"This is taking a lot longer than I thought it would..." I comment out the valley I stood high above. Turning my head left and right as I watched many travellers move about down below. Then, with yet another sigh of impatience, I leapt into the sky as a bolt of lightning. Surging through the clouds until I saw a sign down below.

At which point, I struck down into the road with a thunderous crash that put a crater into it. And now, once they had gotten over their shock and surprise, the people nearby began to complain. I found myself turning red and apologizing over and over until I somehow focused on the sign. I left the land of Vadei's people awhile ago, and, right now, I was just searching.

I was searching and searching without rest until I could find a well-developed city or town. We just needed one that was connected to the main bank of this land. That way, Larishazza could make a hefty withdrawal and we could buy what was not at the village elsewhere. But, it was taking a long time.

I must've already been to a couple dozen towns by now and I was getting a little exhausted. The magic here was far weaker than usual, sure, but I was still travelling weeks worth of walking distance! I was doing all of this over a couple of hours as well! I wasn't just doing this to go sightseeing!

"Come on be a town with a bank...!" I begged as I went up into the sky again after reading the directional signs. If I could not find a bank in this town, then I'd just rest for a bit before heading back before I went too far. I may be able to go into the clouds and see down from them, but what I could see was... Well, it was barely anything given how vast this land was!

And with tired dread in my heart and mind, I landed in the town I was just directed to. And, once again, I left a crater when I landed. This time, however, I did not dwindle on the fact I had done so. I just stumbled out of the crater with a groan before holding up the picture I was given. Larishazza had described to me the symbol of this bank and I needed to find it.

You'd think, though, that given the importance of this bank, that it would be easy to find. But, no, not at all, not at all indeed... It only operated within the legal borders of the mountain cities. Independent towns had their own, unconnected banks with few exceptions.

"Excuse me!" I called out to a well-dressed woman in silver-like cloth with various gemstones sewn in.

"Yes...?" she answered back with as her brow raised itself. She even took a few cautious steps back as I thudded on over to her.

"Is this a bank belonging to the Beranqver Money Storage and Redistribution Group?" I repeated with clear stress in my tone. I had been asking this question all day and I was getting sick of it.

"We are." she quickly answers before I collapse to my knees with a laugh booming out of me. Then, I quickly disappeared and made a note of the surroundings in my head. I would need to know these details when we came back after I got something to eat at the very least. But, first, I went back down to that sign.

"You again!?" one of the same people complained once more as I tore up more of their road.

"Schaheeir, got it." was all I said before I then went back into the sky once again. And as I was getting to my limit right now, I was also only partially a lightning bolt. I looked borderline deformed right now! And, when I finally got back to Pawbefore, I just laid in the burnt dirt.

Groaning in exhaustion and tiredness for what must have been quite some time. As sounds I did not hear at first would suddenly appear along with a smile hidden by blue hair. I neither returned the smile nor paid much attention to the woman above. I just heaved in as much magic from the air I could.

"Here, let's give you a nice cold shower." Larishazza giggled before she shot a stream of chilly water at my back.

"HEY!" I barked out in a scream as the water both mixed with my leaking magic and froze my back off. My eyes even rolled back some as I seethed the pain of being electrocuted out of me. And, unfortunately, I was too tired to fight back. I would have to wait for any revenge.

"So did you find but one of many banks?" she asked me with a smile after she pulled me to my feet. She even supported me as I wobbled about in exhaustion.

"Oh, I found a bank. But, don't ever mention it in a plural context again... Don't!" I ordered her as my mind filled itself with screams of annoyance. All that travelling, all that speedy, near-instant travelling and I barely found just one of those things. In all my time going about this morning and noon, I had only found one...

"We'll be going later, then?" she asked me after I stumbled out of her grip to collapse against a worn bench.

"Yeah..." I say with a bouncing head as I moved on to just staring at the town. I looked at the buildings as they were getting repaired and I looked at the people. The mood of the place had improved greatly since we landed the airship. With said airship being placed on the hive entrances for good measure.

The misery that was enveloping this place had been broken partially. Vadei had done it, she had to some extent, saved her home. As, with so many lost families having returned, many felt their sadness alleviate. But, some only came back to be miserable as their families were lost in the time they were gone...

Enough, however, felt joy at seeing parents, siblings and children return! Young, old, it did not matter. It was enough to smack some life into the town and it was being shown clearly. The boys and men were rebuilding and the girls and women were cleaning.

Shops had reopened and were in use again, the streets started to smell of great pots of cooking food. It was a much nicer place to be in, and, I was happy for them. I was also proud of myself to some extent. As, I did technically help save some of these people, even if I could not save Nin's people...

"You know, I'm surprised by how many of the out-of-towners decided to stay." Larishazza commented above me as she leaned on the back of the bench.

"I was too... But, I like their reason. Or, well, some of the reasons." I say with a smile as Larishazza took on a knowing grin.

"Maybe you can watch some of these young men as they try to get Vadei's attention? Might ease your worries away regarding your own confession." my friend teased as she gently smacked my cheek.

"I will drop you from the sky." I hollowly threatened as I moved up slightly. But, with a smile made from my lips and with ears full of Larishazza's laughter, I collapsed again. I needed this rest, I really did given how much magic I had used. Yet, as I found myself looking at the airship again, I frowned.

