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Aspax, Basin: Hidden Shrine, Time: 8:10 PM
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Everyone arrived back at the hidden mountain; Layla drifted around before parking the motorcycle.
"Woo, what a day, hmm?" Layla stated, her emotions mixed. She was having fun, a little fearful, and confused.
"God, I need a shower after this," Cauli stated before Don picked him up, bridal style.
"Up you go, Princess," Don teased, causing a blush on the prince.
"Donnnn!" Cauli screamed, trying to get out of Don's arms, but he was way too exhausted.
Layla stayed silent as she watched both of them. This is the first time she hangs around someone who isn't her mentor. It feels nice and a little bit fun.
"Come on, let's get these wines to the alcoholic woman," Layla smiled, carrying the cargo as they entered the mountain and arrived back at the shrine.
Yin was sitting on the edge of the bed, no longer wasted as she used to be. "Laylaaaa, you wasted so much time that I became sober now." She wasn't annoyed or angry, just bored.
"Sorry about that, but hey, you can talk normally to people now!" Layla stated, putting down the cargo.
Yin somehow appeared in front of everyone, spooking Don and almost causing him to drop Cauli.
Yin chuckled while Layla rolled her eyes. "I want to say thank you so much, dear, for helping out with Layla to retrieve my treat."
"Well, it's no problem since we're just doing this to get out of here," Don simply stated, making Yin shake her head.
"You helped out Layla even though you could have just stayed back and watched her do all the work. You are doing this out of the kindness of your own heart," Yin stated, causing shock on Don and Cauli's faces at how wise she was.
"It's getting late; you two can sleep here for the night!" Yin brought out two sleeping bags, enough for Cauli and Don.
"Well, I'm gonna go sleep back at my house, see ya guys tomorrow-" Layla stopped as Yin put a hand on her shoulder.
"No, you're staying here, my pupil!" Yin lifted her before wrapping her up in the sleeping bag.
Layla struggled half-heartedly as Yin wrapped her up tight in the sleeping bag.
"Come on, I'm not a little kid!" Layla protested though she had to admit the sleeping bag was cozily warm.
Yin just chuckled and rolled Layla over next to where Don was laying out Cauli's sleeping bag. Cauli was already fast asleep inside his, totally spent from the intense battle.
"You three rest up now," Yin said fondly, gazing down at the sleepy trio. "You've earned it after the day you've had. I'll make us a nice breakfast in the morning."
She waved her hand and the candles flickered out, leaving them in darkness except for the soft glow of the embers in the hearth. Layla sighed in resignation and snuggled deeper into her sleeping bag cocoon.
Despite her initial reluctance, there was something comforting about sleeping there together by the fireside. She glanced over at Cauli and Don, both already softly snoring. A smile touched her lips. It had been a while since she felt this sense of warmth and belonging.
"Goodnight, guys," Layla whispered into the darkness. She saw Don's eyes blink open for a moment in the firelight.
"'Night, Layla," he mumbled back sleepily before rolling over. Layla closed her eyes, the crackling of the dying fire lulling her swiftly into slumber along with her newfound friends.
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Aspax, Basin: Hidden Shrine, Time: 8:00 AM
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Morning sunlight streamed into the mountain shrine, rousing Layla from sleep. She blinked open her eyes to see Yin cheerily stoking up the fire and preparing a hearty breakfast. The scent of sizzling meat and eggs made Layla's stomach rumble.
"Morning, sunshine!" Yin waved to Layla, she somehow more cheerily when she was sober.
She wriggled out of the sleeping bag cocoon and stood up, stretching out the kinks. Nearby, Don was also emerging rumpled and yawning from his sleeping bag.
"Morning," Layla said through a yawn. Don grunted something unintelligible in response, clearly not quite awake yet.
They both glanced over at Cauli, still curled up unstirring inside his sleeping bag, mouth hanging open as he snored.
Layla grinned and strode over, giving Cauli a shake. "Hey, lazy prince! Time to get up!"
Cauli's eyes flew open and he flailed for a second before realizing where he was. "Ugh...what time is it?" he groaned.
"Breakfast time!" Yin announced merrily, doling out portions of mouthwatering food onto wooden plates. "Today's another big day for you three!"
Layla helped tug a reluctant Cauli from his sleeping bag. The trio sat down and readily dug into Yin's cooking, setting themselves up for whatever she was cooking.
As Layla took her first bite of the fluffy eggs, she paused in surprise. She chewed slowly, then swallowed, eyes slightly widening.
"This is... pretty good!" she remarked. "I kinda figured since you're a lazy drunk you wouldn't know how to cook. No offense!"
Yin laughed heartily. "Oh, I have many talents you don't know about, my dear! Just because I'm your mentor doesn't mean I can't whip up a mean breakfast."
