Inconspicuous is not an adjective that can be put together with 'wings of light' in the same sentence without a negative, Aidan learned that day. Since they were flying in the daylight and trying to get the most mileage out of their mana pools, the options for stealth flight were very limited. Given their repertoire of spells, it was exactly zero.

Dawn had her hair braid in three separate tresses, then the three were braided again, forming a thick but secure and shorter hairstyle. The wind of flying would turn her hair into a messy bush. They were going in their academy field uniforms. A modified leather armor dyed with the academy colors and uniform pattern with traveler's boots and a below-the-shoulders skirt for the girls.

They were going about two hundred meters above the ground. An arrow shot from below would still reach them, but with so little speed it would only give them a scratch. Besides, it would take so long to climb that they had plenty of time to dodge. Their worst fear was some aerial predator diving on them. But that is why they had Skippy on Aidan's back watching the sky above them.

They kept going through the night to make up for half the day they missed. Besides the wind buffeting them, flying with Lumina's Sky magic was not physically extenuating. Only the stress of lying still and the mental concentration of sustaining the spell on three subjects. Every three hours they would land, rest a while, and switch who was casting the spell on Sora.

About two hours past nightfall they reached the county of Marlimar, mid-way between the capital and Aidan's parents' fief. It was past gate-close time and they had to use the Shadowblossom's Veil spell to infiltrate the town.

The three landed on an empty alley, scaring a few cats.

"I'm tired and hungry. How are you, girls?" Aidan stretched his arms.

"Yeah, I could use a massage. My shoulders are stiff." Complained Sora.

"Same here. Let's find an inn."

"Kreek."

"Ok. Let's."

They left the alley into a street, and it was also deserted. Only a few lanterns lighting here and there. It was normal, most people didn't have the resources to spend on lighting, and differently, from the districts at the capital they used to hang around, there was no investment in public illumination. However, they could see just fine because they were under a Night Vision spell.

But walking around in complete darkness would make them suspicious. Dawn used a third circle spell.

"Light Orb."

A ball of light that can be moved around following the caster's orders. It illuminated double the range of a common torch. If Lumina herself had used that spell, it could reach up to a hundred meters.

Skippy hid underneath Sora's tail and they walked the street looking for the inn they usually stay at when passing through this town. Their light called the attention of guards.

"You there. Halt," They stopped. "Who goes there?"

"We are hunters, traveling north-east. We came to your town to rest for the night. We are lodged at the Chirping Sparrow."

The guard looked at the group. The boy and the squirrel-kin were holding hands, probably a couple. The other girl had a noble bearing. Wearing Royal Academy uniforms. Trouble beyond his pay grade. However, there was a little problem.

"That inn burned down last year during the summer drought. If you are hunters, can I see your registrations?"

After checking their D-rank hunter cards, they were directed to another inn. After they got a triple room, Sora opened up.

"That guard is ratting us to his superior this very moment. Let's sleep because we are going to have trouble tomorrow morning."

"Why do you say that?"

"The way he was looking at us from our boots to our heads. And how much he stared at little Dawn here. I say we rest and flee before sunrise."

"If we are going to leave at a moment's notice, we should sleep in our clothes. And look, there are three beds!"

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Sora didn't like Aidan's proposal, but she held in. All she had to do was to stay still while the flight spell drove them through the air, but she could tell her mage was as tired as her other mage. The room was square, about one and a half beds on a side, with a bed on each corner, a doorless wardrobe and the door on the fourth side. Definitely unsuitable for a princess, but that is what was available that late at night.

They woke before dawn and Dawn. It was still dark outside and she was sleeping. Sora and Skippy were already alert when they shook the notoriously slow to wake up boy. They should've gone for the girl, she was much easier to awaken. Sora was shaking Aidan when she heard the sound of chainmail clinking outside the inn. Armored people were moving outside.

"I can't believe the commander would have us secure an inn this early in the morning," A man's voice spoke between yawns.

"Shut up, Johns. You'll wake up the guests."

Now were they talking about the inn guests in general or of themselves, Sora pondered. Her instincts were laughing at her foolishness for considering for a moment it wasn't about them.