"Nin's not going anywhere, you don't have to worry." my friend laughed out at me as she flipped over the bench before landing in it.

"No, I'm just... Worried for him. The people who were onboard know he's a... I just don't want him to be stuck inside the airship. Especially given how popular it is with the children." I let out with a sigh as I felt my heart feel a pain that wasn't physical.

"No amount of warnings and memories of it apparently bothers these kids." Larishazza points out with a shrug. And while I was aware of it, I did not want to address it as it wasn't really my concern. At least, until an osibindah not called Nin got involved.

"I just want this plan of yours to work. So he can get off that thing and walk around again. I don't like the idea of him staying in the shadows when he helped save these people in two different lands." I said as I slowly got up.

Then, my friend got up, "It will, trust me, so long as Nin is certain no one saw him dressed up in his usual raggedy attire." she nervously chuckles as she rubs the back of her head.

"From what Vadei has told us, he's been... Clothesless, since before he jumped down to vent all his magic out." I recall to Larishazza.

"Yes, but, surely someone made a guess as to why there was an outfit lying about but no one ever used it?"

"I wouldn't know, it was left in my workshop after all. Some of it still is, even."

"Does a beak-shaped mask on its own really count as some of it?" I was then asked by her.

"Technically, yes. It is part of the outfit, so, you know. It is some of it." I said with uncertainty before I smiled as Larishazza giggled. She was just trying to run circles around me it seems.

"So what is your plan anyway? You have all these drawings of us in outfits, but, Nin doesn't have any drawings, does he?"

"He does... I've just, not put him in them." I say with some embarrassment as I scratched the skin near my lip.

"If they're of him, why are they drawings of outfits for him? All of Vadei's have sketches of her with them!" my friend points out to me. Something that makes me sigh out a mixture of regret and sadness.

"You know when Nin took off the bracelet... When we went through a rough patch?" I asked her.

"Did you get a bit presumptuous...?" she asked back.

I sighed again, "I did, I thought, seen as he was so adamant about taking it off, how my feelings only existed because of it... That the man of my dreams would be someone else. But, Nin put it back on and my love came back. So now I have drawings of him but not depicting him, just a featureless outline of a human man."

"One that is built as firmly as the mountains of this land." she nodded with a smug smirk as my face went a little red at the mention of it.

"I can have standards..." I mumbled as I was now forced to put up with Larishazza's mockery of my featureless, muscle-bound drawing. Personally, I'd rather they love me and I love them, first and foremost. But, I guess seeing Nin's strength over the past year has made me develop a taste for strong men. Or, maybe it was always there and Nin was just catching my inappropriate gazes.

Not that I ever really had them, I was sure I was not hypocritical in my daily goings. After all, the teasing is bad enough, so to just hand out a new means to be attacked worried me. No one would take my requests seriously if I stooped down to their level. Yet, either way, they never took my requests for the teasing to stop seriously either.

It was a pointless battle that I thought in my head. One fought between the pride associated with my upbringing and the little voice who just goes with it. I was the daughter of a powerful woman, one of proud noble blood and golden lightning. I needed to act like it, to carry it with me wherever I go!

"Vadei's standards will also be put to the test it seems." Larishazza then giggled out.

"You're awfully involved with the romance of your friends." I point out as I turn my body over to face her fully. Crossing my legs over each other near the end as my cheek went into my open palm. A smile on my face as I looked at that attempt at an innocent grin.

"I like seeing my friends happy." she answered with a shrug as she tucked her legs up onto the bench.

"Well, I do too, so how about it then, who have you got eyes on if Nin is one you supposedly have no interest in?" I asked her just to see what I could pry out of her. But, as she closed her eyes and widened her smile I got a feeling that I would not get a solid answer.

"I have my eyes on quite a few people, I'm indecisive like that." my friend told me before she jumped off the bench with her hands. And, then, I was watching her laugh all the way down the hill we were on. Her magic has created a path for her to slide down on. But, as I looked at that trail of water, I got an idea.

"Teach you to suddenly runoff." I giggle out as my gloved finger moved close to the water before a quick volt shot out of me. And, from my vantage point at the top of the hill. I watched as a small surge of electrical power travelled down until it hit her feet.

"AH!" she screamed as she suddenly went flying before she crashed into the ground. My mouth then burst open with laughter that I hoped did not sound cruel at all. I really hope it wasn't taken that way as it was only a joke.

But, as the worry and guilt built up in me, I rushed down after her, "Are you alright!?" I asked worriedly. Only to find myself laughing it away as she pointed her finger at me and laughed back.

"Even... Even when you're trying to get back at me it is so easy to turn the tables!" she said before and after laughing some more.

I kicked the dirt before replying and hiding my reddening cheeks, "One of these days..." I bitterly commented under my breath before my stomach rumbled.

"Thanks for the reminder, actually." Larishazza then said as she brought herself back to her feet.

"Has Wastla and her daughter made lunch, then?"

"More like half the village." Larishazza huffs out in response as she begins to guide me back to town. And, I was very much looking forward to it as a lot of this stuff reminded me of home. So, I was betting the food might too as well. Not that there's anything bad with the food of this land, I just preferred my native cuisine.

"Is that wise given the state of the place?" I asked as I thought about how there was unlikely to be any supplies coming in any time soon.

