New chapter! Finally! It's hard to write when your inpiration comes in waves that arrive every 4 months or so but I'm glad I manage to write a new chapter because I absolutely love writing on this story. It is far from over yet, so look out for more! ^^

''We have to get back there, we can't leave it like this!'' Cana let out.

Mest helplessly looked at her. It had been a few hours since he had transported them back to the Inn and Cana has been sitting on the edge of her bed with her hands in her hair ever since. ''I know, but there is no way we can carry out my plan now that they have an advantage.''

''We can't stay here either, regardless of what Doranbolt says,'' Cana said. ''Those people are hunting us and I don't want to bring others into danger.''

''We've been driven into a corner…'' Mest sighed. ''This might be exactly what they had planned to do as soon as people would get in their way.''

''Then what now?!'' Cana shouted. ''Go back to the guild to let people know we failed and let the people here be terrorized by those bastards?!''

''We need a way around the guns,'' Mest said, lost in thought as he leaned to the door post. Neither of their magic is able to deflect bullets in any way. Then it hit him. ''There actually is a way...'' he mumbled.

Cana lifted her head. ''You really have a new plan?''

He turned to face her. Her eyes were blood-shot from stress and her hair all messy. ''Nevermind," he said as he averted his gaze again. ''It's a bad idea.''

Cana stood up and walked over to him. ''If you have an idea, then tell me,'' she slowly said to him with a gaze that was as serious as the narrow situation they were in.

''I won't.''

Cana took a step forward and grabbed his shoulders tight. ''This is not the time to be all emo and get cold feet! Just tell me the damn plan!''

"I won't !'' He raised his voice.

''Why not?!''

''Because it will put you in danger!'' he suddenly blurted out. She loosened her grip. His stone grey eyes seemed to pierce her and she couldn't help but notice how rapid his breathing was. He sighed in an attempt to calm down. ''There is a way to disarm them, but it will put you at high risk.''

''Then so it may be,'' she stubbornly reacted. ''Who cares if I get hurt?''

''I do!'' he said.

Cana froze. She felt her blood rise up and spread warmth all over her face.

Her reaction made the tension grow between them and he felt her grip on his shoulder reduce to almost nothing.

''...and ehm- all the other people. Of the guild.'' He tried to save himself out of his spontaneous reaction, but his normally calm talk was lagging. ''Everyone would care.''

''I understand," she notably, quietly said as she let her arms fall down to her sides again.

A long silence followed.

''How sure are you about being able to get us through this plan?'' Cana asked in another attempt to get him to talk.

''I already told you, we won't go through with this!''

''I believe in you, okay?'' she said in an unusual, almost trembling voice. ''If there is someone who can take them down amongst us, it's you. And if I can be of any help, then I will do it.''

''Are you absolutely sure?'' he said with still a hint of distrust in his voice.

''Whatever the plan is, I need you to tell me. This doesn't have to be that dangerous if we're well prepared. Don't forget they're just aiming for us randomly while we actually know what we're doing.''

His serious face made place for a careful smile.

''Why do you have that stupid grin on your face, I'm being dead serious.''

''It's just that I have never seen you so dedicated about something before.'' He laughed.

''Oh shut up.''

He walked towards her and lay his hand on her shoulder as he looked into her eyes.

''Cana, '' She felt as if his eyes were the only thing her gaze could be drawn to. As cold as they looked, she could feel the warmth of determination emitting from them. ''Let's do this.''

Cana stared through the leaves, barely able to distinguish the four figures from the trees surrounding them. They were sitting on logs, most likely trying to make a fire. Faintly she could hear them talk, but they were too far away to decipher any words. Suddenly the air rippled and with a muted thump, Mest kneeled down beside her.

''I will never get used to that, you know?'' she hissed.

''I made all the preparations, now it's up to you,'' he said as he ignored her former complaint. To her blank face, he continued, "You said you believed in me, now it's my turn to believe in you.''

She sighed. Normally she would have countered such a sentence with anger, but she knew he meant it. It was no use fighting it.

She held out her hand between the two of them and counted down on her fingers.

3. 2. 1...

''Now," she whispered.

She jumped up. ''Card Magic; Paralysis!'' she yelled as she drew the attention from the startled men.

The bandits jumped up from their spots, trying to reach their gun, but it was already too late. They had frozen in place.

''Too bad,'' he said as he looked down at the tarot card he had placed on the soil earlier. ''My partner was faster.''

He threw the guns far away towards Cana and stood in the middle of the four men. Mest closed his eyes and focused. Before Cana could even run towards the guns he was gone, including the four bandits. She held her breath. Now it was all up to him whether this plan turned into a success or not. She put the guns away in a bag and started running towards the direction of the Inn. It was now or never.

Panting and almost tripping over the Inn's entrance, Cana stumbled into the building. She quickly went through the door behind the bar and down the hidden stairs leading to a basement.

She could finally breathe out again in relief when she saw Mest and Doranbolt standing in front of a metal door. He turned around and grinned.

''We did it!'' he let out as he raised his hand. She ran up to him to meet him in a high-five but noticed something was off. Even before she could reach him, his eyes rolled back and he sank through his knees. Doranbolt was just in time to catch him.

Then it hit her. He was supposed to transport two bandits at the time but instead he had transported all of them. Back in the train was even his first time transporting somebody else. This has been way, way too much.

''He has ethernano deficiency!'' Cana yelled as she kneeled down and kept his head off the ground. ''We need a healer, right now!''