Chapter 38: Dark Artifacts
.....
We arrived at the neighboring town, Alka. There were purchased a stay at einn nearest to the mining site.
"The moment were done, we live. Got it!" Chris crossed his arms
"Oh lighten up..." I urged.
"She's right, this town has better resources, wouldn't hurt to take a look around" yuishiro added as mochiko nodded in agreement
"Think of it as a vacation..." I smile.
The inn wasn't large but had a bed n breakfast Which was good. The owner seemed thrilled to see us as we stepped into his line of view.
"Excuse me, but um there's been a slight change if plans" the owner said nervously
"My my, if it isn't the fox girl" a familiar voice stopped us cold. Behind the owner stood the brown man from the other day.
It's the man from the previous town
"What is the meaning of this?!" Chris asked pissed
"Nothing to worry about kitty boy, I'm also a guest here..." The man grinned.
"Now then, let's get along shall we..." He then grabbed my arm and pulled me to his chest.
Before I could even process I was yanked back as Chris glared at the man.
"Of my presence bothers you that much, you can leave..." The man grinned
"I'm fine staying here, besides it doesn't look like there are better inns within a ten mile radius..." I said staring at owner of the inn.
Chris grumbled As he stared at the man with disgust
"How about a compromise, I'll set the guest rooms on the first floor for this gentleman here, while the second floor is All yours " the inn owner said practically sweating through his shirt
"Sounds fair" the man winked are he turned around and walked in the inn.
I have a bad feeling about this
....
We book the master bedroom with a large king bed.
"What's this?" Chris asked
"Well calculating costs, it's more cheaper to rent one king suit, than three separate rooms. Plus I'd prefer it if we'd stay together..." I explained setting down my load as mochiko climbed on top of the bed.
"What's the femboy?" He asked
"If you mean yuishiro, he left to register our room downstairs " I answered nonchalantly
Yuishiro is really cute and pretty, but his hearing his voice , once would immediately know his a man. I stared at nothing as I was too deep in thought
"You're really ok with sharing a room with two men and in a bed on top of that..." Chris said with a raised brow.
"I know you're smart enough not to try anything inappropriate with me, after all I'm not exactly a frail damsel..." I smiled sharply, as he tensed up recalling the last time he tried to get some.
He sat on the bed muttering under his breath.
Something is really bothering him, if only he wasn't so stubborn to talk about it
I sighed at his tight expression. I walked and sat next to him and rested my head on his shoulders. He tensed up immediately before gradually relaxing .
"We're in this together you know. you can tell me anything that's bothering you, I won't judge..." I assured
"It's nothing really, I just feel like absolute scum. You've always been patient with me no matter how bad my antics get, but sometimes I want you to stop acting noble and just scream at me once in a while...." He admitted.
Is he serious I blinked
"You moron, I'm not acting noble because I'm tolerating you. You say what's on your mind and don't back down from a challenge no matter the odds. Sure you a pain sometimes but I genuinely see you as my friend..." I smiled ruffling his hair
He stared at me dumbfounded
"Now let's get out of here and see those ruins!" I stood up offering my hand to him. He smiled taking it as I pulled him up and headed for the door
I genuinely see you as my friend Chris's cheeks turned pinkish at her words
.....
We changed into proper clothes for the viewing. Instead of pants I wore shorts, my excitement was visible on my face as my tail wagged uncontrollably.
So cute 🌸 the guys thought staring at me with pink cheeks.
I carried mochiko in my arms as we proceedef to decend down the stairs leading to a dungeon looking Lybarriyth.
"These drawings are incredible..." I smiled in awe as I stared at the cavemen drawings on the walls.
"You really love this stuff don't you..." Chris said
"Of course, knowledge is power and power is the key to run the world" I said as a matter of factly. Chris just stared with an unreadable expression.
"What is that?" Yuishiro 's voice cut through as we all turned to a wall with seven gem drawings writing in ancient text. In the center of them all was a drawing of a compass.
"Could tha be...." I awed at the realization.
"Oh you've got a keen eye, those are ancient artifacts knows as the gems of desire. There a dark magical artifact that offer great powers but demand a greater price in exchange. Legends says if one has all seven gemstones they can use them to summon the compass of power which alloweds the wielder to make any wish they desire." The guide said as he explained the drawings origin
We all awed in wonder
"But that's just an urban legend, who knows if it's true" the guide added with a shrugged
Any wish huh....
...
No one's pov
Back in Buarheld, everyone was panicking. It's been almost three months since shiori vanished. Her subordinates couldn't contact her, jasmine had been crying in her room refusing to eat anything as Felix helplessly watch while rationing his blood viles to avoid serious episodes.
As for prince Nathaniel, he was absolutely losing it, his fiance had gone missing without a trace, and hes force to accept the chance that she might never return.
Back in the ethereal city, the kingdom was under constant worry.
"We need to send a search party already!" Yamada yelled feeling futstration building up.
"To where exactly, we have no leads, no mana to trace, no plan.." ryu said stating facts.
"But..." yamada stared at the ground
"If we keep panicking, shiori-sama wouldn't magically appear, instead we should use this time to improve the kingdom's affairs, we've already spread wide to get more intel on her potential whereabouts.." Ryu explained and walked away leaving no room for argument
Instead of mopping around, the key subordinates were distracting themselves with their tasks, knowing there master was alive at least since they didn't feel her soul sever from there contract, I was positive she would return to them soon.
.....
Shiori's pov
I squealed in delight as the guide handed me some copies of his notes documented from the expedition we were just on.
"I'll treasure them!" I bowed in respect as the guide smiled awkwardly at my enthusiasm.
"Let's go home guys" I smiled
........
We boarded a boat going to buarheld...
"How much farther?" Chris said, his face was turning sickly green as he swayed.
"Well have to take another boat after this one.." I stated as he whined.
"You'll be fine" I patted his shoulder..
Luckily whatever that light was, it didn't harm anyone else. But how was that beam summoned in the first place?
As we finally reached the docks of the buarheld kingdom, we headed straight for the palace.
we hadn't even stepped inside when Chris and I were tackled in a hug.
"Brother! I was so scared!" Oliver cried on his brother's shoulder
"I'm alright now..." He smiled hugging back.
"Shiori-sama! I was so worried about you!" Kuro whined crushing me in a hug
"Kuro, haru, Ryu, kyokota..." I smiled
"What happened?! Your telepathy wasn't working!" Haru asked sobbing in my stomach
"I'm not really sure why, but my mist portal and telepathy aren't working for some reason..." I explained
"I see, we'll have you checked out once we arrive home..." Ryu said
"What happened to your eye?!" Kyokota asked
"Long story " I chuckled awkwardly
"And Whose this?" Ryu asked gesturing to yuishiro
"His my new subordinate, yuishiro"
"You were only gone for three months and you've already replaced us" kuro sulked in a corner...
"Oh it's nothing like that I swear!" I panicked.
"I was acquired due to circumstances" yuishiro explained flatly, unbothered by the commotion
......
We explained our whole journey and all our experiences to the king who was relieved that we were safely home...
"So when is the entrance exam?" I queried
"You can take it anytime now, who knows what might happen to you again..." King James chuckled
Don't jinx it old man I deadpanned.
"Chris!" I called out as he turned to me curiously
"It's been fun adventuring with you, lets see each other again at the academy, okay!" I smiled
"You bet!" He grinned accepting my fist bump
"Let's go home guys..." I smiled turning to my followers