Chronicles of Sorataki: Blight of The Seventh - Chapter 25

Natalie

Before they reached the end of the fields of wheat, Natalie could already hear them shouting. Gritting her teeth, she increased her pace just before reaching a low fence a few paces away from where Sophie and Flynn stood. Her angel sight allowed her to more clearly see in the night, so she signalled Andrew to ease up his pace as she tried to gauge what was going on. She made another mental count of how many people, besides Sophie and Flynn, she saw behind the fence.

She counted three, all of them within the confines of the farmhouse. One of them was up on the second floor, the second one spoke to them from what Natalie assumed was the letterbox of the farmhouse. The last one stood atop the roof, shouting warnings down at their travel partners.

“What’s wrong?” Andrew asked. Just as he asked, the sounds of the strangers reached them as they shouted louder. Seeing that it answered his question, Natalie went back to silently observing.

“I’m giving you a warning!” the voice on top of the roof shouted. It spoke over the words that came from the one speaking through the letterbox. Besides knowing it was a woman’s voice, she could not decipher anything else. The other one atop the roof must be a girl, perhaps her age, Natalie guessed. Soon she began to get a grasp of the situation. In an effort to escape the wolves, they stumbled upon a small family. Cursing under his breath, Andrew began to limp onwards. Natalie was about to question the act, but thought better of it. He was right, no point hiding in the shadows. It will only make them seem more suspicious. Better to rip the band-aid off things swiftly. Just as they came out, however, the girl atop the roof pulled something from her back and peeked over the roof to see them from up high. She pointed it straight at Flynn and Sophie, and—

“Look out!” Natalie tried to make it up to them on time, only to be knocked down as Andrew crashed into her. Natalie heard a thud as an arrowhead hit the earth right where she stood. Her mind was slow at the realisation of how fast the girl switched targets until Andrew pulled her back up onto her feet. They were under attack. The girl—no, the hunters atop the roof—knocking another arrow.

“That was your warning shot,” a voice boomed from directly behind them, putting Natalie on full alert. Turning behind herself using angel sight, she saw no threat—nothing except for an arrowhead sticking out of the grass. “My next one won’t miss!” a voice, the same girl’s voice from the arrowhead, came from on top of the roof.

“Voice projection,” Sophie whispered. She and Flynn had already drawn their weapons.

Her eyes remained transfixed on the roof as she spoke. “We are dealing with somebody highly proficient in their affinity. Be on your guard.”

“And it had to be another Gale user,” Andrew huffed. Still confused about how the girl did what she did, Natalie got back to her feet.

“I warned you,” the other voice behind the front door said.

“Move away from the door!” the girl up top said. Sophie attempted to move forward, but the girl up top’s stern voice snapped at her. “We are giving you one last warning! If you don’t want things to get ugly, then I suggest you take it and leave!”

Liar, she counted three people in the building. Nothing had changed since running off to find Andrew. Natalie only realised that she said it aloud when Sophie looked at her in surprise.

Oops… Sophie’s head tilted to one side. She had said that one aloud, too.

“We were trying to reach Progmanfest, but wolves have attacked us!” Flynn said.

“Then perhaps you’ve earned their wrath,”

“Now hold on a sec, how can you—” the sudden updraft cut Andrew off. It was nowhere near as intense as the wolves, but it was still enough to make all four of them fall back to back and be on the lookout for the beasts.

“The wolves have long shared a bond with us. They protect us and the village!”

“You come from Progmanfest?” Sophie asked.

“Through my control of the winds, I’ve been blessed to speak directly to our guardians! At my signal, I can have them rush down from Mt. Karaki in a blink to finish what they started!” The wind bellowed, and for a moment, Natalie thought she could hear the wolves howl within them.

“She ain’t bluffing,” Andrew whispered. “This feeling, I can’t explain it, but she’s doing… something.” Sophie looked back at Andrew and her in silent regard.

“You have three seconds, three…” cursing to herself, Natalie was about to pull Andrew back away until Sophie put out a hand.

“Two…”

“I don’t think you’re going to go through with it,” Sophie said. Seconds passed, and the final countdown did not come. Sophie’s smile widened. “They’ve been acting out of line recently. Something about that has not only caused your people a lot of trouble. But you’re worried that it may be something even you cannot control.” Silence again. Sophie took a careful step forward.

“We just need shelter from the wolves. Your barn will do if you don’t trust us,” Sophie said.

“No,” the girl above the roof snapped.

“Why not?” the woman behind the door said. Strangely enough, the question was directed at the archer.

“They’ll walk off with the horses,” she said.

“But we don’t have any horses, and besides sleeping on it, I can’t see what they’d do with all the hay,” the woman behind the front door continued. The girl on the roof went silent for a while. Natalie saw her unstring an arrow from her bow as she rose to her feet and shook her head.

“Are you trying to give me extra work?” she mumbled.

“Am I wrong to trust them?” the woman asked.

“It’s not a matter of trust, it’s just…” the girl sighed before looking back up at them. “You need to go.”

“We can help you,” Sophie said.

“If you don’t get out of my line of sight soon, don’t blame me for what I may do next.”

“Come Sophie,” Flynn whispered in her ear as he turned to hold her shoulder. A long moment later, Sophie relented as she turned to move away from the house. Natalie took one last look at the girl on the roof. She’d stopped, aiming her bow at them as she watched them all in silence.

“Come on, you two,” Flynn sighed. He’d already walked past them as he made his way beside Sophie. Grumbling to himself, Andrew turned to catch up with the others. As they got further away from the house, the wolf’s howls echoed from atop the looming top of Mt. Karaki, making Andrew freeze in place. Natalie stopped her advance to look back at him. She could feel the frustration building within.

“What now?” she asked. Flynn and Sophie slowed their pace also as they turned to listen in. Gritting his teeth, Andrew shook his head as he walked past Natalie and the others. There was nothing they could do. To force the girl whose job was to protect this farm to provide shelter for them was asking too much. It was understandable given the circumstance. Still…

“Guess we can camp just beyond the fields tonight,” Flynn said.

“The wolves still roam the fields,” Sophie said.

“I’ll keep watch tonight,” Andrew said. He seemed lost in thought. His words were an afterthought to the current conversation, making Natalie frown.

“What are you thinking?” She asked. Andrew blinked before he saw her. Natalie’s concern deepened. Seeing this, Andrew sighed to himself before picking up his pace. Soon, passing both Flynn and Sophie, he looked as if he’d continue walking until Flynn spoke up.

