After exiting the village the trio all did their own thing. The merchant was driving the wagon while Aster was on the roof doing some aura training using his Sword.
After about 2 hours he stopped not because he was at his limit but because he was still technically working as an escort, so he thought he should keep some energy on reserve.
'Two hours, yet I don't feel that tired... my energy reserves must have increased a fair bit again. Maybe I should try to increase the amount I'm using. That's probably the best way to improve.'
After thinking, so he then dropped from the roof and went to play with the merchant's daughter who had been doing her best to not became bored.
When he recovered he would once again train and then stop to play with the girl. The training was the same except it would last less every time as Aster started to be able to increase his energy output.
The Sword however just kept shaping the energy the usual way making Aster wonder if he was missing something.
"What am I doing wrong? Am I not shaping the energy good enough or am I just not giving it enough juice..."
It was already getting dark and the trio decided to stop for the day. While the Merchant and daughter were properly parking the wagon Aster had those thoughts in his head.
"It has been always acting as a catalyst so those two are the only problems that would make sense... No matter how good a catalyst is it still needs enough components and a minimum amount of conditions to be met in order to make the reaction work."
While he was busy thinking to himself the Merchant had finished what he was doing and was now walking towards Aster while calling for him.
"Hey Aster."
"Which means I either have to give it more energy or learn to shape the aura properly without it..."
"Aster..."
He of course was still thinking to himself oblivious to the Merchant who was now to his side.
"Increasing my energy output and reserves is just a matter of training, so I guess..."
*tug*
Finally out of his trance Aster looked down to see what was tugging at his clothes and was meet with the face of the merchant's daughter. She then raised her arm and pointed at her father who was sighing.
"Hey Aster, we are gonna start a fire, do you mind giving me a hand on chopping some wood?"
Aster patted the girl in the head once again before turning towards and tree and smirking.
...
...
...
*slash*
*slash*
*slash*
*poof*
*poof*
*poof*
*poof*
"...hum Aster" At this point the merchant was trying to plead with the Automated Woodcutter.
"..."
*slash*
*slash*
*slash*
*poof*
*poof*
*poof*
*poof*
"Aster!" At this point the merchant was begging.
"..."
*slash*
*poof*
*poof*
Only at this point did Aster stopped and looked at the merchant.
"Aster the dinner is ready and I'm pretty sure we have enough wood for the rest of the night... 'maybe the week'.
Aster took a quick glance at the pile of wood that yet again was quite large.
"Sorry I kind of lose myself when I'm focused on something." Aster tried to explain as he scratched the back of his head.
' I Noticed that already dammit! ' The merchant screamed in his mind. The little girl was to the side her mouth open in awe due to Aster's display.
...
...
...
*sip*
"This is delicious."
The trio was now around the campfire's light having dinner. The sun had already set down and if you listened carefully you could hear howling and roaring in the distance.
"Thank you! *giggle* It's a recipe my mom used to make." The little girl said with a big smile on her face.
"Well she must have thought you well then."
"Yes, I can even cook better than dad." She affirmed proudly.
*cough*
The merchant chocked on his food when he heard that.
"I'm not used to it okay. I never had to learn how to do so. Your mother... bless her soul. Her cooking was divine, It would be a waste of food for me to even try."
Aster stopped eating when he heard the merchant.
"If you don't mind me asking. What happened to her." He had assumed the mother was either dead or had left them. But now that he knew she had passed away Aster couldn't stop himself from asking.
The merchant had a soft smile on his face while the daughter was quietly looking at the stew in her hands.
"She was... amazing. Kind, funny, always had a smile on her face and dealt with all my shenanigans.
We used to travel together the three of us. From the ports on the outer area right to the central area of the Continent."
His tone got heavier.
"The roads in the central area are regularly patrolled with Elementalists. You would think it makes them safer but..."
"An Elemental Beast" Aster said while tightly gripping the utensils in his hands.
"Ye... came out of nowhere, there weren't any Elementalist around... she tried to..."
Tears started to flow out of the merchants face and daughter. She looked down to try to hide her tears but you could easily see them fall on the bowl of stew she was holding in her hands. The merchant simply wiped his face and tried to maintain his composure.
" She didn't make it... I've never travelled towards the central area ever since."
Although he wasn't releasing any energy if there was an elementalist around you could clearly see Aster's aura change as the merchant talked.
"But, you have to keep moving forward." He continued to say as he moved to the side and hugged his daughter with one arm. "Just remember the ones you still have in your life and keep moving forward. If you don't, it will eat out from the inside...Aster?"
Aster was shaking his fists clenched and it was hard to see if he was listening or not at least until the merchant called him out.
"Hu? Ho ye... moving forward. Right, it's just. Unfair how some good people get hurt without deserving it."
He then looked at his hands where the metal utensils were. They were bent beyond any use.
...
...
...
It had been about a week since that dinner. The landscape had changed and you could see the foliage, trees and vegetation were larger and ticker than before. The wildlife was also changing and if you were an Elementalist or someone like Aster you would notice that the Elemental energy around was denser.
The trio's trip had been uneventful mostly due to the fact that animals would keep away from the fire especially one as lively as the one Aster helped fuel each night. And if they didn't Aster would just release his aura and make anyone who still had any intentions of attacking reconsider such action.
They have all been doing their own thing. But they had gotten much friendlier between them, especially Aster and the little girl. Every time he was taking a rest she would 'ask' him to play with her and would usually teach him some sort of new game.
"We should arrive today if my memory doesn't fail me." The merchant said to Aster, who as per usual, was on the roof of the wagon.
"Already? Time sure flew by. But this sure is..."
Aster looked around from the top of the wagon most trees were taller than the wagon itself but even if he wore to climb one of them he would see the same he was seeing now.
"A hole lot of green."
"Welcome to the Wind Continent buddy Hahaha."
"Ye I've been here before. A lot actually." He said as he rolled his eyes. "Still the other continents look like wastelands if you were to compare flora."
"Never travelled away so I can't give my opinion. But if what you said is true why is it called the Wind Continent and not the Green Continent?"
"Well first of all people born here are usually Wind Elementalists so ye... Secondly plants generally do gain most of their mass through the air not the soil. I mean nutrients and essence does help but then again Wind Essence is not only in the wind. Just like fire essence not only in the fire but everywhere. Wind essence however, is one that most certainly helps plants grow compared to other ones.
The Earth Continent is also mostly related to crystals not dirt and rocks while the Fire Continent is related to metal not fire."
The merchant gave Aster a surprised look.
"I guess I learned something new today. Also, how do you even know those things. Are you some sort of scientist?"
Aster puffed his chest and hit it with his fist.
"I am an archeologist!!!"
"..."
"I'm serious."
"..."
"..."
"So... you deal with rocks?"
"Ruins! Forgotten Temples! Ancient dialects and Knowledge! Mysteries hidden right beneath our feet!!!"
"So... Really old rocks?"
"You make me sad."
"I'm a merchant not a doctor why would I care about what some old geezers knew."
"Because..."
Aster started to say before he quickly turned his head to the side.
'That's a...'
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa..."
Suddenly a scream could be heard and both the Merchant and daughter turned their heads towards where Aster's was already pointing.
The merchant raised his head to look at Aster but before he could even say a word Aster had already jumped down with both daggers drawn.
"I will be right back. If anything or anyone comes this way and it's not me, run."
The merchant just nodded before Aster dashed into the forest.
The merchant then turned his head towards her daughter.
"Go inside and don't come out unless I tell you to Ok?."
The little girl just nodded and did just that while her father kept his eyes dead set on the direction where Aster had just disappeared into.
'Be safe, friend.'