Trekking through the forest, Alden kept a wary eye out for any Defiled or Dryads. His earlier encounter with the leopard and horde of dryads lingered in his mind, prompting him to be careful.
Above him, Ignia leapt between different branches, gliding through the air. Her pitch-black silhouette seemed to blend with the shadows of the canopy.
Every time it seemed like she would fall, Alden's stomach flipped.
In the last second, however, the little bird would miraculously right herself.
'She's a daring one… just like me.'
Alden laughed.
A positive of Ignia jumping from tree to tree was that she could serve as a second pair of eyes from above. Combined with her sharp sight, she made for an excellent scout. Alden could rest a little easier knowing there was no immediate danger.
And even if there had been a threat, the few precious seconds brought by Ignia could have meant the difference between survival and death. After all, in that short window, Alden could have devised a plan to escape the peril.
Time passed slowly.
The monotony of the journey was almost mind-numbing. Every so often Alden would stop to give himself a break. A couple of times, he came across a stream and stocked up his water supplies. Ignia also descended and drank to her heart's content.
Slowly, the light filtering in from the canopy changed. It changed from a yellowish hue to a reddish-orange hue as time passed.
The sun would soon set.
Increasing his pace, Alden fiddled with the straps of his pack, looking for a suitable place to hunker down.
Ignia was now perched on his shoulder, tired from so much flight.
Just as the last rays of dusk were being devoured in the heavens, he came across a small glade. There, he found a small camp set up, a dying fire crackling softly in the middle.
Three figures sat on fallen logs.
Remnants of their conversation streamed into his ears as the sound of whittling and whetting echoed intermittently.
"I understand why they assign people like me to fight inside the Glacial Belt, but I can't help but think us flame wielders will be more effective here in Nature's Grove. A single spark and this forest will be burnt to a crisp. What'dya think Charmy? Do you agree?"
'One of them's a flame wielder.'
Alden tucked that small snippet into the back of his mind. It could prove useful later on.
Shifting his gaze, he stared at the figure sitting on the far right, presumably Charmy. They were facing away from him, so Alden didn't get a chance to examine their features. However, the name gave him all the information he needed.
"Your words are true, but I can also see why the Keeper entrusted those with your power to deal with the Dark Elves. The Zephyr Clan are useless against creatures of frost, after all. Unlike your Ember Clan."
Alden agreed with Charmy's assessment.
His eyes narrowed slightly hearing the male timber of their voice.
'So he's a male… I don't know what power he's awakened, but it's probably not something weak. Otherwise, he wouldn't be out here in the first place.'
Holding his breath, Alden tried to discern any other useful information. From their relaxed postures, it was easy to tell that they had participated in their fair share of battles.
In response to the winsome man's words, Alden heard the flame wielder grumble about the cold.
He suppressed a smile.
"Scar, how long until we arrive at the Sanctuary?"
Alden perked up at the question.
He had just been about to move thinking the conversation had finished, when the flame wielder turned in the other direction and addressed the last figure.
Alden froze and stored Scar's name in his mind.
He awaited the answer with bated breath, also curious how long it would be until he arrived home.
"We should arrive by tomorrow."
'Another male… probably their leader and navigator.'
Alden analysed the group and slowly pieced the puzzle together. He surmised they were probably a scouting party sent by High Command based on their low numbers.
Shaking his head slightly, Alden allowed his lips to curve into a broad smile.
A rush of excitement flowed through him at the thought of reuniting with Celeste sooner than he had expected.
'I can't wait!'
Infected by his joy, Ignia released a short cry.
'Crap!'
The three scouts flinched.
Alden saw the one in the middle immediately snap his neck in his direction.
He hurriedly stepped out from the shadows.
***
"Who's there?!"
Swifty boomed, immediately turning around. His fingers twitched in preparation for a fight.
The scout saw a white-haired young man step out from the shadows. He had a lean build, deep crimson eyes reflecting the dying fire, and a coldness that made Swifty shiver.
The scout's eyes roved to the stranger's shoulder.
His breath hitched.
A set of intelligent amber eyes stared back at him curiously. Its deep, glossy black feathers blended perfectly with the night. It shifted under his scrutiny, talons glinting in the low light.
The nails belied a sharpness that could easily pierce another creature's hide. Never mind him.
Swifty entered a daze, examining the young bird.
'Is that a phoenix?'
His heart began to beat faster.
Phoenixes were rare even as familiars. Swifty did not doubt that the juvenile bird was bonded to the stranger, for the two were too intimate for that not to be the case.
A seed of desire slowly bloomed in his heart.
If he could get a familiar like that…
Swifty's thoughts were interrupted as the young man cleared his throat.
Ah.
He blinked, realising he had been staring for too long.
A glance at each side revealed that Scar, and Charmy had done the same.
Swifty almost hissed. How dare they entertain getting their grubby hands on what would eventually be his?
Swifty sneered internally, plastering a contrite and apologetic expression as he welcomed the new figure into their midst.