“Something wrong?” he said. Andrew slowed down before turning to regard them all, one by one.

“You still trust my judgement?” Andrew asked. Sophie and Flynn looked at each other for a moment before chuckling to themselves.

“Are you asking because of how we almost became wolf food? It’s not as if you did that for shits and giggles,” Flynn said. “And despite everything, none of us got seriously hurt. Not bad for our first venture together.”

“But-”

“-You’ve got your heart in the right place, so tell me; after the mishap and the adrenaline has gone past, do you feel like your head is now in the right place?” Flynn cut in, his tone serious. Andrew looked down as he contemplated his words before sighing to himself.

“I think so,” he looked back at the farmhouse behind them. The whole thing could hide behind Natalie’s outstretched thumb from where they stood now. It was hard to tell from here, but it seemed like the mother was back on the second floor with her son, since she could only see two figures of light within the house. The girl was still on the roof, and although Natalie had not been watching them the whole time, she was certain that she had not moved since. That gave Natalie pause. Besides the moon, it was a dark night. Had Natalie not had her angel sight, then she too could not see the girl on the roof from where she now stood. It was possible that the girl’s eyes were keen enough to see them from there. Archers typically had keen eyes. Despite how far they distanced themselves from the house, that likelihood concerned her a little.

If she can still see us from there, does that mean she can shoot at us from there too? It was not impossible. To be on the safe side, they should continue this conversation once out of sight from the house, or at the very least, while still on the move. It was just as Natalie had these thoughts that Andrew walked back towards the house, only to pull out his sword and stab it deep into the earth.

“We should set up camp right here,” he said.

“You want to get shot with arrows?” Flynn asked.

“Keep walking,” the girl on the roof’s voice bellowed near them. Natalie turned towards the sound, but nothing stood out to her, at least not at first. Just a few paces from them stood an arrowhead, half-buried into the earth. It landed between them and the house itself. Understanding that her amplified voice came from the arrow she had shot, Natalie slowly looked back at the others. They also held the same expression.

“You called her bluff about summoning the wolves, right?” Andrew looked at Sophie. “Any reason you were so sure that would work?”

“It wasn’t like I was completely sure,” Sophie huffed. Soon after, however, she relented and appeared to be thinking.

“You could say that it was partly because the woman behind the door did not sound as tense as the girl on the roof was about our presence. Their take on the situation was almost night and day. It did not match up. Even after she threatened to summon the wolves down, the woman behind the door did not seem to address that as something to be all too worried about. Otherwise, why still opt for us to sleep in the barn?” Sophie said.

“Even though the woman behind the door trusts the girl enough to let her speak, it did not seem like she had the final say in anything,” Andrew mused.

“No funny ideas,” the girl with the bow voice boomed over them once more. This time, the arrow landed just beyond them and the house. This one was to show that she could still reach them. Sophie and Flynn noticed it, too. However, Andrew was too lost in thought to care about the threat they were under.

“And what was the other reason?” Natalie asked. She forced herself to look away from Andrew and instead look at the person she was now talking to. Sophie, in return, gave a clueless ‘hmm’ in response to her question.

“You said that was partly the reason, so what was the rest of it?” Natalie said. Sophie simply smiled.

“Oh, that? Let’s just call that very good intuition for now,” she winked. Natalie frowned, but just as she was about to call her out on how she avoided the question, she remembered that she, too, was also keeping secrets from them. Clenching her arm tightly, she bit her tongue as the others continued talking.

“You’re likely correct in your assumption that this huntress won’t shoot us. Attacking one of us four alone is simply asking for trouble she cannot afford to handle. But they did tell us to get off their property. If they decide to enforce their rights, we won’t have any grounds to stand on,” Sophie said. Andrew grinned to himself.

“True, except as things stand now, they have no means to contact the village to get back up, right? Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in this mess. They cannot protect themselves effectively. And that’s exactly why we must camp here,” Andrew said.

“Is this what you want?” Natalie asked. Andrew gave a sideways glance.

“I can’t be the only one who thinks this,” he said. Natalie looked away. She could not deny it… still.

But why do you want to do this, now of all times? Natalie had a hunch, but she wanted to talk to him in person to confirm it.

“Honesty,” Sophie shook her head as she chuckled to herself. “I was going to see if I could not convince you to stake camp just beyond their line of sight for the same reason. But doing so right in the open like this, it’s…” She looked at the arrow that fell just beyond where they stood.

“But it’s bold! For that alone I approve!” Flynn finished.

“It’s reckless,” Sophie said, glaring back up at Flynn. “Getting the village authorities on us over something like this could do us more harm than good in the long run.”

“So it’s a dumb idea?” Andrew asked. Sophie reluctantly shook her head.

“My proposal was to break the rules in a place where they cannot see us break them. But I suppose if we are to disobey boundaries anyway, it’s best to do it in the open.”

“With all of us staying in the open, they won’t have to worry about us pretending that we left, only to circle back around and ambush them later on,” Flynn mused. Natalie nodded.

“Being out in the open is better than them imagining where we might be hiding. Right?” Natalie asked.

“Right! So, are we all cool with watching over this place for the night?” Andrew asked.

“No objections here!” Flynn said.

“The wolves are less likely to ambush us this close to the farmhouse. Unless she summons them, this is the safest place we can rest at, given everything,” Sophie said.

“Doubt anything’s going to happen anyway,” Natalie said.

“True enough,” Andrew yawned. “Still, camping here would really take the load off my mind.” He deliberately slumped down on the ground. “WELP! I’m off to sleep now.”

“Wait! You said that ‘you’ will take your first watch!” Flynn said. Andrew shifted his back to Flynn for dramatic effect.

“It’s ok, Flynn! I’ll take first watch,” Natalie protested.

“I’ll keep watch,” Andrew sighed. “You guys rest up while we keep ourselves busy.” Flynn nodded.

“We’ll trade with you at first light,” Flynn said. With that, he and Sophie retreated to a spot nearby before laying down. Soon after that, all fell still around them. With nothing but the silent, looming mountain as company between them, Natalie walked on over to sit next to Andrew, with her knees tucked to her chin, looking deep into Andrew’s eyes, wishing not for the first time what he was thinking about right now.

“How’s your leg?” Natalie asked.

