“Can we finally go and get one of those pots now?” Rianta-chira asks, as if I haven’t just had to apologise profoundly on her behalf. Turning back to where we come from, I watch with a quake in my core. So many people gathered over Rianta-chira’s scene... Oh, why does she have to be... Her?

“No!” I go, minding how much I am carrying. Not only was she causing so many issues in the last shop, we still end up with all this shopping. And, right after telling her that Nin-kischu wants to speak with her, she wants to shop more...? Somehow, I don’t smile. I smile.

I start to laugh quietly. For all the stress I feel like I am being put through, I’m actually having fun. A lot of it! Things are very exciting with her around.

It’s a pleasant change compared to how it has been over the past few years. If I had to run then, it was because I was about to miss my ship. Or there were monsters or bandits or something. At least Rianta-chira remains a constant friendly face. If a little temperamental and specifically obsessed.

No more complications in my journey for now. We’ll get ready and head on out when able. I won’t have to run and hide. I can simply enjoy the blissful moments and relax. Forgetting about whatever stresses I happen to be putting up with or be under at the time. Even though Rianta-chira is demanding in attitude and tone, with her extravagant needs and all.

It’s still lighter on the heart and mind than what I’ve had to put up with since leaving home.

“Well, I want one.” Rianta-chira scoffs, her head shaking while her lip narrows up.

“Do you really need one?” I ask, not quite remembering why it enthralled her before. Seeds and planting? That’s what plant pots are typically for. We could cross the All-Coast Sea together right now and still see plant pots used the same.

“They are for holding my future son. The worker there said so!” Rianta-chira says, her tone going as high as her aggressive shrug. My head moves slightly as her words jog my memory. Ah… Now I remember the details clearly, along with what else happened that day.

“I know they said something along those lines. But, do you really need something bought for them...? Would it not be better to make it yourself or leave them in a much more special place?” I point out, trying to appeal to some sense of sincerity here so we can stick to our actual goal. Nin-kischu wants to speak to her. We can’t be wasting time doing more idle shopping. Fun as it is. Not when he’s got a task to be doing that’s crucial to our journey!

Though, I am worried I have said the wrong thing to Rianta-chira. I have limited knowledge of her kind and am probably worse off compared to Nin-kischu. Even he has remarked about certain confusions and he’s known her for far longer than I have.

“But what if I give birth as we travel? When my precious love and I are by no means to create a garden. One so very crucial for the safety of our precious seed? A pot like these would solve that. It would not be a problem anymore.” she explains, as if it makes total sense. I blink.

“And... W-Why would you be moving around on an adventure while pregnant!?” I question, flabbergasted by the concept until I find myself abruptly laughing. Is this some fantasy of hers? To be more vulnerable than she already is just to paint Nin-kischu in an even stronger light? Actually, is... Is she boasting to me?

Some big talk, it most certainly is. Honestly, would have thought I would’ve heard it all back home. Nobles bragged all the time back then when I was there. Even the staff of Mother’s castle did the same, if on a humble scale.

I stop and turn, realising my shopping partner has stalled.

“Uh...” Rianta-chira lets out, thoughtfully. The other people of the town passing us by without a care.

“She’s actually...?” I mutter.

“We might be moving to a new home. One that is perfect for us, my love and I. Our future son, too. But we are a little too slow in getting there, and I cannot hold on. The greatest gift he could ever give me is about to come out... And all I have is my precious love to protect me as I endure my first trial as a mother.” she swoons, losing herself in the mental imagery. It creeps into my head, too, and I scratch my head as I heat up a little.

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I smile, thinking of something cosier and more relaxing. A warm bed, a steaming drink of broth or soup nearby and a hand to hold. A huff escapes me as I feel my cheeks burn with a girl’s dreams. It’s quite easy to understand why she is so easily enamoured by the concept. The love of a strong man at its finest, when he is all you have to depend on. His power being all that keeps you safe-

Reminding myself of our real circumstances, my smile shifts to one of teasing anticipation, “You would have been with a child before reaching your perfect home? And here I was thinking with all this pickiness you’ve shown me... That, you know, you’d have better standards.”

