Chapter 4
The party retraced the route they had taken earlier that day though the foothills surrounding Mt. Aleph. As they walked through the cavern where the days events had taken place. Thoughts of the battle flooded back into their minds. As they were passing through Hinaro stopped and looked at the ground. He noticed Pietro's blood spattered and pooled over the ground near the cavern wall and at the centre of the chamber. He turned to look at Pietro, who was carelessly laughing and joking with his friends. Hinaro thought to himself "Where is Pietro's wound? With all this blood it would have to be have been a mortal wound. What kind of power could have saved him?" Hinaro looked up from the red stains on the floor and lead the party on keeping his thoughts to himself.
They rounded the narrow path that wound along the side of Mt. Aleph, descending onto the plateau in front of the entrance to the Sol Sanctum. "Ahh, Sol Sanctum. I've always wondered what is held within those walls." said Avalon, surprising Pietro. He didn't think she would be the sort of girl with a thirst for knowledge like himself.
"What's say we take a look inside?" asked Pietro.
"No, we have to return to Bilibin and report our success as soon as possible." stated Hinaro.
"But Hinaro! When will we get such an opportunity to learn more about alchemy and our Psynergy again?" frowned Pietro.
"I agree with Hinaro. Sorry Pietro but we gotta hurry back." said Lars.
"Maybe you can visit sometime when we are out of Bilibin." shrugged Hinaro before turning and walking towards the path that lead back to Vale.
Pietro and Avalon both sighed in disappointment. Their thirst for knowledge would have to wait. They both turned and hurried away after Hinaro.
Reaching the corner before the sanctum, the party of four peeked round the corner. The healer that had caught Lars earlier was still patrolling back and forth blocking the path down past the sanctum. Avalon cast cloak on herself and easily wondered through. The three boys all glared at her Psynergetic outline as she walked straight past the healer. Pietro waited until the healer was examining some cracks in the wall of the sanctum and silently slipped past him . Hinaro cast Growth and called upon a small vine sprouting from the ground against the side of the sanctum. The green rope twitched before uncoiling out towards the healer, tripping him as Hinaro walked past. The healer too busy picking himself up from the floor to notice. Lars tried to sneak past before the healer got up. As he was about to turn the corner the healer caught Lars out the corner of his eye. "You again!" he yelled and stormed over to him looking for an explanation of what he was trying to do.
"Well? Are you going to answer me?" asked the healer impatiently.
"Yeah, well...um...screw it." there was a loud clanging sound as Lars bapped the healer over the head with the flat side of his axe head. Lars stepped over the unconscious healer. Lars walked over to his friends "Never did like healers." he shrugged, shouldering his axe. Avalon and Hinaro laughed but Pietro just bowed his head and sighed.
"A-Avalon if your coming with us, don't you want to say goodbye to your friends and family first?" Pietro said. He was starting to feel a little more comfortable talking to Avalon after spending a lot of time talking to her in the foothills of Mt. Aleph.
"Yeah, I'll go now. You can come with me if you want." said Avalon, smiling.
"We might as well. We don't have anything to do while were waiting." shrugged Hinaro.
"We could always go purchase some Valean ale to take with us." suggested Lars.
"Will you shut up about ale?" said Hinaro impatiently.
"Sorry Hinaro..." mumbled Lars.
"Ok then. If your quite done, lets get going." said Avalon.
They travelled south through Vale coming to the point in the river where they had first seen Avalon. She lead them down the stone steps near the apple trees, Lars couldn't help himself but to stop and pick a few. They approached the house nearest the wall. On the pier across the river sat two teenagers. "Felix, do you...um...think Isaac, well...likes me?" asked the girl with dark auburn hair.
"Jenna, I honestly have no idea." said Felix with a shrug.
"Liar, you just don't wanna answer the question!" pouted Jenna.
"Jenna don't be like...hey look, Avalon's back and she's with those people we saw earlier." said Felix looking across the river.
"Don't try to change the subject!" she glared at him.
"No really, look." he said tilting his sister's head to the side so that she was looking straight at them.
"Hey, you're right. Let's go say hi!" she said excitedly before running back to the exit of the pier. Felix sighed and followed her. He was intrigued by the strangers.
"You three wait here. I'll be back in a minute or two. Just gotta collect some things." said Avalon entering her house and closing the door behind her.