"Yeah, because while you were bolting about, I was going on trips to their neighbours to ask some questions. When I wasn't having some fun, that is." she tells me with a grin she tried to hide as she turned her head away from me.

"Aren't you always having fun?" I asked her with a tilted head as the idea she was never having fun baffled me. Sure, I've seen her be bored before, but, she just did not stop having fun. She had far too much energy and not enough places to waste it!

"What can I say, life is made for having fun!" she sings out as she jumps and performs a few spins.

"I guess that is one of the things life is there for." I let out in agreement.

"Yes, and one of those other things you are thinking about is filling up this belly!" she chants as she begins to smack her bare gut.

"Such a child..." I laughed quietly while shaking my head just as we got into the village again.

"Ah, Einervaene! I thought I smelled something burning!" Wastla said as she came over to us while holding a plate. Behind her, a large collection of tables covered in various plates, bowls and dishes.

"I'm trying..." I moaned, much to her enjoyment.

"So, any luck with finding a wind-people settlement?" she then asks me as we did talk about this prior. Both because it would help her village recover and because it connected to her desires with Vadei. She really, really wanted to see her daughter all dressed up and beautiful. Something I'd be happy to help with when I can do so.

Those around us would too, apparently, "Seriously, how do I get her attention?" a young man of this village moaned before another interjected. Wastla was listening in and she was soon giggling after she heard them go on.

"Yes, I did manage to find one. A town called Schaheeir has what we would need to get access to Larishazza's wealth." I tell her.

"Never heard of that town before, I take it you travelled reasonably far?" she admits before she asks.

"Far is an odd concept for me." I say slowly as I think on all the travelling I have done since I've left home. Being at Suhurlodst is perhaps the longest I have ever gone without moving somewhere else a week later! And I was still quite surprised by it now that I had done it. I know I have spent years travelling...

But, to finally spend some time in one place for an extended period of time really put it into perspective. I was a long, long way from home and I would need to get very strong if I ever wanted to get back there quickly. While I had the patience to get to this continent... I don't think I would have it on the way back to mine.

"Well, it is good to hear you found what you went out to find. Gods and goddesses know we can do with the help your riches can provide us." she says as a relaxed sound came out of her.

"Do your people even use the same money as them?"

"No, but, it is still considered a valid currency just because of its universal use in most human settlements." she explains.

"So, if we got to a city made by your people, we'd be able to find a merchant who would take it? As I assume it would not be a good idea to use it in some small village where the people will never likely see a human town?" I ask her, seeking more depth to my knowledge for now.

"That would be correct, yes. But, unless my Little Va plans on taking that machine, it won't be a practical affair."

"The nearest city is too far away for a simple day trip?" Larishazza asks as she starts to get more involved with what me and Wastla were doing.

"For you two it might be, but, for us in such a... Backwards village, it is not." Wastla tells us, with her also looking at the grounded airship near the end. She might not show it all that much, but she was very much in awe of the machine.

"So we can just plan something later, now, something more important. When's food time?" Larishazza impatiently asks as she moves her hands about aimlessly. Then, with a sudden and sharp twist, she brings them to a stop before Wastla's face.

"When it is done." Wastla simply states before she leaves Larishazza in a state of despair.

"But I'm hungry!" she moans as she collapses to her knees. I then roll my eyes in mild amusement as she continues to bawl on the floor.

"So where is Vadei at the moment?" I then asked the mother of said friend.

"She's out by the... Woods... That way." she answers after sniffing the air deeply.

"C'mon you, you can go find some berries or something." I tell Larishazza as I start to gently nudge her with my boot's tip. And her pathetic swatting was not going to make it go away.

"Fine..." she moans as she sluggishly stands up before she runs off in the pointed at direction. And, somehow, she doesn't cause a mess as she went straight through all the working men and women. No pots were dropped or planks, somehow.

"How has she been anyway? Even with all that happened when she landed the airship, she still seems to be quite out of it." I say to Wastla before a frown comes to my face as she sighs.

"She has not smiled once, you know. I haven't been able to make her smile even when I cook her favourite foods or do her favourite things. I could brush her hair a certain way and I still get nothing. She's polite, still, don't get me wrong, but... She's just out of it." she tells me and all I can do is smile a little as I thought on it.

"She must've really loved her father then?" I ask, but I got no worded reply. Only a little nod before our talk ended with Wastla walking off. My smile disappeared as I watched this as I did not like it one bit. It bothered me more than it should have when I saw Wastla bothered or upset...

But, again, I knew why I acted this way, I've known since the day I met her, really. Vadei allowed me to have a connection to this woman, as lacking as it might be. It still allowed me to have talks with someone who had a motherly aura about her. It let me dull the pain I had towards my own loneliness.

A loneliness that, unfortunately, neither Larishazza nor Nin nor any back at Suhurlodst could fulfil. Only Vadei's mother could help with that pain as she was the only one who has held a babe in her hands. She's the only one who helps fill the void that this borderline exile of mine had created. Yet, there was something the others could do for me.

With each day that passed, I got stronger for many reasons. Many of which they give me, be it either to just tease Larishazza... Or to be able to protect Nin in the future from more mate-seeking wyverns. Each day I got stronger, each day my lightning got closer to becoming golden.

To proving those who try to depose Mother wrong... That was the end goal of my strength for now. Even if everyone about me has created new goals that stretch far beyond this one I came here with. Mother, however, took priority.

