Auria thanked the Ardenians for their help and kindness in gathering food and supplies for the group's trip and they all headed off.
"Alright Grenadier, you're our navigator! Navigate us places!" Auria exclaimed, "I mean, you're just good at that stuff,"
Senwell chuckled but didn't really respond at all, "Come on kiddies, the sun's still up, so we need to get a move on,"
The noon sun had begun to set and the scorching heat was replaced with an almost unbearable chill. The group collectively shivered.
"Let's…" Senwell shivered, "Let's take a break, set up camp,"
Nobody spoke against his suggestion. Auria's ankle had been acting up again, so she really didn't want to do much at all. Nonetheless, she wandered over to a nearby tree and tapped her staff on the ground twice. One of the branches fell down and hit Auria in the head!
Auria dropped her staff and inhaled sharply, rubbing the part where she was hit, "Ahhh, that hurt, that really hurt,"
After rubbing her head for a little while longer, she stuffed her staff down the back of her trenchcoat and dragged the branch back to the group.
Auria tossed the branch down and took her staff out, she tapped her staff twice a flash of light erupted and a fire pit was made!
"Alright, my job's done, you guys get the rest," Auria said as she sat down on the grass, "Can't do anything more for you guys,"
Auria laid down as the rest of the group set up tents and lit the fire. Auria heard some bickering between Senwell and Ross but other than that, it was quite peaceful. Auria felt as though she was about to drift off to sleep. The wind blowing, forcing the grass to tickle Auria's arm and legs, the gentle sounds of the earth falling asleep, it was calming.
Soon enough, Ross laid down next to Auria, followed by Nicosia, and finally by Senwell. They all just laid in front of the fire, staring up at the stars and they stayed like that for a good while.
"Hey Lieutenant," Auria said, finally breaking the silence, "Can I ask you something?"
Ross gave an approving grunt, so Auria decided to ask, "Can I ask what your real name is? It feels weird calling you Lieutenant or Ross, both just feel weird to me,"
Ross chuckled and heaved a sigh, though Auria wasn't sure if it was in frustration or not, "We aren't allowed a given name in the military, Crane, we're slaves of the military 'til the day we die, and even after that," She said, "My given name by all accounts is Lieutenant, my rank is my name, and the only thing I have to myself is my surname, same with all of them,"
"Eh? Really? That's so surprising…" Auria commented, "So that's that, huh? And here I was, thinking Senwell was just too stubborn to give me a straight answer,"
Auria heaved a sigh and just laid there in silence for a while. She listened to the wind whistling through the trees, though as she listened more closely, she heard someone shifting their feet through the grass.
Auria jumped up to her feet and twirled on her good heel to face the newcomer. It was a young girl. A witch, Auria could tell because of her straight pointed hat.
"Excuse me…" The witch said, "I'm a bit lost… I'm trying to get to the Temple of the Titans, but I must've taken a wrong turn and all my supplies got blown away in the wind…"
Auria squinted at the witch. She stared for a little while until Senwell eventually wandered over.
"Hey there, who's your friend, Crane?" Senwell asked.
"I'm an Apprentice Witch under the tutelage of the Witch of the East, Madame Periculum!" The witch blurted out, "She sent me on a mission to the Temple but I lost my way!"
Senwell furrowed his brows for a moment, but then his face lit up, "Well come along with us! Come on, we'll take you in!"
The witch's eyes lit up and she agreed, following Senwell, who showed her around the campsite. Auria rolled her eyes and laid back down, though it just didn't feel the same. Something had taken hold of the peaceful earth and strangled it.
Auria, not feeling the calming feelings that nature gave to her anymore, sat up, she massaged her ankle, and glanced around the campsite. Ross decided to do some heavy lifting, carrying stacks of firewood and cooking equipment over near the fire, Nicosia followed her lead with a few utensils in hand. Senwell was busy talking with the witch, and Auria just sat there.
Auria heaved a sigh, "Man, I've never felt this useless," She murmured
The fire began to simmer, the darkness began to engulf the camp and the group all sat around the fire pit, stomachs warm and full, joking, drinking, and laughing about.
Auria yawned, "Grenadieeer!" She yelled out, "Pass me a lil' drink! Not finished yet!"
Everyone, even the witch that had joined their group, poured a drink into a cup and raised their cups in the air, "To new friends!" Senwell cheered.
Auria snickered, "To new friends!"
The sound of glasses clinking together rang throughout the night and was quickly followed by more cheers and chatter.
"Grenadier!" Auria shouted, "Where's my…" She held her abdomen for a moment and burped, "My trunk?"
Senwell pointed to his side, Auria's trunk rested there. Auria crawled over to her trunk, set down her drink, opened the trunk, and began to rummage through it.
"What're you up to, Crane?" Senwell asked.
"Looking for something," She replied. Auria rummaged around for a little while longer, she tossed out various objects, including a ceramic pipe, a half-eaten apple, and a metal pole that almost hit Senwell in the face.
"Ah man, can't find it!" Auria exclaimed, "I'll find it later on,"
Auria closed her trunk and slumped against it, again picking up her drink and taking a sip, "Damn, was gonna show you guys something cool," She took another sip, "Actually…"
Auria stood, ignoring the pain she felt in her ankle, "Let me show you guys something amazing!" She exclaimed as she bit her finger!
Everyone collectively gasped as blood dripped from her finger and onto the grass, turning it to a crimson color.
"Crane, you moron!" Senwell yelled out, "What are you doing?"
"Hol'on, Grenadier, just watch," Auria said as the blood dripping from her finger slowly began to morph and transmute into something else… She was bleeding rubies!
"Wh-" Ross sputtered, "Am I drinking too much or what?"