The party sat on the grass outside in the shade and waited patiently. The occasional sounds of clutter being shifted could be heard from one of the upstairs windows of the house.
Lars spoke up "So, Pietro. You and Avalon, huh?" Lars said with a grin.
Pietro's face turned bright crimson "I-I have no idea what your t-talking a-about." he stammered.
Hinaro decided to join in the fun. "So, tell us. Just how did you manage to get her so quickly. The gods know you're terrible with women." smiled Hinaro.
Pietro tried to say something but his voice failed him. He quickly stood up and walked over to the river to calm down. Hinaro and Lars just laughed. "Ah well. I'm happy for him." smiled Hinaro.
"It's not everyday you come across a chick that likes you for who you are." nodded Lars
Just as he said it Hinaro sighed and looked at the ground before looking up to say something but the conversation was cut short as two teenage boys approached them. One has wild blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a light blue tunic with a belt around the waist, dark blue leggings and leather boots. He wore a long orange scarf around his neck and a short sword slung across his back. The other had spiky red hair. He wore a brown tunic with a green undershirt and a belt. He also wore a pair of dark blue leggings and leather boots. He was taller that his blonde companion and had a short sword holstered at his waist. It was the two boys they recognized from earlier, Isaac and Garet. "Hey, is Avalon home yet?" asked the boy they recognized as Isaac.
"Yeah, shes inside." said Pietro nodding towards the door to Avalon's house.
"Ok, thanks." said Isaac as he and Garet walked past and entered Avalon's house.
A few minutes later, Avalon and the two boys, looking rather unhappy, emerged from Avalon's house. Avalon crouched down to the boys level. "But Avalon." said the boy called Garet with a huffy look on his face "Do you really have to leave?".
Avalon just smiled "Don't worry Garet. I'll be back soon. I'm not going away forever." she said, ruffling his hair, partially flattening it.
Garet muttered something and tried to fix his hair. "Avalon, what about Felix?" asked Isaac.
A confused look crossed Avalon's face "What about Felix?"
"Well, you two are like, going out aren't you?" asked Isaac.
"No, no were not. I'm too old for him anyway." she smiled. She glanced up at Pietro who looked away. Avalon frowned "Ah, no...he must think the boys are telling the truth." she thought.
"But still, please don't leave!" frowned Isaac.
"Avalon's leaving!?" said a surprised voice from behind them.
They all turned round to see a shocked looking girl with red hair and a impassive looking boy with long brown hair walking up behind them. "Felix, Jenna." waved Avalon.
Garet leaned over to Isaac "Oh man, Jenna's gonna be pissed." he whispered.
"What do you mean shes leaving?" demanded Jenna. Before anyone could answer her, instead of the enraged outburst they were expecting, they seen a side of Jenna none of them thought they would ever see. Jenna ran over to Avalon and threw her arms around her and buried her face in Avalon's clothes sobbing. "Don't leave!" she cried.
"Ah...Jenna..." said Avalon quietly, wrapping her arms around Jenna and stroked her head. "Don't be upset...I'll be back in a few weeks. I'm just going with Pietro and his friends for a while. I'll be back before you know it."
Jenna lifted her head from the folds in Avalon's clothing and turned to glare viciously at the three of them which caused them to take two steps back each. "You three...you better take good care of Avalon or I'll hunt you down and slit your throats in your sleep." she threatened. Hinaro and Pietro raised their hands to their throats and gulped. Lars on the other hand stepped forwards and shrugged. He crouched down to Jenna's level "I really don't think you'd have it in you to kill us." he smiled.
"Don't..." Garet tried to warn Lars. Too late.
Jenna seemed to start blazing. She stared directly into Lars' eyes. Pietro could only imagine she was piercing his soul with that glare. Lars just froze on the spot. Jenna slapped him hard across the face and followed up swiftly with a kick to his crotch. The other two burst out laughing but quietened immediately as Jenna's gaze fell upon them.
"Calm down, Jenna. It really wouldn't be good if you killed my companions before we even left." laughed Avalon.
"Fine." Jenna snorted "But mark my words, if you let any harm come to her. I WILL carry out that threat."
The now severely scared Pietro and Hinaro let out a sigh of relief when Isaac and Garet led Jenna over to the river to try and calm her down.
"Felix, are you ok?" asked Avalon. Noticing that the older boy hadn't said a word.
