"Okay, so let me get this straight." Said Lio.
"You and master won't be able to return to camp because everyone in the party has claimed to have seen master sacrifice herself. So if she returned not only would she attract suspicion, she would likely be killed on charges of being a spy." Added Lio.
"Precisely." Replied Ren.
"So why can't I just kill everyone involved?" Asked Lio.
"You have a real hotheaded way of thinking." Replied Ren.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Asked Lio.
"Exactly what it sounds like. How would you think Flare would feel about the whole situation?" Replied Ren.
"What does how she feels have to do with anything? As long as the master is safe then everything will be fine and dandy." Said Lio in a cold tone.
"Killing everyone in your way just for the sake of one person... What is going on in that head of yours?" Replied Ren.
"Speak for yourself, hypocrite. Aren't you the one that's willing to sacrifice everything just to protect that Flare girl?" Said Lio.
"WILL THE BOTH OF YOU JUST SHUT UP ALREADY?!" Yelled Suisei as her thoughts are drowned out by the two's bickering.
"I CAN'T EVEN HEAR MYSELF THINK WITH THE TWO OF YOU HERE!" Added Suisei as if she's slowly going insane.
"My apologies master." Replied Lio.
"Calm down- we're both equally as stressed as you are right now." Replied Ren.
"Maybe it'll help if you two stopped arguing and started helping me think of something we can do." Said Suisei in a pissed tone.
"You know, the master does make a good point." Said Lio.
"I- fair enough-" Replied Ren.
"Now then, did the two of you think of anything?" Asked Suisei.
"I personally-" Said Lio before getting cut off.
"Something that doesn't involve a massacre." Interrupted Suisei, knowing exactly what Lio was about to say.
"My apologies." Replied Lio.
"I thought of a few ideas." Said Ren.
"What are they?" Asked Suisei.
"The first idea is to travel north from where we currently are and into the Federation." Said Ren.
"I'm sorry... the what?" Asked Suisei.
"The Federation of Artic States is the closest country in proximity to where we are currently. Although it's close, after we exit the forest and head north it starts getting cold real quick. And from the looks of it, we're quite ill-equipped for that journey." Replied Ren.
"Then why would you suggest that then?" Asked Suisei.
"Quite a few reasons actually. Firstly, it's the option that's closest to us. Secondly, the Federation is a lot more lenient with strangers as long as you stay on the outskirts of the country since they are currently not at war with the demons. Third, although relationships between the two nations aren't the best at the moment, they still welcome refugees of the Kingdom that are fleeing from the demons. Last but certainly not least, they use the Luthenian Mark as their main currency and speak the same language as us." Replied Ren.
"Oh yeah... languages and economics are a thing..." Thought Suisei.
"Alright. What about the other options?" Asked Suisei.
"The second option is to make our way south and into Artemis." Replied Ren.
"Elaborate. I'm still not very familiar with the politics and geography of this world." Said Suisei.
"The Grand Duchy of Artemis and Sarion or Artemis for short is a country situated on the southeastern edge of the continent. It's would take us almost double the amount of time to reach but the journey there is relatively safer compared to going north. Even though they are at war with the demons, their refugee policy is quite lenient as well. Although, their relationship with the Kingdom isn't great either." Replied Ren.
"Wow. Is this Kingdom really going on and pissing off everyone?" Asked Suisei.
"It's not really the Kingdom's fault per se. The Duchy of Artemis is just being petty over a territorial dispute that was settled over a decade years ago." Replied Ren.
"For some reason, I doubt that's the only reason." Said Lio.
"Yeah, that sounds quite sketchy if you ask me." Added Suisei.
"It is what it is." Replied Ren.
"Anyways, option three is to just stay in the Empire and lay low while being undetected." Said Ren.
"That's a definite nope. They require you to show your identification just to buy some fruit. Also, if word somehow got out that we were alive and staying undercover... Let's just say it won't end pretty." Replied Suisei.
"I'm glad that I'm at least stuck in this kind of situation with a competent person of reason." Said Ren.
"So what's the plan master?" Asked Lio.
"We're heading north." Replied Suisei.
"Sounds like an excellent plan, master." Said Lio, praising Suisei for the idea.
"I came up with that idea, y'know." Replied a slightly annoyed Ren.
"Be quiet and appreciate what all the master has done for you." Said Lio.
"Apart from reviving me, what else has she done for me?" Asked Ren.
"You ungrateful pig." Replied the annoyed Lio as he raised his hand in an attempt of casting a spell.
"I swear to god. If the two of you start arguing again." Said Suisei in a soul-piercing tone as a menacing aura started to radiate off of her.
"It was a joke- calm down-" Replied Ren, completely frightened as he felt a chill down his spine.
"My apologies, master." Replied Lio, equally frightened.
YOU ARE READING
Dancer in the Dark
FantasyHoshimachi Suisei is a world-renowned idol and songstress. One day she decided to take a short nap after her concert but she suddenly woke up in a world of swords and magic. She is soon belittled and ridiculed by others since she was cursed with the...
