“This is as far as I’ll go,” Balthazar announced once the fields surrounding the Wayward Woods became visible through the tree line. He had offered to walk Elem and Aja to the edge of the forest as a final gesture but seemed uncomfortable with the prospect of facing civilization. He had adjusted so well to life in the forest that he almost seemed inseparable from its lush networks of trees and grasses; like some mysterious being from ancient legends.

“Thank you for everything Master,” Elem declared solemnly, his words supported by a respectful nod from Aja.

“Yes… Yes...” Balthazar Flame answered with a mocking snort. “Just make sure you do well out there and remember what we’ve practiced..”

Balthazar wasn’t the type for elaborate goodbyes but Elem swore he could discern a faint sense of emotion from the man’s tone. He smiled. This was as close to a friendly remark as he could expect from his master.

_________________________

The journey back to Alabaster City went by smoothly. The large metropolis was difficult to miss and before they knew it, Elem and Aja were back on its buzzling avenues. After spending so much time in the secluded forest, the massive city seemed louder than ever and even the sunlight- no longer obstructed by the forest’s canopies but reflecting from glass skyscrapers- felt almost too bright to handle.

Elem initially found himself overwhelmed by Abalaster’s organized madness, realizing that he probably preferred the peaceful solitude of nature over honking cars and crowds of people. However, he quickly refocused himself. He would only be in the city for a short while, all he had to do was buy a bike and enough provisions for the journey ahead.

After a short walk in Alabaster's commercial center, they quickly found an outdoor sporting store selling bicycles. Inside they were greeted by a friendly representative who was eager to help them.

Elem eye fell on a sleek black bike with a sturdy frame and an elaborate suspension system. He ran his hand over its front wheel, the thing seemed designed for rough terrains. That could work.

“That's an Acrobat Bike. It’s known for its responsive handling and resilience but isn’t suited for long distance trips,” the store’s representative explained. Judging from the man’s gaze, he was clearly aware they came from out of town. “We also have a few Machina Bikes if you’re trying to go far.”

“What if we’re going far on rocky roads?“ Aja asked, unconvinced. “Those Machina Bikes look a little flimsy to me.”

“Sounds like you’re looking for a Hybrid Bike.” The representative scratched his head, before grabbing another bicycle from the storefront display window. “This is a Sleipnir. One of our more modern models, it's light but firm with good wheels and plenty of gears for any type of situation. They’re a little on the pricier side though.”

“We’ll take two,” Elem answered after a quick inspection.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Soon enough he would have to start earning money, likely through dueling, but for now he still had enough left and figured he might as well spend it on quality products they’d really need. After all, they were planning to travel across the entire Continent anyways.

They went through the process of choosing colors, the right size and making sure the bikes were properly adjusted. A short twenty minutes later, they were outside with their new purchases; a dark blue model for Elem and a bright yellow one for Aja.

Aja waved at a nearby neon-lit sign of a Kraken simultaneously devouring multiple plates of pancakes.

“Let’s eat there! I am famished,” she said, tugging Elem into a nearby diner.

Despite the flashy exterior, the inside of the establishment was rather cozy and the smell of baked omelets and freshly brewed coffee hit them like a warm blanket. Elem’s stomach began to rumble, he hadn’t felt hunger earlier but now he was smelling actual food, he suddenly felt as if he could clean out the entire restaurant by himself.

They settled into a booth by the window and ordered some pancakes and coffee. As they waited for the food, Aja flopped a glossy red booklet on the table.

“Snatched this up at the sporting store. Isn’t it cute? Didn’t know there were guidebooks for this province.”

“I got a map on my phone,” Elem replied, unclear why his friend had bothered to buy something as redundant as a guidebook.

Aja rolled her eyes.

“You can be so boring El. Nobody buys a guidebook to just look at the map. I wanna see what there’s to do in the area. I bet there’s so much to see on our route.”

“What do you mean? There’s a Summoning School in Unagi that we have to challenge. That’s what there’s to do,” Elem grumbled. “This isn’t a vacation.”

“It clearly isn’t,” Aja sarcastically noted.

The server delivered two towering stacks of pancakes to their booth and without speaking another word, they eagerly dug in. Compared to Balthazar’s improvised mushroom stews, Elem believed this was the best meal he’d ever had. The pancakes were fluffy, golden and topped with a generous dollop butter, and a drizzle of syrup.

They ate in silence, munching their food as if they were participating in some grotesque eating contest.

“Ooh a hot spring!” Aja suddenly exclaimed. She had been reading from the guidebook while eating. “Even your grumpy face has to admit that sounds pretty good right?”

“There’s a hot spring?” Elem had to admit; after spending all this time in the forest, a hotspring did sound good. Maybe he shouldn’t have acted out like he did.

“Is it close?”

“Yup,” Aja hummed. “It’s right in between here and Unagi. I think you owe me this. Especially after dragging me into a haunted forest. Here let me read you the description: nestled on the summit of an ancient volcano, the Spring of Rebirth is known as one of the Continent’s-”

“Alright, alright.” Elem stopped her, raising his hands. If he had to listen to Aja speaking with her mouth full for another second he would probably gag. “Let's do it.”

Of course he couldn’t deny his friend’s request. He hadn’t been exactly fair to her. Aja had left everything behind to come with him and if she wanted to take a day off, he had to respect that. Aja had never been the ambitious type when it came to Summoning and, while talented, she wasn’t traveling the Continent to become the most powerful Summoner like Elem. She was simply there to support her friend.

“I’m sorry for earlier. I was just hungry.”

Aja leaned over the table and poked his belly.

“It’s okay,” she said, sticking out her tongue. “You’ve always been the gluttonous type.”