6 Part 5

Guess who's on guard again. Yup, me. I stood near the camp, scanning my sectors from left to right, making sure no one was going to sneak up on us while our guards are all down. It was dark all around me, nothing but a flood of trees around me and the slight breeze of the wind. I kept thinking about what Trace did back then, the magic thing. He lifted Keith using telekinesis. Makes me wonder if my weapon is ineffective against magical targets, Goddammit.

Minutes passed by but it felt like an eternity. With no soul in sight, just the darkness, trees, and the wind to comfort me. But I can't be too sure, can't let my guard down. My eyelids were already fighting against me, trying to shut my eyes despite my efforts. Maybe I should go back-

"No... Trace, h-help!"

I immediately spun my head behind me to the voice of Flora calling out for help. Something's going on. I turned and dashed back to the camp, with my finger on the trigger and my rifle held up high. Once I reach there, I didn't find a group of bandits or knights or anything. Instead, I found Keith wearing blue pajamas on top of Flora, pressing against the blade of his sword on her neck with a pinch of blood dripping out, and Trace was just getting out of his tent.

"Hey! What's going on?" Trace asked.

"Trace!" Flora cried.

"You better fuckin' explain yourself, Keith," I said, letting go of the weapon's foregrip and barbed my finger at him.

"I caught this Keidran getting ready to Kill you, Trace! I told you she can't be trusted!" Keith said as he got up and pointed at Flora.

There's no way she'd be able to do that, not after what she said no too long ago. I felt conflicted. This shit has my head spinning, so far I almost aimed my rifle at Flora, but didn't. "No way..." I whispered as I lowered my hand and held the foregrip once again.

"That can't be true!" Trace protested. "He's lying.. right, Flora?"

"Trace... I-I didn't... I'm sorry!" Flora broke down emotionally and started crying as she ran off into the darkness of the woods.

"Flora, wait!" Trace pleaded but was futile.

"Hah! At least we're finally rid of that fleabag." Keith commented while Trace and I just gave him Death stares from both sides.

A moment later, Trace and I had run where Flora previously went, tracking her path. Then we saw her, on the ground. She tripped on what looked like a hardened branch on the ground. "Flora? Flora!" Trace yelled.

Once we were close to her, I looked around and crouched beside her while Trace crouched in front of her. "Are you alright?" Trace asked. "Oh no, you're foot..."

"Please, just go away," Flora said weakly.

"Why? Why are you running from us? Please just tell me the truth!"

She sighed and looked up at Trace. "Yes... you should know the truth... Keith was right, I was planning on betraying you two tonight. I... guess it was my plan all along." I couldn't believe it, she was planning on backstabbing us. I was so mad, but I didn't show it. I just turned my head to her as she continued. "The truth is... our two races are on the brink of war. Without you're memories, I thought that I could take advantage of you. That is... at first anyway... but... then I started to get to know you..." After she said that last bit, I don't know what to think anymore. God damn, this fucking world. "I can't do it. I don't want to anymore! I don't... I don't want to do!" She cried once again.

Trace then lifted his hand and made it rest on her shoulder which made her jump. "Flora, I believe you. I don't really know what's going on, but I do know this..." Trace declared and wrapped his arms around her. "You're the first person I saw since I can remember. I trust you and I don't want you to leave."

"But I.. ah.. thank you," Flora said weakly.

I lowered my rifle and got up, leaving it holstered to hang in front of me. "Alright, I trust you too, for now. In the meantime, why don't we get some shut-eye, we still have an adventure to do." I said and everyone nodded in agreement. As for Keith, well. He got magically launched by Trace to on-top of a tree.

Next Morning...

The sun is up and the sky is blue, the birds are chirping and the sun's rays are burning my eyes. Not really, but it felt like it. Since Flora fell last night, I had decided to wrap her injured foot this morning and applied pressure with my thumb on the middle to check for any damage. "Does it hurt?" I asked as I pressed my thumb on it.

"Ah! Cahmehrs ab' 'liun nah!" Flora screamed in pain.

"Just as I predicted. Nothing like a shot of tequila can't fix, yeah? You twisted your foot when you fell. Now I can't do anything unless y'all know a... doctor or some kinda healer nearby." I announced.

"But the only city with any clerics nearby is a human one."

"Then we'll go there!" Trace announced.

"But Trace...!" Flora pouted.

"Ah come on, Flora. Don't you trust us? We trusted you!"

"You know I trust you two... It's the other humans I don't trust."

"Oh, you don't gotta worry 'bout that. Anyone tryna hurt you, Trace here will put a hurtin' on em'. We'll be in 'nd out." I stated as I helped her stand on her feet or hoofs, really dunno what you call them.

Fast forward, we were at the outskirts of the city Flora was talking about and the first thing we all saw was a large tower which blew my mind away. The tower was piercing the sky, and what I can tell it's entirely made of steel. With some weird symbols on the side written in blue, with a couple of curved objects levitating around it. It had a small blue ball on the top, emitting electricity with red lights illuminating the top. Honestly, I thought this was something out of Star Wars.

"I can see the city across the trees," Flora announced.

"What is that?" Trace requested as he glared at the tower.

"Yeah, what is that... Is that some sort of tower?" I questioned.

"Oh, that? Actually, it's a Templar Mana Battery. They call them "Towers." It's scary... They started building them right around... when Trace became Grand Templar." Flora retorted.

"Holy- that looks like an important strategic infrastructure. Might have to keep that in mind." I said.

"When I became Grand Templar?" Trace queried as his eyes widened in shock.

"Huh... Trace?"

"Trace, you good buddy?" I asked but to no avail. Looks like he was hallucinating or having a flashback.

"Trace? Trace!" Flora desperately called as she shook his shoulder and Trace immediately snapped back to reality. "Huh? Keidran?" Trace questioned.

"It's me, Flora!"

"Oh, Flora! Sorry, I must have been daydreaming." He said, scratching the back of his head. "Heh. I must be... 'Cause it looks like you're naked again."

Flora purred and I just vomited on the inside. I squinted my eyes and looked around. "Remember, Trace. I don't have to wear my clothes all the time." Flora said and when I glared back at her, she was pulling some rope out of a backpack. "Anyway, the easiest way to get me into the city is for you to pretend I'm your slave." Smart.

"S-Slave?! Flora, I can't..." Trace hesitated.

Flora got up and handed me a bunch of ropes, like a whole pack of them. "Here, tie me up. It'll be more convincing." She said and turned to Trace. "It'll be okay..."

"Are you sure?" Trace interrogated.

"Free Keidran are not allowed in this city. It's the only way." She responded.

"She's right. This is standard undercover operations." I added and snatched the ropes. She presented both of her paws and I began to wrap the rope around, twisting around some corners and tying them up. Once that's done, I handed Trace the quote on quote handle. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Flora. I promise." Trace said.

"We all set? Good, let's get a-movin'."