2 Chapter 02: Setting Off To A Distant Land

Along the way, Hikari became overjoyed, going on a journey with the friend of the first one who accepted her, what awaited them in this unknown and curious journey ahead? And would she ever see Michael again? Who knows?

The most important thing to note,

was the fact that she wasn't alone anymore.

As they ventured through the forests Geo noticed her overjoyed, yet conflicted appearance and sighed to himself.

*sigh*

"You do know, Michael didn't want to leave you right?"

Hikari looked up in a surprised manner.

Confused and unaware of what Geo meant.

"What does friend mean?

Hikari was left behind, right?"

Geo shrugged his shoulders and slammed his forehead against a tree.

"Moah... this is such a struggle! Let me explain so you won't get the wrong idea Hikari... You joined Michael on his journey before meeting me, correct?"

Hikari silently nodded and became fixated on Geo.

"He was the first to accept you for who you are, I know him better than that, knowing he wouldn't just abandon someone dear to him.

You see, when I arrived, you were still out cold.

And even if there weren't any traces of him whiting the room. There were traces of a portal opening in the middle of it."

Confused Hikari tilted her head,

unaware of what Geo was saying.

"I am saying he didn't leave your side willingly...

Because inside the traces suggested that the portal had been activated from outside, he must have not wanted you to get hurt and pushed you aside, before getting sucked in himself. Yes... that must be it, right?"

Hikari looked a bit down but realized she had labeled her first friend with something she shouldn't have.

"Now... I know you were left there all alone,

but for all we know, he might be in more peril than we know. Not to mention that he promised me that we would meet in the capital, which is what we are going to do!"

Hikari had a twinkle in her eyes as she soon realized she would be able to see her first friend again sometime in the future.

"To be honest, I don't know when we will meet again, but we certainly will! Which makes the journey even more worthwhile, right?"

"Yes! Hikari thinks so too. I had thought wrong of my friend, and Hikari feels guilty because of it."

Geo wanted to hurry back, he was done with all the betrayal his work giver made him go through, the sooner he could get away from them...

The better.

It didn't take long before they reached the edge of the forest, arriving at the plains of beginnings. Not many creatures could be seen, other than the occasional bunnies, boars, and frogs that had ventured therefrom within the forests.

Some adventurers were busy with their quests,

not having a care in the world for those who passed through the fields. As it were probably their first.

Geo and Hikari continued on their path towards Sharoo and when they arrived at the entrance a nostalgic feeling came over him.

He was finally back... Back where he started.

Focused on his goals he quickly walked in a straight path towards the Guild Hall. Once there he finally looked behind his shoulder as he realized he too had to check up on Hikari. The curious little maiden had never seen such structures, let alone so many people in one place...

When Geo finally looked behind his shoulder,

she was gone... Geo lost his companion,

but knew he had to report soon... what was he to do?

Geo checked the time at the gigantic clock tower at the center square. It was ten past five in the afternoon. Luckily his quest givers were to meet with him around seven in the evening. So... he still had some time.

Come on Geo, think! Where would you go if you were a curious little lizard?

Mot being sure where to look, Geo's first plan was to check all main buildings within the village, as he did...

He was unable to find her. After some time had passed he realized that Hikari had mentioned being hungry before entering the village.

Quickly he checked the time, it was now half-past six meaning he had little time to make it to his appointment. Thinking about what people could do to a defenseless girl unaware of the dangers of strangers he clenched his fist. He didn't want her to become tainted, or at least... not by other hands than his own or those she knew.

Quickly Geo thought of the places where food could be sold and made his way towards the market.

But... she was nowhere to be found anywhere near there.

Now only a few more options were available for the suggestion, so Geo quickly moved towards the area where most taverns were located. First Geo went to the one closest to the entrance gate of the village, known as the Sleeping Sheep. Even though the girls who worked there were cute, there too was no sign of Hikari.

Geo unaware of her location began to think something might have happened to her as worry began creeping inside his mind.

As he quickly left the tavern he had two more options, the Drunken Maiden and the Lizard on the Rocks.

Knowing she would like to associate with others of her kind, Geo made the assumption she could have gone to the tavern greatly associated with lizard-folk.

As he entered a sigh of release escaped his lungs.

*sigh*

"So that's where you have been."

Geo finally found her, and it seemed she wasn't in much trouble as the bartender had given her something to eat, free of charge.

Hikari turned to him with her face fully stuffed.

The sight of it made him chuckle knowing he might have been worrying over nothing.

Even if she kind of felt out of place here,

this would be the place she could feel most at home, right?

Geo then walked up to her to ask if she would want to stay or rather wanted to join him towards the guildhall.

"Hikari! So that's where you were, I've worried over nothing it appears... I have something to attend to, is it okay if we meet up here on a later. Or..."

Hikari broke through his sentence giving him the clear that she would stay here for a while.

"Hikari will stay here with the nice people. Look! They even gave me something to eat! I'll stay here so you do what you have to do Geo!"

Without a worry in his heart, Geo left the tavern and made haste towards the guildhall. As he passed the town square the clock showed that it would almost strike seven o'clock in the evening.

Did he make it in time? Geo rushed through the entrance and looked around the register hoping they would also have arrived shortly. It seemed he was correct because when he went to retrieve his reward a few hooded people were waiting for him to arrive.

Geo walked to the corner of the building and whispered what he had experienced and found through his travels within the caverns.

Satisfied by this the hooded people revealed a leather bag and slowly gave it to him. The both of them bowed down only to quickly vanish from sight without saying a word.

He had finished his job, he was now free.

Geo collapsed from relief, a familiar face saw this happen and went to him to provide a helping hand.

"What happened to you, sir? Tired maybe? Or do you need help standing up?"

Geo looked up and saw the radiant smile of the one who had been assisting Michael from the beginning.

"Amaris! Glad to see you! Yes! I could use a hand, but... I'd rather do it myself."

A bit embarrassed Geo instantly jumped up, a bit wobbly as the exhaustion got to him, he struggled to keep standing. But when Amaris offered some support it all was okay.

Geo thanked her for the help and went on his way.

Quickly meeting up with Hikari so they could inform about the best path towards what they wanted to achieve.

At the entrance, this time with the board towards their backs, they knew their adventures had only just begun... Their first steps towards the unknown had been eternalized into the dirt...