‘Tell them.’ Ibis reminded me with a slightly scolding tone, causing me to murmur a small ‘Already on it’ before I gathered my courage and made my way to the front of the bonfire.
Once I had finally made my way to the front of the bonfire, the very act of turning around to face the crowd increasing my nervousness by tenfold, I had calmed my mind by taking a deep breath before I planned things out. ‘Just tell them...face the music and outrage in one quick swoop.’ I thought.
“Everyone!” I shouted with my best authoritative voice, the cheerful music quickly ceasing to play while everyone turned their attention to me. It was now or never.
“I’m leaving the village!” I said, my skin almost jumping off of me at the sudden outbursts of the crowd. From cries of worry, to angry shouts of my reasoning for wanting to leave the village! Though I already knew this was going to happen, I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly without even letting me explain myself first!
“Everyone quiet!” Ares boomed, his voice along with his hooves almost resembling thunder as he trotted up to take his side by me.
“Let your Lady speak! For her sake and yours!” He continued, causing me to look up him with a grateful look before I turned back to the crowd.
“I’m not leaving permanently everyone! I’ll be gone for at least a few months on a business trip of sorts!” I grinned.
“As you all know by now, I’m a champion, and as a champion. I need to meet other champions for business and all that! Don’t go getting your heads in a twist because of something so simple!”
“But it’s not that simple!” Someone suddenly shouted from the crowd, the town once again beginning to start their murmurs and chattering.
I quickly held up a hand to silence Ares, I at least wanted to let them voice their worries for a moment. “What will happen if Orcs attack our town?! What if Paladins come by?! We house Daemoniums and you are the only one who can get them to turn a blind eye!” Someone else called out.
“Besides the Daemoniums...you are the strongest of the town! We all need you!” I rolled my eyes and chuckled, even after all these years they still had this thought that I was the strongest member of the town?
Ares could beat me without even trying, the Daemoniums could and, regrettably, Ryzel could do it as well! This town...they truly needed to understand the fact that they were stronger than they appeared and made themselves out to be.
“You’re all stronger than you say you are you know?” I said with a laugh.
“After all, who’s been going out and conquering lands? You guys! Who’s been making businesses for themselves and even going so far as to begin adventuring? You guys!” I started off.
“I’m simply the person who keeps everyone in line, I don’t do anything too special besides that.” I sighed.
“I have to leave, this trip of mine is unavoidable but...you guys need to take care of yourselves until I get back.”
“Then who will lead us?!” I went silent, I didn’t think of who would lead the village beforehand...I mostly assumed I would get to the whole process of choosing a temporary leader once the day for me to leave finally came! But...with the question being brought up and everyone looking at me expectantly, some even puffing out their chests proudly as if they were guaranteed to be chosen. I quickly sighed and picked the first person I could think of.
“Torin,” I said.
“Torin will lead you all, he’s a good leader and I trust him. He’ll be your leader until I return.” I said before I suddenly spotted Torin stand up in the crowd.
Even after three years...the goblin didn’t really change much! His skin was still as seaweed green since I first met him aside from a few battle scars here and there along with being a tad bit more muscular, he was taller, had a bit of stubble on his face and one his scars had a scar going across it!
Nonetheless, he was still as fiery-tempered, reliable and loyal as before. I trusted him and I was certain he trusted me.
“...I-”
“Please don’t say you can’t lead a goblin village, Torin...” I interrupted him as soon as he stopped in front of me, a tired sigh escaping me.
“Remember when we first encountered each other in the forest? You were leading an entire band of goblins and even trained others!” Torin scoffed, shaking his head lightly before he placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I wasn’t about to say that I couldn’t lead a town, I can do that with ease.” He said, a confident fire burning in his flame-colored eyes.
“I was about to say that I want you to stay safe out there, the world’s only getting more heated nowadays.” He continued, a sad smile crossing my features as I nodded my head.
I already learned from Ryzel...the Desert Continent was the main place where the war was being fought at! But if it was the place that I, unfortunately, met the end of the road then I was ready to face it!
“Death doesn’t scare me in the slightest, besides! I already have people who are going to come with me.”
“Probably explains why you're constantly so ready to cross blades with him then.” Torin chuckled, causing me to quickly give him a hug before I let him go back into the crowd with his family.
“Tonight, I’ll be packing and preparing to leave tomorrow in the afternoon! My bodyguard, Ares and Ryzel from the Incubus tribe will be coming with me as my escorts!” I announced.
“I swear this everyone, I will return and y’all can bet your gold coins on it!” I laughed, the crowd lifting up their drinks with a small cheer before the celebration went back to the way it was.
Though...it didn’t take a genius to notice that it was a tad bit sadder than normal. As the celebration continued to go on, however, people slowly but surely beginning to leave to go back to their houses or return to their normal duties. I was eventually left alone in front of the dying bonfire.
