MHA Fantasy Quest for the SOL

Part 17: A plague of Trouble

The party spent the night at that inn, and in the morning, they mutually agreed to just spend the rest of their break there. Momo wanted to explore the village (to shop) and Shoto offered to go with her. He wished to avoid Shota and Emi's presence. Camie said it was significant that Shoto preferred shopping with Momo to enduring that. "Mark my words," she told the other girls "Something is going on there." "Camie, don't be crass," Kyoka said. "That's disrespectful." "No it's not, you're not sworn in yet." Camie argued. "It's still disrespectful!" Kyoka raised her knife. "What does she mean, not sworn in?" Ochako asked innocently. Kyoka sighed "It's just a technicality." Came gestured nonchalantly. "The Southern Tribe makes you swear an oath to be their full member, but you have to be finished with your trial time." "How long is that?" Ochako asked.                                                                                                                                                                                                  "It depends...what was it for you... three years, right?" Camie said. "Say, your time is almost up, Kyoka, you really put off going to see the world until there was a major crisis, sheesh. I'd never take that oath." "Camie, you're a hopeless flirt, no one would ever take your oath seriously," Kyoka said dryly. Camie didn't seem offended by this jab. "So, I like to have fun, and I don't hate boys, so what? The rule is stupid." "Why do you have to swear off boys?" Ochako asked. "It's to keep us focused on serving the goddess and the tribe," Kyoka explained. "Otherwise we have to leave." "They excommunicate you?" Ochako said. "I mean, we can still talk to them, but we can't be a part of their official events and maneuvers" Kyoka said. "It makes sense, if someone wants to go off and have a family, why should we make them risk their lives in battle all the time? It's not fair to the children is it?" "I guess not," Ochako admitted. "But we do call on them if we need reserves," Kyoka added. "So, I've met a few, they aren't so bad... but they aren't like the rest of us."                                                                                                                                                             "Because they have a sense of humor," Camie said. "They aren't focused on fighting anymore," Kyoka corrected saltily. "They just want to talk about their families and villages, I never feel like a real part of the conversation." "Oh, but that's just normal stuff," Ochako said. Kyoka frowned. "Is it?" Ochako wasn't sure what to say to that. Mina looked up at them. "It sounds a little strange to me... So what do you do to decide? Just go out and look at other people and think 'do I see myself with them'?" "It's different for everyone, some people only need a month to figure it out." Kyoka said. "They make all of us go on quests at least once to decide, but it doesn't have to be long. I'll probably not bother going on another one after this. I think I know what I want." "I see," Ochako said. "Well, it's good to know what you want... but even though we're adults and all, I think I still don't know everything I want in life. A decision like that seems so final." "What will you do if your precious princess ends up deciding she likes the real world?" Camie said, Kyoka stiffened.                                                                                                                              "You must have noticed how much she's enjoying this," Camie said casually, tugging her hair. "It's not like she's subtle about it. She doesn't mind boys either, you know. Everyone's just a person to Princess Momo, she's weird like that... She might stick around. Maybe she'll join a different tribe. What then?" "You don't know anything, Camie," Kyoka crossed her arms. "Momo knows her duties." "What duties? It's not a requirement for her to take that stupid oath to do her duties," Camie said. "But you just said--" began Ochako. "She neglected to tell you that Paladins are different," Camie said. "Some Paladins are men, you know, the goddess doesn't care. You can be a part of the regular world and be a Paladin, though it's harder, that's why they live in the tribe, for protection, but if you wanted to risk it... and maybe it wouldn't be so bad. The tribe couldn't just say a Paladin couldn't do their job, so there has to be exceptions. Kyoka knows that, she's just in denial because she doesn't want her best friend to ditch her. 'Course, you could just leave the tribe too--"                                                                                                                                              Kyoka kicked Camie off the rock she was sitting on, then stormed away. "Wow..." Mina was shocked. "Are you okay?" Ochaco helped Camie up. "That wench!" Camie rubbed her side. "She's just mad that I'm right." "Camie, maybe you shouldn't push it so much, she's kind of sensitive." Ochaco said. Camie just shrugged. "Well, thanks for explaining," Mina said, "I was dying to ask about their tribe for days now, and I couldn't work up the nerve because she's so defensive about it. But why doesn't your tribe have that rule, Camie?" "Oh, my parents outlawed it," Camie said casually. "After they got together, my mom decided it was silly, and we made it a test of strength to join us. Our motto is, if you've got the grit, we don't care whether you're a boy or a girl. And what's wrong with getting married then? Makes matching up partners way less of a hassle." "You warriors are so weird," Mina said. "But why is your tribe a bandit tribe?" Ochaco asked. "Oh, we don't steal that much," Camie said. "Mostly that's just to prank people... we steal from the Dark Forces and from other jerks like that. They just spread the rumor that we settle from everyone so no one would trust us. But, we don't really care, since it makes us more intimidating." She shrugged again. "But...that's not nice, if everyone thinks you're really bad people." Ochaco said. "Can't worry about what everyone thinks," Camie said.