Walking through the streets and into danger was a unique experience. Still unable to defend myself and lacking both weapons and armor, I desperately wished I’d gotten a chance to get out of this trip. At this point, however, drawing the ire of Sera and Aeolus was even more terrifying than the physical danger the chimera presented.
Azure must have been thinking along the same lines, falling back to walk with me as we left the city.
“I know ya didn’t get much chance to learn anythin’ yesterday. And if we didn’t need ya to warn us of where the chimera is hidin’ we wouldn’t have brought ya, for ya own peace of mind if nothing else. We’ll protect ya though, Hayden. None of us will let anything happen to ya.”
Jealous, I eyed his sword. The sentiment was appreciated, but I would feel a lot better about it if I had something physical to defend myself with. It required a lot of faith to rely on others to protect me, and I still felt it best to avoid dangerous situations altogether. Or, at the very least, have something to use.
Azure caught me eying his sword and laughed. “No offense Hayden but ya’d do more damage to yourself than the chimera if we gave ya one of these. If ya still feel worried..” he trailed off, pulling a bulky rectangular shield painted in Aeolus’ colors from off his back and offering it to me “here ya are. That way ya can defend yourself without accidentally cutting your leg off.”
Grateful, I took the offered shield. It was heavy, and I stumbled under its weight. Azure laughed as I wrestled with lifting the shield, then reached out to adjust my grip. Immediately, it was easier to carry, and I gave him a small smile.
After a short time, the edges of the shield began to drag as I walked, and I surrendered it back to Azure, saying pointedly, “I’ll want that back once we reach the forest.”
Azure laughed again, loud enough to draw the other’s attention. Aeolus, Sera, and Sky, a sizeable distance ahead, turned around. We waved them off, then power-walked to catch up.
We reached the forest in a haphazard order, the only real goal of which was for Sera, being the target, to walk last. Azure offered to hand me the shield back. I declined it for now, uncertain I would be able to hold it properly by the time I needed it if I began holding it too early.
After a while, Azure, ahead of me, asked, “Do ya hear that?”
No one else answered.
“What?” I couldn’t hear anything but us trudging through the forest.
“Exactly.”
Ah, right, I’d heard of similar scenes before. It meant there was something dangerous around. Our already cautious walk slowed to a near crawl. As I started recognizing the path before us, I warned the others and took the shield from Azure. The path twisted, and I saw the tree from my dream as we turned. Sky was walking next to me at the time, and I nudged him, gesturing towards the tree and unwilling to surrender the element of surprise. He turned to look before subtly drawing the other’s attention toward the tree. We continued without pausing. I pulled back in behind Sera, cautious.
The tree’s branches shifted. It was our only warning before the chimera exploded from its hiding place and leaped directly at Sera. She stepped to the side and dodged, the chimera’s claws missing her by carefully calculated inches. Metal clanged as Azure, Aeolus, and Helia drew their swords.
The battle was as chaotic as it had been in my dream, the swords clashing against the hard scales. Things I hadn’t noticed, having watched from a different location, I noticed now. Sera and Sky slipped back and began casting real offensive magic. Snowball-sized orbs of flames hovered over Sera’s hands, and she threw them like baseballs, careful to avoid hitting our companions. Sky, meanwhile, made a slicing motion every time the chimera drifted too far above or between our sword wielders’ reach. These slices blew through the air, gouging everything they touched. Blood dripped from the chimera’s limbs. When he missed, the air slices dug into the trees, cutting branches clean or leaving deep scars. With the three sword wielders circling the chimera and Sky and Sera covering them with magic, it focused less on attacks and looked for a way out.
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I made the mistake of making eye contact with the creature. Detecting a weak link, it broke through the circle of swords, dashing at me. Sky and Sera’s hands were tied with either me or our companions in the direct line of fire. Weakly, I raised the shield and braced myself for impact. The chimera struck, sending me skidding backward and ripping the shield off my arms. It dove a second time. I scrambled to get out of its way and tripped, sprawling on the ground. Its claws struck the ground inches from my face. I scooted backward, attempting to find purchase. The chimera leapt off a nearby tree, heading for a third attack.
“Hayden!” Sera jumped defensively in front of me, standing over me with fire between her hands and a fierce look on her face.