Aidan moaned and groaned, fighting to keep away from the vigil state. Sora looked at him and her impulse was to pull his covers as she usually did. But a mischievous streak assaulted her and she decided to ignore his morning breath and plant a french kiss on her still-sleeping boyfriend.

He woke up startled, bit Sora's tongue and headbutted her. The pain on the forehead, the drowsiness of waking up and the blood in his mouth all screamed danger. He felt no pain in the mouth and rationalized that the blood was not his.

"Wha a fook, Aian. Why uu haa oo bie my ounee?"

"Sora?"

Aidan just willed some flame into existence and a small fire appeared floating in the middle of the room.

"Sora, what happened? Are you hurt?"

She nodded.

"Healing Light."

"Damn, Aidan. You bit my tongue." She whined, angry.

He blushed in realization and scratched the back of his head. "I guess I ruined your good morning kiss."

"Yes. You better be sorry." She pouted, bashfully.

Aidan knew where it would lead to. He decided to just wear his poker face. "Am not."

"Grawwk!" Skippy slapped both forepaws on each other up and down and then used them to hold his head down. Letting go, he pointed down and hissed, spreading his wings up and straightening his humps and tail as if to pounce prey.

"Oh. You are right. Sorry. There are guards at the exits of the inn. I was trying to wake you up to tell you that."

"Huh. I surely mistook it for a night assault but in the end, it was a night assault. Sorry about that." He said in a sorry-not-sorry tone.

"And why are you getting so cranky that the girl you love came to wake you up? I didn't even pull your covers this time!"

Skippy groaned, took wing, made an aerial somersault and tail slapped Dawn in the butt, waking her up.

"Ouch! Why did you do that?" Aidan complained.

Skippy ran a claw up and down through his horns. He turned his head sideways until it was upside down and let his tongue dangle to a side.

"We are being stupid?"

The dragon nodded.

"Yes, he is right, Aidan. You are being stupid. There are guards outside." Sora answered without looking him in the eyes.

Skippy shrugged and helped Dawn put on her boots instead.

Shortly after someone knocked on the door.

"I'm sorry, guests, but the Lord wants to talk to you."

"We'll be right out. When are we meeting him?"

"I'm afraid he is at the common room right now."

For the count to come to the inn in the middle of the night was strange at least. Alarming.

They finished getting themselves presentable and went downstairs. Skippy was hidden in Sora's back as always.

"Your grace, the guests you wanted to see. Hunters, please behave in the presence of Count Marlimar."

The man in noble clothes and slight overweight turned to look at them.

"Brave hunters, I am in need of your servi... EXCUSE MY INSOLENCE!" And the Count knelt right on the spot with his head lowered. He looked to the sides and ordered. "Kneel, you knaves!"

It was obvious what happened. Dawn walked forward and stopped a couple of meters in front of the man.

"Arise, Count Marlimar. I think something grave happened for you to come all the way here. Know that the realm favors you and your good work."

They were rummaging through all the Kingdom's financial reports so they had a very good idea of which nobles were embezzling the least. The County of Marlimar was almost entirely honest. The amount missing was probably not the Count's doing himself, just some oversight and petty thieving from tax collectors and bureaucrats.

The Count, however, didn't get up. "Your Highness, these kind words bring great joy to my heart." He said with a pained voice, almost as if he was forcing himself to sound happy.

"Marlimar, you were saying you need help. What is troubling such a stalwart subject of Yutis? It pains my heart to know you are in such hardship. Speak your mind freely."

"This one would dare not burden your Highness with such minor troubles." The stress in his voice was obvious. These were not minor troubles, and all this banter was irritating an already irritated Aidan.

"Count Marlimar, with my authority as the second princess of Yutis, I command you to stand up and say what motivated you to come here. Without any pleasantries, state what request you had in mind. Now."

"Yes!" He stood up and paused to catch his breath. "A carriage bringing my daughters and wife from the barony of Belsart to the north was supposed to arrive last night but we had no word of them. I wanted to hire the hunters staying in this inn to look for them, but I cannot burden your Hi..."

*SLAP*

The count went silent. Wrath could be seen in Dawn's face.

"You insult us, Count Marlimar. Let it be known throughout the land that Yutis cares for all our subjects. We are departing now to find your family." Her voice softened. "You should have asked right from the start, milord. Every minute counts if we are to find them alive. Make way!"