That was a distant goal, however, a distant goal I hope I did not miss when I finally was ready to come back. For now, however, there was a far closer goal and it was related to Vadei. A dear friend of mine who was going through a lot right now. A dear friend who needed people to be there for her as she handles a hidden war in her mind.

"So this is one of the things you mentioned is considered feminine?" I said to my friend with a smile as I approached her as she rested on a branch. And, hidden somewhat in the immediate distance around her was a few little boys holding flowers. It was a sweet sight to see them like this, but, I could not help but laugh.

Vadei needed more than flowers if she was to glance at you for more than a second. And, while I did not want to vocally or obnoxiously brag it out to these kids... I was fine to think of such details. As one of them was a good friend named Einervaene!

Vadei let out a long sigh before one of her arms flopped down, "Yeah, but, I just want to rest, really." she clarifies as her eyes slowly move towards me and Larishazza. Who, I was quite surprised to see as she was just sitting there quietly. Which, was not like her at all.

"Surely you've slept enough?" I asked jokingly as her gaze moved down towards her hands.

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"I don't know. I've just been tired a lot recently." she quietly sighs as her miserable eyes briefly met mine.

"Have you been making sure to eat properly?"

"When I'm hungry, yeah." she says in a nonchalant tone as Larishazza continues to stare quietly.

"Do you perhaps want to go do something then?" I then asked as I looked about the somewhat quiet woods. There really wasn't much to do but maybe napping on a branch was more enough? I really could not tell as I have barely engaged with these people. Their culture was a mystery to me.

"Not really, no. As I said, I'm tired and I want to rest..." she said before turning around.

"Perhaps you'd like to talk to Nin?" I asked just in case. She has spoken to him in private before after all. Maybe she might want to again and she can feel better as a result? I did not really know right now.

"If he wants to talk, he can just come find me."

"You know why he's staying on the airship, Vadei." I remind her. Watching her sit up slightly with a frown before she then slowly got down from the tree.

"Weren't you supposed to be doing something about that?" she enquires rather aggressively as she moves closer to me. Yet, despite me being far stronger than her, I did give ground. I don't really know why, I think the tone she used had affected me somehow. Or maybe I was just a passive person?

"I'm on a break right now, finding a town with a bank Larishazza can use took longer than expected." I explain to my friend.

She then sniffed the air after moving closer to the exit of the woods, "Fair enough." she says after likely catching the scent of the big lunch set-up in the town.

"So are you just physically exhausted or magically drained?" Larishazza then asked as she suddenly dangled down from a tree. Something that made me jump slightly as I last saw her idling on the ground.

"A bit of both, really, but, my external-magic is also quite lacking as you can probably see now." I answer as I shake my hand pointlessly before her eyes. She would be able to see my lack of an aura just fine without me moving any body part.

"Alright, drink from my hand." she casually states as she awkwardly shoves her dripping hand before me.

"I'm not drinking from your hand." I tell her as my face tightens up and moves away. She wasn't serious, was she? I'm not degrading myself in such a manner.

"Drink from the hand so we can sort Nin out." Vadei lets out impatiently as she tries to force my head closer.

"Get off and no. If you want to give me magic then get a glass or mug or som-" I told Vadei at first. Moving on to rambling out some details before a hand suddenly slipped into my mouth. And I froze up in disgust as the water coming from her hand both leaked out and went down. Then, I started coughing when some of it went down the wrong chute.

"There, magic for you to use." Larishazza tells me with a grin as I return a glare after the coughing ends. But, she was indeed right, she had passed on quite the sum of magic. Even if a lot of it was dripping down my chin. Something I put an end to by quickly turning into my lightning form.

I would then turn back to normal before speaking, "Well, obviously you have to come, Larishazza, but what about you, Vadei?" I said before asking my friend as she did something with her long skirt. I then watched her pat it down in order to get rid of the little pieces of bark that had rubbed off onto her.

She then looked down at the ground, towards a small group of flowers, "Did you happen to see a flower shop there?" she asked as she became nervous.

"I did not see one, no. I just focused in on the bank they had there. But, it was a large town, one with some kind of river running down one part of it. It might be a farm for flowers?"

"No, that sounds more like a downslope brewery... But, okay, I'll come along." she explains before nodding alongside her words at the end.

"So why do you want to find a flower shop? Your mother mentioned how flower merchants come through here already and you already have a shop for them here too." I asked her as I was assuming this was related to her father.

"I want his flowers to be special..." she answers with a shudder and a quietness that bordered on whispering.

"Then take my hand, and we can go find a flower shop, together!" I say with a smile as I take her hand into mine. Larishazza's hand, however, I ended up fighting with as it was trying to get near my mouth. She gave up on it, though, so I could happily take her hand.

"Shouldn't we move a little?" Larishazza asked as she stared up at the canopy above us. And, she had a point, if I went up as a lightning bolt in this, I'd start a major fire.

"I was going to..." I let out as I tried to hide my reddening cheeks from the pair of them. But, with one at either side and one being rather inquisitive, I could not. So I had to let them see my embarrassment which only made it worse.

"Move a little more!" Larishazza teased.

"Shut up!" I told her before we went into the sky at my behest. And, at the speed of what I was, we went back along the path I took to get back here. All the way to that sign I kept creating craters by because I was less cautious when landing here.

