“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

They were riding through the western village to the North where they’d break off into the Mountains. The houses here were different than in the south, though built from similar materials, there was more space in general. They had more land available, everything felt spread out and many houses had gardens. The streets were also quieter with fewer people around as most of the community worked on the farms and were out for the day already.

“It’s nothing new.”

“Sounded like something new.” He had been a little worried about the interaction after dropping Marcas off, especially given it felt like he was at least part of the reason for the conflict.

“Maybe it’s new for them but not for me.”

“It doesn’t have anything to do with me, does it?”

“Why would it have anything to do with you?” He could feel her smirk but her helmet hid it.

“She looked at me when she said that, about recent decisions.”

“They think I want to join the guild because that’s what you’re doing. Like I have no other reason and because they don't want me to do that, they blame you.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

“You’re defending them again, and it only makes sense if you believe I can’t think for myself.”

Their bikes were quiet, only a gentle whistle came from their motors and with the slower pace, their visors up and the empty street, it was easy to have a conversation as they rode.

“They just don’t get it,” she continued. “They think I should find a simple job around the villages, get married, have kids, live a quiet life and let everyone else save the world.”

“A lot of people think that way.”

“And if everyone did, we’d all be dead.”

She wasn’t wrong but Finlay also understood where her parents were coming from. Joining the guild meant you were going out to fight in the miasma, literally going out to fight monsters and putting yourself at constant risk. He knew he had a clear reason for wanting to do that, he knew others had their reasons for taking those risks themselves. But even now, he wasn’t sure why Keira wanted to do it, especially given she seemed so unsure of herself when they discussed her application the previous day.

“It’s not because of me right? I know you want to help and everything but I understand why they would think it’s my fault.”

“Didn’t we have this conversation yesterday?”

“That was about your feelings of mediocrity. This is about you shaping your future around a decision I made when I was eight.”

“It’s not like I don’t respect the people here, everything they do to keep society together. It’s important, just as important as what the guild does but at the same time—I can’t imagine staying here when you and others are out there fighting for all of our lives.”

She had started to slow down, and Finlay matched so they could continue side by side. They were approaching the top of a small hill and would turn off from there to leave the main village ring and continue on an outer trail where they could pick up the speed.

“Obviously I’ve been influenced by you," she continued, "But not in the way they think or how you’re thinking about it now. We met soon after you got here and I saw how you were. I listened to your stories and I watched you grow through that fear and chose to fight.”

She stopped at the top of the hill and turned so she could face him square on as he joined her. She was looking at him as though they were having the most important conversation of their lives and he couldn't help but feel embarrassed about his question.

“I’m not doing it just because we’re best friends and I’m scared to lose you. I’m doing this because I agree with you. I’m doing this because I want to protect the people I love and make sure this world, this city and the villages—this place that is good and safe and happy doesn’t end up like your island. I’m doing this because I want to.”

There was a weight to her words and the emotion behind them that Finlay couldn’t quite match so they sat in silence as he considered what she had said. They often talked about the guild, joining and what it would be like but now he realised they never discussed the reasons why. Not since he had made the decision years ago when he first learned of the guild. When Keira also said she wanted to join, he was too busy being happy that he never questioned it. Even now, it had always been what they were planning to do so he never considered it further.

“Have you explained all this to your parents?”

“Of course, but mum doesn’t believe me... Or doesn’t want to believe me so ignores it all.”

“I’m sorry, it was pretty ignorant of me to even ask.”

“It was, but it’s okay, I’m sure your ego’s taken a hit now you know I’m not giving up my entire life just to be near your precious self.”

“That’s not how I felt.”

She laughed and started to move down the street that would lead them out of the village ring, finally breaking the intensity she had held since they reached the top of the hill.

“Mum’s been getting more involved with the order recently as well,” she continued once he was beside her again.

“Fèineil?”

“Is there another?”

“Sort of but I guess not.”

“Well anyway, their whole thing is very anti-guild, she’s started talking about being eaten by demons invited in and other nonsense.”

“I’ve heard the phrase before, It’s not exactly nonsense, it’s based on the devoured.”

“You know it's not the same, the spirits the guild works with aren't demonic just because things go wrong sometimes.”

“Sure but you know the divisions are getting worse and a lot of people in the village resent the guild.”

“Mostly because the stupid order keeps promoting nonsense.”

“I think it’s more that; unlike the guild, Fèineil welcomes everyone. A lot of people find it empowering.”

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“But the guild has actually made a difference, all they do is talk, they’ve made zero progress into the realms.”

“Also true.”

“Point is, now I have that to add to all the other complaints thrown at me—it’s tiring.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realise it had gotten so bad.”

She shook her head, “Second time you’ve apologised, there’s no need. For now, I just want to forget about it all and enjoy the trip away.”

“You know,” he said after a few more minutes of them riding in silence. “If you express yourself as passionately as you just did in your application, you won’t have any problems getting in.”

“And if I don’t I’ll resort to bribes and blackmail,” she laughed and then closed the visor on her helmet before calling out, “If I beat you to the bottom of the mountain, you get to tell my grandma that I fell in love with the mining life and am now living in the mountains.”

She sped off, they had gotten out of the western village and were now on the outer trail, it was inevitable a race would take place and now, he was already behind.

*****

“I win!” she declared, her arms wide as she leaned back in triumph.

“No way, I was ahead on that last turn.”

“That wasn’t the finish line, this is.”

“Then it’s a tie and you never said where the finish was when you took off.”

“I’m saying it now, right here, where I am, hence me winning.”

“A tie at best, but I'll come with you to your grandma’s for backup.”

“Fine, I’ll be the bigger person and of course you'll be there.”

