The sky was a beautiful deep blue, the sun shining down on all of us. A stark contrast to the quiet storm in my head, the same pictures of yesterday flashing inside.
The jar that I first created was molded into a stone, thick bracelet on my wrist. I could feel Vivienna's ashes slide inside when I moved my hand. Her ring was around my neck being held on by a thin rocky string around my neck.
I was getting a little better at manipulating earth. It was convenient with what I was able to make.
No one talked during this time, nor throughout the day. When we ate I had to skip out despite the screaming in my stomach. I couldn't drink water, I felt my saliva become warmer when I brought a cup to my mouth.
Allisa barely ate, she only took a few nibbles of bear meat— drinking a small glass of water to chug it down.
The smell of the grilled meat tried to force the nothingness in my stomach up— I couldn't be nearby due to my nose forcing a gagging sensation to prick at my neck.
Throwing that aside, we were inching closer to the ending of Frosted Peaks. The mountains around us were becoming scarcer, though they still aimed towards the sky.
"I hope we can find Sage…" I muttered under my breath, Shen didn't find her. We have her kiddos, and I hope they can live with their mother.
Without much thinking I set my hands down on their heads. Their heads shifted to look at me. We'll be alright…
They kept their eyes on me, an obvious glint of confusion in them.
"Can we… take a break?" Allisa randomly asked, her head was low and her lips were twisted into a frown.
I nodded my head and stopped my feet. Allisa immediately found a rocky outpost to sit on. Verd's kids surrounded me as I rested on the ground.
"Big sister Yukina… do you think we can find mom… or dad…?"
"We can, don't worry, okay?"
I had to give a hopeless smile. Truthfully, I felt my heart warm at their worries. These two were good kids, constantly worried about their parents even when things looked bleak.
They rested whilst leaning onto me— Allisa meandered all the way to me, and behind. She rested her back against mine and let her head back.
"I'm scared…" Allisa muttered, her voice was meek, full of silent worry. "How do you keep going…?"
"You know I was reincarnated…" I quietly replied. "Ever since I woke up in this world as Yukina, I've been put into scenarios where I almost died… a lot."
"Eh…?"
"I woke up in a forest where dad found me. A goblin almost killed me by stabbing me."
These scenes flashed inside my mind. My heart didn't race or slow, nor did my spine tingle. Before Allisa asked something, I continued. "That's where I injured my foot, I was trying to run."
"...I thought you were born with that." Allisa stated, I felt her spine and head shifting. "You sound like you went through a lot."
A shadow entered my left eye. It was Allisa and I couldn't make out her features. "As far as I am aware of…"
"Mm…"
I felt her arms go around my neck; her cheek rubbed against my neck. I felt my heart warm up, and my mind quickly began to drift.
I can't… My head became heavier than a dumbbell. Allisa held me tighter, and it became heavier. "Let me go…"
My voice was quiet, it came out as a mutter… I'm barely holding on, I could feel everything become heavier.
"You need to sleep." Allisa muttered.
"I.." I felt my head lopside. Why was this… so sudden…?
In the next moment, I felt my mind drift.
************
Ugh…
My body felt extremely heavy, my mind was still groggy. I felt something heavy on each side of my stomach. When I looked down, I could make out the heads of Verd's kids.
Why did that happen…? It doesn't look much time had passed. The sun was nearing mid-day. Was I really that tired…?
I stayed on the ground, turning my head in both directions. To my right, I found Allisa asleep as well. There was only a micro distance to separate us.
That's… a miracle…
We weren't attacked, my ball of fire did not go out… Seems like luck was really on our side… After a bit of holding my breath, I managed to finaggle these kids off my stomach. His son was not pushing on a good area.
"Was I really that tired?" I muttered once I was on my feet. "I'll just… try to get proper rest when we're out of here."
Although, after witnessing Vivienna's body, it'll take months for that to happen. Instinctively in my mind, I knew that. Without thought I let out a sigh and stood sort of ways from them.
As quietly as I could, and well my mana allowed I created a dome around them.
"Time to take watch…Ha."
With a small hum I stood as still as a rock. I'm so looking forward to taking a break from all this traveling… Need a nice warm bed with a hot shower…
My mind wandered. Once you travel for just over a year, you'd miss these simple things. Though, I'm a small bit weirded out by my desire for a hot bath… Normally liked them slightly colder.
Ahem… I shook my head and looked around. I'm bored.
I need to do something, I need to run away from these memories. I can't fall into this traumatic roller coaster yet, we need to survive…
Should I just survey our surroundings? We need to be safe, my hearing alone could do that… but I'll do that.
I turned left and looked towards the rocky horizon. Just be prepared. I circulated my mana whilst walking forwards.
I couldn't hear anything but my footsteps, there weren't any creatures. Even after walking for two days we had not found any. They seemed to be lessening as we went.
After twenty minutes of searching, I found nothing. Not even a heavy breath nor a clack of a paw. It's lucky… and I felt my heart well in fortune. Even if I don't know my luck… it's like swinging a wrecking ball.
Ugh… Even more time flew by as I walked this pathway, it was the same sight as I went. Rock, rocky, hill, dip, mountain… there was nothing to describe nor to distract me.
And Allisa, the two kids were out frantically looking around. Allisa was the first to spot me, running towards me and yanking me back and forth.
"Why the heck did you disappear?!" She yelled in my face, tears were streaming down her eyes. "Do you know how worried we were?! Why would you disappear after what happened with Vivi?!"
"I needed to make sure we were safe. And I can defend myself." I replied whilst grabbing her wrists. That hurts. I'm not fully healed. "We'll be okay. There're no-"
"Yukina! What if you died?! We'd be alone and I can't do anything!"
"Allisa…"
"...What?! You're the only one we can rely on!"
Allisa had a flip of her switch… Tears were streaming down her face. I clamped my mouth shut.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't do it again! Got that?!"
"Yes…"
Allisa struck her hand against my forehead before stepping back. Once she calmed down, we went to walking again
"Hm..?"
What's that…? I heard a sickening crunch enter my ears. What the fuck is going on?
The sounds resonated just ahead and to the right— I could pinpoint it behind a ridge…
"You three stay here." I ordered them, causing a pause in all. "Allisa, you need to stay here."
I didn't let her speak. I raised my finger to my lips, before turning around.
There are monsters nearby. Slowly I walked up this ridge, the crunching worsened. I could hear slight spurts and dripping.
Not again. No, no! Damn it!
Without thinking I let out two large earth darts.
Please be alive! C'mon! Don't, don't be dead! C'mon! No!