She waved a cooking chopstick over the sizzling pan with a flourish. "I'll have you know I was quite the renowned cook back in my mortal days. My noodle soup was to die for! People used to travel for miles just to get a small bowl."
Layla grinned and took another bite of richly savory sausage. "Well, I'm convinced. You definitely could have run a killer restaurant."
She glanced over to see Don inhaling his food with gusto while Cauli looked significantly more lively and alert while steadily working through his plate. Nothing like a good, hot meal after an intense battle.
"So, ready to go?" Layla stated, making Cauli and Don look at each other before nodding.
"Hmph, alright. Come on, Yin. Let's get these bastards somewhere." Layla dragged Yin along with her as all of them exited the mountain.
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Aspax, Basin: Desolate Ash, Time: 8:25 AM
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As Layla and everyone arrived outside, Yin shook her lantern stick around, creating an aura around them.
Suddenly, everything started shaking. Ripples formed on the pond, and rocks went up and down.
"Here it comes!" Layla stated, ready for the absolute disaster that was coming.
"What do you mean-" Before Don could finish, a blue wyvern dragon descended to its master, Yin.
"There he is, my good boy!" Yin started to rub its head affectionately, and the dragon let out a heartfelt roar.
"Well, where do you guys wanna go?" Yin asked, willing to take them anywhere.
"I heard there's something about a Culture Festival in Sylanwood. Maybe we should head there," Don stated, pulling out an old newspaper from his bag.
"Wow, you kept a newspaper?" Cauli teased him, but it didn't seem to affect him at all.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye then." Layla's eyes shadowed; she had been pondering about this the whole morning.
"I want to say yesterday was the most fun I ever had in my life," Layla stated, feeling her eyes start to water.
"Thank you so much for helping us out." Layla held their hands, on the verge of tears from this departure.
Cauli decided to reassure her. "Don't worry! We will visit you one day!" Cauli patted her back, trying to comfort her.
"Yeah, we will come back! I promise!" Don stated, holding out his pinky.
"Pinky promise?" Cauli pulled out his pinky as well.
"Pinky promise." Layla decided to make it a three-way pinky promise, a promise that would never break.
Don and Cauli hopped on the dragon as Yin instructed it to go to Sylanwood. The dragon nodded, understanding the message as it ascended.
"Bye, Layla!" Cauli waved to her as Layla waved back, shedding a few tears.
Yin smirked, knowing her devious plan was falling into place. "Layla, you are exiled from this land," Yin stated, not even looking at her.
"WHAT?!" Layla was shocked, at all the things she had finally done for Yin, just to get exiled by her own master.
Yin lifted Layla. "And now! Go live your life of freedom!" Yin kicked Layla so hard in her butt that it would break the sound barrier.
"YINNNNNNN!" Layla yelled in anger before her scream fell silent as Yin looked to the sky proudly.
"You go, girl!" Yin muttered to herself, ready to adapt to her new life taking care of Layla's fruit and solitude.
Layla's body held onto something; she was on the tail of the dragon.
"LAYLA?!" Don screamed as he realized she was holding onto the tail.
"HEY! CAN YOU PULL ME UP?! I'M GONNA DROP DEAD IF I HOLD ONTO THIS." Layla screamed, the wind about to blow her away, but Don helped her up and made her sit on the dragon's body instead.
"Why didn't you let us know if you wanted to come with us?!" Don screamed; the wind was way too loud for them to have a non-yelling conversation.
"I didn't! Master Yin just kicked me up here and told me to live my life in freedom." Layla screamed, not minding this. Even though she doesn't have anything important back home, she's glad she still has her guitar on her back.
"Well, we can't go back now, so welcome to the team, Layla!" Cauli stated, embracing his new member.
Layla chuckled; this is going to be an interesting adventure ahead of her.
"Welp, I'm gonna be lonely for a while..." Yin suddenly heard something in the distance; she could hear a familiar voice.
"SENSEIIII!"
It was Magne, The Cyan Archsentinel, dragging her friend Varian, The Green Archsentinel, along. She was speeding through the water before landing in front of Yin.
"Ah, Magne! You arrived!" Yin was happy to know that the request she made last night had finally been fulfilled.
"Woah, is this the place you want us to fix, sensei?" Magne looked around at the desolate state of Basin.
"Mhm, I want you to make sure this place looks brand new and natural as always!" Yin stated, wanting to ensure she lived somewhere that looked nice and clean.
"All right, come on, Varian! Let's fix this up!" Magne decided to purify the river first, while Varian groaned and rubbed his eye a little before starting to purify the grass.
Yin looked at both of them before smiling to herself. "The ArchSentinels are in good hands, Sugar..." She looked at the photo of her old group, The Sugar's Enterprise.
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