Soon, the pile of rubies covered Auria's feet and her bleeding stopped, "Ahh, that's always fun, too bad about my blood though!" She exclaimed, taking a final swig of her drink, kicking off the rubies, and then falling back and passing out.
The morning sun pierced through Auria's eyelids. She blinked rapidly, it had blinded her. She sat up and glanced around, she was in an unfamiliar area, a tent when she expected a bed.
Auria grabbed her hat, put it on, and hobbled out of the tent. As expected of members of the military, Senwell, Nicosia, and Ross were already up and active. The witch from before was nowhere to be seen, presumably still asleep.
Auria hobbled around, she gave Nicosia a pat on the shoulder before wandering over to Lieutenant Ross, "Anything you need me to do?" Auria yawned, "I'm awake enough, probably,"
"Oh, Crane, it's okay, I don't want to make you work too hard, we still have so long to walk, so having you work on top of that just feels wrong, given your current state," Ross replied, "Besides, that's what we're here for, helping you,"
Auria raised a brow and walked over to Senwell, "Hey, Grenadier, you need any help? I can help out with whatever!"
"Oh, Crane, shouldn't you be asleep still? Don't worry, we got this, go get some more rest," Senwell said.
Auria furrowed her brows, "Fine, fine, I can see when I'm not needed," She then caught Nicosia's attention, "Nicosia, hey, you need anything?"
"Oh… No no, I'm fine, thank you though!" Nicosia responded.
Auria frowned and stomped off. She located her staff, grabbed it, then wandered out of the camp. The closest tree that Auria saw, she stopped in front of. She tapped her staff twice on the ground. The tree was transmuted and was felled.
Auria sat on the tree stump and fiddled with her staff for a while, then massaged her ankle a little, and finally fidgeted with her arm cast.
Auria sighed, "Thought having some people answer at my beck and call would be nice, but man I feel useless,"
Auria sat for ages, venting her frustrations to herself, but didn't seem to feel any better. She wanted to do something but wasn't able to do anything.
She sat in silence for a while, though it was interrupted by a mechanical hee-haw. Auria looked over and there it was. A fully robotic donkey! It wasn't professionally made by any stretch of the imagination, but there was no denying what it was.
The donkey trotted over to Auria, giving another robotic hee-haw. Auria patted the donkey's head, she wasn't sure if it could feel it, but the donkey looked happy!
"Who's your owner little guy?" Auria asked, "Or are you one of those loner types?"
The donkey let out a mechanical hiss, ejecting steam from its nose before trotting off. Following it with her eyes, Auria locked onto it rubbing against an older gentleman's hand and leg.
"Where've you been, Bo?" The man asked, he seemed to be one of those gentle giant types, "I've been lookin' all over for ya,"
The older gentleman looked to Auria, having followed the path the donkey had taken to find him. They made eye contact and Auria was greeted with a warm and inviting smile. The man had a large rucksack and made his way over to Auria.
"Heya lassie, what brings ya so far from the city?" He asked, "And… Y'look so hurt, are ya doin' a'right?"
"Oh, yeah yeah, I'm alright! I'm grown, so I'm supposed to be tough!" Auria proclaimed, "I'm super duper tough!"
The man gave a hearty laugh and shook his head, "Anyways, what brings ya so far from de city? Can' imagine a young lass such as yerself livin' ou'here,"
Auria stood against her staff. Her leg almost gave in, but she pushed through, "I'm looking for someone! My father!"
The man set down his large rucksack and sat on it, "Alone?" He asked, "I can' imagine a young injured lass comin' ou'here alone,"
"I'm… With some people, but they wouldn't let me do anything, I try to help, but they just tell me I should 'take it easy' or 'go back to sleep' like I'm some kid!"
"Well, I woul'n't neither, yer still a kid, and yer injured, some rest woul' do ya good," The man put a hand on Auria's shoulder, "Bu', I don' tink dey see ya as a chil', I don' know yer friens, bu' I tink I can speak fer dem… Dey don' tink yer a chil', dey jus' wan' t' protect ya,"
"Eh? Why would they want or need to do that?"
"'Cause dey luv ya! Wit' all dere hearts!"
Auria took a moment to let it sink in, but once it finally did, she cracked a smile and giggled uncontrollably, "Ahh, sorry," She sighed, "It's just that I didn't expect that from a random person I met,"
The man chuckled, "Well, me an' Bo bes' be off! We're off t'da Temple! Gotta git dere quick now!"
"Oh, sir wait," Auria blurted out, "Me and my friends are actually going to the Temple too! We could be travel buddies!"
The man gave another smile, it seemed to be a signature of his, as his laugh lines would highlight, "Ah, I woul' luv ta, bu' I can', serry lassie,"
"Oh, yeah, that's fine, that's fine! I'm sure we'll meet again sometime…" Auria commented, "Thank you for speaking to me!"
Auria gave a bow, letting her hair flop in front of her, though her oversized hat almost fell off. The man just chuckled.
"Don' menshon it, lass," The man stood and slung his rucksack over his shoulders, "I'll seeya nex' time den! An'... If ya ev'r feel like ya ain't worth yer friens' time, know that ain't true, yer friens adore ya,"
Auria limped back to camp, using her staff to help her walk. She passed by everyone, Senwell, Nicosia, even Ross, and sat in front of the fire pit from the night before.
"Are you feeling alright?" Ross asked, squatting beside Auria and placing a hand on her shoulder.
Auria sputtered, "Of course! I'm me after all, I'm grown and I'm tough!"
Ross giggled, it was surprisingly cute! "Do you want to help me out a little? I need a bit of help,"
A wide grin grew across Auria's face, "Of course! What do you need me to do?"