“It’s nothing serious,” Andrew said. He rubbed at it for a while before realising that she was staring at him. “I’ll be fine! In all honesty, I’m more worried about freezing out here. Do you think they’d mind if we borrowed some of their firewood?” He rose to his feet. No sooner had he taken three steps back towards the house when something shifted in the corner of Natalie’s eye.

“Andrew!” his body reacted before she knew it. She knew that the girl on the roof shot another arrow, and Andrew had chosen now, of all times, to leave his sword behind. Shielding Andrew, Natalie braced herself for any incoming arrows. Andrew had already been injured, and he couldn’t defend himself properly without his sword. It would be better for everyone if the arrow struck her instead.

“A message?” Andrew said nonchalantly. Blinking, Natalie looked back at him. Andrew simply looked up at the sky and at her with calm anticipation.

“She shot an arrow; it could—”

“Cross paths with this arrow, and see what happens!” the girl’s voice boomed. She sounded... peeved.

She doesn’t have the right to feel annoyed! The arrowhead landed about ten feet beyond them. The arrow would have struck Andrew’s foot if it had not angled off to his right.

“So I guess that’s a bust,” Andrew mumbled to himself. Natalie blinked.

“What?” she asked.

“I thought that walking over there with no weapon might improve her mood. Guess I was wrong.” Natalie just maintained her glare at him as he prattled on. “And I really wanted to collect some firewood, too. Say, do you think she’s able to hear us through the arrows?” He circled back before sitting down against his sword once more. His prattling continued until Natalie drowned it out to really look at him. What she saw both annoyed and upset her.

So… you’re going to keep avoiding talking about your old home with me? As the urge to grill him on that fact surfaced, Natalie averted her gaze from him. “Like I’m the one to talk.”

“It’s a good thing you’re doing here,” Natalie said, folding her arms, trying to contain her own frustrations. Andrew looked up at her, baffled.

“You mean almost walking into that arrow just now?” he asked.

“Standing guard here without asking, wanting nothing in return for the act. You could say that it’s selfless.”

“It’s hardly all that thoughtless when—”

“-You’re right; we hardly gave it much thought at all.”

“Okay, I see where this is going.”

“You see where ‘what’ is going, Andrew?”

“I gave this plenty of thought, okay, and I...” Andrew said, a sigh escaping his mouth as he looked down at his feet. “That one looking out the window. That was a kid, right?” Natalie nodded. “I was that kid once. Once upon a time, I watched my father leaving home from up high, and... well, it sounds stupid, but even if standing here turns out to be for no reason at all, then at least it will help me find peace…” Natalie nodded to herself, already finding words for the things Andrew struggled to express.

“Helping them helps you,” she said.

“Not surprised?” Andrew asked.

“I had a hunch,” Natalie said. Andrew snorted at that.

“Can you blame a guy for wanting peace of mind?” he said. Natalie simply pinched her arm, deep frustration surfacing.

‘A peace of mind.’ In a funny way, it’s one of the bigger things that kept her focused on her own journey to stop the stars of halo. It took her a while to realise it, but her willingness to help the needy suffering under the same people as she had was the itch she’d been unknowingly trying to scratch. Seeing it manifest within Andrew put a new perspective on her own actions. One that she dared not dwell upon in passing.

If they had not captured me, would I even care about the stars of Halo? Would I even be here?them, She had told herself that she differed from everyone else—that she would be one of the few who’d still try to stop them, regardless of her personal grievances. Because it was the right thing to do. But no matter how many times she told herself this, the questions continued to rear their ugly heads. Whatever the reason, all Natalie could count on now was the outcome. Yes, as long as the outcome of her actions was good then…

“...there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, I’d say that it’s praiseworthy,” she said.

“Wanting peace of mind is hardly worth praising,” he said. Shaking his head, he turned away from Natalie. “You’re just trying to cheer me up. I appreciate it, but you don’t have to say something like that just to make me feel better.” He was wrong. She had said that for her own benefit, her own peace of mind. A lie she swallowed to justify her own selfish actions. Even in her honest efforts to help Andrew reconcile and rest, she couldn’t help but make it about her. After everything Andrew had given—everything he had sacrificed for her quest. And yet, she could not even help him in his time of need.

“I’m the last person on earth to talk.” With a heavy heart, Natalie turned her back to Andrew.

“I’ll keep an eye on the mountain,” she said. “If you won’t sleep, then keep an eye out for what approaches behind us.” She had hardly taken five steps when Andrew spoke up.

“Whenever I fall asleep, I see her,” he sighed. Natalie’s eyes widened. Taking a careful breath, she turned to regard him.

“Your mother?” she said. Andrew nodded.

“It’s hardly been ten years, and yet I’ve nearly forgotten what she looks like.” He looked up at the clear night sky, perhaps more out of guilt than a sense of whimsy. Struck by an ache of sympathy, Natalie walked over to Andrew before sitting across from him. Andrew had never spoken about his mother to her before. And although he looked crestfallen, Natalie could not help but hold a bittersweet smile for him. To remember your loved-ones was a blessing. If only he knew just how lucky he was to know that someone out there had a place open for him where he could belong.

Hugging her knees to her chest, Natalie tried to recall her own parents. Those memories only deepened her own empathy towards him. It was a cycle of emotions: happy that Andrew chose to open up to her but also conflicted as she was once more stuck recalling what she’d lost. She wanted to hug him, to tell him that everything would be okay. Instead, Natalie hugged her legs a bit tighter. Andrew, that blessed fool, must have realised that talking about his family reminded Natalie of her own because he perked up suddenly, as if snapping out of his lament. As thankful as Natalie was for Andrew’s consideration, she fixed him with a stern glare. Though it would open old wounds, she had to accept them, endure them, for Andrew’s sake. With that thought strong in her mind, she put her own pain aside to comfort him.

“Tell me more about your mother, Trisha. What is she like?”

“You remembered her name?” he replied, confusion etched all over his features. He scratched his deadlocked hair as he chuckled dryly. “I must have only mentioned her by name twice—”

“—You’ve only told me the one time.”

“Was it back on that wall over the Inn?”

“Stop changing the subject, Andrew,” Andrew bit his lip regarding her before sighing.

“Ok… then, what do you want from me?”

“Tell me about your mother and Aqua Falls. I want to hear about the many rivers that wash over the slopes of your homeland. Tell me about the lifestyle of the townspeople who live in the safest place in the world. I hear once that they are prideful but—”

“—Prideful?” Andrew asked. Natalie nodded.

