I looked towards Emrys and the dragon boy with uncertainty I paused for a moment examining them both. They seemed... Linked.
I sighed, Naki cuddled against my side his bright yellow eyes that were usually filled with mischief seemed to hold concern. Whether it was due to the uncertainty in my eyes or due to him grasping the severity of our current situation, or possibly a mix of both.
I paused for a moment unsure of what to do next. I had already understood that I wouldn't make it far without them and when it came to none ice beings, body heat and overall heat were most important for their survival.
I paused for a moment upon hearing the neighing of a horse followed by the colloquium of voices that followed after.
Naki growled, the hairs on his body on end at the sudden appearances of people and unbeknownst to myself, I had begun to shake.
I didn't want what happened before to happen again.
I didn't want to be put through all that again...
And I didn't want to be captured.
So upon witnessing the sudden appearance of a man's boots peering through the opening of the tent.
Mana had already been built up that I myself hadn't even known.
And my mouth uttered out commands that I never dreamt of performing.
[Einhelms Ballad]
And when those words. No those thoughts.
Had even been thought. Ice of a deep blue color appeared trailing from the tips of his fingers towards the remainder of his body almost like a disease, lt visibly spread through one's body.
He froze right there and then his face no longer held that flow of life, his tinted red cheeks now pale his brown eyes pale and lifeless as he turned around exiting the carriage. The screams of others could only be heard following that. Followed by the flashing of swords as though a war had broken out and we were at the center of it.
Emrys awoke from his slumber most likely disturbed by the voices of clashing men just beyond the drapes of clothing that protected us from the winter cold.
He peaked looking past the curtains then entered the carriage once more, looking at me. Then pointing towards the fight that was currently taking place just outside in a manner that held 'just what the hell did you do?'.
"I-" I couldn't let words out as he silently waved his head back and forth, his eyes held no disappointment. But instead.
Thankfulness?
"Oiii Syruss!" Emrys slapped his similarly white-haired acquaintance right upon his head and then pointed towards me. "there are royal guards outside but she took care of em."
The dragon boy stood up walking right past me, taking one look outside. Came back in and then examined me for a moment.
"who...did this?" he asked sternly his eyes holding fear that wasn't previously there, Emrys took one look at my face and pulled him outside.
Once again... I didn't fit in regardless of where I was.
maybe it'd have been better if my parents had just agreed with what the others had said... maybe... they'd still be alive.
"Eira!" Emrys said suddenly peering past the drape, I let out a little yelp in surprise which only made the smile on the boy's face grow wider.
"We'll be going on foot from now on... if that's okay with you?" he asked but the smile on his face quickly faded as he took notice of the unusual paleness my skin held. whilst it was true that ice creatures didn't need heat to survive what I had done was different, truth be told I wasn't quite sure what I had done but no doubt it was what had put me in this feeble state.
"That magic you used--" Emrys's eyes locked with mine and I could feel my breath hitch. "I was drained so I only remember what happened vaguely...and to be fair I'm still in a weakened state right now, but, I wasn't so drained that I wouldn't notice magic that held such abnormal traits."
"I could feel the hairs on my body stand on end as soon as you activated it" Emrys started recalling the event and I suddenly found it hard to breathe. "It was as though I had been punched in the gut and the air I once had was suddenly being sucked out of my body."
"Eira?"
My head turned and I could see Syrus's worried gaze as he turned to Emrys both sharing a knowing glance before they rushed to my side. Syrus assessed me whilst Emrys used his wing magic in an attempt to make my breathing far more rhythmic than it currently was. Why was I in such a panic? it felt like I was missing an important piece to the puzzle. Something I was supposed to remember.
"Why did they kill us?" I didn't think about the words I had said, they just simply flowed out of my mouth, Emrys looked up at me, Syrus too focused on his incantation didn't hear any of what I had muttered. but Emrys's eyes bore into mine trying his best to look past the expression I held to find meaning in what I had said. "why did who do what?"
His normally stoic expression had turned into both a mix of worry and curiosity. "nothing" I replied quickly, however, action speaks far louder than words and Emrys was far from convinced.
[conciliated melody]
Syrus's eyes opened his hands held a bright blue color that was warm to the touch. "I'm not an expert in fire magic so this might be subpar," he said as he inserted his palms into my stomach. I hissed at the sudden heat coming in contact with my body and Syrus retracted his hand slightly upon noticing my discomfort, the heat transferred throughout my body in a manner similar to that of diseases however the effects were complete opposites. I could feel it through my nerves it felt soothing... yet weird.
"you...ok?" Syrus questioned between heavy pants I nodded as he helped me to my feet. Emrys looked at him and though he didn't say anything his expression showed that he was plenty concerned as to what had just occurred. "maybe we should take a break here and continue our journey tomorrow."
Emrys looked over towards Syrus clearly wanting the boys take and input on the current situation we were currently in. "yeah, I agree, we can camp just outside of the city and--"
"I can still move" my voice shook with each word I uttered and whilst I had been healed my breathing pattern was erratic to a noticeable extent, however, I refused to slow them down. I wouldn't be the weak link to every situation I was in.
the two looked at each other before glancing back at me.
"it's not just you, using that drained me as well" Syrus stated, showing his quivering hands to me as evidence, but that was my fault as well, if I hadn't used that magic then we might already be in Travostacia. "'if I hadn't used that magic then we might already be in Travostacia' is what your thinking, well if you hadn't used whatever thing you did we'd all be 6 feet underground"
Emrys, from what I had gathered during our time together was an outspoken person who was unusually calm regardless of whatever situation we were in, whether it got scary at night he was always there for the both of us, and it was unusual to see him get this worked up when it wasn't when I was trying to tease him.
"he's right" Syrus added with a smile, Emrys winked at Syrus before exiting the carriage leaving just me and the boy alone. "you ok now?"
I nodded and once again the smile on his face grew wider at my response.
"We can go tomorrow," I said smiling back