The sun moving once more, Norbert looked at Azalea, having seen her so many times resting like this. Nudging her awake, she looked at Norbert, hair messy and a sleepy look on her face as she stared at him; Norbert could see the cogs ticking behind her head as she tried to think of what she was doing here.
As the cogs finally spun, Norbert saw understanding on her face as she nodded before dropping back on the pillow. "Five more rotations", She said.
Norbert just chuckled, thinking back to how many times he thought the same thing when his mum woke him up for school. As he rested his head again, Norbert thought, how long was a rotation? Shrugging his shoulders, Norbert waited for some time before shaking Azalea again, hearing some more groaning from her as she slowly arose from her slumber completely this time.
The two of them headed out; Norbert went to the gate, seeing the tents that were once full now empty and shrinking once more. Being prepared for the travel on the plains, looking around, Norbert didn't spot anyone else from the scouts milling about.
Asking about Norbert was notified they would be out in the plains still, watching over the raptors and making sure everything was in place, not seeing a point of running back only to go back out to the ravine. The mages have set up local points to send the communications back.
"So why didn't we do the same with the communications?" Norbert asked Azalea.
"Not in my repertoire," Azalea said curtly.
Norbert noticing a possible sour point but curious anyway, pressed on, "So what is in your repertoire then?"
"My main focus is fire magic, with a sub in support focusing on boosting. Don't ask me to heal something bigger than a scratch; though I don't think you would need me even for that."
Norbert nodded, thinking back to all the spells he had seen being flung before settling. Remembering the warriors with their shining swords, Norbert had to ask, "I remember in the nest some of the warrior's blades glowed …" Norbert left the question trailing, not wanting to get his hopes up.
Azalea just looked at him, knowing where it was going. "If you can also use items like that, sure. But most of those weapons take the wielder's magic to charge itself. You would need to always store a charge with you, like in that translator pendant or mask."
Norbert just nodded, a thought coming to him. "And nothing that can feed off the environment or the energy from those that are slain?"
Azalea just laughed. "Those are weapons of legend for the ones that are useful, the rest are minimal at most, not even worth the enchant. And if the good ones do exist, they are probably locked away in some castle or an abandoned temple somewhere neither of us will ever reach."
Norbert just nodded, putting thoughts aside; for now, he was part of the Frontier, taking on the tasks he was asked to carry out while piecing what he could of the world around him.
With everything packed, everyone started to move out; walking through the gate, they went on the path as long as they could before branching off it; once off the path, they sped up, going from a walk to a jog.
As he continued the march throughout the day, Dousan ordered them to stop multiple times throughout; Norbert watched others around him gasping for air, demanding they were being driven into the ground. For him It wasn't even a warm-up, though he was thankful he wouldn't need to push himself as hard as before to make his trips.
Norbert met up with Mark during these rest times, getting in some much-needed sword training since he had been unable to do anything for several days. A crowd formed around the pair as the spar continued, likely the only entertainment on the flat plains, not even able to get out of the sun as Dousan just stopped where they were. Not like the fifty-odd people could fit under the shade of those trees in the first place.
Disengaging when Dousan called, everyone went to their feet and headed off once more, Norbert following, talking with Mark about sword moves or trying to get in some study with Azalea going over the words as well as he could when he was in motion.
Like this, the first day passed, knowing that he would have many more days like this before finding the raptors at the ravine. Bunched up, Norbert saw others taking out of their packs of small one-person tents coming out. With a flash of light, Norbert saw it expand until it was the correct size. When placing the sticks into the ground, Norbert saw it was already done.
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Shaking his head, Norbert just went out to the side, not needing sleep and having no tent. Looking up at the sky, Norbert wondered where Obsius had been for the past week now that even in the village, he still hadn't shown up. Shrugging his shoulders, Norbert thought he could see the little bird, at least when he had shown up in the village the last time. There would always be times when he did the supply run and needed to talk to the traveller about that.
Taking out his sword, Norbert held it before him, doing more practice swings and combinations Mark had taught him throughout the night. Hearing the swishing of the blade as it cut through the air.
