“Thanks for letting me stay longer,” Embla said.

“Em, I’m not going to kick you out. You’re always welcome to stay here whenever you’re back in Yggdrasil, you know,” Yuki said, carrying a bag of groceries.

It had been nearly two weeks since they returned from their quest. Embla had spent most of that time getting back into tip top shape for travel. The mayor had assured them before they left that they would be paid a hefty additional sum. Yuki sighed. She never thought that the old man would actually go through with his words.

“I still can’t believe we got so much money out of this,” Embla said, following her up the steps.

“Yeah. The mayor wasn’t kidding when he said he would compensate us for the injuries,” Yuki added. She knocked on the door with her tail. As they waited, Yuki looked down at the ground. “Hey, are you sure you don’t want to stay with us and join our party permanently?”

“I wouldn’t be lying if I said I never thought of it but… I think my contact has a lead. The first lead I’ve had in years and if I can get to that location, maybe I can be one step closer to finding Val,” she said.

“Oh! Welcome back you two!” Pandora swung the door open and grabbed some of their bags.

“Is Red back yet?” Yuki asked, walking in.

“No, Red is still getting our finances in order.” Pandora placed the bags on the kitchen counter. Cal was already at the stove, preparing to make dinner.

“Don’t poison me tonight, Cal,” Embla said.

“I’ll have you know that I’m the only person in this house that can actually cook. Yuki is okay but the three always love it when it’s my turn to cook,” he said, looking at her blankly. The expression on his face was the same one wore when they were insulted.

“Fine fine, but let me know if you need help. Maybe a woman’s touch could do you some good. After all, Pandora can only keep vouching for you for so long,” she said, smiling.

Cal felt a vein pop in his head. Calm down. Calm down. If you give into her, she wins, he thought. Cal breathed and smiled back at her. “Of course, I’m sure you have years of culinary experience under your belt. By the way, I noticed that your belt size increased a few centimeters since we got back.”

Embla felt her blood boiling but forced her anger down and smiled. The aura around them grew tense. Pandora laughed nervously while Yuki sighed. The fox kin smiled sadly. Soon, we won’t have these interactions after she leaves…

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Embla sat on the windowsill in the room she shared with Pandora and Cal. The two were snoring the night away. Her red eyes shone in the light of the moon. Smiling at their sleeping forms, she opened the book seated in front of her.

“Hmmm… this shouldn’t be that hard.” Embla raised her hand and pooled her mana into her palm. “Um…” she looked back at the book for what to do next. Closing her eyes, she breathed in and out three times. Embla opened her eyes and concentrated on the space above her palm.

“Hmmm… why isn’t this working? I’m doing everything the stupid book says,” she said. Feeling frustrated by another failed attempt, Embla shut the book and just stared out the window. Even in the nighttime, the distant lights of downtown Yggdrasil could be seen in their block of the city.

I kinda don’t want to leave, she thought, hearing the soft snores of Cal and Pandora. Embla looked down at them with a sad smile. A pain throbbed in her chest. I really like these guys. I guess I’m just tired of always being alone but… She pulled out a small necklace from inside her shirt. Gripping it, Embla returned to looking out the window.

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“Embla! Em!” Pandora whispered yelled into her ear. Cal stood next to her, arms crossed and shaking his head.

This girl… for a hunter, she sure is a heavy sleeper, Cal thought as he watched Pandora try to shake her awake. It was an exercise in futility. His eyes drifted down to the book in her hand. He reached down and grabbed it. His eyebrows scrunched up in confusion as he read the title. Magic For Dummies? He thought.

“Cal, you do something,” Pandora said, sighing.

Cal nodded. He ran out of the room and returned moments later with a glass of water. “Can you make this cold for me?”

“Huh?” Pandora tilted her head and shrugged. She grabbed the glass and used [Frost] on it. The glass cooled enough but she made sure not to freeze the water. She handed it back to her brother, who grinned. To her surprise, Cal dumped the water on Embla, causing the girl to jump up and scream.

“Good mornin-” Cal never finished his sentence as Embla’s fist connected with his jaw. He went flying out of the room, landing in the hallway.

“What the hell you jerk!?” she screamed, standing in the middle of the room. Her face was soaked and the water now seeped into her clothes.

“At least you woke up!” Cal shakily gave her a thumbs up.

Pandora slapped her forehead. I should’ve seen that coming. Why didn’t I see that coming?

Embla walked up and slammed the bedroom door.

“What’s going on?” Red yawned, walking out of his and Yuki’s shared bedroom. Cal slowly sat up, rubbing his jaw.

“Embla’s got a mean left hook,” he said.

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“Come on Em.” Cal walked next to her.

Embla ignored him and looked away, pouting. Pandora stood between them, feeling sandwiched between the two as the tension grew. She sighed and looked ahead. People were busier it seemed. Children ran happily, waving their toys around. Some of them were playing with toy swords or toy manacasters. Pandora smiled. It would be a good day if…

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Oi! Oi! Oilhead!”

“Stop calling me that!”

“So you finally respond after I call you that?”

“You idiot! I’m still mad about this morning!”

“Okay!” Pandora pushed them apart. “Yuki and Red are over at the Guild depositing our funds and looking for our next quest! I’m stuck here babysitting you two so can you please get along for my sake!”

Cal and Embla both rubbed the back of their necks in embarrassment.

“Sorry, Pandora.” The two looked away, not wanting to meet her steely gaze.

Pandora smiled. “Come on! I think something’s happening!” She grabbed their hands and dragged them through the busy streets.

“Woah. I’ve heard about festivals here in Yggdrasil but I never thought I’d be able to see one for myself,” Embla said, looking at all the stalls and festivities.

“It’s weird though,” Cal said.

“What’s so weird about a festival?” she asked.

