m having so many flashbacks,” Gidit chimed in, going through the same memory recovery process. “We drank many shots and danced until our legs got tired. Then Remian made those Electrobombs before—”

"That's it!" Adriaas burst out, thrilled as more memories flooded back. "We went to the kitchen tent for food!"

As they reminisced, the memories came rushing back. "Then we took our food—and our drinks—back to our tent," Adriaas continued, her mind solely focused on reconstructing the night's events.

"And we kept drinking," Gidit added, a hint of concern in her voice.

"After eating? Oh, right! We talked for a while and then—" Adriaas paused as they remembered simultaneously, exchanging bashful glances.

"We made out," Adriaas leaned closer to Gidit, whispering with shock, unsure if it was a dream. "Right?"

"Oh yeah, we did," Gidit confirmed, recalling how they had ended up half-dressed the next morning. "I just remembered to be upset when you fell asleep before I went down on you, so I went to my bed. It's pretty funny now that it came back."

Embarrassed yet amused, they laughed together. "Who initiated it?" Adriaas wondered aloud, having always found Gidit attractive but never realizing the interest was mutual.

"I think I did," Gidit admitted sheepishly, avoiding Adriaas's gaze. "Sorry about that."

With a smile, Adriaas took Gidit's hand. "Don’t worry. It’s not like I didn’t kiss you back. Next time, let’s try it sober, okay?"

Gidit’s face lit up with surprise, followed by a broad smile as she squeezed Adriaas's hand tightly. Elchome, who had so far ignored their conversation, suddenly turned to face the group. They had been trekking for almost three hours through the humid, warm jungle. The sun was nearing its zenith, indicating that Elchome had something planned. The line disbanded as the entire group gathered, looking refreshed and eager for instructions.

"It's time for our first break. We're having lunch," Elchome announced. "Zunkit, Dravek, Raxae, and Xendur will be our chefs. The rest of us, let’s regroup and discuss our general duties."

Following the directive, the designated cooks assembled and soon set off to prepare the meal. Elchome approached the remaining members — Gidit, Miveria, Gruvin, Remian, Suley, Adriaas, and Raveena, the latter being the only one who hadn’t attended the previous night's reunion.

"It's time to reveal more about your roles in this endeavor," Elchome began, addressing the group. "Gruvin and Adriaas will be responsible for any medical needs. They are prepared to assist us whenever necessary.”

Adriaas left Gidit's side and moved closer to her mentor, feeling a mix of nerves and confidence that he would guide her through any challenges.

"They must be protected at all costs, and that, my friends, is our collective duty. Gidit, Miveria, Remian, Suley, Raveena, and I will handle security and reconnaissance. As we delve deeper into the jungle, it's not just the Elkrachets we should be wary of. Wild animals and independent Imperials of various kinds also lurk in the mountains, and they might not be friendly. After this lunch, be prepared to defend yourselves. Rest, and if you have any questions, please come to me."

Prompted by his words, the group dispersed into smaller clusters. "Ready for the good stuff?" Gruvin turned to Adriaas. "This won't be like the clinic. Shall I brief you on the tools we'll need during our adventure while the food is being prepared?"

"Yes, boss," Adriaas responded eagerly, keen to learn more than just cleaning. "I'm ready for whatever you decide to teach me."

"Great, follow me." Gruvin said with a smile as he carried his prized bag-pack and guided her to a secluded area, away from the rest.

****

Thank you for reading! See you in "Chapter LXXV - Kapas in a Hike"

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Indigo Sapiens.

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