The morning light was shining over the horizon as the cool air kissed our faces raising us from our slumber. I couldn't imagine a more perfect day to say goodbye to the people that I have learned to grow with and cherish.
I looked over at the dirty campsite that was littered with drink skins and the sleeping bodies of the guards and nodded my head. If I was going to leave Tama this is was probably the best way to say goodbye.
I walked over to the people who were coming with me and rose them one by one. The first I woke was Loki who in the carriage sleeping next to Kibbles and holding him like he would a small son. I pinched his noses and watched as he wiggled a little before sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
I covered my lips with a finger telling him to keep quiet.
The next person I woke was Sora who was sleeping in a tree like some sort of tiger from a nature documentary. His sleek body draped over the trunk was half camouflaged by the bright green leaves.
Using my wood magic I willed the tree to twist the branch a little and gently drop him on the ground. Sora shot up like a bean sprout looking around before spotting me and nodding with a large grin on his face.
He wandered up to "hey you" who fell asleep holding his weapon and leaning up against a rock. I couldn't help but hold in a smirk as Sora drew a dirt moustache on the guards face before shaking him awake.
His dazed expression and moustache was quite a cute sight.
Lastly I woke up Nathan who was asleep on Leopold's shoulder while Rosali was asleep on Leo's lap. It was quite a cute view seeing all the siblings looking so fragile and innocent. I gently tapped on Nathaniel's shoulder prompting him to wake. He looked at me and then his siblings before he slowly stood up and walked to my side.
Our team packed all of our gear into my ring and cleaned up the campsite as quietly as we could before gently waking up the guards and finally those who would not be coming with us. I was not very good at goodbyes so making it short and sweet was the only option I had left.
We all stood apart from each other as the sun hit one side of my body. The breeze hitting the side of my face. I welcomed it along with the new journey that I would be taking. Four years would be a long time.
" I.. I am not very good at this" I said looking at everyone.
" You think we are?" Leopold said as he walked towards me and grabbed my shoulders.
"Look after him for me" Leopold said as he looked at Nathan.
" mm" I said before nodding.
We all joked around a bit before the guards said it was time.
I was the last to step onto the carriage. I took one last look and Leo, Rosli, Sestu and Riku then I glanced Wen Wen, Rinny and Romeo who all had a complicated expressions on their faces.
" See you all in four years. Take care of my grandfather" I said from inside the carriage as it started to roll away.
" Leave it to us!" They replied in unison as they waved goodbye.
" YUKI!" Rosli shouted as the carriage moved.
" We will be waiting for you and everyone else! Bring my brother back safe!" She said with a determined look on her face.
Romeo merely nodded in my direction while he held his arms over Rinny and Wen Wen.
They all began to fade away into the distance.
I looked behind me and saw everyone who decided to join me on my adventure into the Dredge Lands and couldn't help but be grateful.
" Thank you all for joining me" I said quietly.
" Everyone needs a new adventure every now and then" Sora said with a smile as he played with a dagger.
I wondered if perhaps Sora had finally been able to move past the hatred he held for my family. I couldn't help but decide to keep my guard up however after last times misfortune. I couldn't be hurt anymore.
Not by him, not by Tama and not by Vance. The death of Ki had been to much for me.
" Dredge lands or not it's always fun with you around!" Nathan said with a refreshed look on his face.
It seemed that coming with me had changed Nathan a little. He was more upbeat than he normally was and his voice was rather confident. Perhaps being out of his brother and sisters shadows would open up a new path that he had never thought possible for him.
" This place is filthy" the guard said with a low and magnetic voice. My cheeks couldn't help but flush listening to him speak. I shook my head and tried my best to snap out of it knowing that the universe had made this guy attractive to pretty much everyone.
It seemed that he was going to be in for a hard life. The halo of a protagonist was strong from what I had felt first hand as my heart beat rapidly in my chest.
" I can't keep calling you Hey you forever…"I said looking at the guard.
He flicked his hair out of his face and tilted his head sideways. His blue eyes shone like stars making me pause mid sentence.
" What is your name anyway" Nathan said looking at the guard as I got my baring back.
" I don't have one" He responded flatly.
" No name?!" Nathan replied shocked as he looked at the guard then me.
" Yeap.. no name" the guard replied.
" Ooh ooh are we going to name you!?" Sora said with a cheeky expression on his face.
" You really don't have to" the guard replied.
" Nope we are doing it.. How aboouttt? Hmm" Sora said as he held his thumb under his chin.
" Kilyan" Nathan said quietly.
" Rejected" The guard replied swiftly.
"Marc" Sora said excitedly.
" Negative" the guard replied.
" Romaine" Nathan said becoming just as excited as Sora.
" Are you perhaps hungry?" Loki said rejecting the name on the guards behalf.
Sora and Nathan both looked at Loki confused.
[ Loki.. I don't think they know what Romaine lettuce is...]
" Never mind." Loki said and shrugged.
"Yusol?"
"Don't like it."
"Guaryouu?"
"Nope."
"Soguaryouu?"
" Are you two even trying now?! " the guard finally said as his brow furrowed.
" How about Heyu?" I said after a moment.
" Did you just make "Hey You" into a name?" Loki said with his eyebrow raised.
" Yeah I am really not good at this." I said as I realised how stupid it sounded.
The guard looked at me for a moment and took a breath slowly breathing it out.
" I guess Heyu isn't much different to what I am normally called.. Heyu it is" Heyu replied as he shrugged.
" Heyu? Rolls off the tongue I guess" Nathan responded.
"You are really going to use Heyu?!" Sora said indignantly.
" Better than Soguaryouu" Heyu said as he shook his head.
Sora could help swearing under his breath and his face became laced with a red hue.
With Heyu's name decided the system rolled through my head in a monotone voice.
{ Mission Complete : Give Romeo's guard a true name | Reward 100 DD }
I let out a sigh as I thought about what I was going to do now that the system was back on track.
Kibbles walked up to me in slow steps as the carriage wobbled backwards and forwards before he could reach me he landed in Heyu's lap.
" You smell nice" Kibbles said to Heyu.
Obviously Heyu couldn't understand what he was saying as he picked Kibbles up making his body stretch.
Kibbles stared at Heyu.
Heyu stared at Kibbles and Instantly a bond was formed.
Heyu eyes glimmered like stars as he held Kibbles firmly to his body shocking everyone present.
" I have never held a spirit beast before" Heyu said as he instantly let down his defenses for Kibbles.
Sora went to reach over and pat Kibbles before Heyu slapped his hand away.
" You can play with it later" Heyu said in a protective tone as he petted Kibbles.
" Yuki.. help!" Kibbles said to me telepathically.
I must admit I completely ignored Kibbles. I was completely entranced by the attractive person holding cute fluffy anime moe that was right in front of me.
[ Just bare with it a few minutes! ]
The trip was going to be long I decided I could at least be a little selfish for once.
[ Soo cute! ]