"And here we are", I announced after pulling Rakka's reigns and dismounting. After we had saw the Omukade make a new nest near the valley's entrance, we thought it'd be prudent if we got out of there as quickly as possible. I stared into the eyes of death once today, I am not doing that again.
"We've been gone for a few hours but that was enough excitement to last a lifetime", Savina stated as she dismounted Rakka.
"This place is beautiful!", Cynthia exclaimed
"Huh...winter and spring at the same time? How odd, yet it is strangely beautiful!", Louis added.
Trailing behind us were the Lobaines riding their Thunderhorn, Strider. Moments before we escaped the Omukade, I had Louis recall him so they wouldn't be defenseless for six hours. Apparently they tried to use their others monsters to fight the Omukade, it did not end well. As the Lobaines began to dismount, Mayor Lavian came over to greet us.
"Ah Silvia, Snowbean! How was your trip? And who are these two?", Lavian asked as they hugged Savina.
"It went great Baba, I got a powerful new friend to help out on my journeys. These are...uh...ummm...", Savina replied before stopping with a forgetful look on her face.
"Louis and Cynthia Lobaine, your lordship. Your daughter and Silvia here saved our lives. Oh! We're merch-ah, former merchant-binders by the way. At your service", Louis said as he put out his hand in an offering to shake.
"Oh? What gave me away as a leader figure?", Lavian replied with a smile and returning the gesture.
"You have a bearing about you, liege".
"The fancy robe and necklace helps too!", Cynthia followed up.
"Ah yes, my business clothes. I'm usually more dressed down...regardless, what brings you two to Onryx?", Lavian asked after breaking off the handshake.
"Well the missus and I we're looking to sell off our wares, settle down and start a family...well I guess skip to the settle down step",
("Hey Savina, I'm gonna head back home now. I need to tell mother and father about the Omukade. I know your Baba will treat the Lobaines right", I whispered to Savina.
"Hmm? Oh, sure. I'll see you tomorrow for sparring then. We do only have two days until we the escort comes, right? We have to get in as much practice as we can for the big day", she whispered back.
"Oh right...yeah, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye").
_________________________________________
"Do you know why I'm having you both kneel right now?", my mother said to me and Voxea with fury in our eyes.
"Yes...", we said in unison.
[Why am I kneeling?! I'm over nine hundred years old and I am an archmaji!], Voxea complained to me.
[Because that means you're technically the one responsible one. Also you're my majimonster, remember?], I replied.
[Oh right...dang it].
"While what you did was technically the right thing to do, you two should have come and informed me, your father or Sir Agiros before throwing yourself into danger like that. I know Voxea is very strong, but even she said that the chances of you surviving an Omukade attack was low! I have seen too many binders think they're on top of world, and then suddenly die in battle because they overestimated their own strength", my mother said as part of her lecture.
I know it came from a place of love but it still sucked. Regardless, I just bit my tongue and agreed. Honestly, it was a stupid plan, but desperate times call for reckless heroism...I think.
"And for another thing-"!
"Alicia. I think you made it clear that you were very worried for our baby girl and that she should be more careful in the future", my father said suddenly, "and I also know that you're being extra hard now so that there are no tears for when she leaves".
"Grigori!", my mother yelped with an embarrassed look on her face. Apparently she was just called out.
My father took my mother's stunned silence as an opportunity to kneel down in front of me and place a hand on my shoulder.
"Now Silvia...you're about to take a big step in your life and leave Onryx for the first time. Are you scared?", my father asked while staring me in the eyes.
To be honest...I didn't really think about it until now. I think I got too used to the rhythm of just waking up, working at the still and then doing binder training and I figured it would be like that for a long time. But now...I leave in about two days time for an unknown city to an unknown school. I was scared...but also excited.
"A little", I replied, "but also a little excited".
"A good answer. Caution and bravery are not opposing forces, they should be mixed. Always be ready to plunge into danger, but make sure you have a shield. Now go wash up, I caught a wild boar for dinner tonight", my father said after tousling my hair and leaving.
[By the gods your family is sweet], Voxea said in distaste.
[I've been in your memories, your family is pretty nice too], I shot back.
[Fair enough].