"I'm fine." he lied. In truth he really didn't want her to go but it was inevitable. He wouldn't let his feelings for Avalon get a hold of him and show through. Maybe it was best if she never found out, there would always be other girls. "Jenna, we need to go." said Felix. The four teenagers said their goodbyes to Avalon before departing. Felix stopped and turned to look at the party. He looked at Pietro "Take care of her." Pietro nodded, he would never let anything happen to her. "Oh, and you might want to check that your friend can still walk." he said pointing to Lars who was still lying curled up on the ground "Jenna has one helluva kick." he waved at Avalon before turning and following the others.
"Ok, I think were set to leave now." said Avalon. An unhappy look on her face.
"Are you sure your ok with this Avalon?" said Pietro "You don't need to come with us, well come visit you." he continued to say.
Avalon walked over to Pietro and stood on her tip toes so that her eyes were level with Pietro's "Yes, I want to come with you." said Avalon smiling, staring into the Jupiter adept's purple eyes.
"Ok then, lets go." Hinaro said. Leading the party down the slight incline that upper Vale was built on Hinaro quickly directed the party down to the plaza and out the village gate.
"First we continue on to Vault, We'll spend the night there. Then we'll cross the Goma range and from there it's a straight walk right back home to Bilibin." Hinaro planned out loud.
The party departed from vale. Following the beaten dirt road that would lead them back to Vault. They passed once more through the forest that they had battled some monsters in the previous day. A small boy leapt out from the bushes with a angry look on his face in an attempt to startle them. "Ugh...Chris, we thought you would have learned by now. You can't join our party, you're not strong enough to be of any use. You'd just get yourself killed." said Hinaro not wanting to waste any more time.
"I will succeed this time." Chris declared, thumping a fist on his chest. He caught sight of Avalon "Hey, who's the hot chick?" he asked.
"Go to hell." spat Avalon.
"Oooh feisty. I could easily fall in love with a girl like her." Chris grinned.
"Fall somewhere else!" snapped Pietro, glaring at Chris.
"I could help him with that..." suggested Lars, cracking his knuckles.
Pietro sighed "you're no match for even one of us Chris, plus we outnumber you four to one. What do you mean to accomplish by this?" Pietro pointed out, waving his hand lazily at Chris.
"I'm here to take on your leader." Chris said with a chuckle, sounding determined.
"Is that it? You've been tailing us for two hours just to try that?" asked Pietro. Chris looked stunned. How could they have know he was following them? "You still suck at concealing your presence." smiled Pietro.
"Shut up! Just let me do what I came here to do!" shouted Chris, who was starting to get frustrated.
The party turned to look at Hinaro.
"What? Why are you looking at me?" said Hinaro, confused.
"Hinaro, weren't you listening? Chris wants to challenge you one on one." sighed Pietro as he explained to Hinaro.
"What? No I was thinking about more important stuff like what's for dinner." smiled Hinaro.
"Now you sound like Lars." sighed Avalon, imitating Pietro by putting her hand to her head and folding the other across her chest.
"Pfft, it's a waste of time anyway." said Hinaro.
"What! You scared!" blazed Chris hoping to provoke Hinaro. Chris took a minute to think of something to antagonize Hinaro with "Oh yeah I saw you when you were talking about that girl, what was her name again? Oh yeah, Tara. Who is she? Sounds like some slut who likes to have flings with warriors to me." Chris chuckled. Unaware he had just crossed the line.
Hinaro walked over to Chris and picked him up by the scruff of the neck and threw him into a nearby tree trunk, a look of burning anger in his eyes. Hinaro called up some vines. The vines entangled themselves around Chris' arms and legs. They hoisted him up and held him dangling slightly off the ground. Hinaro walked towards the suspended body of Chris and drew his sword.
"Hinaro, no!" shouted Avalon. She tried to run over to Hinaro but Pietro stood in her way.
Pietro looked back at her over his shoulder. "I don't want you getting caught up in this." said Pietro. Pietro walked up behind Hinaro and gripped his shoulder. He spun Hinaro around and punched him hard across his jaw. Despite Pietro's lack of strength, the blow seemed to do the trick leaving Hinaro stunned staring that the floor. "Stop it Hinaro, this is pathetic, getting all worked up over petty insults. Have you gone fucking crazy? You can't just kill him. Even being the sniveling pathetic wretch that he is. Sheath your sword Hinaro!" shouted Pietro, hoping to make him see sense.
