Isaiah had a sick feeling about what Jeanne was about to tell him. He knew the magic council was made up of whimsy, spineless folks who would sell themselves for money. The amount of favour he had gotten from them was simply tremendous.

Isaiah and Jeanne walked side by side through the meadows. An intense air surrounded them, as it always did when it came to the conversation of the magic council. Isaiah took a deep breath before breathing out. His raven hair danced with the winds, covering parts of his face at times.

”What is it now?” He asked. Jeanne looked up at him and then back at the lavenders.

“There’s word on the street that the magic council might conspire with one of the empires to have guilds work with them.” She said this, linking her arms with his.

”I put my bets on it being the Gold State. They seem like they're the ones to throw money at everything.” Isaiah commented, which Jeanne agreed with. The magic council is a governing body that rules over the mages associated with guilds. They place laws on guilds to follow and regulate them. The council has also acted as a mediator for empires in the past and is doing so now.

“Knowing that we have to follow everything the council says, it would not be stupid to think a draft could happen. So take my advice, Isaiah; take Zaina on her offer.” Jeanne pushed.

“I'll think about it.” Isaiah replied

*******

Windmill Valley

The Sabre Soul Five and Conan placed their things near the cottage’s door. After a day of deliberation, the group had invited Conan on their journey, figuring they would need a healer throughout it.

“It’s time for us to go.” Hide commented, pulling open the door. The rest of the crew nodded, piling out the door, with Conan being the last. The healer then locked the door behind him. The day was warm, and the cloudless blue sky was beautiful to look at. With the addition of deer, elk, and foxes, Maisie, who was wearing a shin-length, sleeveless white dress underneath her white cloak and white thigh-high boots, rushed forward with Kalthona. The two then began running around, enjoying the light breeze washing over them.

They felt as free as a bird.

When they were done running around, they rejoined the crew, still giggling. Reminding the world they were still young, Lyon, who found the whole ordeal annoying, decided to focus his attention on the map in his hand.

“We should head west towards Death Storm Valley. Several towns surround the area, and we can restock there.” He said. Bonney tiptoed and peered over his shoulder, looking at the map as well.

“How many days do you think it’ll take to reach there?” Maisie asked. Lyon looked at her, then focused his attention on Hide, answering him instead. Hide wasn’t oblivious to this and softly scowled.

“I'll say a week.” He replied. Maisie scrunched her face up in annoyance. How long was he going to treat her like a stain that wouldn’t go away? She wasn’t the Fairwood elf that battered him blue and black, so why was she treated like she was? With a huff, the young woman turned her head dramatically.

“We have enough food to last us a week. Are there towns closer to Windmill Valley?” Hide then asked.

“Not towards the west, no.” Conan replied. The group nodded, slightly exasperated by the lack of towns. After a while, and with the journey thoroughly planned out, the group began their on-foot journey.

“I wonder what the east will be like.” Kalthona thought aloud, placing a finger and a thumb on her chin.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Have you not been this far out?” The elf asked. Kalthona shook her head before throwing the girl a pearly white smile.

“I usually take our jobs around the kingdom’s outskirts, which is like a day's worth of travelling,” she answered. “I’m far too lazy to go further than that.” She added unconvincingly.

‘There it is again.’ The elf thought. ‘She’s clearly hiding something.’ Kalthona noticed the white-haired young woman was thinking too much. So in order to bring her back, she patted the elf on the back.

“You shouldn’t think too hard; you’ll get wrinkles.” The flame mage joked.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m sure I will.” Maisie sarcastically replied before linking arms with Kalthona. Thus, they began their journey in a light and playful mood.

**********

Aihan Oakwood Forest

South-west of Milhania.

The group had travelled a little too south in their journey, much to their dismay. Maisie’s feet were sore from the two days of straight walking, with little to no sleep. Her muscles ached with every step, feeling as if a hundred knives were stabbing at her, but she didn’t mind. To her, the ache was a way of remembering she was alive, not some spiritual being. As if some kind of trigger were pulled, she thought back to the large being. A beacon of light in the middle of grey skies and dark oceans. What was the point of revealing yourself if an explanation wasn’t provided as well? Maisie didn’t understand. How long would she have to wait before she was summoned to the depths of her mind again?

She thought back to the lilac-haired spirit. The unanswered questions. Hell, even the unanswered prayers. Was peace such a loaded thing to ask?

“Ah, I can’t take this anymore!” She helplessly yelled, gripping her hair and spinning her head around. The scent of dead leaves, rotting animals, and damp moss was adding to her madness.

‘She’s finally lost it,” Kalthona, Bonney, Hide, and Lyon simultaneously thought, deadpanned. Conan just looked between the group with a lost smile, simply happy to be there.

“The night is drawing near, so I think we should camp out of here.” Bonney said it nonchalantly. The group did not have to be told twice. They hastily dumped their luggage on the ground, the weight finally off their shoulders, and began relaxing their muscles. Hide looked over to the unsuspecting blonde, with a million thoughts racing through his mind.

“Lyon and I are going to find something for us to eat.” Hide said, dragging the blonde swordsman without allowing him to get a word in. The group watched as the two disappeared into the dark forest, with Lyon’s loud protests echoing through the timber air.

“Uh-oh.” Kalthona voiced. Uh-oh indeed.

Once the two were far from the group, Hide let go of his friend and pointed a stern look at the ex-crusader.

“You need to fucking stop what you’re doing.” He spat. Lyon’s face hardened as well, the air around them growing thicker so that not even the sharpest sword in Eldoria could cut it. It was suffocating. A gust of wind then blew between the two, flailing their hair.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lyon replied, as he feigned ignorance, with a smirk pulling at his lips.

“Don’t play dumb Lyon; leave whatever hostilities you have with the Fairwoods at their door, and don’t bring them onto Maisie.” Hide clapped back, his crimson eyes narrowing as the lines around his eyebrows deepened. “She wasn’t born a Fairwood, and she’s our guild member. You ought to show a little more respect.” Lyon kissed his teeth, turning his face away from the man.

His blood was boiling, but he remained composed. Why should he? As far as he was concerned, they were all the same. They were simply all the same. He flashed back to the rainy day, laying in his own blood, surrounded by the bodies of his comrades. He again thought back to the Fairwood elf standing over him, like she was some kind of god. Her face still remained in the shadows of his memory, but the blood lust mixed with the mana that bounced off her—that was something he could not forget.

“Unless you’ve been in my shoes, I suggest you keep your opinions of how I should behave to yourself.” Lyon glared, spitting every word with a drip of venom.

“Oi-“ Before Hide could utter his words of rebuttal, a deep, ominous growl filled the tension-thick air, and out came a red and blue humanoid bird.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t two tasty humans,” it said. Its voice was grating, and it had a vibrato that bounced off the air, making its way through the men’s ears unpleasantly.

“Shit,” they both said. “A milhorn!”