"I can't wait to try some of these new medicines." Lilee writes a few more notes in her personal journal.
Dimas scoffs. "You better try them on yourself first. I'm not gonna be your guinea pig."
Lilee laughs. "Well… More than likely, it'll be you trying them first since you get injured a lot more than I do."
"Dammit…" Dimas scowls.
"Don't worry!" Lilee pats Dimas on the back. "There's a ton more plants in here that should help improve my medicine." Lilee looks up with a smile, her eyes focus on a moment in the past. "You should've seen my first batch of medicine. It was a messy mixture, it looked like baby barf! My poor dad was the first one I used it on. The small cut on his arm was practically healed in a matter of minutes, but he woke up green the very next day! It took like a week for the green to go away, he was so embarrassed!"
Dimas lets out a deep breath.
Sounds more like the work of a mad scientist than an actual healer. Still… I won't lie, her medicine does work and it sounds like she's come a long way. I'll take searing pain over being green any day.
"If it was a small cut, then he shouldn't have needed the medicine in the first place." Alastor appears next to the duo. Dimas turns to face him quickly. Lilee jumps to the side while letting out a gasp.
What the hell? How the hell did he get so close without one of us noticing him?
"Honestly, it's kind of his fault for using amateur medicine and from a child no less. He could've saved himself some embarrassment if he had gone to a real herbal healer." Alastor finishes his thought on the matter as if he wasn't speaking to a couple of strangers.
"Why are you here?" Dimas glares at Alastor.
"Same as you, I'm on my way to Amon and Emon."
"Trying to screw us over some more?"
Alastor rolls his eyes. "Please… I'm heading there to bring peace and order. Something a villain like you wouldn't understand."
Before Dimas can say anything, Lilee gets in Alastor's face.
"Dimas isn't who you think he is! He's not here to destroy the world!" Lilee defends Dimas.
Alastor shakes his head. "I'm not here to fight nor argue. I just want a bit of company for the road ahead."
Dimas takes a deep breath.
Whatever. Besides, it'll just be a waste of time to stay here and argue. The sooner we get to the next town, the sooner we get rid of him.
Dimas begins to walk away. "Let's go, Lilee."
Lilee gives Alastor the 'I'm watching you' gesture before heading over to Dimas.
Alastor follows not far behind the duo.
"I thought some company would make this less boring." Alastor says out loud a couple of hours into the uncomfortable trip.
Dimas can't believe this weirdo. Not only did he invite himself but now he expects Lilee and Dimas to make small talk with Alastor as if he didn't try to sabotage their journey less than a day ago.
Dimas can see Lilee having an internal struggle. She's probably trying to choose between being polite to Alastor or to continue being mad at him. Dimas knows what she'll choose in the end, after all Lilee might be the nicest person he's ever met. It annoys him at times.
"What's going on in Amon and Emon?" Lilee asks.
Alastor seems surprised that an actual conversation was started. Despite that it was him that asked for one in the first place.
"Amon and its sister city, Emon, have been quarreling for some time now. Both cities rely on each other for economic stability, but their trading has begun to suffer. I'm heading there to resolve the issue." Alastor says the last part with a hint of arrogance. That's how Dimas hears it at least.
"Why do they need you, and I mean this with full offense, you're just a glorified fighter." Dimas says bluntly.
"I will admit the title of 'Champion' carries more weight than it should, however I don't do this because I'm the current Champion. I do this because I care for the people of this world." Alastor clutches the necklace hiding behind his shirt.
Dimas tugs at his blanket bracelet.
Both lost in their own memories. Neither knowing of the other's motivations.
Lilee is the first to speak again. "Then why did you become Champion?"
"A means to an end. Nothing more." Alastor shrugs.
"Oh…" Lilee sounds dejected. To hear the current Champion call the title a mere tool hurts her inner fangirl heart.
Lilee starts to regret being polite.
It's midday when the duo and Alastor arrive at Amon.
"Huh. That didn't take as long as I thought it would." Dimas looks at his Fighter card. Lilee had explained how the Fighter card has an arrow pointing to their next destination along with the name of the city. And just like she said, the arrow had gone from a light purple to a deep purple indicating that the next tournament location is nearby.
Lilee wipes the beads of sweat from her forehead. "Which is why I'm wondering why we couldn't take any breaks."
Alastor stretches. "Teleporting is convenient, but walking does the soul good."
Lilee stares at the other two. "I don't know if the two of you are weird or I'm just in worse shape than I thought."
"You are sweating a lot for a small journey." Alastor unknowingly insults Lilee.
"And you aren't even carrying anything…" Dimas piles on. "Maybe we should get some weights for you to wear. That should improve your endurance."
Lilee gasps. "You can't be serious. There's no way you'll really do that, right?"
"Are you really asking me that?" Dimas says without a hint of compassion.
Lilee laughs nervously. "I don't need those weights. I was just kidding about being tired."
"Then how about a race?" Alastor begins to stretch. "No using Brío Arts."
Dimas nods. "Lilee you don't have to win… obviously, you can't. Just don't be last or we're getting those weights for you."
Lilee frowns. "Fine… but we'll go on my count. Ready… Se - Go!"
Lilee tries to pull a fast one, but she doesn't get very far before Dimas and Alastor leave her in the dust.