The rain subsided overnight, leaving Golden Amaranth a damp beneath an grey sky. The usual vibrant city slightly dulled by the weather. As dawn approached, the grey clouds above seemed to reflect a sense of uncertainty, setting the stage for the challenges that awaited Eve, Vulcan, and Eliza.
Eliza, tended to Eve and Vulcan last night, ensuring their injuries were addressed. Knowing the importance of a thorough recovery, she continued to heal them again in the morning, leaving no trace of the injuries from Metod. Making the group ready for the challenges that possibly awaited them in Golden Amaranth.
Once she finished the healing process, Eliza couldn't help but notice the state of their clothes, slightly damaged and dirtied from the intense battle with Metod. "Hey, Eve, while we're here, why don't we get clothes for you and Vulcan? I mean, you can't go walking around like that," Eliza suggested, eyeing the conditions of their current clothes.
"Eliza, we aren't here to shop, remember..?" Eve sighed. "Besides, I brought extra pairs of clothes with me."
Eliza's tail gently wrapped around Eve's wrist, a playful smile on her face. "I'm afraid you don't have a choice," Eliza said, getting up from the bed and bringing Eve along with her.
"W-Wait, at least let me get dressed into my other clothes...!"
Eve, while getting dressed, a soft sigh escaped her lips. She thought about what Eliza said earlier about telling Vaos of their encounter with Metod and the potential involvement of Priliorm with void energy coming from Legis.
After contemplating the idea, she decided against telling Vaos about the encounter. Aware of her caretaker's protective nature,
Eve knew that he would insist that she return to Alyssum immediately upon hearing about the situation.
Eve finished adjusting the bow on her head, "And there, I'm ready. So, Eliza, should we get going?"
"Yup, let's get going, Eve. A fresh set of clothes will do wonders for you," Eliza said, her tail swaying lightly. "And don't worry about waking Vulcan just yet. We can give him some time to rest. Just send him a message to join us later."
"Sure, I'll let him know," Eve replied. "Let's just make this quick, Eliza."
Despite the weather, the streets of Golden Amaranth were quite busy, Eliza guided Eve to a clothing store known for its unique and fashionable outfits, her tail swaying gracefully. The shop was filled with vibrant colors and various styles, catering to different tastes. Eliza couldn't help but admire the diversity of the city and its inhabitants.
"H-hey, Eliza, you know I don't wear stuff like that. I thought I was going to get another hoodie and dolphin shorts," Eve said as Eliza looked at the dresses.
Eliza grinned, understanding Eve's preference for comfort, "I get it, but trust me, trying something different can be refreshing. Like this black dress for example, if you get this, I'll get that hoodie and shorts for you." With a playful wink, she handed Eve the dress and continued to explore the store.
Eve sighed, "Well, if it means we can leave sooner, then fine..." As she walked towards the dressing room, Eve found herself drawn by a particular set of clothing, a tracksuit. The black and white pattern of the outfit not only looked comfortable but in someway to her, felt like a reflection of her journey.
"I might as well take this with me," Eve meticulously searched for the perfect size, making sure of a snug and comfortable fit. Convinced that it would complement her journey, she carefully retrieved the tracksuit, adding it to her selection.
As Eliza carefully picked a black stylish hoodie and a pair of dolphin shorts for Eve, she went to the dressing room to give them to Eve. "Eve, are you in here? Are you trying on the dress?" Eliza knocked on the door.
Eve opened the door, and to Eliza's surprise, instead of the elegant black dress, Eve was wearing the comfortable tracksuit she had chosen earlier.
"So, how does it look?" Eve asked as she walked around in the tracksuit, the comfortable fabric hugged her form. "I swear, stuff from Golden Amaranth is always top quality," she added, appreciating the comfort.
"A tracksuit? Where's the dress I picked out for you?" Eliza asked .
"Hmm, the dress is right there," Eve said with a playful grin. "I figured comfort over fashion for now. Besides, we're not here for a fashion show. Plus, this tracksuit seems more suited for the journey ahead, don't you think Practicality first."
"Well, I see your point, especially for what might lie ahead. Tracksuits are versatile and allow for easier movement. Fine, I suppose you can take that," Eliza sighed, her expression softening with a smile.
Eve nodded, "Alright, I'll go change back into my normal clothes for now."
"Oh, by the way, here's a hoodie and the shorts I picked out for you. Also, you're still taking that dress," playfully, she used her tail to close the door of the dressing room.
As they purchased the clothes for Eve, they made their way to a charming nearby cafe. It seemed like a pleasant spot to pass the time while waiting for Vulcan, who was still sleeping. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the warmth of the cafe created a cozy atmosphere, giving them a moment of relaxation during their journey.
Seated at a table near the window, they placed the bag containing Eve's newly bought clothes on an empty chair. The weather outside remained the same; the rumbling of thunder could be heard in the distance as if it could start pouring any second.
Eve's sighed, looking outside. "We're wasting too much time here, you know. We should've already started making our way to the next town."
"Having to stop for coffee won't hurt, Eve. Besides, I thought you'd order more cake than that," Eliza said, noticing the barely touched slice of cake on Eve's plate.