“It’s not a holiday. It’s just a regular day. It’s freaking Humanitas. A regular one at that,” Cal said. He stopped outside a stall and pulled out his wallet. He ordered a hot dog while Pandora and Embla waited.

“So…”

“Don’t even think about it.” He pulled his hot dog away. Embla gave him a deadpan look and sighed.

“What’s even going on then?” Embla asked.

“Dunno.” Cal swallowed his hotdog and walked past the two.

“Shouldn’t we at least ask?” Pandora asked.

“Fine. It’s not like it matters what’s going on anyway. All I know is that it’s not a holiday,” he replied.

Pandora rolled her eyes at her twin’s uncaring attitude. She grabbed Embla by the arm and dragged her away while Cal finished his hotdog. Pandora found someone carrying a few crates and flagged them down.

“H- Hey!” Embla felt herself being pulled along harder as Pandora walked faster to catch up.

“Hey! Mister!”

The man stopped and turned around. The man was half-orc judging by his pale-green skin. He looked at her with an expectant gaze. “Yes, can I help you?”

“Do you know why everyone is gearing up for a festival?” Pandora asked.

“Oh that. Well…”

Embla stood behind Pandora, zoning out as the Orc began to explain things. The girl looked around, watching everyone setting things up. Whatever it was, it seemed to be a big deal. Embla tapped her foot impatiently. Her red eyes caught glimpse of a store down the street.

Mary’s Magic Emporium? She shrugged and walked towards the store. Standing outside, Embla perused the stacks of books that were in a stall outside the store. “Mmmmm…” Embla closed her eyes in contemplation. Should I buy some? She thought, running her fingers across the book cover.

“Hey!” she turned around and saw Cal standing behind her. He looked down at the stack of books she had her hands on. Embla’s cheeks flushed. She took her hands off the books immediately.

“H- Hey, Cal! Is Pandora done?” she asked.

“Yeah. She’s waiting for us by the alley,” he said. Cal pointed his thumb over to Pandora.

“Right! Let’s go!” Embla grabbed his hand and dragged him down the street.

“Oh! There you two are! I’ve been waiting here for 3 minutes!” Pandora said, placing her hands on her hips.

“Embla was looking at books at-!” Cal winced as Embla ground her boot into his foot.

“I was just looking at books that they were selling over at a stall. Biology books and all that! Nothing to worry about!” she said, waving Pandora off with her other hand.

Pandora raised an eyebrow. “Okay? Right, so let’s go! The orc told me why everyone’s celebrating! Come on!” she walked down the alley towards the main road.

Embla sighed.

“Can you let go of my hand now?” Cal asked.

“Huh? Oh! Sorry.” Embla yanked her hand away. “We should go.”

Cal sighed and nodded. The two remained in awkward silence as the two followed after the blonde priestess. They found her standing at the side of the main street, amidst a group of people. Everyone was cheering and holding up small flags.

“Wow. This is festive,” she said, whistling at the amount of people. “Is there a parade?”

“Guys! Come on!” Pandora waved them over. The two walked over to her. Cal groaned when he saw the look on her face.

“What? What’s going on?” Embla asked.

“The Knights! They’re back!” Pandora said. Her face was flushed as she snatched a flag from her pocket and began to wave. She turned around and faced the streets again. Embla raised an eyebrow and followed her gaze.

There was a massive procession happening in front of them. A convoy of armored carriages accompanied by soldiers with various weapons moved down the streets. Some soldiers and drivers were atop the armored vehicles, standing at the opened hatches. People screamed and cheered as they passed by. Some men and women broke free from the sea of people and ran to the procession to embrace their loved ones. Her eyes scanned the convoy.

Where is he? She thought. Her eyes caught a glimpse of something. Something that made her heart stop momentarily. Across the street, in a white cloak, was a woman. Her face was shadowed by the hood but the white hair was very distinct. Her foot took a step forward but stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Huh?” Embla turned around and saw Cal looking at her strangely.

“You alright? You just froze for a moment and your eyes went out of focus,” he said.

“What? Yeah, I’m fine. I thought I…” she looked back across the street and saw that the woman had vanished. “I thought I saw someone. It was nothing.”

Cal looked at her strangely before nodding. The two stood next to Pandora, who cheered and screamed as the knights passed by.

“Your sister is a fangirl for the Knights,” she remarked.

“It’s not the Knights she’s cheering for. She’s cheering for one knight in particular,” he said.

“One knight?” Embla gave him an odd look.

“Look, there he is right now. Atop the next armored carriage.” he raised his hand and pointed to a rather large armored vehicle. It was larger than the rest and outfitted with more defensive measures. Unlike the other armored carriages that passed by, this one had thicker plating made of mythril. There was a golden insignia of a dragon with two large thick horns and flaming wings. The insignia shined brightly in the sunlight. The figure atop the carriage caught Embla’s eye.

A man stood in the open hatch. He waved as the carriage passed by. His amber-orange eyes possessed a reptilian quality to them. The man had long black hair, tied in a ponytail that went down to his mid-back. His ears were pointed like Red’s. He had fair skin and slightly slanted eyes, indicating his Alfheim origins. The man wore a black trenchcoat that was fitted with silver pauldrons. The coat went down to his midthigh. Underneath was a collared grey military uniform with a silver tie. On his coat was an assortment of medals with one standing out in particular. A medal that resembled a spear inside a sun.

“WOOOOH! KOJIRO~!” Pandora screeched at the top of her lungs. She waved her flag wildly hoping to get his attention.

Embla smiled at her antics. However, deep down her heart clenched. Took you long enough to get back, she thought. At that moment, Embla’s red eyes locked with Kojiro’s flaming orange ones. Kojiro smiled and waved at her.

“Welcome back, Big Brother Koji,” she mouthed, waving back.