"I SWEAR TO THE GODS WOMAN!" someone on their way back from a nearby town screamed at me once he saw my face.

"What!?" I mockingly called back before I took us straight to Schaheeir. This time, however, I brought us down before its gates as I wanted to conserve magic. It took a lot more effort to drag more bodies along, after all. And the distance was still quite great.

"Very well organised town." Larishazza comments as we walk off the scorched dirt and moved onto the paved road. It was certainly not on the scale of Thrurstradtur, but it looked bigger than Tryhpeltzweig now that I saw it. It also looked far more normal than Gifpzie, but, I can't say that was a high bar to jump. That town was a cube on a mountain top, after all.

This town, however, looked like a cookie-cutter set down into a space between the mountains. Rimmed by all sorts of farms and pastures squeezed between stone giants and a sprawling town. The walls were quite sharp as well, as they turned in hard angles rather than curves. I could only guess it was related to the many weapons on the walls.

The density of the defences also seemed to build up around the gates. Which, when you looked back, made sense. The gates were all settled on roads that went out into the valleys. They also seemed to have some kind of arcane structure set up within the walls.

Curiously enough, this magic seemed to focus itself on the ground and mountains. And, with my recent experiences with the osibindah and one of their hives. I likely correctly guessed it had something to do with them. A clever means to protect the town from things that use the earth as their weapon.

"Why did you stop us before the gates? We're going to have to check in now." Vadei moaned as she kept her hand in mine while Larishazza skipped on ahead.

"It's not like Thrurstradtur, don't you worry." I tell her with a wave of my hand as we approached the walled town.

"Say, you wouldn't happen to be that Eusorochiian that came by earlier, are you?" one of the guards asked me as some kind of machine detected my magic.

"No, this is our first time coming here." Larishazza answers for me as she squeezes between me and the guard.

"It was reported that they were on their own." a guard whispered to the one that asked me the question.

"Eh, we'll write it down anyway. No causing any trouble now you three. Especially you, Oxfuine." the guard said as he pointed his finger at my friend. And we were both equally confused by this sudden accusation but Vadei did not engage with it. She just moved back slightly and moved her free thumb along her fingers.

"I'll be sure to do so." she mutters uncomfortably as I protectively move in front of her.

"Wonder what that was about?" Larishazza pondered out loud as she walked backwards in front of us two.

"Probably something stupid we had no way of knowing, now, I assume you'll be able to find the bank no problem?" I answered before asking.

"You not coming?" my friend asked back as she tilted her head.

"No, I'm going to make sure Vadei here can find a flower shop."

"You would need my money to buy something from it, though?" Larishazza let out in confusion as we went on ahead.

"Then come find us after!" I tell her loudly as now quite some distance had been put between us.

"I can't tell if what I am smelling is a flower shop or just decoration." Vadei admitted with a frown after we had passed a few buildings with such decour.

"Is there any that smell particularly potent? A flower shop would have a lot of flowers in one place, no?" I inquired in order to see if my encouragement could jog something out of her. If not, then we can just enjoy the sights for a little longer.

"The downslope brewery has a flowery smell to it... Oh!" Vadei says to me before she seems to become excited. She was suddenly full of energy.

"Can you smell a flower shop?" I asked as I went along with her motions.

"No! I just remembered Dad treasured his human alcohol, and, if this one smells of flowers, I can give them to him before we give him to Undwote!" she lets out excitedly before she comes to a stop when she repeats why she was here.

"I like it, it's a good idea that references something he did in his life. It's a meaningful parting gift." I say with a smile in an effort to cheer her up.

"Yeah... Parting gift..." but she seemed to be too focused on a dark detail about it. And, how could she not? She loved him and his death has really messed with her.

"Are there any flowers in particular, though that he would like?" I asked in some effort to get us to stay on topic but to get her thinking of something else.

"He quite liked lily flowers." she tells me as she looks up at me.

"How come?" I asked so we could keep her thinking of happier times. Of details that she could smile at regardless of the present.

"When I was little, I was playing in a tree by a pond and the branch I was on broke. My dress got caught on it and I nearly drowned. But, Dad saved me and I ended up with a lily flower on my head which I gave to him. It was his Saviour's Hat." she laughed quietly as she touched her dress.

"So should we see if we can find a lily flower, then? We can then take it to the brewery on the other side of town and mix the two together somehow!" I suggest joyously as I try to think of other means of finding such a flower. If the shops here did not have them, then I'd likely have to go and look for a pond or similar.

"Okay," she replies quietly before she lifts a finger up, "there might be a flower shop that way." she then informs me with.

"Does it smell flowery over there, then?" I ask her, just to make sure she was sure about this choice. She did mention prior that she was having trouble smelling such a place out.

"No, I just smell water."

"Is Larishazza on her way already?"

"No, water as in a pond or something. There's a garden or park here." she clarifies as she leads me towards the smell. And, once we had gone through a few streets and across many internal roads, we found one. There was a distinct humidity in the air as well so I made sure to keep my magic under control. One slip-up and I cause issues no one wanted to see.

"Wall Park, made in commemoration of the brave men who laid down their lives defending Schaheeir from an army led by the Oxfuine King Mitiastiff." I read aloud when we got near a sign within the park. And, when I was done, I looked at my friend to see if she knew anything about it.

