Lucidity

Chapter Fourteen: Flying Sparks

The group dynamic had felt odd ever since they'd set off towards the order the day before. Especially for Hjalmar, who was now the only Surtrenan left. Once upon a time he'd never have expected it, but the three others from his nation had turned into a type of family for him. Now that they had all stayed behind in Surtren, he felt lonely. The others had been attempting to cheer him up and include him, namely Anwyn and Kosa, but he'd remained closed off to them. They weren't really his type of people and he didn't feel like making more friends.

On the second day, he didn't have to deal with their advances for long before they reached it. "The Order of the Bells."

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The journey back to Belmoth had been rather tense. There hadn't been the usual bonding, instead there was this dark atmosphere. Maybe it was Tamison's fault, but Yaz didn't think so. It was true that the young girl didn't seem to be too upset, but Yaz didn't think she was particularly afraid or nervous.

They returned to Belmoth as the sun was sinking down towards the horizon. Yaz and Junior said goodbye to Lin, Hazhil was busy sleeping in Junior's arms. If the situation had been less sad, Yaz would have been laughing at him carrying the Rindea bridal style.

Luckily, the public house felt unable to deny them a half priced room after how they'd helped save the village, so the three of them crowded in a single room - it was cheaper and Junior was paying - letting Hazhil have the bed. When Yaz spread her clothes out on the ground, Junior snarled, "Has our little princess not had to sleep on a bare floor before?"

With many a person, Yaz would've snapped back at him, but she remained silent. He'd been acting off around her ever since they'd rescued Caitlyn and with what she'd gathered of Junior so far, chance had it sleep would put him in a better mood.

She curled up and looked over at him, "Are you seriously planning on sleeping with your boots on?"

"I'm not planning on sleeping. I want to be there if Hazhil wakes up."

"She'll be fine, it's just one of your typical sicknesses," Yaz reassured him, but Junior refused to give in. So she decided, "Then we'll do it in shifts. I'll stay awake first, then you."

"I'll take the first shift," insisted Junior. Yaz wasn't easily fooled though, "If you take the first shift, you won't wake me. Come on. It was a hard day today and you were the one fighting. Take off your shoes and get some sleep."

Junior glared at her, "You expect me to take off my shoes and won't even take off your headscarf. No thanks."

"For Lypera's sake, my headscarf is a cultural thing and all I have left of home. Your shoes are just footwear and nothing else!"

"Trust me, I'm sparing you," muttered Junior, refusing to remove his boots, but at least now lying back as if to sleep. Yaz wasn't sure whether he actually would commit to sleeping, but regardless, she made her way to Hazhil and sat down on a chair at her side. It was going to be a long night.

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The group spent about half a minute just staring up at the building of the order, then Kosa said, "So, do we just waltz in there?"

"No! I mean... When I went to find you guys, I kind-of-maybe-slightly went without anyone's permission, so it's kind-of-slightly-probably-likely that, um, they hate me...?", admitted Dale, rubbing the nape of his neck sheepishly.