The chimera changed course to swipe at her. She blocked with her leather-protected arm. Millie let out an angry warning from overhead. Our companions gathered protectively around us, and Sky sent another slice through the air.
Defeated, the chimera redirected its course and disappeared into the trees, dodging Sera and Sky’s magic.
Once it was gone, Sera reached down to help me up. Warmth drifted from our close hands down my arm. Horrified and a little disgusted, I snatched my hand back.
Surprised by my withdrawal, she looked down at her arm. Seeing the wound, she clenched and unclenched her fist, testing it for pain.
Aeolus was by her side in an instant “Sera!” He gently grabbed her hand and pulled up her sleeve to view the full extent of the damage. The leather looked to have protected her from the worst of it. Five long scratches marred the brace, the three deepest having shredded through and into her arm. The blood flow already looked to be slowing.
“What were you thinking?!” He scolded, inspecting her for further damages.
She yanked her arm back and her sleeve down, flinching as it brushed against her arm. “I’m fine.”
“This is why I didn’t want you coming along in the first place!” He shouted, voice echoing through the trees.
Her face twisted in anger. “You-”
Helia placed a hand on Sera’s shoulder, steering her down the path. “We should return to the inn and treat your injury, Princess.”
Sera started to cross her arms before the motion pulled on her injury. She aborted the movement, cradling her injured arm instead. “Fine.”
Azure stepped up to follow suit with Aeolus. “C’mon, we should make sure no one else is injured.”
While our walk here was oppressively silent, our walk back was filled with hushed conversations and irritated glares between Sera and Aeolus. Sky, who walked with Aeoluls and Azure a few feet ahead of me, kept turning to shoot me apologetic and sympathetic looks, well aware of our current awkward situation.
Overhead, Millie disapproved of Aeolus, dropping occasional twigs on his head as she flew over him. Surprised yelps came from ahead as a few branches mistakenly hit Sky or Azure. I silently commended their bravery and brotherly bond for standing next to him despite the falling twigs.
We soon reached the city and rinsed the blood and dirt from our bodies and clothes using provided buckets and sponges outside. Helia pulled Sera into their rooms to attend to her injuries. I heard a muffled argument between Aeolus and Azure from my room, followed by footsteps in the hall and a knock at Sera’s door. A little later, I heard her door creak open and more footsteps, followed by muffled conversation.
I acknowledged Helia, standing guard outside Sera’s door in the hallway, then quietly entered Sky, Azure, and Aeolus’ room to a different hushed conversation. They paused as I entered.
“That was awkward. Are they always like this? They seemed like they were getting along just fine earlier.”
Azure, who was upkeeping his sword, paused to answer me.
“They’ve been apart for a long time. The first few days are bliss, but being apart for so long causes…tension to build.”
“Ah.”
The implications of his words dawned on me, and I stood there awkwardly as Azure continued his weapon upkeep. Sky took pity on me, suggesting, “Since we have some free time, would you like to learn how to draw?”
“Sure.” We spent the time learning and making conversation until Aeolus returned, face glowing and much happier and more relaxed.
“Lunch time!” He exclaimed, pulling Sky out the door by the arm and tossing him in the hallway.
He came for me, who was cleaning up items Sky had dropped next. All attempts at resistance were futile, and I had to catch myself on the wall to keep from falling on my face again as he threw me out the door.
Standing clear of the doorway, Sera gave me a small smile. Neither her injuries nor her bandages were visible underneath her dress, and the worry binding my chest loosened.
“I’m sorry.” I apologized, ignoring the commotion behind us as Azure was also thrown out the door.
“Whatever for?”
“You got injured because I was clumsy.”
She followed my gaze to her arm and gave me another, brighter, smile. “It was my choice. I don’t want an apology for it.”
Shyly, I rubbed the back of my neck. “Oh.”
“There is something I want in exchange, though.” She continued. My eyes dropped.
“What would that be?”
“A thank you.” She said, voice warm.
A thank you? Confused, I raised my gaze to meet her crinkled eyes, filled with the same warmth as her voice.
“Well then…thank you,” I said sincerely.
She winked. “You’re very welcome.”
My heart grew lighter, and a weight lifted from my shoulders.