This novella takes place in an alternative timeline before the battle against Gareth in Echoes of Esteria Resonance of Ruin Book 1.
Month of Elves
Day 1
In the predawn stillness, Slash lay enveloped in the comfort of sleep, his eyes resisting the approach of morning. Sodina, however, was already awake, nudging him gently. "Arise, my love. I have something wondrous to show you," she urged, her voice a whisper of excitement.
With a reluctant groan, Slash rubbed his eyes and turned over. "What could be so important at this hour? The sun has barely graced the sky."
"Trust me, it's worth it," Sodina insisted.
Her excitement contagious, Slash swung his legs over the side of the bed, stretching his limbs as he rose. "This had better be good," he muttered, following Sodina as she led him out of the room.
They traversed a narrow corridor, the first light of dawn casting a gentle glow through the windows, illuminating their path. Sodina's pace was brisk, and Slash struggled to keep up, still groggy from sleep.
At last, they reached a door at the end of the hall. Sodina turned to him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Close your eyes," she instructed.
"Really?" Slash raised an eyebrow but complied, a mix of curiosity and impatience stirring within him.
Sodina took his hand, guiding him through the door. "Alright, you can open them now," she said softly.
Slash opened his eyes and gasped. Before him lay a breathtaking garden, bathed in the golden light of the rising sun. Flowers of every hue bloomed in harmonious splendor, their petals glistening with morning dew. A gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of blossoms, and birds sang a melodious greeting from the treetops.
"I discovered this paradise yesterday," Sodina murmured, her voice filled with awe. "Isn't it beautiful?"
Slash nodded, momentarily speechless. "It's incredible," he finally said, turning to Sodina with gratitude. "Thank you for showing me this."
Sodina's smile was warm and sincere. "I knew you'd appreciate it. Sometimes the best moments are the ones we least expect."
As they stood together, watching the sun rise over the garden, a sense of peace washed over Slash. Perhaps waking early wasn't so bad after all.
"Now that you're awake, I have something else to share," Sodina said, reaching into her pocket. "This is a lottery ticket for a cruise on the legendary wooden vessel, The Eltisweiss!"
Slash blinked, trying to process her words. "The who and whatchacallit?"
"The Eltisweiss," Sodina repeated, her excitement barely contained. "It's the grandest wooden sailing ship ever built. We have a chance to win a voyage. This parchment connects to another with a ticket number. I entered all four of us for this adventure."
Slash looked at her, eyebrows raised. "You entered all of us without asking? Is it better than that crummy ship we went on to get here?"
Sodina smiled sheepishly, thinking back to Lea's green hair blowing in the wind. "I thought it would be a fun surprise getting on a bigger and better vessel! The Eltisweiss is renowned for its luxury and exotic destinations. Imagine us sailing across crystal-clear waters, exploring hidden islands, and enjoying gourmet meals under the stars."
"But what if we win and someone can't go?" Slash asked, his skepticism waning.
"Don't worry about that," Sodina said. "We'll figure it out if we win. For now, let's just enjoy the excitement of the possibility."
Slash sighed, a reluctant smile forming. "Alright, let's see if we get lucky. But next time, maybe give us a heads-up before you enter us into something like this."
"Deal!" Sodina grinned, holding up the ticket. "Now, let's keep our fingers crossed."
Slash took a deep breath and held up a finger. "Okay, I think it's alright if we take a break. Gareth's reign of terror shouldn't reach this land. You say it's a mysterious island no one has ever heard of?"
"I've heard of nobles buying islands and building private resorts there. Maybe this will be good for my spirit. I need to relax more," Sodina replied thoughtfully.
"That's the spirit," Slash said with a chuckle. "You won't regret this. Let's check in with Bridget and Lea to see if they're excited. Also, breakfast should be ready at the tavern." Sodina grabbed Slash's hand and dragged him away from the rising sun.
Slash nearly tripped trying to keep up with her. "You're hungry!"
"I spent all my energy preparing that speech for you. Why wouldn't I be hungry?" Sodina winked as she stopped abruptly in front of the tavern doors.
"What are you doing?" Slash peeked around her shoulder.
"I'm seeing what's on the menu for today," Sodina said, scrutinizing the parchment displaying French toast and coffee with a side of eggs.
"French toast sounds good. We could go in and ask," Slash suggested, trying to free his hand from her grasp.
"Hold still!" Sodina said, her finger tracing the menu.
"Hey, you guys!" Bridget waved at them from a nearby table. "Come take a seat. I already ordered ten scrambled eggs for us."
"For you," Slash corrected, shaking his head. "Gosh, Bridget, you eat like a racehorse. Are you always this hungry? Are you expecting me to pay for this?"
Bridget's green eyes flashed with a hint of resentment, her long pink hair shifting slightly. "I paid for the last meal. It wasn't cheap, remember? It was lizard's tail."
