Days later, the mountain range now showing on the horizon. Norbert continued running forward, not wanting to stop until he was on the other side. Flashbacks of the night of everyone being captured flashed through his mind.
Burning more energy within himself, Norbert knew if he stopped now, he would comatose himself, knowing he would need to start weening himself off the energy soon to allow his body to accommodate again for the next push required over the plains.
Gazing at the compass, Norbert confirmed he was still heading in the right direction. A groan from his passenger of her waking up, knowing she was now going in and out of sleep. Slowing down to a stop, Norbert looked at her bandaged arm, thankful it had not been infected with something next. Head spinning at what types of diseases you could catch over here.
Picking her back up, Norbert went across the land; there were no more roads for him to go on where he was. Happy for the lack of civilisation would mean less chance of him bumping into someone unexpectedly.
With the sun going down for the day, Norbert started to look up to see where next to step. Happy that he was finally at the mountain range, he looked to the tips, confirming no snow on the top not wearing the proper gear for anything cold anyway. The only thing he needed to find now was a path over it. He was not looking forward to climbing an entire mountain to reach the other side.
***
Looking down at the two sides, Norbert sighed, unable to find a path. The view of the marshes on one side with the train track and the ravine on the other with the plains was a sight. Sitting down, he took Hyeon off his back, taking some food out and allowing her to have dinner as he stared at the plains, the wind pushing the grass around creating patters for the gods and birds.
Looking over, Norbert tried to find his expedition out there, gazing over Norbert focused his magic on his eyes, the colours popping out now. Staring at the ground squinting far beneath him, Norbert followed across the ridge, trying to pick up anything from his vantage point.
Gazing along, Norbert only spotted the trees, nothing else rising off the planes. Norbert twiddled his fingers, hearing Hyeon munching on a biscuit beside him, unable to see the village he came from. Taking out the compass, Norbert saw that it was not pointing at the ravine but a bit to the right. The group has gone straight to the village, crossing the plains and not caring about the ravine.
Looking up in that direction, Norbert could still not see his expedition. Whistling a tune, Norbert put it back as he stood up, walking to the other side to look down at the marshes on the other side.
Confirming that nobody was still chasing after them, happy at not seeing a swarm of creatures tearing across the landscape, Norbert sat beside Hyeon. After chopping her arm off, she had grown quiet, sinking into herself. Staring at her while she finished her biscuit, she reached out for the bag with her left hand, only to stop when the bag didn't open. Finishing the biscuit, she reached over with her right, taking a water skin out and washing her throat.
She turned to look at him, Norbert turning away, knowing it was rude to stare when he was the one that caused it. She reached down to her feet, picked up the bag, and placed it on her back. Not a word between them said as Norbert also stood up, placing his backpack on the front as Hyeon climbed on his back.
As they climbed the mountain, Norbert mostly ran as much as possible. Sliding down the mountainside, streams of rock fell around his Head Norbert listened as much as he could, careful not to stop in case a rock came for their heads.
Looking off to the left, Norbert saw the dam come into view. Chuckling at the sight, Norbert looked at the setting sun, cursing to himself for being caught out in the open, now remembering the bats that caused this entire situation in the first place.
Looking out over the sky, Norbert shouted to Hyeon over the wind, "Can you make a barrier over us out of darkness? I don't want the bats to see us when they come out."
Hearing a pat on his neck in confirmation, Norbert quickly looked up, confirming a barrier above himself, now unable to see the stars above. Throughout the night, Norbert continued running, not seeing any bats. Hyeon went to sleep, the barrier above stopping. As Norbert looked at the stars, feeling like the sun would rise, he stopped at the next tree.
He was climbing up; he positioned Hyeon so she could continue to sleep. On a branch of his own, Norbert dangled one leg off the side; closing his eyes, Norbert fell asleep, hoping he could find a way to get Hyeon a new arm she could still use when on Earth.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
***
Cheering in success, Norbert looked ahead, the compass confirming the dots he could see was his expedition, surprised at how quickly he could catch up compared to his time before. Remembering all the elixirs he recently had when in Vesivan.
Smiling, Norbert poured on the speed, wanting the last leg of the journey to be over with. The wind blowing through his hair Norbert sped the last bit. He was only slowing down with a skid, slanting over as he smashed through the grass of the plains. He was walking the last hundred meters as his party stopped to see the commotion he was making.
Hyeon, now off his back and walking by his side, Norbert swapped his backpack around to the more comfortable position. Smiling, he waved at the group, shouting his lungs out as he called out for them to stop and having received their note.