“Was that one heresy?” Andrew twisted his lip to one side for a moment.

“I would not say ‘prideful’...” he said carefully. Natalie could not help but smile.

“I want to hear you explain them in your own words,” she said.

“Right now?”

“Paint me a picture of a place that was once your whole world.” She needed to hear it now, to get used to the idea that he may one day no longer be with her, that he, unlike her, had a home to return to. He paused and looked at her for a while. Something unreadable painted his features before he looked back at the sky in defeat.

“Honestly, Natalie, what in the cycle’s name has got into you today? Fine, fine! I’ll talk, but nothing as fluffy or fancy as all that. And I’m only going to talk about one of those things. Memories of my mother are hazy enough as is. You’re going to have to see the town for yourself once we get there.” With Natalie’s nod, Andrew closed his eyes as if in meditation. As he tried his best to summon the memory before him, she fell silent until a chuckle escaped his lips.

“What’s there to tell, really? She was just... there for me. She had this thing where she’d always treat me to a sweet drink after I finished my dinners. Grape soda quickly became my all-time favourite,” he chuckled to himself then. Natalie could not help but bask in his revelry. Both smiling, their eyes met for a moment. And just like that, all her troubles felt a million miles away. She was pleased to find that not all memories of families had to leave her hurt. That gave her strength. As she accepted this, however, Andrew’s smile thinned.

“Choosing to go with Dad and leaving Mum behind was a mistake. I didn’t realise I was never coming back until I had been travelling for a week with him. That was rough. By the time I realised that I’d never see Mum again, I—” he trailed off, shaking his head. Natalie’s eyes narrowed. She knew where this was going.

“Teacher Shinichi is a good man. I’m sure he had his reasons for what he did,” she said. If only he’d realised how much of a blessing it was to still have both his parents alive. Natalie would rather have her parents alive but separated than together, but dead.

“That’s fair; But not even I really know his reasons. He barely talked about Mum since the day he left. She must have already been dead to him. Guess he and I have that much in common.”

“That’s not true, and you know it,” Natalie said.

“I pushed her from my memory like some old relic. And now here I am trying to swoop in and play hero. Honestly, I’m more worse than he is.”

“You’re overthinking things,”

Andrew looked unconvinced as he shook his head.

“Thanks for the comfort, but I don’t need it. All that I’ve said is true.” Andrew bowed his head in pity.

“Flynn mentioned that they’d been travelling non-stop before running into us, and I ignored it. Now look at what happened.” Natalie, for one, was starting to grow a tad annoyed at seeing Andrew feeling sorry for himself. Sure, she understood his worry, but all the self-pity was not going to help him or his mother. Andrew sighed to himself, unaware of the tempest whirling within Natalie’s chest.

“This is going to sound stupid,” he continued. “But I don’t know how to face them two.”

“You can start by shutting up and getting some sleep,” Natalie said. Andrew looked at Natalie with a sideways glance, his eyes narrowed in bafflement. Natalie just shrugged her shoulders. “You told me not to comfort you.”

Rolling his eyes, Andrew awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“Walked into that one, huh?” he sighed calmly, the sombre aura around him lessened somewhat.

“Light way of putting it,” she shot back.

Andrew glared at Natalie with an unamused expression. Natalie just sniffed. Soon after, however, Andrew looked off to the spot that Sophie and Flynn gazed at with distant eyes.

“What do you think of them?” he said.

“Which one?” Natalie asked.

“Both of them, I guess,” Andrew said. Natalie, now looking at them, shrugged to herself.

“You had a lot more time with Flynn, so…”

“So...?”

“Do you trust him?”

“I’d say so,” Andrew said with a nod. It was as if he was just coming to acknowledge it himself. “He says it how he sees it.” Natalie nodded in agreement. Though she did not know him like that, she knew enough people to know that it was hard to lie about his kind of persona. Just a strong and upbeat guy.

“And what about Sophie?” Andrew asked. Natalie’s eyes darkened at the mention of the rune smith.

“What about her?” Andrew asked.

“You’ve been around her the longest between us.”

“Sophie is kind of... crafty. Back at the tavern, she talked circles around me. I get the feeling it won’t be her last.” Natalie saw Andrew leaning forward a little as he weighed her words.

“Do you trust her?” Andrew finally asked.

“I do.” She was a little surprised at how easily the answer came, despite what she had said. Was it her fondness for the rune smiths of Hallow Peak changing her words?

“Even though she’s being ‘crafty’?” Andrew asked. Natalie looked over again at the spot between the two sleeping westerners. Using her purple eyes, she cut through the darkness surrounding them. Flynn and Sophie were fast asleep. And even though they had plenty of room, they slept rather close to each other. The weather was not cold enough to warrant needing to huddle up. Her eyebrows rose a little.

A couple then, the fact that they were likely a couple, did not really surprise her. It was just...

For how close they are, I’d hardly seen them speak a word to each other. In their presence, Sophie and Flynn had shared more words between her and Andrew than they had with each other. There was nothing wrong with that, and not once did that fact cause any issue among them. It just stood out to her as strange. Feeling that she was intruding, Natalie closed her eyes and deactivated her angel’s sight, allowing total darkness to envelop her.

“It’s not like we’ve been forthcoming with our own affairs,” Natalie said. Folding her arms to her chest, she looked at Andrew. “I trust them. I think she honestly wants to get us to Aqua Falls to help your mum before her own mission, but that doesn’t mean that they know the best way to make that happen.”

“They never asked you about your eyes, did they?” Andrew asked. It was a rhetorical question she knew. Natalie still shook her head.

“They’d pushed themselves racing across the desert to catch us. Almost died tonight, and the first thing they did when we escaped the wolves was apologise for being a burden.” That’s perhaps the biggest thing that swayed Natalie into feeling like she can trust them so easily. She owed them that much… right? Nodding to himself, Andrew leaned to one side.

“Chasing my own problems almost cost them their lives,” Andrew said.

“I think they see it the other way around, the responsibility part at least,” Natalie said. Grimacing, Andrew shook his head to himself. Natalie agreed. This was on them, no matter how they sliced it. And even though their take on events spoke of their kind and responsible nature, it still bothered Natalie. Sighing to herself, Natalie forced those thoughts aside. They served them no purpose for now.

