The Oracle

Chapter 25: Not Going to Lose You

SORA

The six of us immediately meet up with Gambit outside of the gateway before we grab winter wear, the seven of us then setting out for Elvenowl.

"They went directly for Glade," Gambit says as we march through the winter storm that's hitting the mountains at the moment, the darkness beginning to settle in.

"Who even are they?" Kit asks.

"We don't know," Gambit frowns. "All we do know is that they've stolen one of the runestones and we don't know what their intentions could be. We need to retrieve the runestone, no matter what. Especially to save Reverence."

"Of course," Sander nods.

We reach Glade after a few hours, slowed by the storm. Once we reach the village, Gambit leads us to the spa that houses the hot springs and I raise my eyebrows in surprise.

"I am a woman of my word, you know," Gambit looks back at me and smiles. "But that's not why we're here. I promise we'll stop before we leave though."

Gambit pushes open the glass door with wooden trim and a smooth wooden handle just as a small bell rings above our heads and we shuffle into the wooden building. The entrance room consists of polished wooden floorboards, a wooden receptionist's desk with a computer, a fish tank along the back wall, and wooden walls.

Upon hearing us enter, the black haired attendant that was bending down behind the desk stands up and Gambit's eyes widen while the attendant's widen as well.

"Sekai?" Gambit breathes out.

"Hey, Gambit," Sekai smiles and rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, his blue eyes meeting her purple ones. "Long time no see."

"What...what're you doing here?" Gambit asks.

"My grandparents needed help running their business so after you left I decided to come to Glade to help them. What're you doing here?" Sekai asks.

"We had a lead that somebody who stole from the academy came to the hot springs to hide," Gambit explains. "Would you mind if we see your log of customers?"

"I'm sorry," Sekai frowns. "We've only had one person come in tonight because of the storm, and that was one of the women who sort fish at the market. She was in town all day."

"What?" Gambit frowns. "But—"

"Hey, Gambit," Sander says as he looks out the door of the hot springs, a frown forming on his face. "I think we've got a problem."

"What kind of problem?" Gambit frowns and walks over to join Sander at the window.

"An Alakara problem," Kit breathes out.

"Alakara?" Sekai breathes out and rushes to the window.

"That...doesn't look good," Isabella says quietly as we watch two giant Alakara prowl around the village outside, most people having left already.

Gambit activates her gauntlets and goes to reach for the handle of the door just as Sekai grabs ahold of her wrist and she raises her eyebrows in surprise as she looks at him.

"Not without me," Sekai says with a small smile before he presses a button on his silver bracelet and it transforms into a shield with a bunch of metal clicking sounds. "The only customer we had today already left, so there's nobody here for me to protect. I'm coming with you whether you like it or not."

"Alright," Gambit nods, her lips pursed.

"Let's do this," Kit says as she summons her katana and Sander summons his naginata.