The Lightning Mage

Chapter six -Trenslor-

The road to Renes is a long one. We took the fastest way there by crossing through the Gorge and the Meadows. After that, we stopped in Cor Village for supplies and rest. Kousai is the Chief of their village. He's a wise old man and can heal any kind of wound. Rumor has it that theres a woman named Shamala there who is the daughter of the Black Leopard, but she uses her magic to walk among us as a human. I wonder if she'll be coming with us.
Kei sits across from me in the wagon. His armor shines in the litte light given off by the lanterns sitting on either side of us. It isn't his usual Gamyu. He's equipped with metal plates on his chest and shoulders, and metal boots to protect his feet and shins, and his blue coat extends to his ankles. There's no room for risks anymore. It looks really good on him in all honesty. He was smart to wear his coat. It's cold and raining. I was supplied with a set of armor as well. A knee length academy dress with metal chest and shoulder plates. I was also supplied with matching shin guards and hunters boots. Though I'm plenty protected, I'm shivering so much, I'm surprised my insides arent a jumbled mess.

Kei catches me staring at him and he smiles. "Whats with the look?"

"You're being boring, and I'm cold." I smile back at him, watching my breath cloud in front of me.

"You should've dressed warmer." He looks me up and down and starts to shake his coat off. "Here," he tosses it to me, "Take it, so you can stay warm."

I look it over and sling it over my shoulders. "Thanks." I say adjusting the coat over my thin shoulders.

He goes back to smiling and twiddling his thumbs in his lap, but not too long after he starts to shiver. I can tell hes trying to hide it, so I wont try to give him the jacket back, but he isn't doing a very good job.

I get up with the coat still wrapped around me and sit next to him, throwing one side of the jacket onto his left shoulder.

"There. Now we're both warm." I smile up at him and he smiles back a goofy happy grin.

"Thanks." His smile fades though.

"Whats wrong?"

"Does it bother you too? That I'm going to die?" His voice cracks and the mood stiffens around us.

"You're not going to d-"

"Sango the dream said that only one of us can live and its my duty whether we're in Aliech or not that I protect you. If that means putting myself on the line then it's my job to do so, as your Knight and as your friend."

"Well I'm not letting anything happen to you either, so don't worry. If we watch out for each other, nothing bad will happen. Maybe we'll both make it. Maybe we'll go on leading happy fufilling lives, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let some stupid voice in our heads dictate whether we live or die. It's no one else's choice but our own. We're going to save Errin and we're going to continue with our lives. Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

Kei wraps his little finger around mine and smiles.

"I've got your back and you've got mine." He smiles and shakes our hands a little. Both of us laugh and disturb the still silence around us.

Suddenly the caravan stops. Kei and I look at each other and we both reach for our weapons.
Another knight climbs up into the wagon cab and practically throws himself at Kei's feet.

"Baron! You have to look outside!"

Kei slides his coat back onto his shoulders and walks outside, with me following close behind him.

The terrain is sparse and dry. Ruins of houses dot the land and decomposing bodies are scattered, some whole and some missing pieces of their limbs. I follow Kei out to meet Maike.