“She's really sticking to it, isn't she?” Jannie observed with surprised as Lizzy, Myanihia, and Belle emerged with Fyu and Anna Belle from the Silvernight Queens' ship.
“Hon, I don't think she had a choice.” Winnie said with a grin.
“I guess we know which one of those girls wears the pants,” Tabitha slyly smirked.
“You'd be surprised,” Lizzy shrugged, a secret smile passing between her and the other two in her guild. “Anyway! Anna Belle says there's some sort of ore deposit her uncle wanted us to check on; it's up around the northern side of the mountains here on Ewar, right?” she said, turning to the Ragamis.
“Correct!” their NPC ally nodded. “My ancestor referred to it as glimmer rock; one of our librarians thought it might be a kind of star-metal,” she then explained.
“Glimmer rock, huh?” Jannie pondered. “Let's get your friends set up there so we can get the ore to your uncle as soon as we can!”
“Right!” the Ragamis beamed happily, and the little group set off for the mountains.
“Hm? Where's Lysandra?” Jannie wondered.
“She has work,” Sky Belle shrugged, a sad smile on her face.
“Ahh,” the golden-haired girl nodded.
“I think Maryn and Anhe might get on... Maryn for sure; she wanted to look at that forest in the southeast and see what kind of timber is there,” Lizzy said.
“Baba and Moldylox are checking it out now for themselves.” Winnie remarked.
“Now there's a name,” the pixie-girl said with a bemused look.
“Moldylox?” Winnie grinned back.
“Ah-yup.”
“Ironically they're one of our healers,” Jannie said with a faint grin.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“Huh?!” Lizzy looked over at her in disbelief. “I would have guessed a debuffer...”
“Some people, just enjoy, being silly,” Myanihia smiled.
“Exactly.” Jannie nodded. “Hahh... this quest feels so wrong without Lana or Ari around,” she sighed.
“Don't remind me...” Lizzy softly grumbled. “Hrrrggghh... and now they're at some fancy hotel together... 'bet those little brats are just--”
“Huh?!”
“Hotel!?” Winnie and Jannie said at once, Tabitha letting out a brief sigh.
“Ahh...” Lizzy hesitated for a moment. Snap. I can't tell them what's actually going on... uuugghh, stupid-stupid-stupid! Why did I even--
“They won a contest by accident somehow, so they're collecting on it!” Sky Belle quickly explained.
Well isn't *that* not far from the truth, Lizzy though to herself again.
“Oooh, nice.” Tabitha smiled. “Though how do you win a contest by accident?” she wondered.
“Beats the heck out of me,” the pixie-girl shrugged. She and the others continued walking while Lizzy lagged behind, quietly recovering her poker face. Myanihia stayed with her, patting her on the back.
“Thanks,” the younger girl said after a moment.
“Sure,” Myanihia smiled. “It's... not quite, a lie. Mother... doesn't do that, for just anyone, after all. Or, for anyone, come to think of it...” she added softly.
“Well aren't they cute, then.” Lizzy quipped. “You don't think you all got followed there, do you?”
“Victor says no one did; I trust him. He was, in the forces, so he would know.” Myanihia told her.
“About being followed?” the other replied, and her friend nodded. “Hmm.” Lizzy sighed. “I wonder if we could crash their place without--”
“No good.” Myanihia told her at once. “Don't worry; right now, they're probably doing homework, and getting ready for bed.” she smiled.
“Or getting all smoochy...” the blonde girl remarked quietly, to which Myanihia let out a short giggle.
“Maybe!” she allowed.
“'Maybe' nothing!” her friend returned with a grin.
“Lizzy! Myanihia! Come on!” Jannie called from further ahead.
“Welp, I guess I'll torture--I mean, ask them tomorrow!” Lizzy then grinned as she began walking again. Myanihia shook her head.
“Oh, Lana,” she smiled, looking up at the sky for a moment before heading after the others. You'll be safe, for now, she thought to herself quietly as she and the others continued on their way to the mountains.