“Heads down!” the commander barked. “The fifth prince of the state stands before you!”
The hall fell instantly silent as we walked through. No hidden soldiers stepped in, no attacks came; we just walked out, flanked by recruits frozen in confusion and clerks trembling behind their desks.
Outside, I took the lead. We couldn’t move too fast with Vel and Trevor in tow, so I kept to a brisk walk.
“When are we leaving?” Velea asked, walking between Thea and me. “And—”
“We’ll talk later, Velea. Be mindful of who’s around,” Thea said gently.
Maybe it was the noble upbringing, but Velea seemed to get it. She stayed quiet the rest of the short walk.
When we reached the inn, I pushed the door open and was immediately greeted by a familiar, no-nonsense voice.
“We’re on lockdown. Come back later.”
“Miss Star, we’re back!” I called out.
Chairs scraped and footsteps rushed toward us. Everyone was here.
The first to reach me was a small, fang-baring beast who slammed into my chest, tail wagging like mad. I caught Bristle mid-tackle, gave him a good scratch, then set him down.
“You’re okay?” Marcus asked. “We went out to train, but someone came after you left, another guard like me. He said the town was on lockdown. I thought… something might’ve happened.”
Drake stepped in behind me. “Everyone’s alive. That’s what matters. Marcus, you’re the highest-ranking soldier after Griffith. I expect you to be instrumental in this mission. You’ve got ten minutes, prep everyone.”
Marcus nodded once and vanished, returning moments later with several large bags. He handed them out without pause.
“Only pack essentials,” he said. “Helen and I will handle food.”
I took one of the bags and looked to Thea, then to her sister. “Clothes,” I said simply.
“I’ve got mine,” Velea replied, tapping the travel bag she’d carried the whole time.
Thea extended her hand. “Stay here. I’ll grab what we need.”
I passed her the bag as she sprinted upstairs. “Grab something extra for Trevor!” I shouted after her.
Elric, Sia, and Lyra followed. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” Elric added as they went.
That left just Drake, the commander, Trevor, Velea, and me standing near the door.
“You share a room with Thea?” Vel asked casually, eyes flicking to me before locking onto Bristle.
Trevor choked on air. “Dude, it’s only been a few months…”
I picked up Bristle and dumped the wiggling furball into Vel's arms. She sat instantly, hands already busy scratching ears and belly. The rest of Bristle’s siblings appeared, drawn like magnets, and crowded her for affection.
She didn’t resist. She just smiled and divided her attention between all six with ease.
“Maybe ask Thea later,” I muttered, only half-committed to the conversation.
“That means yes, little girl,” Drake chimed in helpfully.
It was really hitting me now. How insane all this had become. How many people were following me now?
How would we manage food? Not everyone in the group had the kind of cultivated endurance to the usual human needs the core group had.
Where would we even sleep?
Maybe Marcus could whip up another treehouse, but who knows if giant monster flora existed over there too..
Trevor nudged my shoulder. “What's up? You've got a strange look on your face... Well, stranger than normal.”
“It’s nothing important.” I sighed. “We’ll talk later.”
Eventually, the group reassembled near the door. Drake took one look at us and said, “We’ll be heading to an outpost by cart first.”
The adults were leading the way, the rest of us following behind, with the familiars moving between us like living barriers.
Trevor must’ve felt the awkward silence before I did, because he spoke first. “I’m Trevor, by the way.”
All eyes turned to him.
“Yeah… anyway, we came from the same hometown.” He looked at me, already begging for help.
“Where did you come from?” Vel asked.
“Far away. Really far away,” he answered, face practically glowing with gratitude for the conversation.
“Another world,” I added truthfully.
“Fine. Don’t tell me.”
Honestly, that’s probably the most normal response I’ve gotten to that. Looking around, yeah, my group really was just a bunch of weirdos.
“I can’t take it anymore,” Lyra whispered, a manic glint in her eyes. She was locked onto Vel like a hawk spotting prey.
“Are you oka—” Sia started, actual concern in her voice, but she didn’t get the chance to finish.
“She’s a mini you!” Lyra squealed and lunged, way faster than any untrained thirteen-year-old should’ve had to deal with.
