As the night deepened, the inn was quiet except for the occasional creak of wooden beams and the muffled laughter from the common room, which had finally settled down. Inoue, Guil, and Lea had retired to their shared room, the air filled with a comforting warmth from the flickering fire in the hearth.
Guil was already settling into his bed, stretching out with a contented sigh. Inoue, sitting on the edge of her bed and preparing to get under the covers, turned to him with a thoughtful expression.
"You know, Guil," Inoue began softly, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia, "it's amazing to think about how far we've come. From the small orphanage I was raised in, to being here, with a Gold rank and connections to the knights… all in just 3 months, it's more than I ever dreamed of."
Guil propped himself up on his elbow, looking at her with a supportive smile. "You've come a long way, Inoue. You were incredibly brave back there with Ingrid. I'm really proud of you. I know you'll find Dross and help her find Roman."
Inoue's eyes softened with gratitude. "Thank you, Guil. That means a lot to me. I've been thinking about the capital. What do you think it's going to be like?"
Guil opened his mouth to respond, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he began to describe the grandeur of the capital. "Oh, the capital is—"
Suddenly, a pillow flew through the air and landed squarely on Guil's face. Lea, who had been trying to fall asleep, poked her head out from under the covers, her eyes narrowed in irritation.
"Shut up, Guil! Some of us are trying to sleep!" she yelled.
Guil's muffled voice came from behind the pillow. "I was just explaining stuff! You know, about the capital!"
Lea groaned and threw another pillow at him, which he managed to catch this time. "Well, explain it quietly! Or better yet, save it for tomorrow."
Guil sat up, the pillows now in his lap, and grinned. "Alright, alright. I'll save my grand tales for the morning."
Inoue couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. "Looks like we've got our first challenge in the capital—keeping Guil's excitement in check."
Lea gave a small laugh and snuggled deeper into her blankets. "Exactly. Now, if we could just get some peace and quiet…"
With a final playful jab from Guil and a soft chuckle from Inoue, the room fell into a more serene silence.
The morning sun bathed the town of Narey in a warm, golden light as Guil, Inoue, and Lea prepared to depart. The trio stood by the edge of the town, their belongings packed and ready, but the townsfolk weren't ready to let them go without one final show of gratitude. A small crowd had gathered, their faces beaming with admiration and gratitude.
"Thank you for everything!" an elderly woman called out, her voice thick with emotion.
"Come back and visit us!" a young boy shouted, waving enthusiastically.
Lea waved back with a wide grin. "We will! Take care, everyone!"
Guil smiled, giving a small wave himself, while Inoue offered a humble nod to the townsfolk. Despite the noise and excitement around her, Inoue's thoughts were elsewhere, and the worry gnawing at her became harder to ignore.
As they finally made their way out of the town, the cheers of the villagers still ringing in their ears, Guil turned to the others with a grin. "I think it's time we treat ourselves. We've got enough coins now, so how about we buy a carriage for the trip? I'm tired of walking everywhere."
Lea raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a teasing smile. "Lazy as always, Guil. But a carriage does sound nice."
Inoue nodded in agreement, though her mind remained preoccupied. After a short stop at a nearby merchant, they purchased a sturdy carriage and a strong, well-bred horse to pull it. Guil inspected the horse with a thoughtful expression, clearly pleased with his purchase. "Now, all we need is a good name for this fella," he mused aloud as they started on their way to the capital.
As they rode along the road, with the capital still a day's journey away, Lea noticed that Inoue had grown unusually quiet, her eyes distant as she stared out at the passing scenery. Lea, sensing something was off, scooted closer to her friend.
"Inoue, what's wrong?" Lea asked softly, her voice laced with concern.
Inoue hesitated for a moment, then sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I'm scared..." she admitted quietly. "Heading to the capital means I'll have to confront Dross—the man who took Roman from me. The thought of facing him again... It's overwhelming."
Lea's expression softened, and she reached out to place a comforting hand on Inoue's arm. "You're not alone this time, Inoue. You're not the weak little girl from back then. You've grown stronger, smarter, and braver. And you've got us with you."
