Insunya called for a team meeting early on Wednesday morning. He sat on a bench near the water fountain.
"Isn't the woods beautiful," He said as the rest of the team arrived. None of us looked well-rested, Liz even had bags under her eyes and Sukai had dirt on her face. "It's so dark in there, but yet still peaceful," Insunya said, still referring to the woods behind him.
None of us wanted to have a chat about woods.
"Is there a reason why you've summoned us here?" Sukai yawned.
"Well of course," Insunya said, still looking at the woods.
"Couldn't you wait a bit, it's still so early," I said, barely still awake.
"The village we are about to leave for is quite far away," Insunya said with his back still turned at us.
"The village?" I mumbled.
"You mean a mission?" Roman asked calmly.
Misson? It's only been two days.
Insunya finally turned around to face us.
"The job of a Sentinel is to not only kill Landers," Insunya said.
"Yeah, we know," Liz said.
"We protect those who can't fight for themselves, their lives are in our hands, one slip up. and someone might die, could even be you."
The mood changed, it felt tenser now.
"Some bandits have been terrorizing a small village on the outskirts," Insunya started explaining. "Our mission is simple, we get rid of them,"
"You mean, kill them?" Liz asked.
Insunya sighed. "If that is the means to complete the mission, then yes."
Insunya looked away from his sister, almost ashamed.
"In this world, it's kill or be killed," I said. "Think about it like this Liz, you're protecting people from them."
Liz nodded.
But does that justify killing someone? To protect? Maybe.
"You guys look horrible," Insunya smiled. "Wash your face, we'll get moving soon,"
We did as he said and followed him to the main campus gate.
Insunya gave the Gatesman a small note. "We don't know how long it'll take, but we'll try to get here a soon as we can," Insunya said.
The Gatesman requested for our tags and scanned them. He went over each of us one by one. He then handed it back when he was done.
"I wish you guys good luck," He waved as he opened the gate.
"Thanks," Insunya said.
"Are we going on foot?" Sukai asked.
" We'll be teleporting to the outskirts, then we'll walk. " Insunya said with a straight face.
Teleporting is a difficult technique in its own right, teleporting multiple people will take a great deal of skill and concentration.
"Form a circle around me," Insunya ordered. "Here goes nothing." He took a deep breath.
The clasped his hands together and closed his eyes.
"Orizambi-art- grande transmission,"
I felt hazy and more tired all a sudden. Everything started to become blurry then everything went dark. Darkness was all around me. I couldn't feel my body.
The light penetrated through the darkness and my vision started to become normal, I could now move my body. The world reappeared once again.
Insunya, Liz, and Sukia were a few yards away from us, but Roman was next to me.
"I guess it isn't perfect, but still impressive," Roman complimented Insunya.
To think Insunya can teleport this many people in this distance. That's an A-class technique.
"We were a bit far off, but I'm getting there," Insunya smiled, scratching his head.
"Imagine being stuck in that void," I said, referring to the darkness we saw during the teleportation.
"Yeah, that'll make a guy crazy," Roman said.
"So, anybody knows where we are?" Liz asked.
The terrain looked familiar to me. I've been by here a lot of times in fact.
"If we go straight ahead, we'll reach Lyzeil village," I said. "If we go back, then we'll probably reach the sectors,"
We need to go to Musan village. And by the looks of it, I don't think Insunya knows where Musan village is, and he doesn't even have a map.
"I have some friends at Lyzeil village, they'll know where Musan is," I said.
"Some friends?" Sukai asked.
"It's a long story, don't worry," I said.
"And you're certain they'll be of use?" Roman asked.
I nodded. "But it's all up to you Insunya,"
Insunya coughed, then fell on a knee.
"You all right?" We all rushed to his side.
"Guess the grande transmission uses a lot of Orizambi, I can walk, we can head to Lyzeil village," Insunya said, trying to catch up with his breath.
Using a technique of the caliber, it makes sense that he's drained.
He managed to get up.
"You can lead the way, Reid," Insunya said.
"Right," I nodded.
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By the time we reached Lyzeil, the sun had already come out.
"Is that you captain?" Giddy ran to me as soon as we walked into the village.
"Captain?" Roman questioned.
"Hey buddy, how's your mom doing?" I asked.
"She's been more active these few days. She can even walk now," He said cheerfully.
That's great news.
"That's good," I smiled. "Have you spotted any bad guys or monsters around?"
He shook his head.
"That's great, and is chief around?"
"He should be in the village hall, I saw him walk over in that direction,"
"that's awesome, keep on the lookout buddy,"
"Aye, aye, captain,"
"You know where the village hall is?" Roman questioned.
I nodded, "Why wouldn't I,"
We walked through a bunch of "good mornings" "and Hi" "and thank you" as we reached the village hall.
"seems the people of the village really like you," Insunya commented.
"We have a great relationship, this is also like a home to me," I said.
"Chief?" I said as we walked into the village hall.
"Reid?" The chief was surprised. "I didn't call for you, did I?" He looked confused.
"I'm just passing by with my friends over here," I said. "Is Musan close by? We have a mission over there,"
"Mission? Are you certified now?"
"Still in training,"
"Will you be able to help us if we call?"
"Of course, you'll just have to request it through Winston," Insunya said. "And it's free,"
"Is that so,"
"This is my leader, Insunya Tonan," I introduced.
"Tonan huh, honor to meet you,"
"Likewise, chief,"
"Musan is a few miles away from here, about 5 if I was to estimate, you have to go through the mist forest, but be careful, there have been a lot of Landers spotted over there over the years, they barely leave the forest at all, like they're being controlled or something,"
"Thanks, chief, knew you'd be able to help us," I smiled. "We should go now,"
"Wait," The chief grabbed my hand. "Why don't you go see her?"
I knew who the chief was referring to.
"Gibby said she's fine, she'll worry about me if I tell her I'm going to fight bandits," I said.
"You don't have to tell her that, she's been asking about you ever since she got up, even saying your name in her sleep. And I know you gave her the gold coins."
"You should go see the person, I wanna know more about the mist forest anyways, and I can at least rest up a bit,"
"Red?" She ran through the halls and hugged me tightly.
"Jane," I said under my breath. "How are you feeling?"
"Better now that you're here,"
Corny.
"I'm.."
"Don't say that you're sorry, it wasn't your fault, I rushed to it, don't blame yourself,"
I took a deep breath.
"I thought you were dead, I thought about Gibby, how sad he'd be."
Jane was Gibby's mom. She is a couple of years older than me. She was raped during a bandit attack, and I was the one who killed the father.
"I'm alive and well, and you save the village, so thank you." She hugged me even tighter, then let go.
"Goodluck on your mission," She said. "So you really care about me huh," She smiled.
"Ahem," Sukai interrupted. "We should get going now,"
"Red hasn't eaten anything,"
The hell?
"And Master Insunya said he needed to know more about the mist forest, and he needed to rest also, you guys can at least eat, right?"
"I never say no to food," Insunya said.
"What happened to lives can be at risk?" Sukai said.
"Fighting with an empty stomach will also put our lives at risk, we can't help when we're dead now can we?"
"You knew this but still woke us up so early?" Roman said, annoyed. "and not that I'm against the idea of resting here for a bit,"
That the most I've ever heard him talk. Guess he's opening up a bit more.
Insunya smiled, "I just wanted to hang out with my little buddies more,"
Of course.