Hinaro sheathed his sword, saying nothing, and turned his back on Chris but when everyone thought it was finished and turned to walk away. Hinaro clicked his fingers, the vines dissolved into ash and Hinaro spun around and kicked Chris as he fell. Chris was thrown with a cry, he skittered and bounced across the ground to a stop lying face down in the dirt. Hinaro moved to dash after him but Lars speared him to the floor.
"He's not worth getting so worked up over, we know how you feel but you can't take it out on him." Lars said to calm Hinaro down. "It's no fun to beat up weaklings" smiled Lars. He stood up and offered Hinaro a hand up. Hinaro smiled and took his hand.
"Y-you will pay for this Hinaro." said Chris, having finally picked himself up from the ground, holding his side. He jumped to the side and in that one fluid motion, passed through the bushes and disappeared.
"You know, that jump was probably the most skilful thing I've ever seen him do. Ever." Pietro shrugged.
Hinaro sighed, brushed the dirt from his clothes and swept a lock of light blonde hair from his face. "Let's go, c'mon we want to be in vault before night fall.
They arrived in vault at sunset. The sun was low in the sky and the sky itself was an odd blood red colour with few clouds, shadowed by the setting sun, dotted across the sky. "Mmmm, ale, uh food, um ale...I can't decide what I want first!" Lars complained as the walked through the village gate.
Pietro staggered through the gate and collapsed against the nearest wall. He had been having headaches on and off all day now but this one was by far the worst. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He was having trouble standing and when he closed his eyes he could see bright flashes of light. "This can't be good." he thought.
"Um, Pietro? Are you alright?" asked Avalon.
Pietro opened his eyes and Avalon's face looking up at him came into focus. "Y-yeah, I'm fine" he lied.
"You three go and book rooms, get ale and food to shut Lars up and I'll meet you guys at the inn Ok?" said Hinaro
"Ok." said Avalon and Pietro simultaneously. Then turned to follow Lars.
"What are you going to do Hinaro?" Avalon turned back to ask.
"I-I need to clear my head of some things Ill catch up with you later." said Hinaro.
"Ok but don't be too late, you don't want to miss out on the ale. You boys seem to be obsessed with it." said Avalon smiling.
"No, that's just Lars." pointed out Pietro.
They walked steadily behind Lars who was running here and there looking for the inn.
"I'm kinda glad Hinaro left, he's really been getting on my nerves lately." sighed Pietro.
"I really hope he stops this soon. It's annoying me too." said Avalon. "What do you think he went to do?"
"I dunno, probably something that we'll need to jump in and save his ass again." Pietro said, sounding annoyed.
"You're still sour over this whole thing about Hinaro leaving and this Tara business, aren't you?" Avalon asked.
Pietro took a deep breath. "Yeah, it was his own stupid idea to leave in the first place. Anyway this shit happens and Hinaro just has to learn to deal with it and move on."
Avalon just nodded, she knew he was right.
Later that evening Lars was dancing around the inn clearly intoxicated, and life of the party so too say. Standing in line singing with the other men and women in the inn who were all just as drunk as Lars, dancing about and having drinking contests with each other. Avalon and Pietro were sitting at a table, quietly chatting, becoming a little closer and occasionally laughing at Lars as he fell over or made a fool of himself, them two and the barkeep being the only ones sober enough to notice. Avalon also being greatly amused every time Lars stumbled over and dragged Pietro away from their table to do some pointless, ale related task or such. Hinaro however still remained missing from the inn. Pietro managed to drag himself away from Lars once again and returned to his seat next to Avalon.
They were interrupted once again as the inn door creaked open and Hinaro stumbled through the door, huffing and panting. Lars noticed his friend had returned and staggered over. "Awright...H...H...Hinaro! That's the one..." He mumbled. He thrust out his arm, a mug of ale clutched in his grasp. He banged the mug against Hinaro's chest in an attempt to find his friend's hand. "H...Have some ale!" he shouted and the whole room clinked their mugs together with a resounding "Hey!" and drank.
Hinaro snatched the mug from Lars and downed it in one. "Ahh...I needed that...thanks Lars!" he smiled slapping Lars on the back, promptly causing him to fall flat on his face.
