A Journey Across Terra

17

On the front porch of the green spark, sat Yuki and W. the green spark was currently open, and the pub was full of customers.

Yuki was fiddling around with his newly gifted Kalimba meanwhile W was watching Yuki from the side with a curious look in her eye.

As the Snake boy played the kalimba, patrons entering and exiting the pub, watched on in awe, forming a small crowd, capturing more attention towards the pub. As Yuki played the final note of the song, the crowd erupted into a roar of cheers and applause.

"Haha. Maybe you should abandon the whole worker for hire shtick and become a wandering Bard." W gave Yuki an encouraging nudge.

"Maybe I should. It would be a lot easier on me if I did." The Snake Boy pondered aloud to himself as he played a simple tune with the kalimba. "But it would be a lot more boring like that as well."

"Gee, you weren't supposed to get all serious about it." The Sarkaz girl chuckled.

"I wasn't getting serious about it."

"Riiight. Whatever you say bukko." W glanced towards Yuki as she playfully whipped him in the back with her tail. "You were totally planning to abandon us to become a bard."

"Oi-Come on. You know that hurts." Yuki rubbed the now stinging spot on his back. "And no I was not planning on-"

*Ring Ring*

The ringing from Yuki's phone cut their conversation short.

"Talk about putting your phone on silent during a performance." W said in a mocking tone.

Yuki narrowed his eyes as he hears W's mocking comment before putting a finger to his mouth. "Shush. It's Kalt'sit."

"Eh, that old fossil?" W recoils as she hears this before getting up to go inside of the Green Spark. "I'll meet you inside. I don't wanna deal with her."

"Operator Coral." A stern monotone, almost robotic voice spoke from the other side of the call.

"Kalt'sit."

"That's Doctor Kalt'sit to you." She sighed. "Are you off of your break?"

"Does it matter? You're just gonna drag me into doing something anyway."

"Good. That just means less of a headache for me."

"Good to know you're staying on brand." He said in a dry tone. "So, what is it?"

"You will be tasked with delivering a package of supplies to bolivar."

"Bolivar? On my own?"

"No. You will be with assigned with a team of operators." Kalt'sit clarified.

"So why are we delivering this package to Bolivar?"

"Because Rhodes Island is in bolivar."

"...Yeah, that makes sense." Yuki awkwardly chuckled.

"You're in Victoria, correct?"

"Yes? How'd you know?"

"Quercus informed me on your arrival at the green spark." Kalt'sit continued. "The team of operators are currently on their way onto Caladon to meet you. They should be there in a few days. Alright, that's everything that I must inform you about."

"Wait!" I shouted, catching the attention of a few people passing by.

"What is it?"

"I have an ongoing issue regarding with the mercenary world."

"And?"

"And I want to make sure that we set up some kind of safe word for us to use, in case anything go awry...And especially if I turn."

"...I will debrief you on this matter later. We need to inform the whole team if we do such a thing."

"Of course. Thanks Kal."

"Your welcome. Goodbye Coral." They ended the call there.

"Well, that certainly puts a wrench into my plans." Yuki sighed as he placed his phone into his pocket before heading inside the pub to relay the news.

{ - Adventures Across Terra - }

"Right. Of course." A hooded Lupo sat upon a large boulder, outlooking the afternoon landscape as she finished up a call.

"Crownslayer, what have we been tasked to do?"

"Intercepting a delivery made by Rhodes Island." The Lupo looked up to the blue sky before sighing. "She says it's our way of showing that they are on our radar or something."

"Are you sure we can do it?"

Crownslayer's brows furrowed as she shot a glare at her comrade. "Of course, we can. Don't be stupid."

The comrade stiffened up as she saw the glare being shot in her direction. "Of course. That was stupid of me to ask."

"Don't worry." Despite the mask covering her face, it was evident that there was a smile present on Crownslayer's face. "I know you've been the cautious type."

"Oh, thank you thank you!" They gave Crownslayer a bow of gratitude.

"You can go now." Crownslayer returned to looking back to the sky. "Tell the others we move out tomorrow. We need to locate Rhodes Islanders before we can intercept the delivery."

"Roger that!" The comrade gave an enthusiastic salute as she rushed off to the camp to relay the news.

Crownslayer looked to the sky with a smile as she let out a sigh. "Just another day of work." She proceeded to jump off the rock and wander back into the camp.

{ - Adventures Across terra - }

Within the Bolivarian territory stood a prospering town with a closely knit group of people.

However, that serenity was cut off by the shouting from a burly man. From the entrance of an inn for passing travellers, came out an Elphian man, characterised by his deer-like ears that protruded from his hair and his large, curved antlers that sat above his head.

"That was your last chance!" The man dragged a woman by the wrist and pushed her to the ground just outside the entrance of the inn. "You had one job...And you blew it." The anger and disappointment was practically leaking off of the man.

The woman only looked up to the man with a blank expression. Her messy longish navy-blue hair cascaded over her eyes as she stared at the man.

"What's with that expression?" The man bent down and looked on with a clear look of disappointment on his face. "Have you finally broke?"

She only looked on with a blank stare.

"Good. I hope you rot in the darkest corners of Terra. This is the last time you fail me. I hope I never get to see your sorry excuse of a face." The man tuned around with a huff and walked back into the inn.

It was only after the man slammed the door shut did the woman speak.

"...I'm free?" her hoarse voice barely came out as a whisper as she looked up to the sky, allowing her face to embrace the morning sun.

{ - Adventures Across Terra - }