19 Let's Imagine: Our Journey Begins!

| Starter Town: Lanier, North-Eastern Gate |

Aiyoma and I wave to the Saki Family as we turn towards the dirt path.

Sakuma waves us goodbye.

"Come back safe! Take care of each other out there!"

Okami waves strenuously.

"You two are the strongest knights ever! I want to see more fights when you come back!"

I hold my hand up and turn back, waving.

"We'll be back before you know it!"

Higashi nods and flashes me a smile.

"Go get 'em, kid."

The trees dance around us as the wind carries petals and leaves of different colors. The dampened dirt from last night's rain feels unusually comfortable but hard to traverse.

Looking over to Aiyoma, she hums a merry tune and looks serene, but her right hand is placed on her scabbard, and the subtle gaze of her eyes says otherwise.

"According to travelers, this way has had an influx of monsters recently. Be on your guard."

I've never seen Aiyoma so serious, other than the time she saved me from that bandit. This must be how she is away from her family.

Walking forward, we're greeted by an intersection with a side posted in the middle. One arrow points to the left, reading 'Sureme,' while the right reads 'Adelade.'

Aiyoma stops in front of the sign and looks sharply to the right clenching her scabbard.

"Something's coming."

I look over to a nearby bush.

"I don't… hear anything,"

Suddenly, a girl with light green hair equipped with a large bow in her hands jumps out of the foliage.

"Tori, stay back!"

A feminine voice yells from the forest line.

A monster with black-leathered skin on all fours with silver tusks charged after her.

The female archer cast an arrow at the monster.

"Miya Gosten!"

The arrow grew in size and sprouted a ferocious flame.

Despite its impressive form, the arrow was merely cast aside from the beast as it closed in on her.

The girl from the wood-line broke past the bush and yelled.

"Tori! No!"

The archer jumped back and grabbed an arrow, but before she could line it in her bow, the monster was in close proximity to her.

"Aiyoma, shouldn't we..." I look to my left and see the mere shadow of where Aiyoma once was.

Aiyoma dashed towards the beast, and it turns in her direction.

It scraps its hooves on the ground, preparing to charge. But before the creature could even move, Aiyoma grabs its neck and holds it up, displaying its massive build.

Aiyoma turns to glare at the archer.

"This path is quite dangerous. If you aren't ranked, you shouldn't be venturing out trying to fight monsters."

"It-It tried to fight us first... We were only defending ourselves!"

Aiyoma turned back to the beast as it squirmed and screeched in her hand, its neck's skin drawing blood.

"I'm sorry for assuming."

Aiyoma beamed her with a smile as she crushed the beast's neck. Its lifeless body fell to the ground.

The girl from the treeline ran over to the archer in concern.

"Tori, are you alright?"

"Yeah... I'm fine... "

Aiyoma raised her hand and threw it to the ground. Black blood from the beast's throat splattered onto the dirt.

"Momoko, shall we be going?"

Aiyoma looked over to me and shifted her head forward.

"Y-yeah," I say hesitantly.

I run after her, passing the two adventurers.

"You saw her medallion. That's one of Phoenia's knights."

The archer's gaze burned me from behind.

"They're as ruthless as the monsters that plague this land."

We continue walking down the dirt road, and Aiyoma continues to hum.

"That was something... You really freaked out those adventurers."

Aiyoma looks down at her hand stained with the black fluids of the deceased creature.

"Knights don't use any magic when they fight. It's all physical. No flashy explosions or intriguing displays."

I suppose… but it seemed like they were a bit freaked out about her being a knight then her way of saving them...

A reddish-orange filled the sky and peaked above the trees. The clouds above us shifted to show the vast sky above us.

"We should camp here for the night."

She pointed towards a huge boulder plastered on the side of the road.

"Fine by me!"

I run towards the massive rock and climb its ridges.

Aiyoma hops once, making a clearing on top of the large stone with ease.

I make it to the final ridge, and Aiyoma bends down to give me a hand.

Taking it, I sprawl out on the miniature mountain.

"All this dam walking! Isn't their teleportation magic?"

Aiyoma draws a circle in the air, and a small white rune appears, dropping a leather canister.

"There is, but it's quite dangerous for everyone except the spellcaster. People have been known to lose limbs and even die."

She hands me the canister.

Good lord?! RPGs make teleportation look so easy. Guess it's one of the many misconceptions about the actual power of magic.

"It's a canister that refills itself with fresh spring water, so drink as much as you want."

Chugging water, I detach it from my mouth, and some liquid expels from my lip.

"That was so refreshing!"

Aiyoma looks into the night sky.

"I think it's time I tell you something very important...about becoming a knight...I mean."

Resting my hands behind my head, I gaze into the dark.

"What is it? Is this about the archer from earlier?"

Aiyoma sighs and bends forward-leaning her hand on her angled leg.

"Kind of... "

I straighten myself up and look at her.

"You see, Momoko... Knights don't have that good of a reputation with the people of this country."

"What do you mean? Don't knights protect people and stuff? How could they be seen badly?"

Aiyoma turns to face the dirt road beneath us.

"It's…not that we don't save people. But many knights have come to use their status to take advantage of citizens. Asking favors of townspeople, making them pay taxes to keep them safe, and since there backed by the capitol, towns are helpless to stop them."

"That's why... "

She dug her fingers into the rock, causing a mark to form.

"... I stay near my town as much as possible to protect it from such crude behavior."

"I had no idea it was like that here."

She turns back to me.

"To answer your question from earlier, those adventurers probably thought I was going to do something; As most knights don't save adventurers unless it's for a reason."

Looking onto her engraved hand, I see it pierce the rock with ferocity. I move towards her and place my hand on top comfortingly.

"Well,"

I lay my back onto the rock

"Screw those knights; I know one that's righteous and strong as hell!"

Aiyoma hand softens and she smiles.

"That's a lovely thing to say. Thank you, Momoko."

She holds her head up, her eyes gleam brightly in the luminary display.

"I wish everyone felt the same way."

. . .