I hardly slept. Ardent's information only made it worse. Questions spiralled my head. Why attack Axel? Just who did it and what for? If they were collecting mana then for what purpose? Were the demons preparing a larger offensive or was the Empire working on something more sinister. I didn't know and I wasn't sure I wanted or needed to. All I knew was that I wanted Axel to be safe and would stop at nothing to achieve that.
We were already on the road and would be so for the entire day. Aside from a short break for Pina it was a straight run. It was a quiet ride which was the exact opposite of the ongoing turmoil in my mind. It hadn't ended last night and kept going during the day, a constant nag that refused to let me sleep. I could only take solace that tonight I'd actually get some rest because I'd probably knock myself unconscious from thought alone. Fear, worry, apprehension, anger, if there was a negative emotion I had it.
"Hey," Taylor sat next to me but she barely registered in my mind. "Umm Rain?"
"What?" I replied in monotone.
"Actually I wanted to talk to you if you weren't busy," she started off quietly. "I thought the feeling would disappear but even after we left Greytree I've been-,"
"Taylor not now," I spoke through gritted teeth. Her voice grated against my brain like a fork scratching across a lump of meat. No agitation, timid even, it was everything that my mind was rejecting.
"Oh...," for a moment I caught her dejected expression but it was more than just that and it broke through me. A piece of her trust in me fell apart. "Sorry I shouldn't have bothered you. You've been in a mood all day, I just thought- you know what never mind."
I remembered. Taylor and I hadn't talked in this cycle. Her own problems which had been bottled up, they were still there. The entire time I had been struggling with myself I completely forgot about her.
"Taylor wait-," I tried to apologise but I couldn't. Words didn't form in my mind, instead all I could see was black. Seconds of silence passed between us. Until finally Taylor stood up. Without a word she just left and all I could do was watch her. Right now I had no right to even talk to her.
Like that night came and just like before I failed to sleep.
*
Today we would arrive at Axel. On the plus side my anxiousness had been lessened, not by anything fun however, but by the guilt and awkwardness I felt whenever Taylor and I crossed paths, which for being in a small carriage was a lot. Our eyes would meet and for a moment it felt like we could talk, only for one of us to quickly back down. It was worse when I realised that this entire trip Taylor had not once tried to pull anything on me. The distance between us felt further than when we first met. Ardent on the other hand was oblivious to us and calmly read books in the back of the carriage.
Just before midday Axel came into sight. The fields stretched outwards and from here everything looked normal. There was even smoke blowing over the rooftops far off in the distance. Whether it was from a normal fire or a 'murderous everyone is dead' fire I didn't know and thinking about it drove a pit into my stomach.
"Hmm," Ardent poked his head out from the cloth and looked towards the town. "Everything looks fine to me." His eyes shone as if glazed over with light.
"Hopefully it will stay that way," I said grimly and ushered Pina to move faster.
Within the hour we reached the fields. My eyes scanned for any signs of life but there was no one. I could see signs of some recent work but that was all.
"Ardent, Taylor, do you see anyone?" I asked apprehensively.
"No, I don't feel anyone close by either," Taylor shook her head.
"Perhaps they're hiding," Ardent suggested.
Or maybe they're already dead. I clenched my jaw and kept the dark thoughts to myself. I'd find out soon enough. I took the reins and sped Pina up. My anxiety was pilling on as if thick stone slabs were being pressed against my chest crushing the air from my lungs. If I was too late this time, how much more could I do to arrive faster?
We neared the first buildings on the outer edge. Most of them belonged to those who tended the farms and fields, all of them were empty. It was the middle of the day, it didn't make sense not to see anyone again. Not even a peek from the children. Usually someone would have come to greet me and like the last cycle Walter and Lane our town guards were nowhere to be seen. The carriage bumped as Pina was forced to slow down and we turned the corner to enter the main streets. A pile of boxes blocked our way. It was the same place I had seen Ms Elena's wagon.
I couldn't take it anymore and jumped from the carriage. I needed to see them dead or alive.
"Rain wait!" Taylor yelled after me but I was already gone running down the streets like a mad man.
The final turn came and I skidded around it almost crashing against the far wall. My eyes widened in shock as I faced the town centre.
"Surprise!" an enormous cheer almost blew me to the ground as colourful streamers flew into the air.
"Huh?" I was stunned. The entire town was there with giddy smiles and all I could do was stare at them dumbly.
"Rain!" Taylor caught up to me a knife in her hand. "It's a trap... or not?" She looked just as puzzled as I was and awkwardly put the knife away.
"Welcome back!" the people of Axel, my family and friends cheered once more.
I sighed as tears began to pool into my eyes, "What are you all doing?"
"Look he's moved to tears!" someone shouted.
"I knew this was a good idea," they began to chatter.
"So we're throwing a party now right?"
"Didn't you still have work to do?"
"Pah! Work comes later."
"Hey Rain get over here!"
I looked at them all busily moving about in the town centre. They had already set up tables and chairs as if we were having a festival. It was still a work day... and yet here they were to welcome me back.
"Rain what's wrong?" the town mayor approached me, Sir Mattias one of the people I called father. For a second the sight of him impaled atop the mound of bodies split into my mind but it quickly erased itself as he smiled.
"You gave me a heart attack," I replied feeling the tension ease out of my body. "I thought something had happened, everyone was gone."
He laughed, "That's cause little Terrance spotted you on the road through the spyglass. We didn't have much time but everyone wanted to give you a good surprise."
"I could have done without it," I smiled. Just what I should have expected from the people here.
"Oh who's this fine lady?" he turned his attention to Taylor beside me. She was standing straight but I could tell her tension hadn't died down. This probably looked crazy to her. "A traveling companion or something more?" Mattias winked at me.
"A companion," I said bluntly. "This is Taylor."
"Ah," Taylor flinched hearing her name called. "A pleasure to meet you."
"Hmmm," Mattias eyes her closely. "A shame Rain, you don't see girls as fine as her around these parts."
"Stop it," I was beginning to get embarrassed. Luckily Taylor was still too out of it to reply properly. If she had replied suggestively it would take me forever to fix it.
"And who is the man-," Mattias paused. "Ardent?"
"Sir Matarus," Ardent smiled from the pleasant surprise. He flashed me a look, "Well I can understand where some of Rain's talent has come from."
"It's been a long time," Mattias greeted him with a firm shake. "Those robes, you reached the level of a Master Wizard."
"I did indeed. Though I honestly did not expect you to be here of all places after your retirement."
Mattias huffed, "We can talk of the past later. I am glad to see you rising up in the world." Okay now I was confused. "Rain come, you have much to tell us. You haven't been gone all too long but everyone wants to say hello. Of course, Ardent, Taylor come join us as well." And so I was passed around as my family and friends questioned me. Still I couldn't help but smile seeing them all alive and well. If it weren't for the foreboding feeling in my chest, I would have been truly happy. This wasn't over, someone wanted the people of Axel dead and I would stop it.