A Journey Across Terra

11

"Yes, that's it...Just keep it going for a second." Quercus said as she observed the floating drift beacon.

"..." Susie had her eyes closed her eyes, staff in hand as she tried her best to concentrate.

"Boo!"

"Wah!" Susie's eyes shot open as she spun around behind her.

*Zap!*

Bolts of electricity rushed out of the beacon and zapped everything. This included Quercus and Yuki who was the culprit for startling Susie.

"Aiya..." Yuki rubbed the tingling sensation out of his arm.

"You meanie! You know I can't control my arts that well." Susie pouted punched Yuki's arm.

"So much for preparing for the mercenaries..." Quercus sighed.

"Of course, we're preparing for the mercenaries. You always gotta keep your mind aware of your surroundings." It was clear that the stress was weighing on Yuki as he tried to lighten the mood. Even though he knew the hight stakes, he didn't want them to be all worried and anxious.

"Of course, that's important but if she can't protect herself, she's as good as a helpless rabbit running from a pack of wolves."

"She's already proven that she has more control of her arts than she ever has." Yuki replied. "She's at the point where I think she can loosen up on the arts training and work on other things."

"Huh, really?" Susie had a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Yuki, I'm the one who knows more about arts here. Just listen to me." Quercus retorted. "Those drift beacons are a lot more fragile than you think. They're not like your scythe or that dagger of yours. If she slips up even one, those beacons will shatter and explode."

"If you knew so much about arts then why did you make me teach her?" The irritation in Yuki's voice grew in every word. "You could have taught her yourself. or maybe hired an actually caster to help her."

"Thats...No, you're the most trustworthy person I know. That's why I chose you."

Susie only looked on from the side as she watched her two of her greatest friends argue about her. She could feel the lump in her throat as she watched them get more and more frustrated at each other.

"G-Guys, can you please break it up." Susie shakily spoke up.

"No Susie! I brought this mess upon you both, so it's my responsibility to keep both of you safe." Yuki's tone carried an undertone of desperation and frustration. "Quercus can fend for herself...But you Susie. you need to know how to fend for yourself in this cruel world."

"Yuki, I'm not saying that you're wrong." Quercus interjected. "It's just that the risk of her arts imploding-"

"An explosion can potentially stun an enemy...But when you don't know where the enemy is, you're as good as dead. Especially if you don't know how do properly defend yourself in closer quarters."

"Ughhhh can you guys stop arguing. My ears are ringing."

On the other side of the pub sat a familiar man. He had a bored look on his face as he casually sat down at one of the tables. For what felt like an eternity, they all stared at each other, waiting for one to move first.

Yuki stood up and walked over to the man in a brisk pace. "What is your name and why are you here?"

"Call me Buzzard. And I think you know why I'm here." A smile grew on the man's face. "Now then Mr Yuki. I have-"

"GET out before we make you get out." Quercus cut the man off as she pointed her staff towards Buzzard.

Buzzard scoffed. "Now now, I'm not after you. I just want to kill this guy one on one."