"You're leaving!?" Marley clung to me desperately.
"Just for a while," I replied stiffly. Out of everyone I interacted with Marley the least the past few days. She and Lara were pretty close but I felt our relationship was quite one way.
"But if you're gone who's going to cook?" and there it was. The reason I turned to making my own potions instead of relying on her healing. "If you're going I'm coming too."
"No you're not," Ronalt pulled her off me. "There are many people who are injured and still need your assistance."
"Hmm that's right," she smiled and a shudder went down my spine. Creepy.
"Rain how long do you think you'll be gone for?"
"A week at most. Axel is a two day carriage ride from here. Once I've checked they're okay and know the situation I'll head right back." I looked at Ronalt sincerely, "Really thank you for letting me go. I know it hasn't been long and-,"
"It's no problem," he smiled softly. "Home is important and we'll be busy here for the time being. Although it has only been a fortnight after all that has happened you deserve a break." I knew to them it had only been two weeks but to me it had been much longer. It was strange having this skewed perception of time.
"And it's fine for me to go too?" Lara asked.
"Taylor has already insisted she will go. Without you she'll have free reign to do what she likes," Ronalt turned his eyes to Taylor how simply shrugged. "Besides... it would be safer for you to leave for now."
"I- I understand," Lara nodded. During the siege Lara had been a key player in the defence. She was already quite eye catching and combined with her ability she had attracted a lot of attention from both the townsfolk and soldiers. She as the Hero was meant to be a secret, at least for now.
"Thank you as well for letting me take the carriage," I gestured beside us where Pina was waiting patiently to set off. The repair work had been finished and it looked as good as new, fully stocked for the journey.
Ronalt shook his head, "With the four of you going it would be a shame not to use it. Now you should be off there is still time before the sun sets."
"Then we'll leave now. Take care," I waved at them. Ardent, Marley and Ronalt would be staying in Greytree to organise the aftermath while Earnest, Taylor, and Lara would accompany me to Axel. Taylor had insisted to go with me because she'd be bored otherwise and Earnest... well he didn't want to leave his 'apprentice' alone.
I sat in the driver's seat as the other's boarded the carriage. Pina chirped excited to finally leave the town. This past week I had been a bit neglectful of her and when we came to see her today she had pushed me to the ground. With a last goodbye we headed out of the south entrance towards Axel. The journey itself should be fine. The road was safe and in the plains there wasn't much threat. I had made the journey several times before and there were plenty of places to camp to avoid the denizens of night. With my current company I doubted there would be much trouble they couldn't handle.
After a few minutes Greytree's towering walls were looking a lot smaller. I couldn't help but look back and take in the sight. The last time I had travelled this road was with Ardent and Earnest, the town had been in flames. With how it was now I really had to commend myself, we had somehow avoided the worst case scenario and better still I had lived through it.
There was shuffle behind me and Lara stepped off from the roof to sit beside me. I shifted to the right to make room for her.
"Hi," I said to her simply.
"Hi," she replied with a tired stretch. "I thought you might be lonely."
"I'm used to it." I smiled, "Though I wouldn't say lonely. There's a lot to see when you're outside and besides I have Pina." I rubbed the bird's soft pink feathers and she chirped.
"It is nice here," Lara breathed out taking in the sight. "So much more open than Greytree."
"I know right, it was so cramped in there," Taylor's voice came from above us. "Shove over." She came to my other side and forcefully butted me to the middle as Lara quickly moved to make room.
"Where's Earnest?" I asked fearing that the four of us would have to squish together.
"He's sleeping." Already? It hadn't been more than ten minutes since we left. I wished I had that kind of talent when sleeping.
"I see," I faced forwards. To my left was Lara and to my right Taylor... argh I didn't really think of them as potential partners but having the two girls beside me was bad for my heart. Sweet and innocent Lara on one side and the blatantly sexual but also surprisingly sincere Taylor. The result, just look straight ahead. "Anyway, Taylor I thought you would have liked the tighter spaces of a place like Greytree."
She kicked her legs off the seat, "Can't argue with that. Cramped places with a lot people means easier opportunities to steal."
"You didn't did you?" Lara leaned forwards to glare at her.
"Of course not." Taylor pointed at the choker on her neck, "You ordered me not to remember?"
"R-right I did didn't I...." Lara backed away guiltily.
Taylor laughed, "And that's why they should have given me to someone else. Not that I mind but what's the point of a slave if you don't order it."
"I- I don't think of you as a slave," Lara proclaimed strongly. "You're one of us, a friend!"
"That's... that's very sweet of you," Taylor smiled and leaned back. "I guess I am enjoying myself."
I had nothing to input to the conversation and kept my attention on the road and Pina. A silence came over us and for a while we were all content just to take in the scenery and enjoy the crisp air blowing across the plains. Lara occasionally fidgeted and I could tell she wanted to say something but I wasn't going to pry.
Finally she opened her mouth, "R-Rain have you killed anyone?"
"Didn't you see me do it before?" I asked with raised brows. She had told me herself she saw me kill Faith in the bandit's den. It wasn't a memory I particularly liked but I would have probably done the same thing if I had to repeat it. Thankfully we were past that.
"Oh right... Taylor how about you?"
"Of course I have," her reply was said a little too easily for comfort. "When you grow up in the slums you need to be ready to do anything to live."
Lara shifted uncomfortably, "I-I'm not sure if I have. When the demons attacked I gave my all to protect the town... but to be honest I held back. I know they wouldn't have spared us any mercy and Ronalt told me himself, but I couldn't just kill them. The thing is, I saw so many of them die and I know I would have been the cause of it." She stared down at her hands. They were shaking.
Before I could stop myself I had my hand placed on her head gently patting her. Her eyes flicked up to mine in surprise and I forced myself to remain composed.
"Lara," I began softly, "Don't hold it over yourself. You're kind, honestly I think you're a little too kind but you can't hold all that weight on yourself. The demons attacked us with the intent to kill and to survive we had to reply the same. They knew the risks and I know it's a bit callous but that's how it is. Just remember why you did it, think about the people you saved. Like Michael and his sister Lily, without you they would have been in danger. You helped save their home."
"Th-thank you," Lara half smiled and brushed away the tears building up in her eyes. "I think I needed to hear that."
"Well I hope I helped," I went to take back my hand but she stopped me.
"Just a bit longer," Lara turned away shyly. "Please."
I smiled and continued to gently caress her head. It felt oddly natural like I was used to it, comforting her when she was sad. I felt a nudge on my right and I suddenly remembered Taylor was still there.
"Hey, I had some trouble as well," she moped. "I almost died."
"Umm I need at least one hand to drive," I replied awkwardly.
"Pina can drive herself," Taylor forcefully picked up my other hand and plonked it on her head. I gave in and rubbed it. "Oh? This is actually really nice, I feel all warm and safe inside."
"Good for you...." I looked straight ahead with both my hands held out either side of me as I patted the two girls' heads. Just what was I doing? Yep it was better that I didn't mind it.