Felicia stood by the weaponry, quivering in an intimidated manner, looking around the camp to find Niles. Her eyes darted around the mess hall and the prison, but still no luck. Felicia deeply hoped that Niles wasn't in the prison, because she and the rest of the camp had no idea what he does with the prisoners. It was somewhat... frightening to her. But, unsuccessful at finding him, she sighed heavily. She murmured to herself and turned around, only to find Niles towering over her with his usual grin. Only he could turn something serious into something weird. Felicia jumped back and whispered:
"Oh, Niles! You scared me! ...y-you're so quiet."
"It makes it all the easier to sneak up on you. Are you ready?"
"Yes. But, where's Odin?"
"Right behind you."
"W-what?!"
"Only a jest, Felicia. He'll be here soon."
Felicia and Niles stood behind the weaponry for what seemed like an eternity, waiting for
the lovable dufus, Odin Dark, to discuss the plan for the heist, when Felicia broke the silence. "Niles, I thought you gave up heists."
"I did."
"Then why are we doing this?"
"For Lord Leo."
"I know that, but why are we going on a heist, of all things?" "Well-"
"IT IS I, ODIN DARK, THE MOST-"
"You damn idiot, keep it down!"
"I cannot, for my aching blood hungers for the undoing of our enemies!"
"Odin, listen carefully. We will NOT be engaging enemies. In fact, we'll be staying away
from them."
Odin put forth a bewildered expression, as he had heard nothing so loony! Surely his
companion, Niles, wouldn't deny him this. "But, my raging blo-!"
"No."
The trio gathered all their supplies and headed off without being detected. Odin, being especially careful, concealed himself behind every possible tree. That is, until Niles whacked him upside the head and told him to stop acting like a buffoon. The ANCIENT BLOOD coursing through his mage veins boiled and gnawed at him, but he continued anyhow. Felicia had an uneasy feeling about this entire ordeal, but she owed Niles. Not just for the bow, but for countless other treasures of his that she had destroyed. She wasn't completely sure if it was worth risking her life, but Felicia is the kind of person who doesn't ask questions.
After hours of walking, the group decided to set up camp. Niles pitched the tents, because he didn't trust Felicia to do it, and Odin made the fire, because he also didn't trust Felicia to do it. So, Felicia was given the task of finding dinner, as requested by Niles. But after that, he made some perverted remark along the lines of:
"I'll eat anything you've got."
She didn't mind this, because she had no idea what he was talking about, and she knew that if she dealt with the tent, something would break, and if she lit the fire, she'd BE on fire. So, while
the others were working, Felicia wandered into the forest with only some daggers and a vulnerary equipped.
Felicia walked further into the forest and the lavender mist thickened. As she sauntered on, the crows cawed and flew away, making the atmosphere more and more like a horror movie. Glimmering eyes of owls flickered like flames from the towering trees, and Felicia felt like she was being watched. She managed to stammer out:
"H-hello?"
But, the only response she received was the buzz of cicadas and the cooing of owls. The bushes rustled behind her, and she swiftly spun around. Terrified of what was to hypothetically come, Felicia threw a dagger in the bush.
"AH, MY SACRED CAPE! IT'S TATTERED!"
"Odin?!"
"Yes, it is I, Odin Dark! The hero that this world demands, delivering justice with my
sword hand!"
"O...kay. Anyhow, what are you doing here? You nearly gave me a heart attack!" "Why, to help you, my female companion! A hero does not allow a lady to embark on a
quest in the woods unaided!"
"Y-you could've asked to come with me, Odin. I would've said yes."
"Oh, but I couldn't! For you see, our other traveling partner ordered that I stay at the
camp, so he has no knowledge of my presence here!"
"W-well, I won't tell Niles if you help me find something to eat." " Dear Felicia, you have my gratitude!"
The two walked on, eyeing every aspect of their surroundings, searching for something edible. After a while of searching, the two spied a sleeping bear. Normally, they wouldn't go for this creature, but they were both weary and ravenous. It was the only source of food they could find to sustain them, so it would have to do.
Felicia grabbed a dagger and lined up her shot. She then launched it, and the dagger lodged itself between the bear's eyes, piercing his skull. Then, the bear woke up and roared in anger. Felicia jumped back, as she had expected the bear to die on impact.
"W-what?!"
The duo began to panic. The creature stood up and automatically identified his assailant, the girl with the unnaturally pink hair. The bear furiously charged at Felicia, heaving its massive body through the plants and growling ferociously. In a moment of shock, Felicia lost all sense. She stood there, petrified.
"I, ODIN DARK, with ACHING BLOOD pumping through my veins, will save you!" Odin pulled out Mystletainn and cast it against the bear, finishing it off. Felicia quickly grabbed ahold of herself.
"Oh, gosh! You saved me, Odin!"
Odin laughed heartily.
"Of course! A hero such as myself would never let a lady fall victim to a beast!" "Right...thank you. Let's get this bear back to the camp."
~At the camp~ "Where did that halfwit get to? I told him to stay here."
Niles sighed.
"I should've known better, it's not like he was going to listen."
Then, an exhausted Felicia and a worn-out Odin trudged into the camp. Niles glared at Odin.
"Odin, you slack-jawed idiot, I told you to stay here. And you, Felicia, you look winded. Are you alright?"
"W-well, I am, thanks to Odin. If it weren't for him, I'd be in the belly of a bear!" Odin's assertive position and heroic grin almost made Niles ill.
" YOU saved her?"
"Indeed, the lady was in trouble! It was my duty, as the dark hero of legend! I couldn't
sleep at night, and my mother would never look at me the same, if I hadn't of bravely rescued her!"
Niles spoke sarcastically.
"Oh, so you DO have a mother, eh?"
"What does this one speak of?"
"Well, when I did a background check on you, nothing came up. Are you hiding
something?"
The valiant hero winced out of his nervousness.
"N-no! The prince of darkness would never hide anything!"
Niles raised an eyebrow, because he obviously didn't believe him.
"Riiiiight...well, I'll drop it for now. You saved Felicia, and we need to eat and rest." Felicia stepped in.
"I'll cook it!"
Niles and Odin both exchanged nervous glances, and then Niles spoke. "N-no, Felicia... that's alright."
~A little later~
The three sat, hunched over around the fire, munching on the bear meat. They were all
famished, so what they were eating didn't even matter. The camp was silent, apart from the chirping crickets and the crackling of the flames originating from the fire. It was palpable that they were all tired, having gallivanted so far and having just consumed bear meat. Before everyone fell over in a burnout, Niles made an announcement.
"We'll make it to the Hoshidan border tomorrow. Our plan begins tomorrow night, so try not to cause too much of a ruckus, or we'll likely be caught and executed."
Felicia and Odin said nothing, but Felicia grew anxious. She still didn't believe that a deliberate theft of the Hoshidan royal crown was a good idea, but she wouldn't dare go against Niles. He can be kinda spooky sometimes. Then, Felicia, Odin, and Niles all went inside their respective tents. Felicia laid down and her eyes fluttered shut. Everything went dark, and she drifted asleep.
A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for the user that commented, that means a lot! Keep them coming! Sorry for he long wait on this chapter, I assure that the next one will be a bit faster. Thanks for reading!