“Get some rest; it will be pointless to show up at your mother’s house looking like a hollowed-out husk only to find that nothing bad has happened,” she said. Andrew sighed.

“I guess you’re right.”

“Aqua Falls is one of the few places in the known world that’s remained demon-free. There is no place safer from an attack than there,” she continued.

“I get it already! I’ll try to rest. Happy?” he said, exasperated. With a nod to herself, Natalie walked towards Mt. Karaki.

“Aqua Falls won’t become another Lucas. I swear it.” Had she said that before? Either way, she’d said it not just for him, but for herself. As she got to her post and looked up at the peerless mountain, Natalie resolved to put her issues aside to best help Andrew, just like he’d done for her all these years.

It’s the least I can do… For starters, she will gather some firewood, and then confront the girl who fired arrows at them. Natalie had no plan of hurting her. She only wanted to scare her a little, make her think twice about trying a stunt like that around Andrew and the others ever again…

Natalie Before they reached the end of the fields of wheat, Natalie could already hear them shouting. Gritting her teeth, she increased her pace just before reaching a low fence a few paces away from where Sophie and Flynn stood. Her angel sight allowed her to more clearly see in the night, so she signalled Andrew to ease up his pace as she tried to gauge what was going on. She made another mental count of how many people, besides Sophie and Flynn, she saw behind the fence. She counted three, all of them within the confines of the farmhouse. One of them was up on the second floor, the second one spoke to them from what Natalie assumed was the letterbox of the farmhouse. The last one stood atop the roof, shouting warnings down at their travel partners. What's wrong? Andrew asked. Just as he asked, the sounds of the strangers reached them as they shouted louder. Seeing that it answered his question, Natalie went back to silently observing. I'm giving you a warning! the voice on top of the roof shouted. It spoke over the words that came from the one speaking through the letterbox. Besides knowing it was a woman's voice, she could not decipher anything else. The other one atop the roof must be a girl, perhaps her age, Natalie guessed. Soon she began to get a grasp of the situation. In an effort to escape the wolves, they stumbled upon a small family. Cursing under his breath, Andrew began to limp onwards. Natalie was about to question the act, but thought better of it. He was right, no point hiding in the shadows. It will only make them seem more suspicious. Better to rip the band-aid off things swiftly. Just as they came out, however, the girl atop the roof pulled something from her back and peeked over the roof to see them from up high. She pointed it straight at Flynn and Sophie, and Look out! Natalie tried to make it up to them on time, only to be knocked down as Andrew crashed into her. Natalie heard a thud as an arrowhead hit the earth right where she stood. Her mind was slow at the realisation of how fast the girl switched targets until Andrew pulled her back up onto her feet. They were under attack. The girlno, the hunters atop the roofknocking another arrow. That was your warning shot, a voice boomed from directly behind them, putting Natalie on full alert. Turning behind herself using angel sight, she saw no threatnothing except for an arrowhead sticking out of the grass. My next one won't miss! a voice, the same girl's voice from the arrowhead, came from on top of the roof. Voice projection, Sophie whispered. She and Flynn had already drawn their weapons. Her eyes remained transfixed on the roof as she spoke. We are dealing with somebody highly proficient in their affinity. Be on your guard. And it had to be another Gale user, Andrew huffed. Still confused about how the girl did what she did, Natalie got back to her feet. I warned you, the other voice behind the front door said. Move away from the door! the girl up top said. Sophie attempted to move forward, but the girl up top's stern voice snapped at her. We are giving you one last warning! If you don't want things to get ugly, then I suggest you take it and leave! Liar, she counted three people in the building. Nothing had changed since running off to find Andrew. Natalie only realised that she said it aloud when Sophie looked at her in surprise. Oops Sophie's head tilted to one side. She had said that one aloud, too. We were trying to reach Progmanfest, but wolves have attacked us! Flynn said. Then perhaps you've earned their wrath, Now hold on a sec, how can you the sudden updraft cut Andrew off. It was nowhere near as intense as the wolves, but it was still enough to make all four of them fall back to back and be on the lookout for the beasts. The wolves have long shared a bond with us. They protect us and the village! You come from Progmanfest? Sophie asked. Through my control of the winds, I've been blessed to speak directly to our guardians! At my signal, I can have them rush down from Mt. Karaki in a blink to finish what they started! The wind bellowed, and for a moment, Natalie thought she could hear the wolves howl within them. She ain't bluffing, Andrew whispered. This feeling, I can't explain it, but she's doing something. Sophie looked back at Andrew and her in silent regard. You have three seconds, three cursing to herself, Natalie was about to pull Andrew back away until Sophie put out a hand. Two I don't think you're going to go through with it, Sophie said. Seconds passed, and the final countdown did not come. Sophie's smile widened. They've been acting out of line recently. Something about that has not only caused your people a lot of trouble. But you're worried that it may be something even you cannot control. Silence again. Sophie took a careful step forward. We just need shelter from the wolves. Your barn will do if you don't trust us, Sophie said. No, the girl above the roof snapped. Why not? the woman behind the door said. Strangely enough, the question was directed at the archer. They'll walk off with the horses, she said. But we don't have any horses, and besides sleeping on it, I can't see what they'd do with all the hay, the woman behind the front door continued. The girl on the roof went silent for a while. Natalie saw her unstring an arrow from her bow as she rose to her feet and shook her head. Are you trying to give me extra work? she mumbled. Am I wrong to trust them? the woman asked. It's not a matter of trust, it's just the girl sighed before looking back up at them. You need to go. We can help you, Sophie said. If you don't get out of my line of sight soon, don't blame me for what I may do next. Come Sophie, Flynn whispered in her ear as he turned to hold her shoulder. A long moment later, Sophie relented as she turned to move away from the house. Natalie took one last look at the girl on the roof. She'd stopped, aiming her bow at them as she watched them all in silence. Come on, you two, Flynn sighed. He'd already walked past them as he made his way beside Sophie. Grumbling to himself, Andrew turned to catch up with the others. As they got further away from the house, the wolf's howls echoed from atop the looming top of Mt. Karaki, making Andrew freeze in place. Natalie stopped her advance to look back at him. She could feel the frustration building within. What now? she asked. Flynn and Sophie slowed their pace also as they turned to listen in. Gritting his teeth, Andrew shook his head as he walked past Natalie and the others. There was nothing they could do. To force the girl whose job was to protect this farm to provide shelter for them was asking too much. It was