Inoue glanced at Lea, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and determination. "I know… but what if it's not enough?"
Lea squeezed her arm gently. "It will be. Trust me. We'll face him together."
Just then, Guil, noticing the serious atmosphere, decided it was time to lighten the mood. He turned around from his spot at the front of the carriage, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Alright, serious talk time is over. We need to name this horse, and I'm not letting us reach the capital until we do. Any ideas?"
Lea chuckled, grateful for the distraction. "How about Thunder? He looks pretty fast."
Inoue's lips curved into a small smile. "Thunder's nice, but he doesn't seem like a Thunder to me. Maybe something a bit more unique?"
Guil tapped his chin thoughtfully. "How about Bramble? He's strong, and he looks like he could plow through anything in his way."
Lea tilted her head, considering it. "Bramble… I like it. What do you think, Inoue?"
Inoue nodded, her earlier unease easing slightly as she focused on the lighthearted conversation. "I like that name ."
Guil grinned, satisfied with their decision. "Alright, Bramble it is! Our trusty steed for our new journey to the capital!"
Inoue looked ahead, her hand gently resting on the side of the carriage as the road stretched out before them. Despite the fear still lingering in her heart, the warmth of her friends' support gave her strength. She knew that whatever awaited them in the capital, she wouldn't be facing it alone.
As the carriage rolled along the winding path, Lea leaned back and stretched her arms above her head. "You know," she began, breaking the comfortable silence, "now that we're a functional party, we really should know each other's soul abilities and weaknesses. It'll help us be more efficient in the future."
Guil nodded, agreeing. "That's a good idea. If we're going to work together as a team, understanding our strengths and weaknesses is important."
Lea sat up straighter, taking the lead. "Alright, I'll start. My soul ability is called Electro Soul Blade. It lets me summon an electric blade from anywhere in my body. The blade can damage the soul of an enemy directly and also boosts my reflexes and speed significantly." She paused, her expression becoming more serious. "But, the downside is that it consumes a lot of mana to maintain, so I have to use it sparingly."
Guil leaned forward, a playful grin on his face. "That's pretty cool, Lea, but I think my ability might be even better." He puffed out his chest dramatically. "It's called Veil of All or Nothing. It allows me to sacrifice all my defensive and dexterity to perform a powerful slash that combines all of my potential. Or, I can do the reverse—sacrifice all my attack stats and speed for a perfect defense. But of course, I need assistance to make the most of it, which is why I've got you two by my side."
Inoue raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That sounds like a risky ability, Guil. Were you about to use that on the guardian?"
Guil grinned sheepishly. "Uh… yeah, actually. It was my last-ditch effort to take it down."
Lea's eyes widened in disbelief, and she promptly reached over and slapped the back of his head. "Were you seriously about to use that on a guardian?!"
Guil winced, rubbing the back of his head. "Ow! It was a last resort! I didn't exactly have a lot of options left!"
Inoue couldn't help but laugh at their antics. "You really are something, Guil."
Guil flashed her a grin, but then his expression softened as he turned to her. "What about you, Inoue? What's your soul ability?"
Inoue hesitated for a moment, her gaze turning thoughtful. "I… don't know much about it," she admitted. "I've never really had the chance to use it. All I know is its name: Royal Decree."
Guil tilted his head, a puzzled look on his face. "Royal Decree? Sounds fancy. What do you think it does?"
Lea interjected, her tone gentle but firm. "Hopefully, you'll never have to find out, Inoue. But if you do, we'll be right there with you."
Inoue smiled gratefully at her friends, feeling a surge of warmth and comfort. "Thank you, both of you."
Lea nodded, her expression resolute. "We've got each other's backs. That's what matters."
Guil nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! And whatever Royal Decree is, I'm sure it's amazing. But for now, let's just focus on getting to the capital in one piece."
Inoue's smile widened as she looked out at the road ahead. With her friends by her side, she felt ready to face whatever challenges awaited them in the capital. Even the unknown power of her soul ability seemed less daunting with their support.