Chapter 24

The Journey Continues

The crickets chirped outside, while inside Alleyne's home are the sounds of sleep and crackle of fire. Mothra and Caesar leaned against the wall, as Mothra snores quietly. Junior leans against the wall close to the window as he takes off his armor and gently places it beside him, along with his sword. He turns his direction towards Leina, who lies on the floor with a blanket over herself and looking over to the fire before giving out a yawn. She brings her head down onto her pillow and snuggles herself in.

"L-Leina," said Junior.

"Hm?" said Leina, as she looks over to Junior.

"Are you still mad… about earlier?"

"… It just doesn't seem right."

"Poor Nowa," said Junior, as he looks up to the ceiling. "If only there was a way to make her not compete."

"The council made their decision and so did she."

"I worry about her too, Leina. She's like me in a way. Her kind see her differently like the humans see me as a monster, but there are those that see differently."

"Junior?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to lay with me? It's warm and cozy."

"Huh? Don't you need some alone time?"

"Why's that?"

"Because you're cranky about the whole Nowa thing."

"It's okay. I have an idea on how to make her not go."

"You do?"

"I thought about it for the past hour and it finally came to me. We'll start tomorrow."

"Tell me tomorrow," said Junior before giving out a yawn, "I'm getting sleepy."

"Come here and rest with me."

Junior crawls over to Leina, as she holds up the covers for him to lay in front of her. As he cuddles close to Leina, he feels the softness of the blanket and both the warm from her body and that of the close by fire.

"Feel warm?" asked Leina, as she wraps an arm around Junior.

"I do," said Junior, "thank you, Leina."

"Your welcome."

Junior gives out a soft smile, as he turns around and faces her with their faces two inches away from one another. Their faces warm up as they bring their faces close for a little kiss.

"Good night, Leina," said Junior, as he brings his head down onto the pillow.

"You too," replied Leina as she does the same.

Morning comes, as fog flows through the forest bringing dew onto all the plants that get swallowed within its path. Nowa walks through, as Rue perches on her shoulder. She then stops and takes in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. She turns around towards the path from where she came from and smiles.

"I will be back," she says to herself. "I promise."

Suddenly, rustling came from the trees behind her, making her look up to the source to see Leina jumping towards her, along with her sword that she holds tightly in her hands. Nowa quickly holds out her staff and blocks Leina's attack before getting a good visual on her attacker.

"Leina?!" she says with surprise.

"Is that all you got?" asked Leina in a serious tone. "my wounds still sting, which will make it easy for you to defeat me."

"But why?" asks Nowa, as she continues to hold up her staff from Leina's sword.

Not too far from the fight, Junior watches, as he sits on a thick tree branch watching.

"You watching the fight too?" said a familiar voice on the other side of the tree where Junior sits.

Junior looks to his right and sees Nanael standing on a small branch waving to him.

"What are you doing here?" asks Junior with a slight bit of irritation.

"Getting ready to broadcast this fight, of course," said Nanael, as she raises her hand. "Get ready folks! This is it! Onward with the Queen's Blade Ba- "

Junior narrows his eyes, giving her an angry look.

"Hehehe… never mind," giggled Nanael awkwardly before flying away from the forest.

On the opposite tree to Junior's left, another observer watches.

"Make me proud my apprentice," said Alleyne. "Show me your determination. The humans never accepted you and neither did the elves. You were lost until I found you. I began to train you so that you could walk wherever you'd like with strength and confidence. What is it that you want? Do you want to leave the forest?"

Nowa pushes Leina away, but holds her staff up high, along with Leina holding up her sword.

"This doesn't make any sense," says Leina "if you take apart in the Queen's Blade tournament, you are surely to never come back to this forest. What is your reason for doing this?"

"What is your reason?" thought Junior. "Everyone despises you, like the humans despise me back on Earth. So why?"

"I'm doing this for myself," says Nowa, as she points the end of her staff toward Leina. "It's no secret that everyone in the village hates me. They want nothing more than for me to leave this place."

Nowa charges Leina, as Leina jumps away to her left, dodging Nowa's attack.

"So which choice makes you happy?" asks Leina.

"What do you- "

"Answer me!"

"… I love my captain dearly and the animals of the forest. I don't want to leave here, but if leaving helps the elves, then so be it. I've always have an emptiness in my heart, but that's what this place, this forest, my home has built for me."

