The Adrift Oath

Chapter XVI: The Domino Effect

And so the party pushed forward and away from the safety of Freesia, delving deeper into a forest that had quite the mysteries itself, and the one they tackled on today was the Chimera

William led the party and acted as the vanguard followed closely by Lucy while Claude and Myles were the last, protecting the rearguard in case of any ambush that might catch them off guard

That left the adventurer's party in the middle, while at the center was Fae and Siegfried, as a mage he had to be protected so he could focus with his spells that might leave him exposed to attacks

That was the composition that they chose as they wandered within the woods, what they did not know however, was that Yuna herself stalked around close to the party looking for the beast or any tracks that might lead the party to its lair, her soft voice resonating inside Fae's mind and telling her of what her spectral blue eyes could see

"How are you faring?" Although the voice she now heard was anything but Yuna's, prompting her to raise an eyebrow and look to her right side

"Oh, hello Siegfried" She greeted the mage as both of them spoke softly as to not drown out any noise around them

"I'm doing alright, what about you?" She asked back, bringing a smile out of the young man, Fae herself wasn't sure of his age but she was certain he couldn't be older than her

"Fine as well" He replied with a slow nod that accompanied the previous smile

"I asked since the last time we met you didn't look so well, I'm glad you're doing better though" She remembered that he was referring to when she and Yulia exited from that dungeon after meeting with Yuna for the first time

"Much better" She ended her words with a chuckle that the other couldn't but smile to, though he did have other things to ask

"I'm also curious about your magical knowledge" His words made her raise an eyebrow in attention

"What kind of spells do you know of that would be useful in the battle?" While he continued Fae gave a small smile

"It all depends on what you know" And that same smile that Fae had, quickly turned into a smug smirk as she was pleased with the curious expression Siegfried made

"How so?" He asked her a question she was pleased to answer, but for that, she needed an example

"Can you bring up a tiny flame?" Siegfried's curiosity made him not even think about her request as he raised his thumb that was the surface of ignition for a small flame

As they walked together in the middle of the group, Fae raised her right hand and more specifically, she put the tip of her index finger next to that innocent looking flame

Siegried's eyes slightly widened as that flame of his quickly escaped from his thumb to wrap around Fae's finger, almost like she stole his own strength

"That's beautiful" His eyes were wide while his tone had a touch of shock and awe

"Hehe" The other could barely hold herself from the praise she has gotten while the flame that was dancing around her index finger quickly vanished away

"So you can use a mage's spells against them? I'm glad to not be on your bad side" Siegfried told the now laughing Fae

"I'll take the compliment" And so the both of them were seemingly pleased to put an end to their conversation, focusing back again on finding any tracks that might help them in their search for the beast

Yet it was to no avail, the group spent hours and hours back to back looking for any trail, any track, or any footprints that would lead them to their quarry but it almost seemed like the Chimera itself was just a figment of the witnesses' imagination, though Fae would put a hard disagreement on that statement