TBATE-ONESHOTS

The Unbroken Vow 7

Tessia followed the Twin Horns as they walked out of the tavern, entering the streets of Xyrus. Her eyes flicked to Eleanor, who was walking beside Helen, who smiled and spoke with her, wrapping her arm around Eleanor and pulling her close. Tessia's head tilted slightly, noticing Helen's ears.

'Half elf... Like Arthur and Ellie. Is that why they seem so close?'

"Well," Lilia began as she walked beside Tessia, knocking her out of her thoughts. Tessia looked in Lilia's direction as she continued. "At least they all seem nice."

"They are nice," Arthur said, coming to walk on Tessia's left. Tessia huffed as she looked forward, not looking in his direction. "You'll see that after hanging with them for a while."

Tessia remained silent and crossed her arms as they followed the Twin Horns. She could see Lilia out of the corner of her eyes, looking between her and Arthur. 

Lilia scratched the back of her head. "So, um, Arthur, how did you meet the Twin Horns?"

"I went looking for them, actually."

Tessia looked at Arthur out of the corner of her eyes. She watched as he looked in Lilia's direction, and his lips curled, revealing both of his dimples. Tessia's traitorous heart squeezed a little, but she quickly pushed that feeling away. 

"You went looking for them?" Lilia asked, confused. "How did you know to look for them?"

Tessia turned her head more, looking at Arthur, as she too wanted to know the answer. 

Arthur's smile grew a little, "My mother used to be a part of their adventuring group."

Tessia's brows rose as it finally clicked. She remembered hearing about the Twin Horns from Arthur's mother before, who would tell stories about them once in a while at dinner. Tessia's lips curled slightly, remembering his mother's cooking and how kind his mother always was to her. 

"Your mom?" Lilia asked. "She was an adventurer?"

Arthur nodded, "Yep. She's an emitter and was the group's healer."

"Oh, that's so cool!" Lilia exclaimed. "Did you tell your mom? She must be ecstatic!"

Arthur's smile faded, and his eyes fell as a shadow crossed his facial features. 

Tessia's gaze narrowed as she looked at him fully, "Yeah, Arthur, how does your mother feel about that?" Arthur's eyes flicked up, meeting her gaze. "Oh, wait, you wouldn't know, would you? Not since she hasn't heard from you since you left."

Arthur's jaw ticked, an unreadable expression filling his eyes, "Is she okay?"

Tessia scoffed, "What do you care? You just left Elenoir and didn't look back."

Arthur's chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath, "Tess—"

"Save it," Tessia spat, looking forward. "I don't want to hear it."

She noticed Arthur looking at her as an awkward silence fell upon the three of them. As they continued, she noticed Helen stop and look back toward the three of them.

Helen smiled at them as she looked between Lilia and Tessia, "Do you two have everything you need? Or, do either of you need to stop at a store before we enter the Beast Glades?"

Lilia shook her head, "No, we're good."

"You sure?" Arthur asked. "You have rations?"

Lilia nodded, "Yep."

"Sleeping bag?"

"Yep."

"Extra clothes?"

"Yep."