Some time later...

“Are you really not going to let him ride in the wagon with us?” I asked.

“I don’t want him anywhere near Kaela,” Orion growled, arms crossed as he sulked over my decision to bring Finn along.

“It’s fine, Orion. Valerian said the Talon wasn’t even a part of that battle,” Kaela pleaded.

“Well, Valerian’s full of shit!” Orion shouted.

“Hey! Watch your tongue! That’s my friend you’re talking to!” Silas threw himself into the discussion.

“He’s not your friend. You’ve known him for a few days, that’s it!”

“Maybe! But I feel like I’ve known him my entire life!” Silas screamed, getting up in Orion’s face.

“It’s fine, Silas. I doubt anything could get through that thick head of his,” I interjected.

“What was that, brat?” Orion snapped.

“You heard me!”

As the situation grew tenser, Lyra sighed and then spoke.

“Enough already! Do you realize you are bound by an ancient law? And if you don’t fulfill your oaths, you’re going to be bound for eternity! You won’t be able to fulfill anything if you don’t trust each other or at the very least tolerate one another!”

“Did you understand that, or was it too hard for you?” I asked in a high-pitched voice, as if talking to a child.

“I’ll break your neck like a twig!” Orion warned, tiny lightning sparks emitting from his body.

“Oh, I’d love to see you try!”

“Why did I agree to do this...” Lyra sighed, regretting her life decisions.

“But I feel sorry for the boy. He’s trailing further and further behind,” Silas commented, looking over his shoulder and seeing Finn’s silhouette becoming fainter by the moment.

The early morning sun rose, and since we were amidst open fields, there weren’t many shadows present. This made it hard for Finn to use his ability to hop from shadow to shadow; he was forced to run. The poor soul had been running for hours now; I should probably check on him. Rising to my feet, I readied myself to take to the air.

“Where are you off to now?” Lyra asked.

“Wherever it is, I hope he stays there!” Orion butted in.

“I’m going to check on Finn, my ember,” I answered, ignoring Orion’s earlier jab.

Down along the dirt path, I made my way to Finn and flew beside him. He looked ready to collapse at any moment—his breath ragged, his face drenched in sweat, and his steps sloppy.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“You know you could’ve just ridden in the wagon with us? No one cares what Orion thinks anyway,” I said.

“When someone tells you they’ll tear out your spine and wear it as a scarf, I’d rather run than test fate,” Finn barely managed between breaths.

“Come on, fly with me,” I said, offering my hand to the exhausted Finn.

“N-No, I can carry on just f—” he stopped mid-sentence and came to a halt, placing his hands on his knees and lowering his head before throwing up.

“Just wipe your mouth and accept my help already!” I insisted, extending my hand to him again. This time, he took it.

I lifted him, one arm under his legs and the other supporting his back. It reminded me of those scenes from fairy tales where a prince would carry a princess after she sprained an ankle in high heels. If Iris saw me now, I bet she would die from laughter.

“Hey, um...” Finn struggled with his words. “This isn’t weird, right?”

“It’s only weird if you make it weird.”

“You’re right! This is perfectly normal,” Finn exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around my neck and enjoyed the view spreading before us.

The morning sun gently illuminated the golden farm fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. Farmers pushed their carts and carried their tools as they headed to work. As they raised their heads, a peculiar sight met them—a story they would tell, but no one would believe. How to explain the sight of a man with wings, carrying another man in his arms? Those in rural areas, where information from the outside world is scarce, would simply brand the farmer a madman. I knew it, for it was the same way back in Emberfield. We were clueless about what was going on in the outside world, as we were so secluded from others. But it was better that way; we had less to worry about and could focus only on the small things in front of us.

Further west, the terrain changed. The dirt path we had been following for so long now became filled with tiny pebbles and the occasional rock on the sides. There was less and less grass until only rocks remained. Eastward of us, a long mountain range stretched southward.

Noon was near, as the bright and scorching sun was directly above us. There were no clouds to protect us from the sun, and the rocky terrain did not help. Luckily, the vastness of the southern seas came into view, and a fresh sea breeze grazed our cheeks, bringing much-needed refreshment. The shimmering waves glistened under the sun’s intense rays as they crashed against the rocky shoreline in a calming rhythm.

“It’s beautiful!” Finn marveled, tightening his grip around my neck.

“And now you’ve made it weird,” I said as I advanced towards the wagon, moving along the rocky pathway overlooking the sea.

“Hey! Why are you carrying him when I begged you to take me flying this morning?” Silas shouted, the first to notice us.

“I am not your personal carriage, Silas!” I yelled back before setting Finn down next to the moving wagon. “Ride with them, or run if you like. Your choice.”

“Come on, friend! There’s only one person here who wishes you dead!” Silas extended his hand to Finn. After a moment’s hesitation, Finn took it and climbed onto the wagon with the rest. I then flew next to the old man, Archibald.

“How much further? It’s already noon!” I shouted, barely able to hear myself over the galloping hooves, crashing waves, and hissing winds.

“We’re close, Master Valerian! See that cove by the rocks where the waves are calm and seagulls lay their eggs? That’s our destination!” Archibald shouted, pointing to a cove across the sea.

It would take about another half an hour for the wagon to arrive, as there was only one road leading there. We could follow the road, swim across, or fly in my case.

“I’ll check out the cove to see if it’s safe!” I announced to the rest of the crew.

“No, take me with you!” Lyra shouted. “It’s far too dangerous for you to scout the rift without a mage by your side!”

“No fair!” Silas interjected. “It’s my turn to ride him next!” he protested like a child whose toy had been taken away.

“Phrasing, Silas! Phrasing!” I shouted, annoyed by the vivid and vulgar image his words conjured in my mind, one I never wanted to envision again.

“Shall we, my ember?” I asked, extending my arm towards Lyra.

She took hold of my hand, and in the same manner I carried Finn, I carried Lyra across the sea to the cove by the rocks.