Sia shook her head like she’d wasted her emotions.
Lyra had already scooped Vel up, caught somewhere between hugging her and inspecting her like a rare doll. “You can call me Lyra!” she beamed.
The rest took that as the official start of introductions and ignored Vel’s struggling.
“Elric.” He gave a casual wave. Vel paused, admired him for a second, then resumed resisting.
“Sia.” She nodded at Trevor. “I’m a fire mage.”
“Yey,” Vel replied flatly. Then, turning to Lyra. “Lyra?”
“Hmm?” Lyra sparkled down at her.
“Please put me down.”
The request was met. Technically. But Lyra stayed glued to her side the rest of the way, pelting her with nonstop questions.
“What blessing do you want?”
“Whatever my sister has.”
We watched in amused silence. Vel looked annoyed, but the half-hidden smile tugging at the corner of her mouth was slowly betraying her.
More similar questions continued.
“What do you think’s out there?” Sia asked, finally drawing our attention away from the interview. “Elric said… he said it’s dangerous.”
“It will be,” he said. “But honestly? I don’t know much past that.”
“Hopefully no more of those transforming tree monsters,” Thea added.
I shuddered, remembering the potent pain toxin they shout out through razor-sharp leaves. “Or just monster trees.”
“Monster trees?” Trevor asked, confused. “What the heck do you mean?”
“I mean moving trees. That eat meat,” I clarified, though it didn’t seem to help much.
I opened my mouth again, but it wasn’t me who spoke. “Wyrem said there could be treasures in an uninhabited place.”
"Oh..." Luna stopped. It wasn't on purpose. Really.
I promised you anyway, I reminded her. Just go ahead and introduce yourself.
“Wyrem is my teacher,” Luna said through me. “He’s a worm.”
Trevor nearly tripped. “Dude. You have a worm for a teacher?”
Dragon, Wyrem corrected dryly.
No, Luna replied without hesitation.
“Hi.” She raised my arm, showing the flower band that pulsed faintly with life. “I’m Luna.”
“I was trying to be polite, but, uh, your arm?” Trevor pointed.
“Not my arm. Monsters ate Peter, so I healed him,” she said plainly.
Trevor nodded like that made perfect sense, but I could tell he had just given up.
“Luna’s the flower on Peter’s hand,” Thea added gently, but his reaction didn't change. A smile followed by a knowing nod.
“Hi, Luna,” Sia said, her usual coolness replaced by unique interest. “Do all plants think?”
Luna eyed her carefully. Not exactly hostile, but definitely suspicious.
“You’ve got a lot of fire energy floating around you,” she said. “But to answer? Do all fleshy monsters think?”
Sia smirked. “Not even sure all humans think.”
“Exactly,” Luna smiled.
Sia responded without missing a beat. “Not even sure if all humans think.”
“Exactly.” Luna smiled.
I felt my body return to me just as we reached a part of the town I’d never seen before. There was no gate or massive walls, just a wide clearing with a long building lined with stables and what looked like a warehouse off to one side.
Marcus turned and faced us. “Give me your point orbs.”
We handed them over without question, and he proceded to dump every point into a single shining golden one and passed it to Drake. The rest, including his own black one, he dropped into a shallow pit his five dogs had dug. They filled it in before anyone could say a word.
“It’s not perfect,” Marcus said, brushing off his hands, “but it’ll be harder to track us than if we used a Gate.”
Drake and Griffith disappeared inside. A few minutes later, they returned with a merchant whose grin looked like it was trying to escape his face.
“Thank you so much for your patronage, great nobles,” he gushed, practically bowing between every word. He shuffled off toward the stables, returning with eight green-scaled horse creatures on reins, each one snorting steam, muscles bulging with power.
“This way, dear customers, if you please.”
We followed him around the shed. He went inside alone with his creatures in tow, and I swear, the biggest carriage I’ve ever seen rolled out moments later.
Not that I’ve seen many. But this thing?
It had two full cars, each draped in its own heavy black tarp, with a separate driver’s seat up front.
And each car? They could easily fit us each two times, probably with plenty of room to spare.
“Whoa,” Trevor let out a low whistle. “Well… at least we’ve got somewhere to sleep.”