Just as Eve was about to speak, the cafe's ambiance shifted as breaking news appeared on the TV screen. The report focused on an accident that occurred earlier on the highway connecting Alyssum and Golden Amaranth. Due to only a few cars going through the highway that night, no one could properly identify those involved. The scene was marked by the fragmented pieces of a robot, scattered across the highway.
"I knew I should've sent that robot into the fores—"
"Eve, not so loud..." Eliza's hand gently muffled Eve's words, a subtle attempt to contain the potential consequences of their recent encounter. The cafe's atmosphere suddenly felt more tense as the news of the accident continued to play on the TV.
Finishing their breakfast, the weight of the news report lingered, and with no message from Vulcan, they decided to make their way back to the hotel, intent on resuming their journey as swiftly as possible.
"Now, it isn't a question anymore. We have to get out of here before someone figures out we were involved in that fight with Metod" Eve sighed.
"Yeah, you're right. We shouldn't overstay our welcome here, let's be discreet and keep a low profile until the situation settles." Eliza looked around the area for any signs of unwanted attention.
"I should've mentioned this earlier, but during our encounter with Metod, I sensed an unusual surge of void energy coming from Mary and Simon," Eve revealed.
Eliza's eyes widened in surprise, and she asked, "What the— yes, you definitely should've mentioned that sooner. What do you think it might be? Could they possibly be Forbidden?"
"I don't know, but if that's the case, then I should prepare myself to fight them later on." Eve's expression grew serious as she responded.
Eliza leaned forward, her expression a mix of caution and curiosity. "Now, don't jump to any conclusions. You just said you don't know. I know we can't ask them upfront either. Let's just keep a close eye on them," she suggested, her tail flicking slightly in thought.
Eve sighed, a hint of reluctance in her voice, "Fine, I guess you aren't wrong."
"Besides, I just remembered, I might have unintentionally used siphon magic during that fight with Metod," Eliza's tail swayed side to side.
"Huh, when did you do that?" Eve asked.
"Remember that ball of lava when it was about to hit you? Just out of instinct, I held out my hand and I felt the energy from that attack absorbing into me." Eliza replied, her tail continuing it rhythmic swaying.
"Well, that explains why it didn't hurt as much. I wonder if siphon magic has any consequences in using it. I can't shake the feeling that there might be something we're not aware of," Eve pondered.
Eliza shrugged, her tail circling lazily. "From what I read online, siphon magic can be a double-edged sword. You see, it can work passively, so I absorb mana from the environment, but on the flip that also means I could unintentionally absorb mana away from you, like an magic vacuum. Also, the overuse of it could practically burst my mana reserves."
"Interesting... we'll need to be careful with your ability. The quicker you master it, the better for everyone's safety," Eve said.
"Also, another interesting thing I read is that siphon magic is illegal to use in some countries," Eliza sighed. "You think Vaos would tell me that?" Her tail slowed its movement as they approached the hotel.
"We better worry about that later," Eve said as they entered the hotel. "Let's go wake up Vulcan and get ready to head out again," she suggested, the dim lights casting a warm glow over the surroundings.
Eve woke Vulcan from his sleep while Eliza packed their belongings. As Vulcan was fully awake a few minutes later, he swiftly pack his things into his backpack. Together, they got into their car and Eliza began to drive, ready to continue their journey.
"Huh? You guys went shopping for clothes?" Vulcan asked as he saw the message from earlier on his phone.
"If you're considering a shopping spree now, it's a hard pass. I sent you a message earlier; it's not my fault you're such a sloth." Eve smirked as she leaned against the car, teasing him with a lighthearted tone.
"Alright, alright. No need to throw shade at me," Vulcan sighed, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Besides, I was wondering if we could make a quick stop at a drive-thru, I'm getting hungry."
"That's another thing, we can't stay here any longer. On the news earlier, it seems the authorities finally discovered the aftermath of our fight with Metod. I just hope Mary, Simon, and Bard have already left. We can't have anyone telling the authorities about our involvement in that."
"I mean, would we even get in any trouble? It's not like we did anything besides defend ourselves," Vulcan shrugged.
Eve thought about Vulcan's words for a moment, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the car. "True, but the less attention, the better. We also don't have the time to be answering any questions the authorities may throw at us if they happen to know it was us involved in that incident with Metod. Let's just keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary problems. We can discuss it more thoroughly later."
Vulcan sighed, "Fair enough, I suppose. Besides, what's our next stop now?"
"Let me see here..." Eliza focused on the map displayed on her phone, tracing her finger across the screen, "the next town is Calla Lily. It's known for its abundance of elemental users and the purity of its mana." Eliza added the tidbit of information as she continued to drive.
"Although, there have been a lot of disappearances lately in Calla Lily. We might want to make our trip there a quick one as well," Eliza said.
"It looks like we're never far from trouble," Vulcan sighed.
"Hey now, Vulcan, I thought you'd be happy this trip turned out more exciting than you thought it'd be," Eve smirked, teasing him about the unexpected twists in their journey.
"Why would I be happy about having to fight every time we visit another town?" Vulcan shaking his head at the unpredictable nature of the journey.
"Next stop, Calla Lily..."