When the two were just a few meters apart, Norbert stopped a clear line dividing the two. Dousan at the front just looked at him. Raising his hand in the air, making the sign of the Frontier, Norbert copied the sign.
"Scout returning, and boy did I find some stuff out," Norbert told Dousan.
Dobert's and Mathaos's Heads poked out from the crowd as they pushed through, coins exchanging hands. "Knew he would bring someone back a bonus for being a woman. Hey, everyone pays up, looks like I'm going out tonight." Mathews said.
Norbert just stared at them, not believing what was being said. "You guys bet on me for bringing back a woman?" Norbert was bewildered by the statement.
"But of course, we all can't go in and rake dry an entire casino of gold whenever we like," Mathews replied.
Hyeon stepped back. "How many times have you brought women back?" she asked him, a look of suspicion on her face.
"Never brought anyone back", Norbert replied quickly, trying to remember if he had but ticking off that they didn't know about Luck, so still nobody yet.
Dousan clapped his hands, "We can continue the discussion while we move. We're close to town, about a day or two left, then we can all rest!" he shouted over the group, everyone turning around and starting to head back, no partnering back up.
As Norbert started to walk, Dousan dropped out, walking separately from everyone else. "So, want to explain what happened to you for the past week?" Dousan asked, raising an eyebrow at Hyeon.
Clearing his throat, Norbert explained what had happened, with the fight with Arzlan and being unable to escape, thanks to Hyeon. To waking up in prison and teaming up with Hyeon, looking at the magma river below and the last final dash with Hyeon missing her arm.
In the end, she unwrapped her bandage, Norbert looking at the cut, the flesh covering it, his stomach queasy at the thought of what he did.
"Mackey, come here for a sec!" Dousan shouted out. Coming out of the group, Norbert saw Mackey walking towards them, smiling that he seemed fine as Norbert waved to the healer.
Stopping, he was shown Hyeon's arm; hearing him breathe in, he held his arm out over her. A magic circle appeared over the stump as he chanted out. After several moments he stopped Norbert, hearing Hyeon's stomach rumble.
Giving a thumbs up, he started jogging with the group. "This can come back, but it will take some time. It would be better if we still had the limb, but what can you do." Looking at Hyeon like a doctor giving orders, "Come meet me before breakfast and dinner, I'll give you a top-up, and it will eventually come back. Will take a couple of weeks to come back fully."
Norbert was amazed at what he heard, able to grow back limbs just like that; man magic sure was handy. Though remembering what had happened to him and how quickly he recovered, at least he was happy that limbs could come back. Instead, he would have to go on a quest to find a replacement.
Hyeon looked bewildered. "No way to increase the time?" She asked him. Mackey shook his head. "We can go faster, but it will have consequences like malnutrition and the arm not working properly in the long term. That's the fastest we could do. Unless you've had any elixirs for vitality?" he asked her.
Receiving a shake of her head in response, Mackey just nodded. "Well, I guess that's all for now. I'll head back to the front and leave it with you." Mackey said as he sped up a bit, not wanting to be near when the decision was made.
"So Hyeon was it. Any plans so far?" He asked her.
Hyeon just shrugged her shoulders. "Not really, just wanted to get out of there. Just going with the flow and get back at those that locked me up." She replied Norbert, seeing her fist scrunch up as she thought about her plans.
"Care to show me this shadow barrier that slowed down this elixir junkie here?" Dousan asked.
Raising her right hand, she made a ball of darkness appear. Zipping out of her hand, it went around the group as she made it increase and decrease in size before it disappeared. Dousan quizzed her on how it worked as he looked around, smiling more prominent and significant.
"You're going to be able to make quite a pretty penny with that ability alone. Does it still allow you to use magic normally?" Dousan asked as he pointed his Head in Norbert's direction.
"Hey, I can still hear you, you know", Norbert replied, dialling up the annoyance of Dousan.
"To answer before being rudely interrupted, Dousan, I can still use magic. Though wasn't taught any spells and mostly used to charge up any devices Tashen needed," She replied curtly.
Dousan just nodded his head. "Well, like I said, you can go out and do stuff. But before doing that, the Frontier would like to ask you some questions officially." He said as he paused, watching Hyeon for a reaction. "It won't be anything bad; someone here can watch over you if you want. You're a free woman now. Enjoy it," Dousan finished, as he started running and going around the group, going to the front.
Hyeon just looked down at her stump, a tear on her face. "Thank you," she said to Norbert. Nodding his response, the two of them ran in silence together, the rest of the group giving the two of them some time alone. Sadly Norbert knew it wouldn't last when the group stopped; he prepared himself to be overwhelmed with questions.