Next morning I still felt little red in the face after remember him teasing me.

Also him sending along a dozen of his students as additional security to the wagons. He was worried and he let know.

Alexander came along with Dilip and Menir also other man from the council.

We had a rather large party. On route we meet people from nearby villages heading for Malai.

Some for the same reason we did.

Divine monsters resided near their villages and had to sacrifice a lot each year to keep them docile. We ended up with more than a hundred travelers banded together for safety, for a time.

Me, Eleanor and granny were in inside a wagon with about half dozen of other women from our village.

Liz came along leaving her baby home with the husband, who along with Zephyr will head up that mountain in a few days. I wondered if my face looked as worried as hers lately.

I didn't ask why, her husband Norman wanted to go. It was considered rude to question those willing to fight Emet. Only those in close relationships like family or his wife would know the actual reason.

But unlike her, I was certain my Zephyr will return. Maybe that's why the fear is not so..crippling.

The ride was pleasant. With no fear from bandits after a day of camping, we arrived in record time.

The city guards checked every one for weapons and after our name and a bronze coin each, they let us in.

The city was home to almost a million people. I couldn't even imagine such a number.

We started with eating all kinds of foods from different stalls some, even from different kingdoms.

We usually could only afford one piece each if that.

But this time not only we, had money..even I did.

Before I left Zephyr handed me a pouch, with a lot of bronze coin. He told me he will throw into the river Sen, if I kept refusing. I ended up being so embarrassed. I barely heard it when he told me to buy whatever I wanted.

So this time we bought some for everyone in our own party as a thank you for their protection. It was jam filled buns.

For ourselves we bought so much, I felt sick from overeating. We picked up all sort of things too, like linens,tools for the farm, spices and a lot of them. Things like salt, vegetable powders that made soup rich and delicious. Seeds to plants, and I bought a few dresses for myself those that I liked and maybe Zephyr will too.

I had more left so, I bought one for each of the women in my family.

It was super hard to find something acceptable for Ilianna. She hated clothes that restricted her movement or left no space for her future daggers.

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Yes..Zephyr already decided her future weapon.

I ended up choosing something comfortable she can train in and just needed something for Zephyr.

I soon decided on a necklace. It was a blue stone in a shape of a triangle almost as beautiful as his eyes.

With this my pouch felt considerably lighter. Spending money was very easy..and fun.

" This city is always beautiful and packed with all sorts of characters..I wish master Zephyr came."

" I know what you mean. He would love these sword works. This winter we make sure to bring him and everyone else. Enjoy our time here as brothers."

I overheard one Zephyr student and Alexander wishing him here.

Their thoughts mirrored my own except... like he is gonna come with you lot, instead of his family. We gonna have so much fun..the city was even more beautiful when snowed. I could just imagine ourselfs with Ilianna walking around and laughing.

Only three more months.

In a big circle, the middle of town centre there were soliders in colourful uniforms that, I was sure served no practical purpose.

They were shouting about the latest propaganda by the King.

" THE KARTA KINGDOM AGGRESSION ESCALATES. YOUR HOMELAND REQUIRES SOLIDERS TO DEFEND ITS LANDS AND ITS KING. THOSE WHO WISH TO JOIN. HEAR THE LIST OF BENEFITS SUCH AS TRAINING WITH THE FIRST GUARDIAN! BLES.."

" For Ehlite he is loud.. " - granny reached over and tapped my shoulder. " Let's go back to our wagon. I wanna leave for home soon as we can."

I agreed with granny and was ready to leave. If Zephyr was here, we might stay at the Joblin but, with no coins left and him hundreds of miles away let's head home and fast as we can.

We been only a few minutes away when noticed Alexander was missing.

" That idiot probably just stayed to hear the end of that speech. " - I looked behind us seeing the crowd now swelled double it's size. " Let's wait until he arrives."

Of course he stayed to listen.

I bet home, he won't stop preaching about joining the army and how now is theirs chance for blah blah blah...

He will bore anyone willing to listen how to defend against the vicious Karta invaders.

Soon enough he arrived and told us all about how he might join and how the benefits were life changing and all the glory that will awaits them.

I honestly felt bad for Demelza. She was too good for this uncaring brute so willing, to leave his family for uncertainty and the tiniest chance of glory no one even cares about.

He better stay away from Zephyr or even Lucian who respects him greatly.

After all, if the fight against Emet, in a few days go well it might encourage people in the village to join in on his newest stupidity.

" Alright people let's go home. We have a long journey ahead of us. - granny listened politely with the rest but, I could tell she thought the same. " Alexander get your head out of the clouds and gather yourself and Zephyr students."

" Yes Vistellia. I'm sorry getting carried away here." - he had a fanatical light in his eyes. " Lads let's push and make it home to our families."

So with that, our visit to Malai came to an end.

---

On our way back, I told my fears to granny who then did her best along side Eli to calm them.

" Lylly he would never just abandon his daughter for something so moronic. " - she patted my hand from her seat. " If not for his friendship with the man he never even think joining the sacrifice."

" Granny is right sister. " - my sister nodded along with her and added her own thoughts. " You know well enough that no amount or benefits of any kind will ever just make him leave now. He is a father. "

Their words were true and I knew it.

Our relationship haven't progressed to far yet. I really wanted to change that after the sacrifice is behind us, but his relationship with Ilianna is that of actually father and daughter.

I personally never seen a more doting father in my life. And that's good thing.

He would never just leave her.

Not for money or glory. He has something that will forever ties him to Emet village. Soon, I want him to have more.