"That was gross. I didn't even ask for that," Slash retorted. "You found that giant lizard dead in the forest and chopped off its tail. You lost your coin purse, and I had to pay for it because you hassled the local butcher."
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime creature," Bridget said defensively. "You're an adventurer like me. If you found something rare, wouldn't you pursue it?"
"I would have taken one of its scales and made a necklace for Sodina," Slash said with a sigh. "Fine! Eat to your heart's content."
Sodina placed a reassuring hand on Slash's back. "You know Bridget can be stubborn in the morning. Best not to rattle the beast."
"I know!" Slash replied, glancing at Sodina. "We're going to have to sell some items to make up for this meal."
"Don't worry! I'm here with you," Sodina said firmly, taking a seat next to Bridget.
Slash smiled and walked over to the barrels of coffee on a wooden table. "I guess a hot cup of coffee isn't too much to add to the meal." He grabbed a cup and took a seat across from Sodina.
Sodina's blue eyes glistened as she eyed the large pile of eggs being brought to the table.
"How much were the eggs?" Slash asked, leaning his head to the right.
"Nothing you can't handle, Master Adventurer Slash," Bridget smirked, grabbing a fork and digging into the dish.
"That tone... your smirk... It's fine," Slash said, sipping his coffee.
Bridget looked up from the meal. "There is one way you can get out of paying for the meal. You could beat me in a sparring session. I'm sure the tavern owner wouldn't mind a bit of sport. We've been here a few days anyway, catching our breath after the last battle."
Bridget's challenge lingered in the air. Sparring with her was always a gamble; her fierce determination matched her exceptional combat skills. Slash glanced at Sodina, who gave him a reassuring nod.
"Alright, Bridget," Slash said, setting his coffee down. "You're on. But don't think I'll go easy on you just because it's breakfast."
Bridget laughed. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Slash. Let's give these folks a show they won't forget."
The tavern owner, hearing the commotion, approached their table with a grin. "A sparring match, eh? This should be entertaining. Clear some space, everyone!"
Patrons eagerly moved aside, creating a makeshift arena in the tavern's center. Bridget stood, stretching her arms and legs, her pink hair swaying. Slash followed suit, his eyes locked on his opponent.
"May the best adventurer win," Sodina cheered, hands clasped in anticipation.
The two adventurers faced each other, poised for combat. The tavern fell silent, anticipation thick in the air. Bridget's smirk widened. "Ready when you are, Slash."
With a swift nod, Slash charged forward, and the clash began.
"I'm going to work up an appetite fighting you. Even more reason to give it my all!" Slash taunted, leaping into the air and aiming a powerful kick at Bridget's shoulder.
"Nice try!" Bridget ducked, dodging the attack and dashing under Slash. With her arms outstretched, she aimed to grapple him.
"Not today!" Slash landed lightly on his feet and retreated a few steps, wiping sweat from his brow. "One wrong move and you would have gotten me."
"These hands know what to do," Bridget smirked.
From the sidelines, a voice jeered, "Rip her clothes off!"
"I am not a degenerate!" Slash shouted back, visibly irritated. Shifting his stance, he glanced quickly at Sodina, who stood nearby.
Sodina offered a reassuring smile and a thumbs-up, calming his nerves.
Bridget seized the moment, clenching her fist and throwing a punch at Slash's face.
Slash blocked and countered, and the two engaged in a rapid exchange of blows. Each strike was met with a deflection, each kick countered with a dodge. The fierce combat continued for what felt like an eternity, the intensity unwavering.
"You're not holding back," Slash grunted, stepping back and clutching his side.
"Oh, Slash, I'm sorry," Bridget's eyes softened, tears beginning to form as she momentarily dropped her guard.
"It's fine!" Slash assured her, his posture suddenly slumped. His arms dangled loosely as he leaned over, appearing defeated. "Excel Speed!" he shouted, doubling his speed in an instant and vanishing from sight.
"What!" Bridget gasped, her eyes darting to where Slash had been.
"Got ya!" Slash reappeared behind her, linking his hands together and securing her waist. "I'm not letting go."
Bridget struggled, trying to shake him off. "Sorry, Slash. I want those eggs." With a burst of strength, she jumped into the air, maneuvering her arm behind Slash's neck. Twisting in mid-air, she slammed him into the ground with a resounding crash.
Slash lay motionless, the impact of the fall rendering him unconscious.
Several hours later, he awoke to the sun glaring in his eyes. He squinted, trying to adjust to the light.
"Took you long enough to wake up," Lea's voice broke the silence. She stood over him, the Book of Astra in her hands. "I was coming down the stairs and saw your worthless body being flung into the ground. You could have had your neck broken. How does Sodina even put up with you?"
Slash let out a weak smile. "Lea… I was expecting to wake up to my wife."
"Sodina and Bridget went shopping for swimsuits for this lottery we may win. I think it's a fool's errand." Lea crossed her arms.
"You too…" Slash stretched his neck, wincing in pain. "She could have broken my neck with that attack."