understandable given the circumstance. Still Guess we can camp just beyond the fields tonight, Flynn said. The wolves still roam the fields, Sophie said. I'll keep watch tonight, Andrew said. He seemed lost in thought. His words were an afterthought to the current conversation, making Natalie frown. What are you thinking? She asked. Andrew blinked before he saw her. Natalie's concern deepened. Seeing this, Andrew sighed to himself before picking up his pace. Soon, passing both Flynn and Sophie, he looked as if he'd continue walking until Flynn spoke up. Something wrong? he said. Andrew slowed down before turning to regard them all, one by one. You still trust my judgement? Andrew asked. Sophie and Flynn looked at each other for a moment before chuckling to themselves. Are you asking because of how we almost became wolf food? It's not as if you did that for shits and giggles, Flynn said. And despite everything, none of us got seriously hurt. Not bad for our first venture together. But- -You've got your heart in the right place, so tell me; after the mishap and the adrenaline has gone past, do you feel like your head is now in the right place? Flynn cut in, his tone serious. Andrew looked down as he contemplated his words before sighing to himself. I think so, he looked back at the farmhouse behind them. The whole thing could hide behind Natalie's outstretched thumb from where they stood now. It was hard to tell from here, but it seemed like the mother was back on the second floor with her son, since she could only see two figures of light within the house. The girl was still on the roof, and although Natalie had not been watching them the whole time, she was certain that she had not moved since. That gave Natalie pause. Besides the moon, it was a dark night. Had Natalie not had her angel sight, then she too could not see the girl on the roof from where she now stood. It was possible that the girl's eyes were keen enough to see them from there. Archers typically had keen eyes. Despite how far they distanced themselves from the house, that likelihood concerned her a little. If she can still see us from there, does that mean she can shoot at us from there too? It was not impossible. To be on the safe side, they should continue this conversation once out of sight from the house, or at the very least, while still on the move. It was just as Natalie had these thoughts that Andrew walked back towards the house, only to pull out his sword and stab it deep into the earth. We should set up camp right here, he said. You want to get shot with arrows? Flynn asked. Keep walking, the girl on the roof's voice bellowed near them. Natalie turned towards the sound, but nothing stood out to her, at least not at first. Just a few paces from them stood an arrowhead, half-buried into the earth. It landed between them and the house itself. Understanding that her amplified voice came from the arrow she had shot, Natalie slowly looked back at the others. They also held the same expression. You called her bluff about summoning the wolves, right? Andrew looked at Sophie. Any reason you were so sure that would work? It wasn't like I was completely sure, Sophie huffed. Soon after, however, she relented and appeared to be thinking. You could say that it was partly because the woman behind the door did not sound as tense as the girl on the roof was about our presence. Their take on the situation was almost night and day. It did not match up. Even after she threatened to summon the wolves down, the woman behind the door did not seem to address that as something to be all too worried about. Otherwise, why still opt for us to sleep in the barn? Sophie said. Even though the woman behind the door trusts the girl enough to let her speak, it did not seem like she had the final say in anything, Andrew mused. No funny ideas, the girl with the bow voice boomed over them once more. This time, the arrow landed just beyond them and the house. This one was to show that she could still reach them. Sophie and Flynn noticed it, too. However, Andrew was too lost in thought to care about the threat they were under. And what was the other reason? Natalie asked. She forced herself to look away from Andrew and instead look at the person she was now talking to. Sophie, in return, gave a clueless hmm' in response to her question. You said that was partly the reason, so what was the rest of it? Natalie said. Sophie simply smiled. Oh, that? Let's just call that very good intuition for now, she winked. Natalie frowned, but just as she was about to call her out on how she avoided the question, she remembered that she, too, was also keeping secrets from them. Clenching her arm tightly, she bit her tongue as the others continued talking. You're likely correct in your assumption that this huntress won't shoot us. Attacking one of us four alone is simply asking for trouble she cannot afford to handle. But they did tell us to get off their property. If they decide to enforce their rights, we won't have any grounds to stand on, Sophie said. Andrew grinned to himself. True, except as things stand now, they have no means to contact the village to get back up, right? Otherwise, they wouldn't be in this mess. They cannot protect themselves effectively. And that's exactly why we must camp here, Andrew said. Is this what you want? Natalie asked. Andrew gave a sideways glance. I can't be the only one who thinks this, he said. Natalie looked away. She could not deny it still. But why do you want to do this, now of all times? Natalie had a hunch, but she wanted to talk to him in person to confirm it. Honesty, Sophie shook her head as she chuckled to herself. I was going to see if I could not convince you to stake camp just beyond their line of sight for the same reason. But doing so right in the open like this, it's She looked at the arrow that fell just beyond where they stood. But it's bold! For that alone I approve! Flynn finished. It's reckless, Sophie said, glaring back up at Flynn. Getting the village authorities on us over something like this could do us more harm than good in the long run. So it's a dumb idea? Andrew asked. Sophie reluctantly shook her head. My proposal was to break the rules in a place where they cannot see us break them. But I suppose if we are to disobey boundaries anyway, it's best to do it in the open. With all of us staying in the open, they won't have to worry about us pretending that we left, only to circle back around and ambush them later on, Flynn mused. Natalie nodded. Being out in the open is better than them imagining where we might be hiding. Right? Natalie asked. Right! So, are we all cool with watching over this place for the night? Andrew asked. No objections here! Flynn said. The wolves are less likely to ambush us this close to the farmhouse. Unless she summons them, this is the safest place we can rest at, given everything, Sophie said. Doubt anything's going to happen anyway, Natalie said. True enough, Andrew yawned. Still, camping here would really take the load off my mind. He deliberately slumped down on the ground. WELP! I'm off to sleep now. Wait! You said that you' will take your first watch! Flynn said. Andrew shifted his back to Flynn for dramatic effect. It's ok, Flynn! I'll take first watch, Natalie protested. I'll keep watch, Andrew sighed. You guys rest up while we keep ourselves busy. Flynn nodded. We'll trade with you at first light, Flynn said. With that, he and Sophie retreated to a spot nearby before laying down. Soon after that, all fell still around them. With nothing but the silent, looming mountain as company between them, Natalie walked on over to sit next to Andrew, with her knees tucked to her chin, looking deep into Andrew's