“Nevermind. You should get some sleep. It smells like there will be a lot of walking tomorrow.”

Everyone fell silent for the rest of the night. Luminous didn't really know when she fell asleep but the next morning she woke up to the smell of eggs. Luminous popped her head out of the sleeping bag to look over towards Barrett.

“What? Huh?” Questioned Luminous.

 “Though you might be hungry.” Said Barrett flipping the eggs in the pan that was set over the fire.

“Starving.” Answer the Dawn of Fate.

Barrett and Luminous raised their eyebrows at the sword.

“Uh, you eat?” Asked Luminous.

“Maybe…” Said the Dawn of Fate. “Why?”

“Umm, because you’re a sword…”

And if a sword had eyes the Dawn of Fate would be glaring daggers.

“How does that thing talk anyways?” Asked Barrett. “I mean it’s got to be enchanted, but I’ve never come across an enchantment like this before…”

“Let’s just say I’m a very special sword and leave it at that.” Said the Dawn of Fate. “I mean I don’t go around asking your origin story.”

“Okay, well I also sewed up your clothes.” Said Barrett handing Luminous back the bundle of clothes.

Luminous began taking the red cloak off her bare body. 

“Don’t change in front of me!”Shouted Barrett, turning as red as his cloak. “Go change behind a bush or something! S..stupid!”

Luminous put on her regular pink button pajama top and black shorts behind a tree away from Barrett and the Dawn of Fate when she spotted a heart-shaped button on her sleeve.

“Hey Barrett, what’s this?” Asked Luminous rejoining the two.

“That,” Said Barrett rolling up the sleeping bag. “I made it last night. It’s enchanted armor, I figured, you know if we run into thoughts monsters again. It would be beneficial for you to have a way to protect yourself.”

“Thanks.” Said Luminous. “But...I feel like I should get you something in return. Oh I know, I’ll get you the treasure of the dragon’s cave of wonders.”

“Like you could defeat a dragon.” Scoffed Barrett. “Even if there were any dragons left.” He shook his head. “You can keep that, I just thought that you could actually make yourself useful next time we run into thoughts monsters.”

“Hey..I was useful..” Said Luminous.

“Sure you were,” said the Dawn of Fate. “Useful dead weight.” The sword laughed.

“I should give you a basic rundown on how enchanted armor works.” Said Barrett handing the Dawn of Fate back to Luminous. Luminous took the sword, her hands brushing against Barrett’s in the exchange causing them both to blush. “I...It’s better for you to get used to this now before you know…okay, just, press the heart shape button to summon the armor.”

Luminous pressed the heart-shaped button. Her pink pajama top and black shorts disappeared turning into a red metal breastplate, with a pink leotard underneath.

“Whoa,” Luminous said looking down at her pink metal arm bracers. “Did you stay up all night making this?” She asked, rocking back and forth on the heels of her meatal boots.

“Wow dog breath, I really didn't think of you as that kind of perv.” Laughed the Dawn of Fate. “I mean if you make this thing any skimpier she could be a harem dancer.”

“I mean I guess I could give her more convergence to give her even more defense bost, but I didn't want to mess up her dexterity stat. You know the only decent stat she seems to have.” Retorted Barrett. “Especially since some huge clunky sword seems to already be dragging her down.”

And if a sword could glare the Dawn of Fate would run a cold steel stare down Barrett’s spine.

“It’s never the fault of the sword, but of the welder for any combat mistakes.” Said the Dawn of Fate.

“What do you say Luminous?” Asked Barrett ignoring the sword’s words. “You want a test run my fine handy work?”

“Ya! How does it work?.” Said Luminous eyeing her new armor.

“Here!” Yelled Barrett pulling something out of his pockets. “Block this with your bracers!”

“Huh?”

Luminous looked up just in time to see something flying at her from the corner of her eye. On instinct, she held up her arms covering her face. A small bean bag hit her metal arm bracers. The bracers glowed for a moment at the impact before the bean bag hit the forest floor.

“Nice block!” Praised Barrett. “Now try dodging this one!”

Barrett picked up another bean bag in his hand and threw it. Luminous ran to the side, way faster than she was expecting to.

“Whoa is it just me or did you get faster?” Asked the Dawn of Fate.

“Good observation sword.” Said Barrett. “I enchanted the boot’s to make you run faster and jump higher.”

“Hey, that’s Mr. Sword to you.” Said the Dawn of Fate.

“Really? I can run super-fast now?” Exclaimed Luminous excitedly.

“Now block!” Yelled Barrett throwing another bean bag.

Luminous held up her arm guards blocking the bean bag. Again the arm guards glowed for a moment before the bean bag hit the ground.

“So it wasn't just my imagination…” Mumbled Luminous.

“Hey, Luminous.” Said Barrett. “Just so you know, your arm guards have shock adoption. When you’ve got enough hits on them the glow will last and you can send it back out. You can choose to do it earlier if you want, but it won’t pack as much of a punch. Here I’ll show you, try to block.”

Luminous blocked a few more of Barrett's bean bags with her arm guards. Until the glow on the arm guards stayed.

“Good, now cross your arms together and push them forward!” Said Barrett.

Luminous crossed her arms together sending a small shock wave towards Barrett. It wasn't strong but it pushed Barrett back a few inches.

“Haha! That works great! Now that you got the hang of it let’s try freestyle!” Yelled Barrett grabbing a stick that was laying on the ground and rushing at her.

“Hey, he did say he improved jumping right?” Asked the Dawn of Fate.

“Yes, why?” Asked Luminous.

Barrett lunged jabbing the stick at Luminous.

“Jump!” Yelled the Dawn of Fate.

In the next split second Luminous jumped. Jumping way higher than the top of the tall hunter’s head. Panicked Luminous quickly grabbed onto one of the higher branches of the tree she could reach.

“So what are you going to do from up there?” Smirked Barrett looking up at Luminous.

“Okay, think of your next move very carefully.” Said the Dawn of Fate. “Don't just…”

In the next second Luminous let go of the tree her metal boot aimed at Barrett’s head.

“Arrr!”

In the next split second the armor disappeared turning back into the pink button-up pajama top and black shorts it was before. Losing her gusto, Luminous flailed around in the air panicked.

“Ahh!”

Luminous closed her eyes prepared to hit the ground when she felt a pair of warm muscular arms caught her. Opening her eyes Luminous found a pair of rosewood eyes staring back at her.

“Not bad for a test run huh?” Painted Barrett. “I say it’s my best handy work yet. Not that you’re going to find someone better out here.” Smirked Barrett.

“Alright enough with the flirting dagnabbit!” Yelled the Dawn of Fate. “I’m ready to hit the road!”

“I..I’m not flirting!” Barrett blushed. “She fell on me! Dam sword!”

Both Barrett and Luminous broke off from one another. Barrett draped the red cloak back over his shoulders before leaving down the path towards Vainglorious without looking back at Luminous.

It didn't take long before Barrett stopped in front of a cave.

“Vainglorious has been hanging out in this cave for a while now it seems. His stench floods this place like the tranch he is.” Said Barrett. “You can go on ahead. Knowing our history, it’s better if he doesn't know I’m here.” 

“Thanks.” Said Luminous smiling.

“Well, it’s nothing!” Blushed Barrett. “Tch! I mean it would be crazy of me to pass up 400 boons for a simple tracking quest.”

Luminous stepped forward to go inside the cave when Barrett grabbed her hand, turning her towards him. They stared at each other for a bit before Barrett spoke up.

“I...if you...if you need anything, scream, I’ll come running in immediately.”