Finally resting after his arms were sore, Norbert did not use any of the purple energy, wanting to save it if that was how it worked when needed. Lying on the ground, his pack under his head as a pillow, Norbert closed his eyes, making himself go to sleep, thinking he might need it for the next day.
Once more, Norbert did not need the energy, having repeated the same thing for that day as the previous one, training while he could and talking with the others, seeing what they were doing and how all the pieces interacted—like this, another two days passed. As the sun was high in the sky on the fourth day they had been out, Norbert spotted something standing above the grass in the distance.
Thinking it was just another tree, Norbert watched as it did not spread out far enough or go high enough, and others dotted around it. Running up to the front, Norbert pointed it out to Dousan, receiving a nod as everybody changed their position.
Now following Norbert as he stayed in the lead, running straight for the people standing about, slowing down as they came near. Slowing down he blended back into the group, letting Dousan take the lead as the two parties met.
As they came together, the mages met and discussed Norbert found Martitia there with Dobert, Nessie and the other scouts. Waving at them, Norbert stepped forward, receiving thumps on the back. "How have you guys been the past few days?" Norbert asked
"Bored out of our brains, after walking over here waiting for the mages, we've just been spreading out, trying to find anything. Though it’s just pretty much the same as ever. The only disturbance was you rushing past us on the first day, frightened quite a few people. Anyway, enough about us. Did anything happen with you?" Dobert asked Norbert.
Scratching the back of his head, Norbert responded, "Wish I had a calm, free time as you, and as you said, it was about the same. The further you go that way, though, the ravine gets deeper and deeper, turning into something similar to a canyon. Then needed rushed back here after spotting two Giant Bats devouring the raptors within. Then just came back to the village."
Dobert whistled in response, "Happy I didn't go with you two then." Norbert nodded in response.
Martitia stepped forward, saying, "Enough about the sob story between the two of you; it's good to see your back Norbert and in one piece. You've been assigned as the runner between our group and the gate."
Norbert just nodded, having already heard the task he had been given from Dousan. "When will I need to start this?" Norbert asked
Martitia nodded. "Will probably need to start in the next couple of days, then near constantly running back and forth, getting supplies and delivering information." She stated.
Norbert nodded, thinking, "Is this the usual way of doing this?" He asked.
Nancy said, "Normally, I'm the main runner swapping out with someone else when I'm tired. Guess that position is on you now, though. Not that I think night duty for now will be any better." She said, looking at the sun as it nearly touched the horizon.
Norbert shaking in response, having remembered the Giant Bats he encountered before. As Norbert looked around, their location was currently far from the ravine. Norbert had to ask the burning question, "Do any of you know what the trap will be about?"
Martitia responded, "From what I've heard will likely involve lots of water and electricity. Drowning them out and shocking them, any that escape, that's what the rest of us are for. But don't take my word for it; wait for Dousan to confirm."
Everyone else nodded at the information as they came together and chatted about nonsensical items, trying to take all of their minds off what the next few days or possibly weeks would consist of.
Norbert looked around the other groups, spotting Azalea standing with the other mages talking to them about who knows what; Norbert unable to hear with the other rabble around them.
Feeling two arms over his shoulder, Norbert looked to both sides, seeing Dobert and Mathaos on each shoulder.
"So, Azalea is the one you've been hanging out with a lot," Dobert said.
"Wonder why you would be staring at her now when you've got all of us", Mathaos responded, the two of them spinning Norbert around and pointing him to the other scouts.
"Unless …" Mathaos said.
"No, that's impossible," Dobert said before leaning next to Mathaos behind Norbert, whispering but allowing all to hear "You think the redhead mage has caught the fancy of the new sprout here?"
Mathaos replied in the same loud whisper, "That's exactly what I think."
Dobert leaned forward and roared, "Don't think Norbert can take anymore; his cheeks are bright red."
Norbert untangled himself from the other two, reaching his hands with his cheeks, feeling the heat through his gloves as he shook his head and talked with the others. Looking up at the sky again, Norbert confirmed no Giant Bats were in sight.