"Don't look at me, I'm just a country girl from the countryside." she comments after raising a brow at words that spelt out the King's name. It also seemed to happen only a few years after Vadei's village was founded. 3856 E.A being the date this incident happened. So I guess it also explained why the graves near the park were quiet.

Everyone who knew these people were either dead or had moved on either literally or emotionally. But, perhaps it also explained why the gate guards passed a comment at Vadei? Their history had clearly been defined by a distant war. For me, it must've been distant, but for some here it might have just been their younger years.

How magic affected the body really confused me at times. Age became such a fickle thing because of it. To make a most obvious comparison right now, because I was stronger than my friend here. I was the one that looked longer even though her mother had told me that she wasn't even twenty!

I guess it also helped make another thing clear to me, the idea that I would just outlive my friends. Nin was strong, sure, but, he was from a land with no magic and a new species now! There was no telling how long he'd live for. And the elders in Vadei's home were only in their late forties from what I've heard!

But, now was not the time to think about that. It was not the time to think of when I would lose close friends and loves. No, what I needed to do right now was focus on the now. The here and now with my friends as they were.

All that age stuff was for another time.

"Look, there are some lily flowers!" I exclaimed out loud as we walked through the park. And the moment I pointed it out, Vadei was already bringing us over to them. But, when we got there, she was hesitant to reach out for one. In fact, she seemed almost terrified by the idea of it.

"I..." she stuttered out while her hand kept itself suspended in the air.

"What's wrong? It's only a flower, I don't think anyone will mind." I tell her as I reassure her by shaking her by the shoulder.

"No... It's..." she slowly got out as tears started to appear once again. And I sighed at this. She was struggling to let go so I picked her up and moved us over to a bench.

"Would you like me to pick it for you?"

.

.

.

"No it's..." I began to say, offended at the implication her words had. I was strong enough to pick it on my own. Dad's Little Va was going to see this through. This was my responsibility and I would be the one to do it.

Yet, I could not move, seeing that lily flower had done something to me. I was frozen as if I was about to die, yet, I was safe as I could ever be. My strong, courageous friend was right next to me, how could it possibly be fear? What was there even to be scared of!?

"Here, would you like to carry it?" Einervaene asked as she handed me over the flower. And, I felt angry when this happened.

"I WAS MEANT TO PICK IT! IT WAS FOR MY DAD, NOT YOURS!" I suddenly screamed at her before I hid my face. Yet, I had not angered her, I only ended up drawing a hug from her. One I did not return at all as I carefully held the flower. All while I steadily watched as my tears pooled up between its mostly pink, red-spotted, white-rimmed petals.

"It's alright, Vadei. I'm sorry for getting ahead of myself." my friend said to me as her soft, gloved hands patted down my back fur. It even tickled slightly as some furs were getting trapped between the small gaps in the fabric.

"Let's just get this over with..." I muttered bitterly as I stood up and forced my way out of her grip. And I knew full well I wasn't strong enough to actually force my way out. She was just standing aside for Pathetic Little Va...

"Vadei! Slow down!" she called out to me as I walked at a strictly fast paced. Then, I broke out into an open sprint and hid in an alleyway so I could be on my own.

"I can't do this..." I whimpered to the flower that I contemplated throwing away. But, each time I even moved to do anything with it but carry it... I just froze up again. So I was left staring at it with an indescribable frustration.

I had failed him, and I would have to live with that for the rest of my life. Yet, he would not want me to give up on what I was doing either. He'd want me to see it through to the end. To get it done.

After all, he was much the same. He never really cared for presents on his own birthday or his anniversary. He only cared if you put thought into what you did get him. No matter how simple it was.

It's why I always liked his presents more on my birthdays. He always paid so much attention to each thing I talked about and all my interests. He kept them in his mind no matter how bad our money situation was or how long he'd be working. Even if it was just a fleeting interest, he still invested his time into figuring out something.

And here I was, with one final present that would mean so much to him. And I couldn't even muster the willpower to go and give it to him. I did not want to see that day come... I should just take his body and hide it somewhere safe.

"No, I can't do that... He'd be so alone if I did that." I whimpered as my body shook. Nin's story and life had given me a new respect for the gods and goddesses. I was never apathetic to them, to start with. But to know that they really were real made me worry for Dad.

Moving his body would mean he was wandering the mists for longer. It has already been so long since he has died as well. Undwote must've been chasing him all this time and each time I would be making it harder. The God of Friendship needed to find him.

"There you are! Don't scare me like that!" Einervaene said as she came up to me after finding me. I didn't even really think about how she managed to find me. I just slowly stood up and walked past her without saying a word. I didn't even speed off again.

I just kept walking as she asked me some questions which I ignored and did not answer. There was no point to them, what happened had happened. And I had a lily flower to take care of. Fortunately, my other friend had arrived to distract Einervaene.

"Found you!" she cheerfully declared as she finished her series of hops and bounces. A light, rain-like effect follows her all the way here. Much to the annoyance of anyone older than ten-years-old.

"Where's the money?" Einervaene then asks her, and, as Larishazza did not do anything. I assumed that she was going to get the money another way. Or, she had a very good explanation.

"I'm not carrying it about until we need it!" the blue-haired girl declared as she flexed her hands.

