Sen twisted and turned in his bed. His blanket had wrinkled from all the adjusting he was doing in order to find a comfortable dreaming pose. His body still had a latent fatigue from all the jumping and dodging he had been doing the previous two days with no rest. His resolve had been solid but had not accounted the repercussions of taking it too far. Led by a single statement Sen had spend half the previous two days in the stump field.
" I think there is something more I haven't figured out. " He said every time Liora asked him why he was still going back to the stump field.
The functionality of the dart bows was simple. The bows themselves had been built by elder Lin under a request from Dym. So making more just meant more requests. As for the locking on and firing capabilities that was all from Dym. Using a single central stump as a starting point he set the dart crossbows to be able to track the heat signature from the person or thing standing on that stump.
Two days down the line and his body ached. His mind flurried from trying to dodge ten darts, something he had asked for himself. He groaned in his sleep every time a sore muscle pulled. And on that morning it was no different.
The first morning light rested on his face. The window over head had, for his stay here,was like a wake up call. Every time he felt the rays warm his eyes, Sen knew it was time to wake up.
This morning was different. Thanks to his aching body and the lingering morning cold, his bed took more prejudice. He reached for his blanket and dragged it over his body, sinking deeper into the bed.
" Just a few more minutes. " he muttered.
Knock ! Knock !
" Hey Sen, wake up or you're gonna miss it. " a girly voice called.
Something about the call was nostalgic. Maybe it was because it had been long since he last was woken up by another person. Or maybe it was the way the words followed each other.
Whatever it was sent chills up his spine, chills he was trying to escape from.
Knock !! Knock !!
" Wake up. We're going to be late. " another female voice called.
" Its your fault for spending half the day jumping around like some kid. " she added.
Sen growled.
Judging by the voice, the two were Liora and Ery. Knowing Ery, she would have continued banging at his door until he woke up. Liora on the other hand couldn't care less if he was left behind or not.
Sen sighed as he threw his blanket to the side. This was his last day in the village and he had hoped to make the most out of a comfy and free bed but that leisure was too much for him. The two restless people at his room door each had their own reasons to greet the day so early. And for some reason it was now being pushed on him.
A while later he was dressed. He closed his room door for the last time and paced to the staircase.
Downstairs close to the table was Dym Liora and Ery. They all seemed prepared with their guild robes, blemish free, draped over their shoulders with the Imperial Gentry crest proudly engrave to the back. Liora hung her orbed staff and twin blades by her waist a slight slow emanating from them. Ery had changed out of her normal clothes and was now in her healer tunic with a white satchel wrapped around her waist. A slight smell of herbs encompassed the room , gradually increasing as Sen approached them .
The room was dimly lit compared to his room. The windows to the side barely let any light in. They were covered with condensed water droplets that dripped down the glass. Outside a low fog lay Sen barely seeing past the front porch. The fog expanded across the village making the sunny morning dark as the night.
" What's going on outside ?" Sen asked.
" Oh ! Sen you're awake. " Ery called out after seeing him.
He walked closer to the windows, squinting his eyes in order to see past the fog.
" Why is there so much fog ? It was sunny in my room. " he said.
" Oh that's the cool thing I told you about. " Ery said.
" What… Oh you mean the … " Sen said trying to guess.
" Yeah. The Pulse Cleansing Star Shower. " Ery said enthusiastically.
" Come on. Let's go or we're gonna miss it. " she said nudging Liora towards the door.
" Wait . " Dym called out.
Ery and Liora stopped.
" Before we go I'd like to talk with Liora and Sen first. " he said.
The was an awkward silence at first. Ery's hand was still hooked to Liora's oblivious of the request. She shifted her gaze from Liora to Dym and they all had one thing in common. Then it finally hit her.
" Oh. Privately. " she said unhooking from Liora.
" I'll wait outside. "
Ery locked the door behind her. Across the window she stood on the porch rubbing her shoulders with her hands.
Inside Liora and Sen stood on opposite sides of the table. Dym stood at its apex. He gave a passing glance at the window. Ery was still outside, blowing into her hands trying to warm them. He shifted to the side obscuring any possible vision to what he was saying.
" There is something I need to tell you two. " he started in deep dire voice.
Sen and Liora tensed.
" What's wrong Dym sir ? " Sen asked hesitantly.
Dym's mouth opened. His words flowed into the space turning the already gloomy fog filled world even darker.
…
A few minutes later the three came out of the cabin door. Dym was first to come out. He walked past Ery who was still blowing into her hands through her stuttering mouth.
" I'll be going now. Meet you three are the rendezvous point. " he said as he walked into the fog.
Next was Sen. His eyes gazed down with some residual sleep bags still evident around his eyes. Liora came in last. Her hand slowly turned the wooden door as she closed it.
" Liora ! Ready to go ? " Ery said cheerfully.
" Ye… Yes." Liora stuttered.
Ery's eyes narrowed.
On close inspection she realized something. Liora was trembling. Her eyes had grown glossy with tears wavering in the dim light. She was barely looking and seemed like her breathing had gotten heavier.
" Are you okay? " Ery asked.
" Ye…ah, it nothing. " Liora answered.
" But you're shaking. "
" Like I said its nothing. It's just cold out here. " she said.
" I know right . But don't worry this cold is going to disappear in a few minutes. " Ery said.
" Come on let's get going or its going to start without us. " Ery said taking the lead.
" Remember what Dym sir said. " Sen whispered to Liora.
" You don't have to remind me. " Liora answered as she followed Ery.
" I know already what's at stake here . " Liora said placing her palm over her heart.