Blossom Fable

Chapter 25

Fleeing in the night only sounds romantic in the novels. When there's fire involved, it also calls for a whole lot of thoughts about death. I call out to the goddess for help, and when I don't get an answer, I move to the brother god. Wouldn't he care that the rest of my soul is about to turn to ashes?

The fires of the villas spread outward to the forest. In short, there's no escaping the licks of flame. Mist goes ahead and scouts for us, leading us through the trees. This way, Hope, this way! No, not that way!

I scream out for my party to follow me. Eventually, we bump into other parties who are also leaving the smoke of Saria. In the meantime, I hear firefighters begin to combat the Following's damage, but I can't tell whether all the perpetrators have left yet or whether they are still setting things ablaze.

My heart expands, and my breath catches too many times to count. Mist flies through the boughs, doing his best to lead us away. Eventually, he blasts my mind with his voice one more time. I think this is the road back to the main city!

I follow the dragon through several bushes, almost doubting him for a second before we come across the main road. Yes, this is where the caravan traveled to take us to Saria in the first place. And now, I make out the wedding guests fleeing down this road. The Following? Nowhere in sight. I wouldn't put it past them to have a secret village near Saria, where they are guarded from the flames approaching.

"I guess we just have to keep going," I say. I glance behind me. The fire has been subdued a bit, and we are in no risk of being eaten up and burned if we stay on this road. As long as we keep pushing in the opposite direction.

Let's make it quick, Mist tells me. I would love to catch an early breakfast. I heard Vilia is famous for their fried fish?

I refuse to scoff just as Juno accurately guesses once again that Mist is thinking about food. I help Princess comb down her hair, which has been caught in several twigs and branches. Avery looks shook up, but she gives me a reassuring smile. I know that she would never be caught dead losing her cool.

"There are several hotels on the road home," Princess says. "We can stay there, then catch a ride back to the city. Then, we can visit my family home if you all would like."

"I'd love that, Princess," Juno says.

The first hotel that we reach is already packed with the first of the fleeing crowd, so we move to the next one. Mist perches on the highest tree as he announces in my mind. This one is to my liking.

Thankfully, the second hotel looks like we would be at least able to find a room. The receptionist shivers behind her desk, looking shaken as she adjusts the lantern to full brightness. She tries to raise her voice while dealing with several begruntled new guests—apparently, she just learned of the fire, and she's trying to calm everyone down.

Mist's entrance shocks her even more, and she almost falls over while beholding the dragon. I quickly step in front of Mist, and eventually she begins to take one person's request at a time.

The off-the-beaten-path Vilia hotel looks like it could date several centuries back. Still, it looks clean and has five stories. It also took inspiration from Vilia with its brighter interior and array of flowers that hang from the rafters and bloom from vases. As the frightened newcomers begin to climb the stairs to settle into their rooms, my party and I finally get a chance to talk to the receptionist.

Avery uses a measured voice and reserves two rooms for us. One on the fourth floor and one on the fifth. I give a long embrace to both Princess and Avery before we part, and I hold each girl extra tightly to remind myself that yes—we made it out of the fires, and the Following failed in harming us no matter how long they were planning the attack.