Spirit Hunters

Chapter 2: Good Bye

The town priest handed a small booklet to Leon and Erika, It was the information booklets that was said to be written by goddess Luna herself.

"I remember these! My dad showed me them when I was younger." Leon spoke enthusiastically.

Erika replied "Well then, you can tell me all about it!" 

The priest suddenly stepped forward and stopped their small conversation. "There's no time for small talk! Its time for you two to go get ready and set off to the big wild world in search for spirit beasts."

"Right now?!" Erika's voice was unsteady as she looked at her frost tiger.

"Yes! Now no dawdling and pick up the pace!." The priest pushed both of them by the back and wished them good luck. The townspeople was just staring at the both of them waiting for the two to get a move on. And so Leon and Erika walked back to their houses to pack up all their belongings and say good bye to their families. 

Leon walked Erika back home first and stopped still at the doorway. "Ok this is it Erika, this is what I've been waiting for and its finally happening!" His dragon was sitting on his shoulder looking intensely at Erika's tiger.

"Yes I know, you go on about it all the time Leon..."

"So lets meet at the fountain at 9:00, okay?"

"Okay then, meet you at 9:00!" Erika waved as Leon set off back to his own home. 

Erika stepped through her door and her mom was already at the door waiting for her to return home. Layla is probably at the festival with her own friends if its that quiet once the door was opened...

"I already heard the news, that you had been chosen to be a spirit hunter..." Erika's mother looked at her with watery eyes. 

Surprisingly her mother wasn't shocked at the fact that Ericka's beast was a tiger. "Oh look how beautiful you spirit beast is darling! Its eyes resembles your own. Its looks so pretty!"

"Oh sorry! I forgot you have to leave soon... you better go up and pack your things." Her mom held back the tears by blinking them away. But Erika know's she will cry sooner or later. Erika ran up the stairs to her room and each wooden floor board creaked gently. Obviously she only packed the important things, but she also put a picture of her family in her bag just for memories. It didn't take Erika long to pack and a few minutes later she was walking back down the stairs. She looked at her watch and it was 10 to 9:00. It was nearly time to leave...

Before Erika opened the front door she called out to her mother and she came over quickly. Erika gave her mom a heartwarming hug and she burst into tears. 

"Mom, don't cry or you will make me cry too..." Erika sniffled and let go slowly. A tear fell rolled down her cheek but she wiped it away.

"Darling, we are all going to miss you so much!"

"I know.. and I will too..but I have to leave now, Leon is waiting for me by the fountain. Tell dad and Layla that I said good bye."

"Yes okay..." She opened the door until it couldn't open any further. "Have a safe trip and make sure you come back young lady, don't go running off with Leon and then getting married together!" Her mother chuckled while Erika grew red and smiled. Erika jogged out the door to a fair distance but when she turned around you could still see the light that was shining from the open door, the figure of her mother was still standing by the door way waving at a gentle and flowing pace.

"Don't worry mom, I'll be back before you can say my name!" She shouted with her hands cupped to her mouth. As Erika's mother closed the door a soft whisper came out of her mouth. "Erika..." But the more she said her name, the further she was away from the door.

Erika turned to her frost tiger and said "Come on then, lets go create pacts with spirit beasts together!" the tiger nodded and Erika was surprised but maybe they can understand their language? Who knows? 

"Oh no I completely lost track of time its already quarter past 9" Erika picked up her jog to a sprinting pace and got there within the next 2 minutes. Leon was sitting by the fountain with his spirit beast looking left to right. "Hey, Sorry I was late... Did you wait long?"

"No, I only just go here anyway." He laughed and touched the back of his head, which means he's lying but Erika looked at the ground and smiled to herself discreetly.

"So I was thinking we should head north because thats the royal city and we can get loads of useful items there!" He suggested.

"Does that mean we get to visit Lynn and Sven?!, I miss them so much, we havent seen them in months." Erika pictured the last time they saw each other.

"Of course, thats another reason to be there because they have been our best friends since childhood!"