Hinaro took two steps towards the stairs before collapsing. Pietro and Avalon caught him on their shoulders before he hit the floor.
"What have you been doing Hinaro? You're exhausted." said Avalon trying to hoist him to his feet so that he could stand on his own.
"Its nothing Avalon, just some late night training." said Hinaro taking a breathe between every word and smiling.
Pietro sighed "You're such an idiot Hinaro. Can it not wait till we get back to Bilibin?". Letting Hinaro stand on his own feet. "Too much training is bad for you, but, if you're really that desperate to train maybe you can practice trying to cast Psynergy without the enhancers on." Pietro said.
Hinaro once again tried to walk over to the stairs but had to stop and catch hold of a chair to support himself. "I'm fine" said Hinaro, struggling to stay standing.
"No, you're not." said Pietro taking Hinaro on his shoulder again. "We'll help you upstairs."
"No really. I'm fi..." said Hinaro.
"Shut up, Hinaro" said Pietro cutting him off.
The three of them clumsily stumbled along the corridor of the second floor of the inn. It was difficult trying to walk while dragging a protesting Hinaro along the corridor but somehow they managed it.
Avalon stood outside Hinaro's room and stared out of the window while Pietro was inside helping Hinaro get into his bed, seeing as he could hardly walk. She sighed "What if I don't have it in me to tell him and he falls for some other girl?" she thought to herself. She was worried, so worried, she let out another long sigh and continued to stare out of the window, looking up at the full moon and the stars in the clear sky.
The voices suddenly became audible from Hinaro's room. "I don't care what you say, you can never do too much training." said one voice.
"I said shut up, Hinaro." said the other voice sounding impatient and slightly irritated, Pietro.
The door opened and Pietro stepped out. He closed the door behind himself and sighed. "Sometimes Hinaro can be just as much a handful as Lars.". He looked up and saw Avalon staring out at the sky, looking pretty upset. "Avalon, are you ok?" he said reaching out with a hand. She looked at him and then quickly looked away and brushed some blue hair behind her ear. Pietro sighed, he had no idea what to say or do. "Do you want to go for a walk?" he asked. She looked at him again and nodded, looking a bit happier.
They stepped outside the inn into the clear, dark night, leaving Lars and his newly found drinking buddies to their fun. The moonlight shone down on them like a spotlight. After closing the door, Pietro looked up at Avalon to say something. The words caught in his throat. Avalon looked stunning in the pale moonlight, it illuminated her eyes and face perfectly in the dark. Pietro was speechless, he finally managed to bring himself to talk "W-well, shall we walk?".
They set off through the quiet streets of Vault. Avalon wanted to go to a higher area where she could see the starts easier. They headed towards the stone steps that lead up to Vault's sanctum.
"What's on your mind?" asked Pietro.
"Well, It's just...I dunno." she started. "I can't really put my finger on it."
"Your not feeling homesick or anything are you?" frowned Pietro.
"No, no, I don't get homesick." she stated.
"This is my chance..." she thought to herself as they ascended the stairs in front of the sanctum. "I guess this is one of those now or never situations."
"Well then, what is it? Try to describe it or something." said Pietro, he folded his arms and creased his brow, trying to think of what could be upsetting her.
"I don't know how to describe it either. It's just I've been feeling this way ever since I met you three in Vale..." she trailed off.
Pietro frowned. "You're not falling for Hinaro or Lars are you?" Pietro felt a sinking feeling inside his chest.
"No, no, it's not that either..." she placed her hand on one of the ladder rungs leading up to the watchtower. "Up?" she asked and Pietro nodded. "I don't feel that way about either of them." she continued as she climbed up. "I've never felt this way before..."
"I really haven't a clue." shrugged Pietro as he clambered up onto the platform at the top of the ladder.
Avalon giggled "Oh, Pietro. You forgot about someone."
Pietro looked puzzled. "Who?"
She stepped towards Pietro and tucked her hands into his. "You, Pietro. I'm falling for you." she whispered.
Pietro gasped. Could this really be happening? He was never this lucky, could this be real? Pietro's face turned red and started to burn fiercely. "Avalon...I-I..."
Avalon giggled again an leaned in closer towards Pietro, resting her head on his chest. She looked up and moved her face closer to his, closer, closer.
"Hey! Pietro!" came a yell from down below.
The two of them stopped and looked down.