"You better not say because it is heavy..." Einervaene said in what seemed to be a needlessly bothered tone. If there were other means to get the money, then there'd be no problem.

"But, it is..." Larishazza giggled out as she collapsed to the ground with deceptive motions. She even used her strength to keep up the facade when Einervaene tried to force her to her feet.

"Get up! We got to get moving!" Einervaene demanded as Larishazza's eyes moved over to my lily flower.

"Ooooooooooooo!" she let out as she hopped to her feet, "A water flower!" she then cheered.

"Yeah, it means a lot to me and... Dad." I said before I sighed before mentioning the one I got it for.

"That's good, the best kind of gifts are always-"

"The ones that have the most thought put into them." I interrupted while keeping my eyes on the delicate plant. Despite what we had just done to it, it was still strong-looking. And, soon, Larishazza likely made it stronger.

"There, now it will be fine on the way back." Larishazza told me as the flower suddenly felt heavy. I could feel what she had done to it. In more ways than just the fact it suddenly felt denser. She herself even looked drained now.

"Thank you." I muttered quietly as I moved the flower into both of my dipping palms. Holding it in an open position was all I could manage right now. I was not going to hand it over to either of these two. I would carry it alone...

It was my gift, after all...

"Alright, so, the brewery is not far, shall we get going?" Einervaene asked as she pointed at the artificial, alcoholic river going down the mountain.

"We going to get smashed!?" Larishazza joked with distinct tiredness in her voice.

Einervaene then snorted, "You couldn't even handle a cup of juice in that state."

"Could too..." Larishazza mumbled back in reply as she leaned on Einervaene for support.

"Honestly, stop being so reckless with your magic. I get what you have just done, and I like it, but seriously. Come on now." Einervane complained.

"It was for a good cause so I don't care!" Larishazza confidently said with an equally confident smile as her head went side-to-side.

"Yes, but now if I need magic for the trip back, we would have no means of quickly refilling my reserves!" Einervaene explains loud and clearly.

"Well, find one then, Lightning Bolt." Larishazza says with her usual cocky grin.

"Alright, then, get off me. You can find your own way back." Einervaene orders as her prior concerns were used against Larishazza.

"Now that's just cruel, and right after I was so generous. Harumph I say! Harumph!" Larishazza says back to the annoyed one with a sharp pout.

"Don't worry, I'll weep for you." Einervaene sarcastically comments as we finish walking to the base of the brewery. And, going by how many people were here, it was a popular site. There was even a makeshift waterpark made for adults. As it seems they intentionally let the downslope crash at the bottom.

"So what're we doing here?" Larishazza asks as she stares mostly at the adults playing in the alcoholic rain. I, however, stared at the body of liquid until my gaze reached the very top. Right when it is just mountain water at first. To some extent, I might have giggled at that fact.

Dad's prized drink from the humans was just flavoured water run down a messy mountain. He even liked it unsieved if I remember correctly, so that meant he enjoyed dirty booze water. Yet, I could not even muster a smile at such an amusing revelation. I just continued to frown with a miserable gaze.

"Alright, do you want to wait here or do you want to start heading up while I help Larishazza with the money?" Einervaene asked me to which I used actions as my reply. I started going up the mountain slowly and with the support of the stair railings. They were a mixture of manufactured metal ones and ones carved into the stone.

And, to my right, there even seemed to be some kind of challenge route. If I was in better spirits, I might have taken it as I enjoyed climbing. It was something Dad had taught me after I fell into a hole. He always tried to make sure I knew how to help myself just in case.

Even if he was always there for me and helped out regardless if I could do it on my own. Even when I was about my current age, he still held out a hand for his daughter if I fell or tripped. And I really wished he was here right now to offer such help. I wasn't strong enough to hold onto the railing and move this flower.

To say nothing of the pressure that came with being at the front of a growing queue of impatient people. Some barged on past me and others just stared their annoyance into my skull. But, I really wanted to not care. They were here for a drink and I was here for Dad.

Even as insults and pinches came my way, I chose to ignore them. But, I still moved over as far as I could when the option arose. I was suffering bad enough without people violating what I treated with care. But, as my hands were occupied, my tail was forced to endure a lot until I finally reached an open spot.

"Still not at the top..." I muttered as the stairs had finished at a building that had been set up on a carved-out section. The rest of the stairs up to the top of the brewery were locked off and blocked off. Even the mountain itself had a multi-layered fence to stop people from going up. And, it would seem I would have to live up to the gate guards warnings, I would need to cause trouble.

I was not going to reach the top of this brewery if I did nothing. Luckily, the guards this place had were neither armed nor seriously equipped. They were just burly men in simple uniforms keeping the crowds in order. And, they were all over there by the main entrance.

So, it was a simple task to wander into some partial isolation so I could ponder a plan. And, to make sure I wasn't causing any suspicion, I sat down near the end of this carved-out section. If my magic was strong enough, I might be able to use my claw spell to cut into the fence or door lock. Or, I could climb around the edge of the fence.

Main problem with all these plans, however, is that I'd be easily spotted. I was not energetic enough to move through this quickly. I was slow and sluggish right now and not even my tail being pulled at did anything. I just did not want to see it through yet I also did.

