"Bah! of course I can! Is that even a question girly!" Master Onbo yelled with a slap on his knee.
'Aye~ it seems her master has gone back to is usual weirdness..'
Seeing the girls dead-pan expression the old man frowned while pointing out his finger in a rather childish manner.
"What with that face?! Do you not even believe in your master! I am heartbroken! Later you must offer tea and apologize for doubting me so that I may forgive you girly!"
"Master, I've only meet you for a short while... how would I know what you are capable of?" Theia frowned as she gently pushed her master's finger from her face.
"This and that are two separate things!" The old man grunted but otherwise did not pursue the matter.
...
As the two continued to fuss about inside the carriage, the scenery outside began to change without either one of them noticing. Now instead of gaint trees with blackened bark with golden brown leaves that gave off a satisfying crunch, what surrounding them now was a clearing filled with hundreds of different flowers that filled the air with a nauseating sweet smell.
"Somthing is off about this place..." Without James even needing say anything Tatsuya could also feel the tense atmosphere that surrounded this place.
What was supposed to be a breath taking scenery was ruined by the very slight smell of copper that was almost impossible to notice under the nose blinding aroma wafting about, compiled with a strange sense of dread that the two simply couldn't shake off no matter how hard they tried.
"I was hoping to stop and let Madam rest..." James frowned when he thought about Theia having to sit in the carriage as they drove over the uneven and bumpy paths and roads.
"I don't think that's a good idea... Maybe after we have left this place behind then we can think of rest but untill then I couldn't want for anything more then to leave this place." Tatsuya commented witch earned a small grunt of agreement from the man next to him.
'Ah~ would it kill him to speak a bit more? he seemed so gentle before... Not like this harass before me' Tatsuya Complained in his heart but otherwise kept his thoughts to himself. It would take a while to cross this clearing so he had to stay alert and not cause an argument.
As the wanning light of the sun drifted past the distant horizon, the moons gentle radiance was soon brought to life with full intensity. The clearing turned out to bigger then any of them had expected as they had been traveling in a straight line for a what seemed to be hours.
"At least we are almost clear of this place I can see the forest edge just up ahead." Tatsuya sighed with relief how lever this relief would be short lived as just when he opened his mouth to speak again another voice quickly beat him to the punch.
"You there! Halt or be prepared for the consequence.." A low and heavy voice yelled out as a thick and burly figure could be seen walking out into the clearing from the forest edge just ahead.
Pulling hard on the reigns Tatsuya brought the carriage to halt much to the displeasure of the horses and the people on the inside.
"IDIOT! Why would you do that what if Madam got hurt! You could have brought it to slower stop or just kept going its only one guy!" James raged as quickly jumped down and rushed to the carriage door.
Theia who was calmly sitting inside with her hands situated in her lap was surprised when the door to her left suddenly flew open.
"Madam are you alright?!" James spoke with extreem panic in his voice.
"Yes of course.. why wouldn't I be?" The little fox responded as her ears flattened and her head tilting ever so slightly, it was evident that she didn't even feel the carriage coming to an abrupt stop.
"Ahem.. N- no reason Madam it's just that we ran into some trouble up ahead." Gone was the demon of a man who sat next to Tatsuya for duration of the trip. All that was left was a kind and gentle man when he was infront of his Madam.
"I see can you two take care of it? Do you need some help?" Theia innocently asked. Unbeknownst to the two of them the inside of the carriage had long been isolated from the outside world using the old man's magic. Nothing from the outside could interfere with them i less the door was opened, thus neither of them felt nor heard the commotion going on.
"N- no! How could this humble servant ask of you to do such a trivial task! Do not worry! I will have us moving again in just a moment!" James said with a kind and gentle smile plastered across his face.