God Hunter

Chapter 22: Rest

Two days after the battle in the forest, the team gathered around the holomap.

"Looks like the next shrine is in the city of Apache," began James "It's a desert area. There, we will find the shrine of Lozen."

"To think, we only have two more weapons to find," said Illya.

"My pilgrimage will be complete," said Anastasia.

"It will take us a little over a week to get there. We should take the time to continue healing and resting," said James.

The meeting was then dismissed. James took his place at the wheel and continued driving. Tacker went up to the front with him.

"I've been meaning to ask you James, why are you the one always driving?" Tracker asked.

"Its my job," he replied.

"I'm sure there's more than that."

James sat silently a moment before responding.

"Well, I like it. Being a child of the earth, the moment you touch the round, whether it is concrete or dirt, you feel movement of everything around you. Sometimes it is a long to take in. Forests make things difficult. Even so, I hate being up high. It's comforting being close to the ground. I like driving because it is one of the only times I can use my feet without feeling everything going on around me. Why do you always wear that mask Tracker?"

"It's to cover a wound I sustained long ago," Tracker replied.

"You know you can take it off here. No one will judge. We've all got our wounds," James replied.

"Well, I could ask you the same. You never seem to take off your helmet," Tracker chuckled.

"Touché. Anyway, I have a question. How did you and Kydaana meet?"

"I found her wandering alone.

As Tracker and James talked, Illya and Kydaana were upstairs in Anastasia's room. They were just simply talking.

"It's interesting. You two are sisters yet you look drastically different from one another," Kydaana said.

"Yeah. We are half-sisters. We have the same father. Anastasia is much older than I am," Illya said with a smile.

"Yes. Illya here looks like a good blend between Re and father. She has his hair and of course the Elven ears but her mother's eyes and horns," said Anastasia.

"What happened?" Kydaana asked.

"My mother passed away when I was still a child. Father married the Sun Goddess Re. At first, to be honest, I hated Re. I did not care that she was a God. I hated her because I thought she made him forget about my mother. I was wrong though. I love Re. She has treated me well and of course I love all of my siblings," said Anastasia.

"Oh, I see," Kydaana said.

"What about you and Tracker? The two of you seem very close," asked Illya.

"I ran away from my village while I was young. I had always a strong affinity for mana despite being Human. Due to the cold of home, I always manifested it as ice because it is what I am familiar with," said Kydaana.

"Why did you run away?" asked Anastasia.

"I could never be what my people wanted me to be. Someone like them. They thought I was a curse. When I left, the blizzard had almost killed me. Tracker found me and nursed me back to health. Since then, we traveled together. He trained me how to fight. The weapons I wield were once his."

Kydaana was silent but then a smiled appeared on her face.

"Tracker made me realize something. When all I saw was darkness and hatred, he showed me the good within others."

The week had passed.

By now, they were close to Apache. The desert was full of cacti, mesas, and buttes. As they followed the road, moving ever closer, two men on horseback carrying rifles approached the side of the vehicle. They were wearing buckskin shirts. Their hair was long and black. They wore large red headbands. James looked at them and they signaled for the vehicle to pull over. He rolled down the window.

"What are you doing here?" the man asked as he rode up next to the window.

"We have business in Apache. What's the problem?" James asked.

"Don't you know? There's an attack going on. All are to stay away."

"An attack? We can help. We have some skilled warriors."

"It's not that easy. We have Servants attacking."

"Servants?" James said with surprise "Well, we're with the God Hunters and-."

"God Hunters? They sent more of you?" the man asked.

"You mean there's others here?"

"Yes. Lozen told us that an attack would be imminent and two warriors would arrive followed by five others."

"Funny you mention that. We came here to see Lozen."

"Follow us."

The two men lead the vehicle down the road. In the distance, storm clouds were gathering.