Esabel was now back to her old self. She was unflappable. She was calm, cool, and collected. This seemed to be the side of herself that she preferred and I couldn't really blame her after her chocobo meltdown. Since we were now back with Esabel, he decided to fill her in on what the message had said. Before that, though, he had a few things to say to her.
"Esabel. . .What we are doing here is of the utmost importance. It is absolutely crucial that such information remain solely amongst us three. I fear there would be grave consequences were my confidence to be betrayed. If you wish to continue with us, you are more than welcome. Your help would be greatly appreciated. If you do so choose to continue, though, you must do so with the understanding that these secrets are to be maintained."
Lamont didn't say my name during all of this. He already knew that there was no way I was leaving. After all, I had convinced him to let me come along in the first place. I was all in. In all fairness, though, Esabel had to know that she had a way out if she wanted one. She wasn't too far in yet. She could still walk away. She looked at the both of us seriously before tentatively reaching her hand out. It hovered there between the three of us. I understood what she was doing there. I reached my hand out and laid it on top of hers before Lamont put his on top of mine. With that, our pact was sealed.
He then went on to explain about the message. "All three of these names are indicative of locations containing manufactured nethicite. Our responsibilities do not lie with two of them, though. You took notice of the letters next to these names. Those letters pertain to the names of my friends. They have already made plans to dispose of those locations."
"Would that not draw notice, though?" Esabel asked him with a thoughtful frown.
I understood where she was going with that. "She's right. Like. . .if they get rid of the other places first then wouldn't they just beef up security at the one in the Cerobi Steppe?"
"Our task would then become much more difficult," Esabel added in. "There would be quite a bit of fighting involved. They would find strength in numbers."
Lamont took all of that in and let us finish before he continued. "My friends will be keeping a watchful eye on these two locations, but they do not intend to strike before we do. The first move belongs to us. This is imperative, actually, because you two are correct. Were they to strike first, our task would them become much more difficult. Once we dispose of the factory in the Cerobi Steppe, it will become obvious to our allies since there would undoubtedly be an immediate unrest in the other two locations. All of the preparations will have already been made by then so they should be able to destroy them quickly and make their escape."
All of our conversation had been held in hushed tones and away from other people. We didn't want anything to be overheard. So my words were pretty quiet when I asked him "So what's next?"
Reaching into his bag, Lamont pulled out a map I had seen him consult before. He spread it out in front of us all and pointed to a location not too far away. "That is the Salikawood. Our next beginning is to occur there. It is best that you two prepare yourselves for all manners of treachery."
We spent the night in that area of the Mosphoran Highwaste. We all made sure to replenish our supplies. I also sold my spear before buying a stronger one. A stronger weapon would make my attacks more damaging, after all. I felt guilty, though, getting rid of the one that Lamont gave me in the first place. I wanted to keep it, you know? It had sentimental value, I guess you could say. It wouldn't be practical to give up the opportunity to get a stronger weapon, though. And I couldn't keep both since I already had so much to carry as it was. . .I just had to keep the bigger picture in mind. If I wanted to keep growing stronger and contribute more to the group, I had to do everything I could to help give myself the edge I needed.
I laid there in my sleeping bag we had acquired back in the town at Nalbina Fortress. Apparently it was one of the things Lamont had bought right before I fell from a building and straight into his arms. I stared up at the stars until I fell asleep, thinking about this and that. When we got up in the morning, we put all of our stuff up, had a quick bite to eat, and started on our way again.
How long had we been traveling now? It seemed like it had been so long sometimes. Other times, it felt like it hadn't been that long at all. It had probably been over a month since this journey began. The next chance I got, I would have to find a calendar and pinpoint the exact amount of time. Until then, though, I estimated it had been around a month.
I was always in awe no matter where we were because I was constantly seeing new places. Well, except for the Barheim Passage. That place really did creep me out with those zombies. . .Anyway, when we reached the Salikawood I was truly in awe. I took a few tentative steps onto that long wooden bridge and stopped. I looked around me and blinked a few times. It seemed like there was a shroud of fog in some places farther off. And the trees. . .they were huge! They were so tall and so thick.
I jumped back when I felt something furry brush up against my leg. I looked down and saw this. . .white little bunny-like creature in front of me. "Wow. . .i-it's so cute!" I said in surprise as I reached my hand down cautiously. I looked back at Lamont with a question in my eyes.
"That is a wyrdhare," he informed me. "In the absence of provocation, they really are harmless."
So it was safe to touch it? Yes! I reached down and rubbed its furry little head fondly. It was so soft! I picked it up carefully and it didn't seem to mind. It really was adorable. Esabel even came over and reached a hand out slowly herself. The wyrdhare didn't seem to mind and it let her rub it behind its ears. Esabel and I smiled at each other while we showed this little bunny thing all of the affection it wanted.
Then, out of nowhere, something happened. "Lydian, look out!" Esabel said as she shoved me aside. I fell on my bottom. . .hard. I immediately saw what Esabel was talking about, though. There were these. . .little creatures with pumpkins for heads and one was standing right where I had been before Esabel shoved me aside. Lamont cut it down with one clean swing of one of his swords. There were more coming from farther back and Esabel was shooting them down. I reluctantly let the wyrdhare go and it hopped away, trying to get out of dodge.
"Have you sustained any injuries?" Lamont asked me with concern as he reached out his hand to help me up.
I took it and shook my head. "Thanks," I told him quickly. "And no. I'm a little sore, but I'll be alright."