eyes, wishing not for the first time what he was thinking about right now. How's your leg? Natalie asked. It's nothing serious, Andrew said. He rubbed at it for a while before realising that she was staring at him. I'll be fine! In all honesty, I'm more worried about freezing out here. Do you think they'd mind if we borrowed some of their firewood? He rose to his feet. No sooner had he taken three steps back towards the house when something shifted in the corner of Natalie's eye. Andrew! his body reacted before she knew it. She knew that the girl on the roof shot another arrow, and Andrew had chosen now, of all times, to leave his sword behind. Shielding Andrew, Natalie braced herself for any incoming arrows. Andrew had already been injured, and he couldn't defend himself properly without his sword. It would be better for everyone if the arrow struck her instead. A message? Andrew said nonchalantly. Blinking, Natalie looked back at him. Andrew simply looked up at the sky and at her with calm anticipation. She shot an arrow; it could Cross paths with this arrow, and see what happens! the girl's voice boomed. She sounded... peeved. She doesn't have the right to feel annoyed! The arrowhead landed about ten feet beyond them. The arrow would have struck Andrew's foot if it had not angled off to his right. So I guess that's a bust, Andrew mumbled to himself. Natalie blinked. What? she asked. I thought that walking over there with no weapon might improve her mood. Guess I was wrong. Natalie just maintained her glare at him as he prattled on. And I really wanted to collect some firewood, too. Say, do you think she's able to hear us through the arrows? He circled back before sitting down against his sword once more. His prattling continued until Natalie drowned it out to really look at him. What she saw both annoyed and upset her. So you're going to keep avoiding talking about your old home with me? As the urge to grill him on that fact surfaced, Natalie averted her gaze from him. Like I'm the one to talk. It's a good thing you're doing here, Natalie said, folding her arms, trying to contain her own frustrations. Andrew looked up at her, baffled. You mean almost walking into that arrow just now? he asked. Standing guard here without asking, wanting nothing in return for the act. You could say that it's selfless. It's hardly all that thoughtless when -You're right; we hardly gave it much thought at all. Okay, I see where this is going. You see where what' is going, Andrew? I gave this plenty of thought, okay, and I... Andrew said, a sigh escaping his mouth as he looked down at his feet. That one looking out the window. That was a kid, right? Natalie nodded. I was that kid once. Once upon a time, I watched my father leaving home from up high, and... well, it sounds stupid, but even if standing here turns out to be for no reason at all, then at least it will help me find peace Natalie nodded to herself, already finding words for the things Andrew struggled to express. Helping them helps you, she said. Not surprised? Andrew asked. I had a hunch, Natalie said. Andrew snorted at that. Can you blame a guy for wanting peace of mind? he said. Natalie simply pinched her arm, deep frustration surfacing. A peace of mind.' In a funny way, it's one of the bigger things that kept her focused on her own journey to stop the stars of halo. It took her a while to realise it, but her willingness to help the needy suffering under the same people as she had was the itch she'd been unknowingly trying to scratch. Seeing it manifest within Andrew put a new perspective on her own actions. One that she dared not dwell upon in passing. If they had not captured me, would I even care about the stars of Halo? Would I even be here?them, She had told herself that she differed from everyone elsethat she would be one of the few who'd still try to stop them, regardless of her personal grievances. Because it was the right thing to do. But no matter how many times she told herself this, the questions continued to rear their ugly heads. Whatever the reason, all Natalie could count on now was the outcome. Yes, as long as the outcome of her actions was good then ...there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I'd say that it's praiseworthy, she said. Wanting peace of mind is hardly worth praising, he said. Shaking his head, he turned away from Natalie. You're just trying to cheer me up. I appreciate it, but you don't have to say something like that just to make me feel better. He was wrong. She had said that for her own benefit, her own peace of mind. A lie she swallowed to justify her own selfish actions. Even in her honest efforts to help Andrew reconcile and rest, she couldn't help but make it about her. After everything Andrew had giveneverything he had sacrificed for her quest. And yet, she could not even help him in his time of need. I'm the last person on earth to talk. With a heavy heart, Natalie turned her back to Andrew. I'll keep an eye on the mountain, she said. If you won't sleep, then keep an eye out for what approaches behind us. She had hardly taken five steps when Andrew spoke up. Whenever I fall asleep, I see her, he sighed. Natalie's eyes widened. Taking a careful breath, she turned to regard him. Your mother? she said. Andrew nodded. It's hardly been ten years, and yet I've nearly forgotten what she looks like. He looked up at the clear night sky, perhaps more out of guilt than a sense of whimsy. Struck by an ache of sympathy, Natalie walked over to Andrew before sitting across from him. Andrew had never spoken about his mother to her before. And although he looked crestfallen, Natalie could not help but hold a bittersweet smile for him. To remember your loved-ones was a blessing. If only he knew just how lucky he was to know that someone out there had a place open for him where he could belong. Hugging her knees to her chest, Natalie tried to recall her own parents. Those memories only deepened her own empathy towards him. It was a cycle of emotions: happy that Andrew chose to open up to her but also conflicted as she was once more stuck recalling what she'd lost. She wanted to hug him, to tell him that everything would be okay. Instead, Natalie hugged her legs a bit tighter. Andrew, that blessed fool, must have realised that talking about his family reminded Natalie of her own because he perked up suddenly, as if snapping out of his lament. As thankful as Natalie was for Andrew's consideration, she fixed him with a stern glare. Though it would open old wounds, she had to accept them, endure them, for Andrew's sake. With that thought strong in her mind, she put her own pain aside to comfort him. Tell me more about your mother, Trisha. What is she like? You remembered her name? he replied, confusion etched all over his features. He scratched his deadlocked hair as he chuckled dryly. I must have only mentioned her by name twice You've only told me the one time. Was it back on that wall over the Inn? Stop changing the subject, Andrew, Andrew bit his lip regarding her before sighing. Ok then, what do you want from me? Tell me about your mother and Aqua Falls. I want to hear about the many rivers that wash over the slopes of your homeland. Tell me about the lifestyle of the townspeople who live in the safest place in the world. I hear once that they are prideful but Prideful? Andrew asked. Natalie nodded. Was that one heresy? Andrew twisted his lip to one side for a moment. I would not say prideful'... he said carefully. Natalie could not help but smile. I want to hear you explain them in your own words, she said. Right now? Paint me a picture of a place that was once your whole world. She needed to hear it now, to get used to the idea that he may