The Life I Gained From Dying

Chapter 42 - Reunion of Embers

Twenty-five minutes prior.

"Guys, maybe we should try and find an adult now." Tanner suggested. "We've wandered around this place for a whole day now, and we haven't found Jay or any of the others."

"I just need food." Mano replied while rubbing his belly.

"Camie, what if we were the only ones that got teleported down here?"

"Then do you think the people here are going to be kind to us?" Camie questioned.

"How do we know they won't?" Tanner responded, firing back at her.

"Look at where we come from! Ignus... our home... is a bad place. You guys saw how the people in Himawari looked at us and treated us when we first went there. Then, because of us, they were attacked. I wish I had grown up on the water continent. Everyone is nice to each other, and they're living peacefully. I only want a piece of that life... All our people do is break apart that peace. If I were them, I wouldn't want us in here."

There was a brief moment of silence as Tanner and Mano solemnly looked at each other.

"...Well, I think you're missing something out." Tanner exclaimed. "No matter what those people thought about us, they still helped us in the end. Because, like you said, they're all nice people. Back in Himawari, they took us in and gave us shelter. Moya and Noya didn't even hesitate to help us when we met them. I'd like to think the people of Aestus wouldn't turn their backs on three kids in need of help."

There was no hiding the uncertainty on Camie's face, but Tanner's words left an obvious impact on her.

"We'll be fine, Camie." Mano reassured her. "They might even help us find Jay and the others."

"Oh, be quiet! You're only thinking with your belly!" Camie fired back at Mano.

"That's better than not thinking at all."

Following that remark from Mano, the three shared a moment of innocent laughter.

"Well, where do we go?" Camie asked.

"Oh! I saw a building through the bushes over here. Follow me!" Mano stated as he ran back up the path.

Tanner and Camie followed closely behind him, and within half a minute, they were in sight of the building Mano had mentioned.

"Wait, what is that?" Tanner questioned, pointing at something near the building.

A phosphorescent ball of blue light floated around in the open.

"It's pretty." Camie stated.

"Let's check it out." Tanner suggested as he went ahead without waiting for the other two to answer.

Mano and Camie eventually followed behind him but were visibly acting a bit more cautious than Tanner was in this situation. As they approached the light, they quickly realized that it was a flame floating in the air. It was a will-o'-wisp. Tanner stopped about one foot in front of the ghost like flame and casually lifted his hand out toward it.

"It doesn't even feel hot." Tanner exclaimed. "It's like a cold flame."

"I think we should leave it alone." Camie suggested.

"One second, I wanna see something."

Tanner concentrated on the will-o'-wisp, then carefully moved his hand to the side, moving the flame with it.

"We can use our fire essence on it!" Tanner said in excitement.

SPLOOSH!

Without a warning, a torrent of water crashed into Tanner and sent him rolling several feet.