"Could you lend me some more gold for ale? I ran outa money." yelled Lars who was standing, swaying in front of the door to the inn.
Pietro sighed in disappointment and frustration. "I'd better go down and see to him." Avalon frowned as she watched Pietro descend the ladder and head back towards the inn.
Pietro turned the corner of a house, out of Avalon's view. Lars came running over to him, having sobered up slightly since he ran out of gold to buy anymore ale. "Woah, dude, you look awful." he said prodding at Pietro.
Pietro's fists were shaking, his head bowed. He grabbed Lars by the collar and punched him hard across the face. "You idiot! Me and Avalon...were...but...gaaaah!" he yelled and hit him again. Luckily Lars had gotten so drunk he wouldn't remember that in the morning. Pietro sighed and took a deep breath, trying to calm down "I think you'd best call it a night before you really hurt yourself or get sick." whispered Pietro into the dazed Lars' ear.
"Y-yeah I..." Lars stopped talking to burp and continued "...think I should, P-Pietro." Lars finished, swaying where he stood.
"Ok let me take you up stairs to your room and make sure you don't fall over." said Pietro, putting Lars' arm over his shoulder. As they walked out from behind the building. Pietro looked back up at where he had left Avalon standing. She was leaning on the bar around the edge of the platform with her back to them, gazing at the stars. Pietro sighed again before leading Lars back into the inn.
As soon as Pietro and Lars had vanished out of Avalon's view behind a house she took a deep breath and let out a sigh of happiness. "He feels the same way." she smiled to herself again, she couldn't stop "I wonder...could he be..." Avalon thought to herself as she turned and climbed down the ladder to return to the inn.
Avalon re-entered the inn in time to hear Pietro and Lars let out a yell and come tumbling back down the inn staircase landing in a heap. Pietro stood up and dusted himself down. "Ok, carrying heavy drunk Mars adepts isn't as easy as I thought." He helped Lars up from the floor. "Let's try this again, without falling." he said to Lars who just nodded. She followed the two of them upstairs.
Pietro stepped back out from Lars' room "Man, I feel like I work in a nursing home." he sighed. He looked up to see Avalon reaching the top of the stairs. "I'm gonna hit the hay, you should be doing the same we have a long day of travelling tomorrow." said Pietro with a yawn.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." said Avalon walking over to Pietro.
As she walked up to him she held out her arms looking for a goodnight hug. Pietro blushed, wrapping his arms around her and to his surprise she pecked him on the cheek before moving past him and passing through her bedroom door. Pietro was left standing there his face as red as a mid-summers apple and a large grin on his face.
The next morning Pietro, Lars and Avalon drearily, dragged themselves down the inn stairs. Pietro and Avalon were tired from staying up so late and dragging Lars to his bed and Lars was simply suffering from a massive hangover. Hinaro standing at the Inn door, stretching for the long walk ahead. Hinaro hurried over and pushed the three of them through the inn door, obviously in some kind of rush.
The party walked along the dusty earthen track that lead up towards Lunpa. The plan was to stop off in Lunpa and restock some supplies before continuing on through the Goma range, stopping and camping at he boys secret training spot overnight, before hurrying home to Bilibin.
"Hinaro, we haven't had any food yet and I have an extremely sore head and for some reason, my face hurts. Can we please slow down?" Lars complained. He flopped down on the lush grass at the side of the track. The sky was clear and there wasn't a monster or bandit to be seen for miles around. A perfect time for a rest.
"I concur, food is but one essence of our well being, thus we require it to keep our energy reserves up." yawned Pietro, rubbing his eyes. He looked like he could fall asleep where he stood.
Hinaro stared at him "What the hell are you talking about, Pietro? Are you even smarter when your tired or something?" Hinaro said in a puzzled tone.
"It would appear so also I appear to be stricken with some form of rigamortis due to lack of sustenance." Pietro said, falling back onto the grass with a soft thud.
The other three stared at Pietro in confusion as he sat up, apparently no longer paralysed. "You know what? I need food." said Pietro, rubbing his stomach.
Lars burst out in laughter and Hinaro bowed his head. "Pietro, your idiomaticness knows no bounds." laughed Lars.
"Did he just say something intelligent again?" asked Avalon, rather confused by this.