I dusted myself off and turned my attention to those little pumpkin-headed creatures. Esabel was still shooting. Apparently they weren't that easy to get rid of since there were just so many. Lamont and I hurried forward to help her out, him with his swords and me with my new spear. I had noticed the difference between my old weapon and my new one right away. This one definitely did do more damage. When we finally finished them off, I knew it was more than just the spear, though. This spear really was stronger, but I was stronger as well. I knew I had our battles in the Mosphoran Highwaste to thank for that.
"Those things are so small and short. No wonder it managed to sneak up on me," I said as I picked up some loot and put it in my bag. It was some kind of fruit. I would be sure to sell that later on.
Lamont nodded in agreement. "In addition to that, you were already prone to distraction."
"Wait, what?" I asked quizzically.
A smile tugged up the corners of his lips. "The pair of you were in the process of. . .how should I put this? Ah, yes. You were gushing due to the mere presence of a wyrdhare. You would have taken absolutely no heed of an attack even in the event of being faced with an enemy that was five feet tall."
My mouth dropped open. He had stated that in such a. . .a matter-of-fact way. "We were not gushing, Lamont," I told him sternly. "We were appreciating its awesomeness. That is a completely different thing."
"I think he was jealous," Esabel said as she relaxed her bow and looked at us with laughter in her eyes.
"J-Jealous?" he said with surprise. "Would you care to elaborate as to what I was jealous of?"
I got where Esabel was going with this and it was rather funny in my opinion. "Of the wyrdhare, obviously," I said with a nod. Esabel stood next to me and nodded as well.
"Two young ladies showering a furry little creature with attention just did not bode well with you. It's a pity you resented such a sweet little creature."
"Who knows if anybody has ever picked that little wyrdhare up a day in its life. Maybe that was the most affection it has ever received. Shame on you," I said with a shake of my head.
It was his turn to have his mouth open. "I was not displaying any such jealousy. I would never harbor such ill feelings toward that little creature!" he insisted.
Esabel and I turned around and started walking again. "Sure, sure," I said, waving my hand back and forth dismissively. "We believe you."
"Indeed we do," Esabel agreed. We spoke in a tone of voice that suggested we had absolutely no belief in what he was saying. We were just messing with him, though. We didn't think he was jealous or anything. Too bad for him that he didn't know that we really did believe him!
I almost laughed outright, but I held it in. Lamont was speechless and was still standing there for a full minute after Esabel and I started walking. I looked back at him and he had this funny little look on his face like he was still trying to figure out what had just happened. Esabel and I looked at each other and started laughing then. That apparently snapped him out of whatever was going on in his head because that was when he looked up at us and started running to catch up.
Our laughter finally wound down by the time he made it right behind us. Esabel and I looked at each other and I smiled. I had discovered a new side of her and it was a side that I definitely liked. And I liked that she felt comfortable enough to show it to us. It made me feel as if we were all growing closer. I had seen a new side to Lamont as well, which made me start laughing again. And maybe they were noticing a new side of me as well. That was the most I had joked in a long time. It made me feel warm inside to do it.
A while later we approached a bridge. It was big and it looked sturdy to me. I couldn't really see that far up ahead, though, because of the fog. I leaned back against a huge tree just before the bridge. There was moss growing up the side of it. I liked moss. I know that must seem weird. I mean. . .it's moss, right? I liked it, though. I thought nature was beautiful. It's not like I had been exposed to much nature back in Lowtown, right? There were some pinkish flowers nearby. It wasn't the first time I'd seen some since we'd entered the Salikawood. Every time I saw them, though, I thought about how lovely they were.
Lamont noticed me staring and bent down in front of them. I didn't know what he was doing until he stood back up and turned around to face us. He had a flower in each hand. Esabel was closer than I was and he reached her first. I didn't hear what he said to her, but she giggled a little. He gave her the flower and she smiled as she smelled it. "Thank you very much," she told him sincerely.
I didn't take a step forward or anything. I stayed right where I was. A guy had given me a flower once. I was behind the counter at Migelo's Sundries and one of our customers came in and gave me one. He was a kind man, Mr. Caheley. If I'd had a grandfather, I would want him to be like that guy. He smiled and handed it to me and told me not to work too hard. That was the last I saw of him, actually. I had no idea what happened to him. I didn't want to think that he died or anything. I preferred to think that he moved. He was such a sweet man. . .
I had definitely never received a flower from a younger guy, though, one that was my age. It felt a little different. I felt a little sick, actually, and I didn't know why. It was sick in a pleasant way, though. . .
"My lady," he said with a small bow before extending the flower toward me.
After a second of hesitation, I reached out and took the flower. "Well thank you, kind sir," I told him as my cheeks warmed a bit. Bringing it up to my nose, I closed my yes and inhaled the flower's scent. It smelled sweet and calming. It was a very lovely scent. I pulled the flower away and stared down at it. It was even prettier up close.
"Here," he told me as he plucked the flower from my fingers. I didn't know what he was doing until he reached up and I felt his fingers in my light brown curls. I could see it out of the corner of my eye. He had tucked the flower into my hair.
He moved on to Esabel and stuck her flower into the front pocket of her shirt in such a way that it was secure, but looked like it was popping out at you. Then he took off walking over the bridge. Esabel quickly followed him and pulled out her bow just in case there was an enemy nearby. Not me, though. I was grounded to that spot for the moment. This time it was me who stood there for about a minute while the others walked forward.
