To Beauty's great sorrow, the second day after they set out towards the Eyrie was one of those accursed hot days that were impossible to bear. Blue locks clung to her forehead, sticky with sweat. Above, the crimson sun bled all over the sky, dying it a light red. When the wind blew, it offered very little comfort, as it brought only warmth with it. They walked through the woods, through pastures, avoiding the paved roads, where the heat would be even less tolerable.
This was only the first day of many until they reached the Eyrie, yet by sunset Reika was already nearing collapse. If it was like this for much longer, she didn't know how she'd carry on, but she had no choice, so carry on she would, despite the pain. This climate never suited her, but the worst thing was never knowing when the day would dawn in hellish heat or pleasant cold, and she had little hope that the next days would be much better.
By her side, Nozomi looked just as pitiful, panting and sweating even though she rolled up her sleeves and tried to cool herself with a shabby but colorful fan that Pinceau had given her. Carrying Coco on her shoulder certainly didn't make things better, though she didn't complain about that. It didn't seem to help much, so Reika knew that soon it would be time to rest. It was getting dark, anyways, so finding shelter would be the wisest choice.
Not too far from where they stood, they could see a small wooden house next to a great plantation. The farmlands were mostly wilted, its crops black, tiny and lifeless, although sometimes Beauty could see a little color amidst the desolation, and there she would find a surprisingly resilient fruit that managed to survive this long. She and Nozomi harvested whatever they could, as they knew they could waste nothing they found, and the food the Doughnut Kingdom had given them would almost certainly not be enough to last them the entire journey. Despite King Donuts' generosity, his country had little to spare, and the two leaving Cures insisted not to take more than what was sensible.
"Once we get there," Reika pointed at the house, "we should take shelter for the night."
"I can go further," Nozomi said. "We don't have to stop now, it's not even nighttime."
"You don't seem so well," Reika said. "I can tell you're exhausted. It's better for us to get some rest."
"We don't have time to rest," Nozomi insisted. "Egret needs us. I don't want to be too late to help her."
"I agree with Reika," Coco spoke out. "What's the point of getting to the Eyrie quickly if your body is too frail to fight?"
"But… I-"
"I know you have the best intentions, but it's wiser for us not to wear ourselves more than we can take. We will rest, and then we'll have plenty of energy so that we can continue our journey tomorrow."
"Alright," Nozomi sighed. "I just wish I didn't get so tired, not when there's someone needing help."
"I understand that," Reika said gently as they set out towards the house. "But to help others, we must first help ourselves, no? We know our limits, which are greater than those of most because we are Precure. But even so we must take care of our bodies."
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm just eager, that's all. Since we met each other, things have been going really well. When the stars went out, everything seemed so hopeless and grim, but now it looks like we can actually make things better."
"We can, definitely," Reika said. "I'm happy you think that way, even if you do get a little bit too excited."
"Heh," Nozomi grinned. "I guess I do."