"Maybe he's more intelligent when he's hungover? Wait, is idiomaticness even a word?" commented Pietro. Hinaro just shrugged. Lars proceeded to strike Pietro over the back of the head with a nearby stick. Lars was a terrible morning person, especially when hungover. Pietro slumped over onto his side and soft snoring sounds could be heard from him.
"Awesome, that just means more food for me." smiled Lars.
Avalon removed her backpack and flipped it open since she held all the rations of food. She dug her hand deep into her pack "Umm...This is all we got left" she frowned producing an apple from her bag.
"See, this is what happens when you rush us Hinaro. You forgot to let us buy more food!" complained Lars.
"That can't be all, can it?" asked Hinaro.
"This, and two bottles of ale." replied Avalon.
"Dibs on the ale!" called out Lars.
"No, bad Lars." said Hinaro slapping Lars' hand away from the rucksack. "Your already hungover, no more ale for you."
Avalon leaned over Pietro's sleeping figure to try and wake him up. "So how are we gonna eat?" asked Lars.
"I suppose you'll just have to wait until we reach Lunpa." shrugged Hinaro.
"What!? I can't go that long without food!" frowned Lars. Suddenly it appeared as if an idea came to Lars and he started to eye up the semi-conscious Pietro lying next to him on the grass.
"No, Lars. You can't eat Pietro." said Hinaro stubbornly noticing this.
"Just kill all my fun then..." muttered Lars.
"It's only around a four hour walk, Lars" Avalon smiled, knowing that it would annoy Lars.
"Why do you look so happy about it!?" Lars yelled. "I'm hungry..."
"How bout we start walking then? It just means well get there sooner." suggested Hinaro.
"Then wake him up and let's go." said Lars, indicating Pietro.
"Lars, you forget. It's your fault he's out." pointed out Avalon.
"Shut up, I'm hungry, let's move." said Lars holding up a hand to silence her.
Avalon helped the drowsy Pietro to his feet and the party set off for Lunpa.
"Hey, Pietro" piped up Lars.
"Yes?" groaned Pietro.
"How bout a game of rock, paper, scissors?" smiled Lars.
"Sure, why not." said Pietro.
"Ok." nodded Lars.
"rock..."
"paper..."
mind read
"scissors!" Lars pulled his hand out from behind his back, showing his fist, a rock. "Nothing beats a rock." he smiled "Rock smash!"
"Paper beats rock though." shrugged Pietro, holding out his flat palm, paper.
"Ah...again!" said Lars.
"rock..."
"Paper..."
mind read
"scissors!" Lars pulled his hand from behind his back once again showing two fingers, scissors. "Sharp scissors slice that goddam paper." smiled Lars gleefully.
"Like you said Lars, rock smash scissors." Pietro smiled, holding out his fist.
Seventeen games later, with Lars losing every one of them. "Damn you, Pietro! Why do you always win?" he frowned.
"Cause I'm special." Pietro smiled and shrugged.
"You'd think he'd notice Pietro using Psynergy wouldn't you?" whispered Avalon to Hinaro.
"Lars is stupid like that." sighed Hinaro with a shrug.
"I still don't see how a piece of paper can beat a big rock." huffed Lars.
"You lost, get over it." sighed Pietro.
"If I'm right we should be passing Lunpa now." said Hinaro pulling out a map "We can buy some supplies to last us until we reach Bilibin." Hinaro continued to say.
"Yeah, but Hinaro." Pietro butted in "You're reading the map upside down."
"..." Hinaro paused
"Pssshhhht! I knew that." said Hinaro, turning the map the right way up. "Lunpa is just over this hill."
No guards seemed to be on duty so the party just walked through the Lunpa town gate. They ate their fill at the inn and split up to buy the supplies needed for they remained of the journey home.
Pietro was seeing about mending the tear in his clothing where Xao cut him the previous day. After having his robe returned to him, he left the shop to head to the point where everyone was to meet up. Avalon came hurrying over. "Pietro, Lars just asked if he could..."
"Don't give him any money." Pietro cut her short. "Hinaro fell for that one a while back as well. He'll just come back with a load of ale if you do."
"Oh, ok then. I'll see you on the ledge near the town gate then." she smiled and ran of again.
Lars finally show up at the ledge where Pietro and Avalon were waiting to leave Lunpa. "Where the hell is Hinaro?" moaned Avalon impatiently.
"How should I know?" shrugged Pietro.
"Why don't you use your Psynergy to find him, Pietro?" asked Lars.