Leina, Junior, and Alleyne open their eyes widely. Nowa smiles softly, as Leina holds her sword down from Nowa's words.

"I can't fight you," said Leina. "Your words have disarmed me."

"It's like what my captain says," said Nowa, as she takes a few steps closer to Leina. "Accepting your destiny is more understanding than it is than fighting."

"Such a brave girl you are," says Junior, as he jumps down from his perch and walks over to Leina and Nowa with gobs of tears falling down his cheeks. "Your master has taught you well."

Nowa giggles, as she walks to Junior and pats his shoulder.

"You too are a great inspiration," says Nowa. "I'll never forget your words too."

Later that day, Junior and Leina are back on track, as Alleyne gives them a small supply of food and medicine. Both food and medicine is carefully wrapped around leaves to stay dry and in condition.

"Thank you," said Leina, as she holds onto the small bag of supplies. "We'll make sure to use this medicine and food to good use."

"And I shall pray for your safety on your journey," said Alleyne.

"My captain," said Nowa with a tear falling down her cheek, as she looks upon Alleyne.

"Nowa, my apprentice, do not cloud your eyes with tears. You are a proud representative."

"Please take care captain," says Nowa, as she wipes away the tears.

"A journey does not need words to begin. Go. Now."

Alleyne turns back towards the forest, but is stopped, as her apprentice hugs her tightly.

"Everything you taught me, captain. I will never forget them."

Leina hugs Junior, as the two watch the emotions pouring from Nowa to her captain. Alleyne smiles and pats Nowa's head.

"Come home safe," says Alleyne.

Nowa let's go of her captain and smiles proudly.

"Hold on a sec!" says a male voice from the forest.

Everyone looks towards the forest entrance to see Caesar and Lea rushing over towards Alleyne and salutes.

"Miss Alleyne," says Caesar standing proud. "We are going too."

"We will watch her back and learned what you have taught us as well," says Mothra.

Alleyne walks up to the two and hugs them tightly.

"Watch over her," says Alleyne. "My apprentice."

"So we shall," says Caesar, as Alleyne lets them go.

"Now go."

Alleyne walks past the two, as she walks back into the forest until she wasn't visable.

"Ugh!" says a familiar female voice coming from beside Leina. "I can't believe I missed another chance for a broadcast! How about you and Nowa fight again?"

Leina looks over to the annoying angel and narrows her eyes.

"No way," says Leina. "She's too strong for me to fight."

"The next time we fight Leina," says Nowa. "It'll be the Queen's Blade Tournament."

"I'm unsure about that. Yet, I do promise that I will fight you again. May us all get stronger."

"You guys take care of Nowa," says Junior. "Got it?"

"We shall, young prince," said Caesar, as he nods his head.

"We sure will, Junior," says Lea with a smile. "As for you, Miss Vance, look after my Junior."

"I will," replied Leina. "Before we go, I want to ask you something Nowa. You gave me something important and I want to come up with a way of thanking you for it."

"I did?" asks Nowa with a cocked eyebrow.

"You have. You showed me everyone has their own way of living. I can't imagine something up to that truth better than you. Also, one last question, it's been bothering both Junior and I for a while… well… you see- "

Leina is cutoff, as a gust of wind blows, bringing up both Lea's and Nowa's skirt, showing off that the two don't wear any underwear at all. Both Junior and Caesar gave off a little nosebleed, before wiping it off.

"Both Nowa and Lea aren't wearing any!" thought Leina. "And I can't figure out why?!"

"What is it, Leina?" asked Nowa.

"Never mind."

"You stay strong; you brave little elf!" cried Junior. "I'll never forget you!"

"Same to you, Junior." Says Nowa, as she, Lea, and Caesar wave the two goodbye.

"See you guys around," said Junior, as he and Leina walk away and along the path.

"I never knew you had such a soft side, Junior," says Leina, as she gives Junior a nudge.

"She's brave. Just like you. I hope she, my friends, us, will get stronger along our way."

"Let's hope so, Junior. Let's hope so."

As the two walk west, Nanael flies up above them with frustration.

"This sucks," says Nanael with frustration. "I'm not gonna follow you two anymore! Do you understand?! We're done!"

I like to apologize for the long wait, folks. I've been busy with finals and moving into a new place. Sorry about that; will make the next chapter bigger than this