Chapter 48

"Are you certain you will not join us for the morning's meal?" Maritha asked, holding a plate with blue eggs and bread.

Riley's curiosity was getting to her as eagerness built to see the bird or beast that made them.

"We've already cost these people by being too late. I don't want them to see us taking what little they have left for themselves. Keep your food. We're provisioned well enough." Cid said, his tone one of confidence and finality.

"Not even the Rangers can be everywhere," Maritha countered, giving a respectful bow.

"No, but we can damn well try," Cid insisted, bowing in return.

"You two, that's enough goldbricking. Follow me," Cid demanded, leading them off towards the barricade.

"Huzzah for the Rangers!" Rang out a disparate cry from a handful of refugees.

"Zorna, come," Cid ordered before whistling for his Cockatrice.

"My life has become some kind of cursed menagerie. Riley, drop the wall for the road and then reinstate it," He continued.

"I can try," she replied, projecting to both of them, fearful of not just the battle but what her future with Cid entailed.

"You can do. Don't you want to be friends?" Cid smiled.

Riley felt panic.

"You frighten me," She shuddered, channeling her magic, whispering to the plants as another prompt notification flashed.

Ignoring them was foolish, but, she realized, pulling them up when she wanted to granted her some modicum of control over her life, which was control she didn't have with Cid, so for now, the prompts would wait.

Whispering to the roots, they did not recede but grew new vines, wrapping around the ones to their sides, pulling themselves apart, forcing some acting as barricades to snap and shatter.

Another smattering of cheers rose from the townspeople, who had gathered in a hushed crowd to watch the minor spectacle.

"Thank you. Please tip your waitress," Riley snarked.

"Alright, now seal it up, and then we can begin," Cid ordered, appearing serene.

"Yes, Sir," Riley replied, channeling her power, bidding it to regrow.

Cid rubbed his hands together eagerly, "So Riley, I understand you are new to this world and to magic."

Riley looked to Tobias, who held up his hands, "Traitor."

"I see; you're an instinctual caster, then," Cid questioned, sounding like a grandfather.

"Not exactly, I absorbed three cram crystals, and then I knew kung fu," Riley replied.

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

Cid blinked, staring at her in apparent confusion.

"She does that, Sir," Tobias explained.

Riley huffed in annoyance.

"I've been here about six weeks. Part of me was human; I met my guardian angel, who informed me I was a patchwork soul, then a golden cord wrapped around my hindpaw and dragged me out of the astral. I just don't get it. I was a good person. Well, I think that part of me was a good person, but somehow I ended up here," Inwardly, Riley grinned in sarcasm.

"I understand what you're getting at," Cid said to Tobias, rubbing his chin.

"Welcome to my life," Tobias offered in commiseration.

Riley drummed the ground angrily, flattening her ears.

"So, almost no experience in magic, but you've an understanding of the fundamentals. I can work with that," Cid grinned evilly.

"Oh no," Riley replied.

"For now, we move towards Landon. Zorna, on point," He ordered, as the kraus trotted up to the forefront.

"Riley, you're bringing up the rear. Keep an eye on our flank, and tell us if you hear or smell anything. Got it?" Cid snapped, his steel showing.

"Yes, sir!" Riley could feel the scary grandpa energy coming off of him.

They moved along wearily through the cool of the morning, the trail taking them up through switchbacked paths. A refreshing coolness, devoid of the heavy humidity, washed over them until finally they summited, with the sun still ascending.

A cold wind blew in bursts and gusts. There were precious little trees this far up or even grasses to nibble on; instead, the path was covered in yellow, clipped grasses and pebbles in masses and heaps that seemed to stretch out forever.

"Riley!" Cid bellowed, causing her to jump.

"Yes, sir?" Riley asked tentatively.

"Set up over there. Let's go through your magic," he ordered.

Dutifully, Riley set up position; all the while, the prompts blinked in the upper right hand corner.

"Setting up," She replied, willing her purple boxes forward.

Your subterfuge skill has reached level 2-1. Congratulations!

Complete level ascension to continue progression!

"Don't stall me beast!" Cid demanded.

Riley hurried through the rest.

Your healing halo ability is now at 85%. Congratulations!

Your plant whisper ability is now at level 2-1. Congratulations.

Riley pulled at her power, rising to her hindpaws, holding her forepaws in an inverted V; a moment later, a white fireball erupted, then a black bolt crackling with energy. Next, the grass grew around her as her mana bar drained away.

Finally, she unleashed healing halo, sending a wave of life energy over her small party.

Cid craned his head back and forth, rubbing at his neck.

"Again!" He bellowed, dropping a mana potion next to Riley.

"Tobias?" Riley called out, but Cid held out his hand.

"Do it yourself. Adapt!" He snapped.

Riley flattened her ears and held up her forepaws, shaking them in demonstration, "No thumbs!"

Her mana bar was blinking, driving her even faster towards a headache and, with it, deep annoyance.

"I said adapt. I'll have none of your excuses!" Cid snapped, his tone cold.

Riley projected a groan, before hopping around the bottle. Finally, she perched on it, using her forepaws to hold it down, giving her chance and leverage to pull the cork with her teeth.

Wrapping her muzzle around the bottle, chopsticking it with her forelegs, she rolled to her back.

The liquid slammed down her throat as she tried to swallow, but a racking cough spewed potion everywhere as she choked.

Still, her mana bar began to recharge.

"Again!" Cid demanded.

Riley snorted, clearing mana potion out of her burning sinuses.

"I hate my life," she said to herself, pulling at her power once again.

"Last warning, then I'm running you," Cid threatened.

The threat hit her like a bucket of cold water. Riley eyed Zorna before firing off her magic yet again.

Cid dug into his bag as she cast magical bolts, flying off the mountain, pulling out mana potion after mana potion until six were arranged to one side of her.

"Keep at it till I tell ya stop," he ordered, drawing his sword while Riley panted with effort.

"Tobias, you're with me," At that, he lunged, dropping into an attack. Riley saw form three while Tobias blocked with form five.

"Antlions…" Cid paused to parry. "Are diurnal, so we have all day to train."

He explained between strikes with an evil grin.

"Lucky us," she said to herself before pouncing on her next potion.