Summoner's Second Chance

Chapter 26

The loud sounds of a pack of birds flying away woke Trace from his slumber. He quickly grabbed his sword, and his crossbow, and silently went to Alice's tent. He shook Alice as she was sleeping, and after a few attempts, she woke up. Still in a daze, Alice opened her mouth to ask, but Trace quickly covered her mouth, and put a finger on his. Trace slowly closed the tent, being very careful to not make a sound. A few moments of nerve-wracking silence later, a shadow can finally be seen. Trace intentionally let the campfire burn, so he can see the shadow of the things that came to attack them. But the shadow he saw was strangely human-like.

Trace slowly part the tent's cover, and saw a man scratching the back of his head. From his clothing, he doesn't seem to be with the Black Moon, but Trace couldn't be too careful. He sneaked up behind the man, and quickly strangled the man. "H-Hey... it's me..." The man tapped Trace's arms a few times, and Trace lets him go. His voice was familiar to him, for it was Gilbert's voice. Gilbert coughed a few times and glared at Trace. "You trying to murder me?!" Trace heaved a sigh as a wave of relief washed over him. He smiled at Gilbert and grinned. "Sorry about that. I couldn't see your face very clearly."

Gilbert sighed exasperatedly. As he look around, his eyes was strangely fixated at one point, and Trace followed his gaze. In the tent was Alice, but her clothes was very disheveled. Much of her skin was visible for Trace and Gilbert to look. Trace quickly pulled out a piece of cloth from his dimensional bag, and threw it towards Gilbert's face. He then pointed at Alice's clothes a few times. Alice was confused by the meaning of Trace's action, but as she looked down on herself, she realized that her clothing had come loose, and closed the tent's cover.

Trace looked back at Gilbert and he still had that piece of cloth over his face. With muffled voice, Gilbert spoke out. "My friend... Such a wonderful life you are living." Trace was slightly irritated by Gilbert's words, and threw a bag filled with herbs to his friend's face. "If you weren't such a lecher, then this 'wonderful life' you are seeking isn't that far off the horizon." Trace placed a hand over his face and sighed, leaving Gilbert lying down on the ground.

"Alice? Are you done?" "Y-Yes..." Alice's voice was somewhat meek, but it is to be expected. A woman of her stature are not allowed to show her skin to just anybody, and yet Trace and Gilbert managed to catch a glimpse of it. Trace sighed with a slight smile on his face, and entered the tent. There, he saw Alice sitting on her knees on top of the makeshift bed Trace made. Her face was flushed red, and her knees shifts every once in a while. "Did you see?" Alice's voice trembled as embarrassment got the better of her. "Did you see?!" Alice repeated her question, this time louder.

Trace calmly shook his head and smile. "Do you swear by the Gods?" Alice's words are becoming more and more exaggerated, but Trace still maintained his composed smile on his face. "If it will make you feel better, then yes. I swear by the Gods." Trace was the one who woke her up while she was sleeping, so of course he saw her as clear as day. Trace decided to calm the girl in front of him instead of embarrassing her even further, that's why he had to lie. "I-I see... Then I see no problem." Alice stood up and left the tent, her footsteps rushed. Trace lets out a small chuckle, and followed her out after collecting the leathers and the sheet.

Gilbert is already on his feet, and he raised his hand as Trace came out. "Ready to go?" Trace nodded. "Then let's go. Everyone is very worried. It's almost sunrise, so we should be able to see better soon enough." Gilbert lead the way, his steps are without hesitation as he traversed through the forest. "Mr. Ironfist, how did you find us?" Gilbert turned his head toward Alice and shrugged. "I just know where you are... I guess?" Gilbert seems to be as confused as Alice are, but Trace knew the reason. "Gilbert, did I not tell you that Earth element Summoners are great at locating people?" Gilbert threw his eyebrows up in confusion, and Alice seems to be as confused as he is.