"Please, help me, Dad." I said to the flower before I caught something sparkling in it. Some of Larishazza's water had not been absorbed into the plant's arcane biology! I could bolster my strength with it! So, that is what I did, I drank what I could from the flower in order to gain strength.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to make it seem like the flower had changed weight again. This time, however, it was because I was stronger, not the other way around. Then, I slowly got up and looked at the fence and gate once again. And, when I sensed an opening, I cut open the fence with my claws.

Not enough to tear it off, just enough to bend it around before I snuck through my hole. A hole I had the foresight to close up again in case they wanted to see where I got in from. And, I would have to rely a lot more on the strength of one arm for this bit. I could not safely get up this mountain if both hands cupped the flower.

Yet, despite how much it hurt to carry such a heavy thing, I kept ongoing. Crying in both physical and emotional pain as I slowly dragged myself up the mountain. Each step and stone grabbed on the way being one more step closer to my goal. Even the cries of alarm behind me did not stop me.

I just kept on going until I reached the top of the mountain. I also probably spent longer than I should have staring at the guards fumbling with the gates down below. I was running out of time and I needed to get this over with. And, I then tried to slow them down by crushing the lock into its slot.

I did not do much damage, but it was surely enough to make sure this door was secure. It would take a lot more effort to get through now. And, with that small bit of peace in my mind, I carried on moving towards the downslope's source. Carefully moving over various pieces of equipment and stone blocks until I was standing above the water.

I was here now, all I had to do was place the flower into the stream and let it flow all the way down. I could then pick it up from the bottom or save it if I got too worried for it. Magic coursed through this flower now, a lot of it. But that did not mean it was no longer a flower.

Yet, oddly enough, its tremendous weight, for a flower, gave me confidence. It put me somewhat at ease that it would just break its way through the obstacles. Even then, however, I could not muster the will to let it go. And I just quietly stared at it to the tune of a controlled river.

"So, how's it going?" Einervaene asked me after she suddenly crashed into the mountain. Larishazza was also with her, but there was no money with them. Not that it mattered I guess, I forced my way up here. And now, so did these two.

"I don't know if I can do this..." I quietly said as I let my tears drip into the core of the flower.

"Of course, you can! You made it this far." my friend encouraged as she held an arm around me. The other one soon joined in as well but she was just as equally seeking support for her weak body.

"Einervaene, they're coming." Larishazza then pointed out.

"Alright, help her, okay? I'll hold them off." Einervaene said to our friend as she walked off. The sound of men being shocked unconscious or dead followed just after. It didn't matter how Einervaene dealt with them, we weren't coming back to this town again, after all.

"So what's the problem?" Larishazza then asked me as her arm went around my back and onto the other shoulder. It then coiled up and played with my left ear and hair. Her other hand, however, went down to my wrist and held it gently.

"I don't want to do this, okay!?" I let out quickly and harshly as my frustrations boiled up.

"Then why did you come all this way?" she asked me bluntly as her head leaned on me. And while she could not direct my body, she was encouraging us to rock back and forth.

"Because... Because... It's what Dad would have wanted if I was to get him something." I wept as my body slowly curled in on itself. I tried to hide my face with my tail, but, her hand moved to stop it.

"Then see it through. Make him happy in the way only you know how." she told me before she moved to more properly hug me.

"I- I- I ca- I can't do it!" I stuttered out tearfully as I held onto the flower still. Yet, now I was testing how strong it was by attempting to crush it. Thankfully, however, Larishazza's magic proved true and the flower was unchanged by my attempts to crush it.

"Yes you can, Vadei. You very much can." Larishazza whispered to me softly as her hand moved onto mine. And, soon, Einervaene came over and did the same with the other.

"Vadei, it's alright, we'll make sure it stay safe, okay? You've done enough, let us help." my other friend offered with a sweet tone as they both massaged my hands. And, eventually, despite the fit of tears I was also enduring, I lowered the flower. I lowered it into the water and I watched it somehow stay afloat as it raced down the mountain.

Then, true to her word, Einervaene used her magic to destroy any obstacles in its way. Despite what it was she was doing, making sure my gift for Dad survived was more important. And so it kept on flowing down the mountain to the backdrop of melting metal. The people down below screamed but I slowly started to smile.

"Thank you..." I let out before I returned the hug to my friend. Clutching onto her tightly as I continued to shake and shake in her grip.

"You're welcome." was all she said before she started to run her hand through my hair. Then, all of a sudden, she nudged us down into the water and we were soon racing down the slope like my flower. Even Einervaene joined when we got near her. And I was soon surrounded by the joyous tears of my friends.

I even started to smile as we chased after the flower in increasingly more alcoholic water. The colour began to change but it was a lot different now. The machines that did whatever were now gone so we were going down something else entirely. Dad's flower, however, kept on going with the last reserve of this brewery's finest.

And, just before it hit the very end and was sucked away. Larishazza mustered a drop of magic to get it flying. Then, with a heavy thud in my lap, I caught it before Einervaene took us into the sky. We kept on going until we crashed down onto a lonely mountain with a hidden garden of its own making.

After all that, though, I just kept quiet. The other two were discussing how much fun that was. Einervaene was regretting what she did among other things. But, I was happy to have my gift for Dad ready.

"I just know you're going to love it, Dad!" I whispered with a smile and sniffle as I held its strong-smelling form by my nose. I did not like the smell of alcohol, but this was his last present from me. One final comfort before Undwote takes him elsewhere for the time of his life.