Fairies or Foes

Chapter 2

Looking back on it, she hadn’t expected them to have stayed together for so many years, but it had already been three years since that day. Luckily, Sara had dropped the incomprehensible stutter, and instead spoke very quietly. Alice would have probably stabbed her long ago if she hadn’t dropped the stutter. They had both grown, but while Alice had always been huge, Sara herself had shot up quite a few inches in the last couple years. Not nearly where she should be, but at least she didn't look like she was five anymore. Her powers had developed as well, thanks to the practice of having to support Alice in combat. While on the road, she had soon realized that Alice’s powers were no ordinary ones. She could do things, see things, and even smell things that other people couldn’t. She had heard the story of Alice’s upbringing about a year ago. At first, the dragons seemed a bit far fetched, but it would definitely explain her tendency to call out “of the ice dragon.”

She sighed dramatically. Well, for better or for worse, they were a team now, and they would have each other's backs.

Realizing she had fallen behind her taller friend, she sprinted a bit to catch up, tripping and falling over a large rock that had purposely strayed onto her path. Laughing, Alice pulled her up. They had gotten quite close to each other lately.

"Come on then, shrimp, don’t kill yourself before the mission even starts!"  She said affectionately.

“I’m just a bit worried,” she replied softly. “This is our first S-rank, after all. I hope we don’t die…”

"Come on, S, we’re eleven now! We can deal with anything that comes our way. We’ve gone way past those stupid timber wolves. We can take on this Daemon guy no problem!"

Sara smiled. “Remember that time you crushed a wolf’s throat with one hand when he was twice your size?” She shook her head. “Unbelievable, you are.”

"What can I say, I have a gift!"

“More like you’re still a meat-for-brains!" She said childishly.

"You’re just jealous because I'm athletic. I have the physique of a god!!"

Sara rolled her eyes. “You have the physique of a meaty eleven year old gorilla, miss ice dragon slayer.”

Alice stuck her tongue out at Sara. Sara stuck hers out as well, and they both giggled. Suddenly, Sara stopped giggling and became serious. This was an S class mission, and they were joking around. Several older mages had already died to this Daemon. Why should they be any different? They were younger and inexperienced. They couldn't afford to joke around.  Alice noticed her serious look and frowned.

“S, don’t worry. I’m qualified for this mission, remember? And there’s no one else I’d rather have by my side than you.” Alice reassured her. Sara smiled. As annoying as it was sometimes, Alice’s hubris made her feel better.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “You’re right. We’re going to defeat this Daemon, and return to our guild victorious.”

As they began getting closer to the area in which the Daemon was last seen, Alice’s posture changed, and she was more serious and alert. They didn’t have much knowledge on it, but she assumed that they would know when they came across a Daemon that ate villages for breakfast.

They had seen Daemons before, but never ones that could cause this much destruction. Not that she was scared or anything, she told herself, but she just had to be careful. She didn't know what was out there, and she was determined not to be surprised by anything.

Sara giggled a bit. Alice’s feelings always showed on her face, she was so easy to read. Right now her face was in an uncomfortably concentrated grimace, eyes darting cautiously over their surroundings.