one day no longer be with her, that he, unlike her, had a home to return to. He paused and looked at her for a while. Something unreadable painted his features before he looked back at the sky in defeat. Honestly, Natalie, what in the cycle's name has got into you today? Fine, fine! I'll talk, but nothing as fluffy or fancy as all that. And I'm only going to talk about one of those things. Memories of my mother are hazy enough as is. You're going to have to see the town for yourself once we get there. With Natalie's nod, Andrew closed his eyes as if in meditation. As he tried his best to summon the memory before him, she fell silent until a chuckle escaped his lips. What's there to tell, really? She was just... there for me. She had this thing where she'd always treat me to a sweet drink after I finished my dinners. Grape soda quickly became my all-time favourite, he chuckled to himself then. Natalie could not help but bask in his revelry. Both smiling, their eyes met for a moment. And just like that, all her troubles felt a million miles away. She was pleased to find that not all memories of families had to leave her hurt. That gave her strength. As she accepted this, however, Andrew's smile thinned. Choosing to go with Dad and leaving Mum behind was a mistake. I didn't realise I was never coming back until I had been travelling for a week with him. That was rough. By the time I realised that I'd never see Mum again, I he trailed off, shaking his head. Natalie's eyes narrowed. She knew where this was going. Teacher Shinichi is a good man. I'm sure he had his reasons for what he did, she said. If only he'd realised how much of a blessing it was to still have both his parents alive. Natalie would rather have her parents alive but separated than together, but dead. That's fair; But not even I really know his reasons. He barely talked about Mum since the day he left. She must have already been dead to him. Guess he and I have that much in common. That's not true, and you know it, Natalie said. I pushed her from my memory like some old relic. And now here I am trying to swoop in and play hero. Honestly, I'm more worse than he is. You're overthinking things, Andrew looked unconvinced as he shook his head. Thanks for the comfort, but I don't need it. All that I've said is true. Andrew bowed his head in pity. Flynn mentioned that they'd been travelling non-stop before running into us, and I ignored it. Now look at what happened. Natalie, for one, was starting to grow a tad annoyed at seeing Andrew feeling sorry for himself. Sure, she understood his worry, but all the self-pity was not going to help him or his mother. Andrew sighed to himself, unaware of the tempest whirling within Natalie's chest. This is going to sound stupid, he continued. But I don't know how to face them two. You can start by shutting up and getting some sleep, Natalie said. Andrew looked at Natalie with a sideways glance, his eyes narrowed in bafflement. Natalie just shrugged her shoulders. You told me not to comfort you. Rolling his eyes, Andrew awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Walked into that one, huh? he sighed calmly, the sombre aura around him lessened somewhat. Light way of putting it, she shot back. Andrew glared at Natalie with an unamused expression. Natalie just sniffed. Soon after, however, Andrew looked off to the spot that Sophie and Flynn gazed at with distant eyes. What do you think of them? he said. Which one? Natalie asked. Both of them, I guess, Andrew said. Natalie, now looking at them, shrugged to herself. You had a lot more time with Flynn, so So...? Do you trust him? I'd say so, Andrew said with a nod. It was as if he was just coming to acknowledge it himself. He says it how he sees it. Natalie nodded in agreement. Though she did not know him like that, she knew enough people to know that it was hard to lie about his kind of persona. Just a strong and upbeat guy. And what about Sophie? Andrew asked. Natalie's eyes darkened at the mention of the rune smith. What about her? Andrew asked. You've been around her the longest between us. Sophie is kind of... crafty. Back at the tavern, she talked circles around me. I get the feeling it won't be her last. Natalie saw Andrew leaning forward a little as he weighed her words. Do you trust her? Andrew finally asked. I do. She was a little surprised at how easily the answer came, despite what she had said. Was it her fondness for the rune smiths of Hallow Peak changing her words? Even though she's being crafty'? Andrew asked. Natalie looked over again at the spot between the two sleeping westerners. Using her purple eyes, she cut through the darkness surrounding them. Flynn and Sophie were fast asleep. And even though they had plenty of room, they slept rather close to each other. The weather was not cold enough to warrant needing to huddle up. Her eyebrows rose a little. A couple then, the fact that they were likely a couple, did not really surprise her. It was just... For how close they are, I'd hardly seen them speak a word to each other. In their presence, Sophie and Flynn had shared more words between her and Andrew than they had with each other. There was nothing wrong with that, and not once did that fact cause any issue among them. It just stood out to her as strange. Feeling that she was intruding, Natalie closed her eyes and deactivated her angel's sight, allowing total darkness to envelop her. It's not like we've been forthcoming with our own affairs, Natalie said. Folding her arms to her chest, she looked at Andrew. I trust them. I think she honestly wants to get us to Aqua Falls to help your mum before her own mission, but that doesn't mean that they know the best way to make that happen. They never asked you about your eyes, did they? Andrew asked. It was a rhetorical question she knew. Natalie still shook her head. They'd pushed themselves racing across the desert to catch us. Almost died tonight, and the first thing they did when we escaped the wolves was apologise for being a burden. That's perhaps the biggest thing that swayed Natalie into feeling like she can trust them so easily. She owed them that much right? Nodding to himself, Andrew leaned to one side. Chasing my own problems almost cost them their lives, Andrew said. I think they see it the other way around, the responsibility part at least, Natalie said. Grimacing, Andrew shook his head to himself. Natalie agreed. This was on them, no matter how they sliced it. And even though their take on events spoke of their kind and responsible nature, it still bothered Natalie. Sighing to herself, Natalie forced those thoughts aside. They served them no purpose for now. Get some rest; it will be pointless to show up at your mother's house looking like a hollowed-out husk only to find that nothing bad has happened, she said. Andrew sighed. I guess you're right. Aqua Falls is one of the few places in the known world that's remained demon-free. There is no place safer from an attack than there, she continued. I get it already! I'll try to rest. Happy? he said, exasperated. With a nod to herself, Natalie walked towards Mt. Karaki. Aqua Falls won't become another Lucas. I swear it. Had she said that before? Either way, she'd said it not just for him, but for herself. As she got to her post and looked up at the peerless mountain, Natalie resolved to put her issues aside to best help Andrew, just like he'd done for her all these years. It's the least I can do For starters, she will gather some firewood, and then confront the girl who fired arrows at them. Natalie had no plan of hurting her. She only wanted to scare her a little, make her think twice about trying a stunt like that around Andrew and the others ever again