Chereads / The Blue Pearl / Chapter 29 - The Last Ancient

Chapter 29 - The Last Ancient

Nina watched the forest and the mountain pass by her as she was cradled into the young girl's arms. As Olean jumped over the forest and trenches of the mountain, far enough leaps that she felt like she was flying. And she did not enjoy the experience at all, she was an Earth Elemental, she didn't like to be in the air.

But more importantly right now, she was not Nina. Since her quest, a failure that it had been was over and she was far away from the village, she could be Bedona again. Bedona Parsi of Sharak, an Eye of Aristeros.

But for how long? Her mind cried silently.

Not right now, she told herself. She did not want to appear more pathetic in front of Olean, her sulking would have to wait.

On the horizon the sky was lighting up, dark turning into pink and grey. Dead trees were gradually turning alive from black to green as they dashed down the mountain. The rocks and streams, trees and falls all were blur around Olean's speed. The girl was carrying Bedona in her arms like she was a new bride and weighted nothing. Ava had been right, nothing could have matched the speed the younger girl was traveling at. Bedona thought to herself again just how strong Olean was. Her odd color hair was just not for the show. She was a member of the legendary Xirians, the ancient clan of fearsome warriors. But the story was that Xirians were extinct long time ago.

Could Olean be the last of her kind? How fitting that someone like her worked for Pearl.

Though Olean's hold was soft and gave Bedona enough leeway to keep her as comfortable as possible, she felt like she was held by arms made of iron. At times, all those large falls that the girl chose to jump over without any hesitancy, Bedona would scream and clutch at the girl's neck with everything she had. Bedona was not very strong but that hold ought to have caused a normal person some discomfort. But Olean didn't shift even a fraction, still like the neck of a metal statue except for the slight cock of her head to get away from the sound. Like if it wasn't for the scream she wouldn't have even felt Bedona trying to choke her.

When she stopped they were almost at the foot of the mountains, on a ledge by which the roaring waterfall started. There was still some time before the sun rose and they had successfully descended the mountain in less half the night. A truly impressive speed and Bedona was almost certain, Olean could go faster.

She was set down gently on her stiff but trembling legs. Olean kept a firm hold on her arm so that's he could get used to standing and didn't fall over down the ledge to her death. Bedona heaved, and after resting her hands on her knees slowly tried to calm herself. Olean on the other hand was barely out of breath, and aside from the slightly disheveled hair, she looked no different. As if she hadn't spent the half the night running down the mountain while carrying Bedona in her arms.

Olean was ready and alert the moment Bedona steadied. The younger girl scanned their surrounding wither sharp and glowing green eyes. And even without knowing for certain Bedona could tell that not many things would escape Olean's gaze.

But not everyone would be on plain sight. She spread her own senses through the land to find any odd weight on the ground and found none. They were alone.

"Thank you!" Bedona shouted to be heard over the loud falls. Annoyed at herself that of all the places she chose here to stop. "Will you go back now?"

Bedona hopped Olean left her alone now, she needed sometime to herself. Finally in her own skin after six months of disguise, she wanted to think about what to do.

"Yes, but I have to make sure you are safe." Olean replied in a flat and professional tone that no doubt she was learning from Ava. As Bedona could feel that the younger girl did not want to be there. Must be worried about Ava, she figured. It was good too, she did not like that a girl who was at least ten years younger than her was making sure that Bedona was safe. It was not enough that she had come down in Olean's arms screaming like a little girl. No matter how strong, she was just a child for Divine's sake.

"NO!" She shouted suddenly and in a much harsher tone than she had intended. "This is enough. There is no one nearby and I can take care of myself." Bedona spoke again in a much calmer and reassuring tone. No need to offend a girl who could take on an entire horde of Monsters.

Olean was reluctant, as despite her wish the girl had her orders. She was not one to disobey Ava and frankly Bedona didn't blame her for it. From their brief encounter, she could tell that Olean cared deeply for Ava and what she thought of the young girl. Thinking back her own meeting with the senior Liaison didn't go very well. Burdened by her lies and guilt about Tristan had haunted her whenever she talked to Ava. And not to mention her own position in her tower, her plans and the failure of her mission. She was happy to meet such a legendary agent of Sharak but it also broke any illusion of where she herself stood in front of such legends. A month of horror was solved in a single night by these agents. It was slowly suffocating her…

She kicked the ground and it shook the whole cliff they were standing on. Olean looked at her with a raised eyebrow, not at all impressed. Good too, because she was not trying to impress her. "I can take care of myself from here. But …Ava still may need your help."

Olean stared without blinking and Bedona was starting to doubt if the girl would object to it. She was also ready with her words, to argue in case the girl refused and suddenly realized that there was no need for any of that. It was just an uncertain young girl who didn't know what was right. The wide green eyes of Olean that showed no arrogance of her incredible power just the uncertainty of her age and wonder for the world and more than enough childlike fondness for Bedona. She was worried about leaving her alone, she realized much to her delight and had to force herself not to pinch the younger girl's cheek and squeal at how adorable she was.

"Thank you again and good job getting me here. But I am an Eye of Aristeros. I may not be able to fight like you, but I can run." She offered the younger girl a hand which she with some hesitation and much pride took.

"I won't keep you any longer. See you in the Guild!"

Olean nodded with a cute smile and disappeared in a blink of an eye leaving only a strong gust of wind that almost flung her back down the ledge. Bedona bit down a curse and blinked in annoyance.