The Adrift Oath

Chapter XVII: Eye for an Eye

Fae threw up all the little she had inside her stomach down on the dirt of the woods, her left hand on the tree that was in front of her using it as a support while her right hand held her aching stomach

"Sister, are you okay?"A voice called out to her ever so softly, but Fae couldn't even reply as her body kept trying to regurgitate whatever it felt the need to throw out

Yuna had a worried expression plastered on her face alongside her furrowed eyebrows, she always felt the need to protect Fae but what could she do now?

All she could do was put a hand on Fae's back to try and comfort the coughing woman, which Yuna hoped was the reason her friend's coughing finally settled down, spitting on the ground all the saliva she had in her mouth before breathing heavily, her head on the arm she had against the tree

Yulia finally caught up with Fae as she walked over to her with a concerned face

"Are you feeling better?" Yuna asked her while the guild master finally joined Fae's side, the same Fae who could but only nod as she felt that the only thing she vomited was her life force, her body was weak and her breathing heavy, if anything, she didn't feel better in the least

"Let's just go back, please" Fae told them, both Yuna and Yulia looked at each other before they agreed with her, the state she was in was the worst the women saw their mutual friend ever be in

"Alright Fae, let's head home" Yulia presented a hand for Fae to take but the latter didn't but give Yulia a pat on the shoulder

"It's fine I can walk, thanks" Fae gave Yulia a nod without eye contact before she passed by her and slowly walked back on the path they took, the guild master wasn't very pleased with the denial of her help as that action alone was the water that nurtured her already overgrown worries

"She just needs some time to recover" Yuna told Yulia, who looked at the blade woman before she gave her a forced smile, one that hid what she was thinking

"I hope so too" She then handed Yuna a nod before the latter melted away in the air, and the former joined Fae

The walk back to the group was silent for both of the women, Fae had no intent to speak her mind while Yulia just didn't know how to do so

They arrived back at the temporary camp that they've set up just in time for everybody to pack up and leave, their mission was a resounding success and what they've wanted, they've got, all but for one who's received more questions than answers tonight

And so they walked back home, Siegfried's injuries pained him but it wasn't enough to compromise his mobility while the rest sustained superficial wounds

"Hm?" Fae's shoulder was gently pushed as she walked in the middle of the group, she turned her head to meet the shadow emerald eyes of Claude, although she could barely discern them with the faint moonlight

She looked at him with a curious eyebrow, not uttering any more words until he quickly shook his head, it wasn't a sign of disagreement but more of a sign of worry, as if he asked her what preoccupied her mind

"Are you asking if something's wrong?" Though the woman made sure that she didn't take his intent wrongly, and she didn't, depicted in the form of a slow nod that the knight gave to her

"Nothing's wrong, I'm just tired" She gave him a weary smile and a nod of appreciation that he returned with one of understanding, another voice interjected itself into the conversation

"Not joining us for a drink tonight?" Myles stood to Claude's side with who now was in the middle of the former and Fae

"I'll have to refuse sorry" Fae replied to the second knight who then smiled