"Good idea." Pietro closed his eyes and reached out, looking for some trace of Psynergetic ability or Hinaro's mind. He opened his eyes again and sighed.
"Well?" asked Avalon.
"Hinaro is no longer in Lunpa." sighed Pietro.
"He's probably gone off to Bilibin on his own. you know what he's like" said Lars. "He knows the way home." said Lars.
Deciding not to waste anymore time. Pietro led them through the town gates and out east towards the Goma range.
On their way to the Goma range they noticed several muscular bandits surrounding someone. The party edged closer to see what was going on.
"It's Hinaro." whispered Lars, noticing their friend in the middle and he reached for his axe.
"See. I told you. Now we have to go save him." sighed Pietro. The three of them rushed towards where Hinaro was surrounded. A familiar figure emerged from the ring of bandits to meet them.
"I told Hinaro I would pay him back for what he did to me near Vale. My friends are just helping him with his 'training'. Don't you try intervene or I'll turn them on you." said Chris with broad evil grin spread across his face, seemingly proud of what he'd done.
They couldn't stand back and watch Hinaro getting beaten to a pulp. Hinaro was crouching on one knee. He tried to stand but it was useless. "Why isn't Hinaro fighting back?" asked Avalon.
"Because that stupid prick must have been training again and he is too worn out to fight." Pietro sighed in annoyance at Hinaro and frustration of trying to figure out how to save him. He leaned in close to Lars "Get Chris' attention and I'll get Hinaro." he whispered to Lars.
"Easy done Pietro." Lars said, walking over to Chris. Lars raised his hand "Hi." he waved giving Chris a smile. Chris gave him a quizzical look. "What? I'm just saying hello. We might as well have a conversation while your friends there are beating Hinaro shitless." smiled Lars. Chris laughed and lowered his guard, Lars immediately punched him square in the nose, flooring him, out cold.
While Lars was distracting Chris, Pietro got Avalon to cast cloak on him. He moved through the shadow of the trees, staying out of the light as not to break the Psynergy. He fired a small jolt of electricity at Hinaro to get his attention and spoke to him mind telling him how to get out the ring of bandits.
Hinaro acknowledged him with a nod and summoned the last of his Psynergy and punched the ground casting a small quake, knocking the bandits over and giving him a chance to get out of the ring the bandits had created around him. He dashed through the nearest gap but the bandits recovered quickly and chased him.
"Hinaro, follow my instructions." spoke Pietro to Hinaro's mind. Hinaro nodded. He ran to a tree and stopped in front of it turning to face the bandits. The first bandit reached him and swung his sabre at Hinaro's head. "Duck!". Hinaro ducked and the bandits sabre struck and embedded itself into the gnarled trunk of the tree. The bandit struggled to pull it free but it was stuck fast. "These bandits don't seem to be too smart. They're running at you in a line, Jupiter knows why, just weave between them and let them swing at you. If there stupid enough this should work." Pietro's voice rang in his head. Hinaro dashed forwards and let the second bandit swing at him before dodging out of the way. There was a dull clang as the second bandit's blade connected with and jammed into the first bandit's armour. Calling on his last reserves of energy he quickly did the same for the third, fourth and fifth bandits. "Heh, they really were that stupid." said Pietro as Hinaro dodged the sixth and final bandit letting him stick his sword into the fifth ones armour. Pietro stepped forwards out from under he shade of the trees, breaking the cloak Psynergy, appearing right in front of the first bandit. The first bandit let out a yelp of surprise as Pietro appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Pietro smiled at the bandit "Hey." the bandit just gawped at him. Pietro placed his forefinger and thumb around either side of the blade embedded in the tree. "Nighty night." he smiled and cast Flash Bolt. Just as he planned the electrical energy travelled down the first bandit's sword and electrocuted him. The electrical charge moved through the chain of bandits connected by their armour and swords, shocking each one in turn, all six slumping to the ground unconscious.
They waited a couple of minutes to let Hinaro recover. "Hey guys, can we talk about this when we get back to Bilibin? I'm too exhausted to argue right now." said Hinaro, panting.
Pietro brushed past him "Idiot."
Avalon just frowned and hurried past him to catch up to Pietro. Lars picked him up over his broad shoulders "Come on, Hinaro." he said and he followed after Avalon and Pietro. Towards the Goma range and home to Bilibin.
