THE ARCHAIC SKY

CHAPTER: THE DISTANT PAST'S RETURN

a voice seemed to complain yet fear corrupted their tone. "We- we're going to get in deadly trouble, she's the council's favored envoy did you forget? Not to mention the instructors.."

"Yeah, yeah, shut up will you? Your whining is annoying and I've heard it all before" his familiar voice sickened her, churning her stomach. "The famed powerful librarian. The favorite of the council. An eye candy to adventurers and travelers. The future herald of Higana- enough. I'm sick of it. Besides, you came to me because you're desperate. Because you don't want her to become the herald as much as me"

"But still... we didn't need to capture her... and bring her here of all places"

"Shh, look, she's waking up already" Amara's attempt to unravel the bonds on her wrists were soon noticed. The sack that had eliminated her vision was removed from her head. Blinding her with the amount of light that had suddenly appeared, she squinted her eyes. "Ah, rise and shine, pretty girl, a wonderful day is ahead of us"

Amara's eyes dart to the scorching sun above them, allowing her to adjust to the brightness faster. "it's noon, you idiot, and- ugh, why would it be a wonderful day when I have to see your ugly face"

"Why thank you for lessening our burden on making sure you're really awake" he replied, an obnoxious grin on his lips. All he does is smile yet Amara could tell he's never happy. Greed, bloodlust, chaos, that's all that was in his mind. Why wouldn't it be? It's Orias after all. "Help her up, we're only halfway there" without getting even a moment to adjust, Amara was hoisted to her feet. When a single sound of struggle escapes her lips however, Orias's eyes spark with interest. A laugh, leaving his. "Oh... now, don't be like that, I'm already being nice, resist any more and I'll have to stop being so"

His eyes widen for but a moment, his eyes sharper than ever as if hinting at the blade he carried. Orias had always been driven to succeed where she didn't. he could wield many weapons when Amara could only master one, her scythe. He could use a claymore, using its heavy momentum to wield it with ease, he could use a sword as if it were a spear and he could use a bow that was imbued with his gift. The one thing he has yet to manage to use skillfully was a polearm. "You know... I'm sure it's been a while since I've met your sister"

"I don't care about what happens to her"

"Oh? then you won't mind if I kill her... or worse?" Amara remained quiet. Didn't mind being pushed or pulled around at the field. What was a shame was that she didn't get the faces of the two who stood guard with her? As they were wearing their mask and on their heads were large circular hats. A Kasa, like veilless uchikatsugi. They were in their uniform, as was Amara, yet even with that, it could still cause misunderstandings about the seikatsu as a whole.

The four crossed fields and ran around mountains as long as the sun remained in the sky. if only Amara had spent more time out instead of behind a book, maybe she would have more stamina when it comes to travelling. No. maybe if the council had allowed her to register to the adventurer's guild as well, she would have been able to travel the world as a wandering vagrant, hopping form nation to nation and experiencing life under the vast welkin.

They arrived right at sundown. The sky glazed with hues such as cherry red, coral pink and a deep lavender purple. The once blue cloudless sky now a mix of colors she preferred over cyan. Where they arrived? A small settlement. A rather peaceful village cradled between two mountains dense of bamboo forests. A large red inari style torii gate in its entrance along with two Qilin statues.

The houses were rather simple. Wooden walls of ivory white with pale worn out blue roofs. There was a mill near the waterfall that casted a river through the chasm. As they walked through the entrance, Amara could catch a glimpse of the bulletin board. "Sightings of a magnificent mythical beast in the furthest, deepest, densest part of the bamboo forest"