He rolled his eyes though it was unlikely Keira could see through his visor. She had flicked hers up and was leaning against a pack tied to her bike, propped up with one hand. Finlay swung his backpack around and pulled out two bottles of water.

“I assume you never packed one.”

“I assumed you were going to bring me one.” She reached over to take the bottle with her free hand.

He raised his visor and with some manoeuvring of the helmet’s chin guard, managed to take a drink. They were at the base of the mountain trail, with fields of crops on one side leading to the western village and a river that ran down the mountains from the north on the other.

The city of Aberana was in the middle of a large lake, encircled by the villages. While distinguished by the main compass points, it was the four bridges that separated them in practice. The northwestern river was one of three that came from the mountains to form the lake and would travel through the southern village to the ocean.

They had passed a few people during their race across the trail but no one had bothered them. Most people outside of the village ring were generally working in the fields or otherwise going about their own business and had little interest in what two teenagers were up to, even if it involved somewhat reckless riding.

Finlay put the bottles back in his bag as they agreed it was time to go again. They had a long ride ahead and the mountain pass often had difficult terrain that would hinder their speed. The sky was clear, the wind was mild and overall it was a beautiful, perfect summer day for a ride and both of them were looking forward to the journey.

The mining station was deep in the mountains, though not at a particularly high elevation, they’d have to travel through several valleys to reach it. The trail itself was rough, without any real construction. It was usually clear from frequent travel but rockslides weren't unheard of and could cause serious problems. Of course, whenever the opportunity arose they'd both want to push up the speed but they’d have to be careful.

The river ran alongside the trail for almost half the journey, and as they rode through the first valley it calmed in speed and was now quite peaceful. Finlay thought of a time his father had brought him and Keira here to fish. They were entirely unsuccessful and Keira spent most of the time determined to swim, declaring she could catch them by hand faster than he could with a rod, it was a nice day out and a fond memory.

There was a large forest that expanded up the opposite side of the valley they were travelling through. Birds often appeared from the trees and sang their songs as they flew over the trail the two travelled. The forest was lush and colourful but so dense that Finlay couldn't see past a few trees. Beyond the birds and the river, only the passing wind and the gentle whistle from their bikes broke the tranquil valley. It was peaceful, and Keira seemed to be in her own little world of thought so Finlay followed along behind her in silence.

The valley had been cooler than the village fields as the wind whistled through it but as the sun got higher in the sky with midday rolling in, it was starting to get hotter by the second. They reached a straighter section of the trail that was clear from any debris and almost as soon as he considered it himself, Keira took off at full throttle. He chased after her and without a word between them they were back to racing again and enjoying the wind that whipped around them. It didn’t last long as when he rounded a corner she had already stopped in the middle of the trail causing him to skid to avoid crashing into her.

"A little warning next time would be good."

“Sorry, but look,” she had flipped her visor up and was pointing to a goat in the middle of the trail.

It was large as far as goats go, covered in thick black hair with white streaks throughout. Two giant horns adorned its head and stretched almost to its back. It didn't seem particularly bothered by the two, and after a moment of looking back at them, decided to turn and walk towards the river.

“I guess hitting that would have been worse."

"It's strange," she said with much more thought than he had given it.

"Looks like a normal mountain goat to me."

"No, I mean, yes but you never see them this far down the mountains."

"I guess now you mention it, I usually only see them closer to the station."

"And there's more," she was pointing to the other side of the trail, further down where another three goats of similar but different markings stood.

"Family vacation?"

"Maybe."

"I guess we should be a bit more careful in case of random goat herds appearing on the trail further along."

"I wonder what caused them to come all the way down here."

"I feel like you're overthinking this."

She turned to him and then back to the goats who were now crossing the trail to meet with the larger one, waiting by the river. They watched them for a while as they drank at the river and ate some grass, the usual goat behaviours and then Keira finally decided there was nothing more exciting to see so they set off.

The trail evened out to a comfortable ride but it often weaved its way near the sides of the mountains and each time it did they eased off as though they might run into more unexpected animals. Though the caution was without cause as they never saw any others beyond the birds in the sky and a few that perched in nearby trees.

It wasn’t long until they reached a small shack by the trail and a sign that had no other markings but a picture of a phone crossed out. Keira had raced up as soon as the shack came into view and slid to a stop under the sign. She hopped from her bike and cheered after flicking her visor up, her arms held high into the air as she spun around before stopping in front of Finlay.

“Freedom!”

“You have the opposite reaction to basically everyone else coming here.”

“I don’t care, I am officially off radar from family harassment until I decide to come home.”

The sign and shack were here because cell phone transmission had limited range beyond Aberana due to the signal towers, or in this case, lack of them being built outside of the city ring. The miners from the station had been complaining for years that it wouldn’t be difficult to create the infrastructure to connect the station to the city but it had gone unanswered. There was a single wired line between the station and the company in Aberana for emergency and business use, but if anyone else wanted to contact someone in the city they had to travel back to this spot. The final point where the signal was still available, as beyond here the world would go dark.

Finlay stepped off his bike and walked into the shack as Keira took out her phone and turned it off in a final declaration that she was no longer available. He considered that she could have turned it off before reaching this point and had the same effect but didn’t feel the need to say anything.

Sometimes people left messages in the shack for others who passed through or shared useful information pinned on the walls. He was curious and checked, but it seemed no one had left anything for quite a long time.

Keira had given up her dancing when he came back out, though more likely from the growing heat rather than her lack of enthusiasm.

“Thought I’d check but there’s nothing in there.”

“Onward to the station then.”

They took one final look at the shack and the end of any communication with Aberana before getting back on their bikes and continuing their journey. This was always a strange period, the time between the last point of contact and reaching the station where others existed. But the weather was good and at least he had company, so the two continued on their journey without much more thought.