Rianta-chira gives me a short-lived glare and huffs, striding off. Giggling behind her, I give slow chase. Her naturally pointed legs tap sharply, as do my high-heels. Other noises disturb my focus and I shift my eyes towards what I thought was just a normal crowd earlier. A part of the usual hustle and bustle not worth thinking about... Apparently not.

Why are so many people gathering outside of Founding-Lord Brewbrt’s estate? What is going on? There’s a lot of worried chatter- Gunshots ring out from within the building. Screams escape the crowd and some instinctively leap back. Those who are eager to leave have those eager to fight replace them.

Rianta-chira drops what little she does have across the floor, her mouth covered by her hands. She’s struck by immeasurable panic, her fully black eyes cautious of everyone around. Her legs won’t stop shaking. She’ll collapse at this rate.

“Rianta-chira!” I call out, barely reaching out for her when she decides to rush into the crowd. She gets in too deep for me to pull her out and her head is flashing bright to blind those in her way. A large man collides with her, his mouth a storm of curses. A pocket appears in the crowd, a sting of magic lighting up her hands.

I lose track of her, no matter how much I try to raise my head above the crowd...! How can I lose someone making so much light? I step back and clutch my head. Why is there so much magic in the estate... Flowing so aggressively?

Should I use my magic to break into the estate to make sure Brewbrt and Nin are alright? I can do it right now. I have the reserves and haven’t used anything until now. Alright, I’m going to smash into-

A dark form barrels right out of the estate, dragging bricks and décor along with it. People duck for cover and I get blindsided by some such people. Forcing my way up, I crawl to my feet in time to watch the mysterious thing rise to its full height. Its posture is so blatantly alert.

It’s some kind of insect, taller than most people here. One woman screams. Pandemonium erupts across the town. Everyone is running for cover, trampling anyone they can to find it. Anyone with a weapon reaches for them, ready to target the creature. Shifting my eyes away to a roof, lightning strikes.

Clutching onto the metal decoration, I secure my footing and look at the street. Rianta-chira, where are you!? Where is she...? There!

“RIANTA-CHIRA!” I scream, watching the creature rush right for her. It grabs the rose-haired woman and leaps. This creature’s jump is so powerful is shatters the street. The building quakes under me. Tremors are reaching this far!?

Snapping my focus after the creature and my kidnapped friend, bangs flood my ears. Each leap makes the world bark, each gun makes the world roar. Buildings collapse and the town gains craters with each leap. In so little time, this creature has destroyed more than what the ones from before did!

No, I need to focus on what is happening now. Not what happened before. I need to get moving. I need to save Rianta-chira before I lose her.

B-But... Where is Nin-kischu!? He was in the estate last I saw him. He should have had no reason to leave. Better yet, where is Lord Brewbrt!? I know he’s not the kind to stand idle as a beast tears his home apart!

No, no, no! If those two are not available... Then it is up to me to save Rianta-chira. To save my friend, it is my job- They’re getting too far away, though!

I can’t cross that kind of distance safely even as a lightning bolt... I’d barely be able to control myself-

“TO THE GOD OF THE DEAD WITH IT!” I shout, gritting my teeth and charging my magic. Striking into the sky, I warp around my sky-bound position to orient myself. Finding a breadcrumb trail of craters, I follow along. Sparking and striking as I dive up and down the cloud cover.

Feeling my focus waver, I strike to the grass below. I roll through the mud and fauna, blackened and not. I give my body no time to recover and hobble to my feet. Chasing on foot with growing numbness, I hack at the feeling in my stomach.

I feel so sick. Everything in my body is failing, my casting incompetence is- I have to save her. I have to save Rianta-chira from that creature!

My next attempt fails and I fall flat on my face.

“Th... The...” I struggle to let out as I lift my fuzzy vision up. A black dot arcs across my view, so close to leaving it. No... I must.

My body fails to convert properly, leaving me in the clouds as an aberration. Half-human, half lightning. I can barely keep myself in the sky with all this weight that should not be. The creature is stopping!

“I-“ I try to cry out in defiance, and I fall without my desire to do so. All I can feel is my twitches. My body won’t stop twitching. My eyes swell shut, hiding my oncoming death from me. A boom from below breaks into the world once more.