The small embers and crackles that emitted from it giving me a small sense of worry. This would be the last time I would sit in front of this bonfire for possibly months on end! Though I hated to admit it, I was actually glad to be given something to do that would send me away from the village! Adventure and intrigue were the main things that fueled me to continue to push forward in this world! This mission Ibis gave me was like a god-send...like I did on this continent in a way, perhaps I could possibly create some type of change somewhere else.
“How strange for me to see you so quiet.” Suddenly said a voice, my quickening heart immediately calming down as soon as I heard the sound of clacking hooves.
Ares.
“And how strange of me to see you show some type of care.” I chuckled lightly before I looked back towards the bonfire, the feeling of Ares lying down behind me making me sigh and lie against his stomach.
“I’m nervous,” I admitted.
“How uncharacteristic of you, why?” Ares asked, a grumble leaving me before I blew a strand of hair out of my face.
“Because! I’m going to a new continent, a place that’s riddled with war mind you. I don’t know what to expect there!” I ranted.
“Daemoniums, a close-up of war and possibly new creatures unlike the ones here. I would’ve thought the owl would at least have the courtesy of telling you what to expect.” Ares sighed as he crossed his arms.
“I came into this world without a single manual, guess she wanted me to do the same when it came to the Desert.” I chuckled.
Suddenly, Ares went quiet, for a moment, I had a mind to think that he didn’t have any type of words or advice to say to me! But...as I suddenly heard a heavy sigh leave him, causing me to look towards him, I was shocked to see him show actual concern as well as...a familiar type of fatherly care.
It was enough to almost bring me to tears...I haven’t seen that type of care since I was a teenager.
“You have a strength of character, your heart beats with a fire I haven't seen since my days as a gladiator. You have nothing to fear, even if I or that damned Incubus wasn’t going with you.”
I let out a chuckle.
“I’m serious little girl...your sheer strength and ability to rally armies to your side is what got you so far in this world. Come the Desert or the depths of the oceans, you will be able to make it anywhere, trust me when I say that.” He said, giving me a pat on the forehead while I could only smile before staring back up at the empty sky.
Make it anywhere eh...? That I could believe at the very least, after all, I didn’t spend all my years prior to this world watching and reading fantasy-like things for nothing! I should be a master at this world damn it! It’s like that one movie said, adventure is out there damn it! I grinned to myself, the sound of Ares snickering making me turn my attention back to him.
“I would like to guess that my words helped you?”
“More than talking to anyone else, yeah.” I laughed before I quickly got onto my feet and dusted myself off.
“Good.” He huffed before he finally got onto his hooves, his tail swishing side to side before he started to walk off.
“I shall be ready come early morning, please don’t let me find out you aren’t little girl.” He said with a small wave, causing me to snort before I got up to walk off to my house.
Luckily for me, I was already prepared for the journey. I had my clothes, my jewelry that went with those clothes, a few books to read and even some extra money! I refused to be caught off guard while traveling to a new continent, especially the type that was riddled with war.
Who knows? Perhaps I could bribe them not to kill me or the people I brought along with me.
I suddenly heard a hoot upon walking into my house and closing the door behind me, the sight of Ibis’ apparition not too far ahead of me making me roll my eyes. “I must say, I am proud of my champion for handling business.”
“Glad I impressed; it wasn’t exactly easy telling everyone that I was going to be leaving for a few months.” I sighed as I went to my kitchen.
After all, with me already being packed and not exactly being sleepy, I had more than enough time to kill.
“I saw, even now, your town is an embarrassing bundle of children who look like adults.” I shot her a glare.
“Don’t talk about them like that, showing that you care doesn’t make you weak nor child-like.” I said, grabbing an apple from out of a basket while Ibis flew up to me, landing right on my table.
‘Goodness...doesn’t she know that her talons leave marks?!’ I complained in my head.
“But they shouldn’t show that much care. They are adults and can handle themselves Eos.” She sighed before I simply shook my head and ignored her words.
Though the owl was somewhat like a mother in my eyes, despite the fact she was rather cold and reserved, even I had to learn to ignore her words at some point!
Unless I wanted to hear her screeches and go partially deaf from them, I learned that it’s better to simply let her talk.
“They already know that you are a champion and as one, you follow my orders ultimately. Surely, they could’ve seen the day of your departure coming.” Ibis sighed.
“That’s like telling someone that one day your family member is going to die, yes, you know it’s going to happen. But when it actually does? That doesn’t make it any less sad nor easy to handle.” I grumbled, the sight of Ibis’ eyes narrowing making me gulp a little.
“Eos-” Suddenly, a knock came at the door, Ibis’ head quickly turning all the way to look at it before she looked back at me. Her golden eyes narrowed dangerously.
“This conversation isn’t over.” She hooted before she disappeared.
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