Chapter 3: Zones Decision

A few months passed.

“Sol, You’re wasting your time. Unless something important happens, I’m staying here.” Zone said, shaking his head.

“Oh, come on! Please? I can get you anything in the world that you want, money, fame, a noble title....” Sol tried, slouching on the counter in front of him.

Zone twitched, reacting to her words.

“Is that money enough to cover for my jobs in the village?” Zone asked, hesitating.

“It’s enough to buy hundreds of villages like these, let alone just your jobs. Why?” Sol asked.

“I...We don’t have that much money. The village is struggling. If that money could help them survive the long winter….” Zone said, clenching his fist.

“It can easily help! I can get the kingdom to dispatch royal guards to protect the place! Of course I can get the village everything it needs, you’ll never need to worry again!” Sol said, excited.

Zone frowned, conflicted.

He shut his eyes, thinking.

“Zone, don’t go with this brute of a swordsman. She’s merciless.” A girl said, coming from the back of the store.

“I apologized already.” Sol said, frowning.

“...Fine. That is true. And it was Zones plan, so I guess it wasn’t your fault. But still, I don’t trust you.” The girl said, scowling.

“Rose, I think I’m going to go with her. You should stay here and rest. I’ll have Aria with me, so don’t worry about that. Will you make sure the money they send is safe while I’m gone? For me? Please?” Zone asked, smiling sadly.

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“Are you going to just go off on an adventure without telling me, at all?” Mom asked

“Mom…. Sorry. Are you going to stop me?” Zone asked.

“Huh? No, of course not. I know better than anyone how well you can take care of things yourself. You’re a smart kid, Zone. Like your father was. No, more than him. You know what you're doing better than I do. Heck, you probably know what I’m doing better than I do. Rose is a great help, I’ll be fine. Rather than me worrying about you, I wanted to tell you not to worry about me.” Mom said proudly.

“...Fine. I’ll trust you guys to be alright by yourselves. I’ll ask Aria what she wants.” Zone said.

Zone went upstairs into Aria's room. He messed around with a few novelties she kept lying about, until she woke up.

“Hey Zone. Morning. You need something?” Aria asked

“I’ve decided to go with Sol on her mission. She said that she could provide money and protection to the village if I did.” Zone said.

“Alright. When are we leaving?” Aria asked.

“Not even questioning it, huh? I’m not sure when we’re heading off.” Zone said.

“It was your decision. I’ll just blindly follow it most of the time. I trust you more than I trust myself.” Aria said.

“You always did take after mom like that.” Zone said.

“I’m not that much of an airhead. I’m also not even close to being as strong as her.” Aria said.

“I agree with the second half of that statement.” Zone said, smirking.

Aria stuck her tongue out at her brother, getting up.

“I brought your clean laundry up and put it away earlier, by the way.” Zone said, pointing at a basket next to the door.

She started to get dressed.

“Aria. Go take a bath first. Putting on clean clothes with a dirty body is wasteful.” Zone said.

“Fine. But it takes forever to heat up the water without magic.” Aria said, annoyed.

“I preheated it.” Zone sighed.

“Yippee!” Aria said, running off.

“Aria, your towel!” Zone called.

“Bring mine in with you when you join!” Aria yelled back, a door slamming as she disappeared into the bathroom.

“We aren’t five anymore, idiot. Whatever. It’s not like anything will happen as long as it’s just Aria. She really is an airhead. Worse than mom, even.” Zone said, sighing.

“Zone! Are you coming in or not!! Bring me a towel too!” Mom called.

“Nope, both idiots of equal intensity. Fine. That’s less water wasted, I guess. Three towels, there we go.” Zone said, grabbing them out of the basket.

“I’m coming down in a second!” Zone called.