Zayn excitedly rides her horse, chatting with Amelia as Chase and Amur make small talk with a few the other knights tagging along. Ramon, however, lingers in the back, lost in though as she silently rides her horse.
"So Zayn," it's Amelia who leads the pack down the back roads of the kingdom. Since her village is near the capitol's outskirts, Amelia said it'll be much fast to avoid the many citizens in the capitol and just take a back route, to which Chase and Amur happily oblige, leading to Zayn excitedly hop on her horse and already bursting in conversation with Amelia. "You said you've never been to a party before?"
"Never!" Zayn said, excitedly kicking her feet, "I wonder what happens? Is it true you eat cake? I love cake!"
Amelia smiles, nodding her head while one of her friends gives her a knowing look, to which she avoids with a soft blush.
"We'll have lots of cake," Amelia said, "a-and I think my father knows someone who makes cotton candy. I can ask them to make a batch to take back with us."
"What?! That'd be amazing!" Zayn chirps, "thank you so much, Amelia!"
"Oh shucks, you keep thanking me," Amelia said, "I just want to is all! Plus I really do appreciate the help yesterday and--well, you guys seem really fun, so."
"Oh that wasn't anything," Zayn said, holding up her fist and clenching it, "you were as light as a feather!"
"Oh, I-." Amelia looks away, her face a flushed red, "I-I-well, you seem pretty strong Zayn, have you always been so strong?"
"Ever since I was little I can remember," Zayn said, "I've always been strong-and sometimes it can be pretty bad, especially since when you don't know how to control it, people can get scared. W-which is totally okay, because-."
"I'm not scared," Amelia said, "I think your strength is really cool, Zayn. And you end up protecting and caring for people. That's pretty cool! Like a hero."
Zayn, speechless, just looks to her feet, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
"That's the nicest thing someone's told me about it." Zayn said, "I-I'll be sure to protect everyone with it! A-and hopefully I won't break anything while doing that."
Amelia giggles, "that's quite chivalrous of you! I..well Zayn, after the party, I'd like to talk to you in private about something! Would that be okay?"
Zayn nods her head, a smile in her voice. "Oh sure! As long as we leave after cake, of course."
Amelia laughs.
...
By the time the group arrives to the small village, the sun just about set, and the small village's sky is decorated in stars. The stone path leading the group to its decorated entrance looks beautiful--the villages must have prepared for their arrival, since the gateway to the village is covered in white carnations and petals. There's streamers leading up to the road ahead with petals as well, and it seems as though someone is cooking a large meal for everyone, since it smells like a roasted fire.
"I'm so hungry," Chase whines, grabbing his stomach, "thank whoever that we're here."
"Yeah, this looks so pretty," Amur comments, "the village of Quean, right? It seems as you grew up with amazing people."
Amelia turns around, surprised as both Amur and Chase share a look before they both bow their heads.
"We didn't say it before," Amur said, "but thanks again for the invite. You made our lil' sis happy."
Amelia blinks before she wells up in tears, shocking Amur and causing Chase to freeze up.
"O-oh it's fine! I never really got a chance to bond with you guys," she said, "p-plus we're all family, right? That's what knighthood is! So welcome to my family!"
Amur awkwardly nods her head with an embarrassed Chase in toll, but Zayn grins, grabbing both of their necks and hugging them tight.
"They've always been the shy types." Zayn laughs, even when Amur lightly slaps her hand.
"Ramon too!" Zayn said, reaching for Ramon's hand and cupping it in her own, surprising the girl. "My friends can be pretty shy! And that's okay! But there super nice!"
Ramon looks between her and Zayn's interlocked hands and nods, a surprised blush on her face as she clears her throat.
"That's okay!" Amelia said, smiling, "be yourselves! I'm sure my village will love you! Just follow me!"
The group of new knights follow up the stoned road, while the scent of roast and fire gets stronger. They eventually tie their horses to a near tree and move forward. After a while of walking, it's Chase who first stops in his tracks, sniffing the air and raising an eyebrow.
"Are you a hound?" Amur asked, watching his actions with disgust. "What are you-oof!"
Amur, walking in front of Chase and behind Stace, stops as she bumps into her back. Amur frowns, annoyed as she holds her tiny nose.
"What's holding the line up?" Amur asked, watching as it's Amelia who has stopped the line, her hands shaking as she points ahead.
Amur's eyes widened, Chase looks ahead, and Zayn puts a hand on Amelia shoulder, about to ask her what's wrong, but Zayn looks ahead, and her heart almost stop.
The reason why it smelled like roast is not due to the cooked chicken lying on the ground with treats and desserts scattered like feathers; it was the many bodies of the dead villagers whom touched the fire that cause the smell, even masking the scent of iron caused by the puddles of blood leaking on the stoned ground.
A figure from the flames looks up--she's covered in red--red eyes, red robes, and even her red hair is dyed a crimson.
...
Jeremiah folds his hands on his desk, waiting with a nervous Clarke in his office as Lia talks with another mage member through a magical item.
Jeremiah lets himself quietly react to Lia's loud cursing and frustration, trying to scream her way into the hooded mages ears on the other side of the mirror she's using to further learn information about the injured guardian of the barrier. Jeremiah knows that the mages are currently scrambling to locate the lost weapon, but luckily each guardian sword has been entranced with trace magic, so it shouldn't be too long until the mages are able to help locate the boundaries' key and hopefully the culprit.
"Any luck?" Jeremiah quietly asked, to which Lia rolls her eyes and points her thumb to the mirror, where the nervous mage bows their heads again in apologize.
"Fuck, no, there still trying to locate Aliashmizazz, which is insane! That weapons energy is massive, it should be easy!" Lia roars. "Where the fuck is that stupid Aliane? He should be able to track it without problem."
"He's with the master of the t-tower," The hooded mage said, "he will be aware of the situation as soon as he comes back from his visit."
"Ugh! Of all times the master needs to be sick, it's now?!" Lia screams, "this is insane! Monstrous! Appalling! It's fucked-!"
It's a strong tan hand that stops her rant. Lia looks up to the sudden presence of Rel, who's comforting her by rubbing her shoulder.
"I didn't summon you, Rel." Lia said.
"You know you don't need to, but I respect your space." Rel softly said, "yet I do feel as though you need my support, friend."
Lia sighs, slapping a hand over her eyes and biting her lips. Clarke nervously looks between Lia and Jeremiah before she meets eyes with Rel, who nods her way in greeting.
"I think Rel is right--let us all take a breath," Jeremiah said, "losing our cool will not solve anything."
"Okay, God of peace," Lia mocks, "we'll do it your way-."
"Lady Lia," the hooded mage in the mirror calls, "L-Lady! We found the location of the sword! It appears to be located near the outskirts of the capitol! I believe its a small village named Quean."
Jeremiah stills, slowly looking from his feet to the mirror, before he looks around him, his mind spinning, the gears of his thoughts slowly turning together. It isn't until Jeremiah meets eyes with Clarke that his green eyes widen, his body is sent in chills, and the once cool attitude that he preached spills on the ground, like spoiled milk.
"Vice-Captain Clarke, gather squads 2 and 3 to hurry to Quean," Jeremiah said, turning from Clarke to Lia, "Mage Lia, please retain Aliane and have you both meet us at Quean. Rel, if you can let the horseman aware that we need to dispatch for two squads worth-."
"Captain, why are you so nervous?"
Lia asked, "you're a bit-."
"My knights are on their way there," Jeremiah said, "I do not have time to waste. Go!"