Arc 3, Chapter 5: A New Day

No dreams, no thoughts—blank as a clean whiteboard. Her eyes opened, waking to the sunlight against the dusty blue curtains. Like a snuggled piece of bread being toasted… "Ugh…" she moaned herself awake.

Jotou yawned, stretching her arms out and removing the lines of hair stuck to the corner of her lip. "Oh, you're awake." Barely open eyes turned to Fumeko.

The brunette's hair had grown past her knees, fuzzy as she sat on the bedside. "Morning. Uh… I, thought for a bit and, just forget everything I said last night…" her face darted away in shame.

Jotou lifted the covers, moving her legs slowly, "You know I won't." Fumeko sighed in response. "I'm just unsure of my own feelings. And, I'm unsure of my feelings about-"

"Hotaru and Asobi," Fumeko guessed. Jotou nodded. "Makes sense… You and Hotaru are always making those googly eyes at each other," her eyes narrowed.

"Hey, all of you are really important to me. I'm not really sold on relationships because I don't want to ruin friendships. As I said, I'm unsure of my own feelings. Let's just keep adventuring and see what happens," Jotou shrugged.

Fumeko stared to the ground, swinging her legs once or twice before nodding. A knock at the door swivelled their attention. "You two aren't still asleep are you?"

"Rise and shine!"

"We're awake you dolts, give us a minute!"

After putting themselves together, Jotou opened the door. "They left these at your door!" Asobi handed the soap and towels—Jotou grabbed her share.

Little flicks of hair spiked atop the magician's hatless head and yet her face remained cheery, bright and without a flaw.

"Do I have to…? I feel cute enough today," Fumeko grumbled.

"Go brush your teeth and take care of your hygiene," Hotaru had a small bag with her to go bathe, one ear was stuck bent down, but her face seemed refreshed… No doubt she used rejuvenate…

Snarling, she took the soap and towel—hunched over, she walked past Hotaru. "Yeesh… You're going to trip and fall on your hair."

"Shut up wolfy!"

The bathrooms were not far, though the line certainly was. Left and right cabin doors were opened, down the rows and rows of housing; the earth beneath sprouted tufts of grass here and there.

Off in the distance, yellowish-green grass grew wild, a small orangish cliff overlooked the lodgings, some trees were scattered—and back south from the direction they travelled was further into the town of Hartamat.

The travellers made their way to their coaches, alongside our fateful four. Before their departure, some breakfast was due at the roadside shops.

"I'll have one lotus platter salad please, extra chicken," Hotaru ordered.

Jotou put a finger up, "Make that two."

"Whatever a lobstrane sizzle is, I'll have it," Fumeko read down the list.

"Let me guess; lobster plus crane?"

"Correct!" Hotaru's fangs glistened, adding a soft clap.

"This world is full of nightmare fuel…"

"Hmmmmmmmm…" the elf scanned the menu again and again, "Bread and chocolate butter cookies please!" The waitress wrote it all down, moving onto another table.

Hotaru checked the menu again… Seeing every dessert her eyes popped open; her mouth was watering as she turned the menu downside and pushed it away from herself.

"So, today's train day," Jotou sat up; the open-aired store blew a hot wind past her bangs.

"Yes. Though, there's no rush once we get to Galuvit Town. We can take a little trip around town and ride the train whenever."

Hotaru wore her new blue sundress—the wolf-girl was quick to stock up on everything she had lost in the fire, including her outfits. Her tail swayed behind and her ears never drooped; not many seemed to care for her genetic heritage here.

Passing by even the travellers around, there were more part-humans per glance. Most people here had skin kissed by the Sun, from lighter to darker complexions.

"You're forgetting the part about eleven hours; it's gonna be night before we even get there. Uagh…" Fumeko downed a glass of water—the pores on her face visible.

"Rejuvenate," Hotaru splashed as the brunette straightened. "Are you sure about the shirt and pinafore getup? You're going to melt and we're not even in the desert regions yet."

"It's not like I have fifty different clothes, it's just a buncha shirts and this one pinafore. I planned to go to Kria, not across the world."

"Well, my adventuring gear's enchanted, no need to clean, is waterproof, windproof and has nice ventilation so; how are you still fine?" Jotou glanced over to Asobi.

The elf in her one common attire tilted her head, hatless still, "Oh no, I'm burning!" she gleefully put her wand up, "This is all," the illusion disappeared; she was drenched in sweat, "A trick!"

"Oh, if I only had adventuring gear," Fumeko waggled her head, "Quit bragging!" she fell on the table.

"You can heal heatstroke, right?"

"Never had to, so I don't know."

"Oh no, it's okay, I've survived before! The tent got really hot once, so I must've been in Cravolta before!" Asobi placed the illusion back on herself.

"Regardless, we need to get you two some proper clothes at Galuvit Town," Hotaru's suggestion was interrupted by their driver, walking up to the table.

"Sorry to interrupt, but plan's changed. All vehicles going in and out of Hartamat have to stay put for now. A battalion of Trailon soldiers apparently set up camp close by," his tail swayed, a hat atop his head.

"Really!?" Hotaru frowned.

"This wasn't part of the plan? You did say there was an invasion happening," Jotou glanced to her.

"Yes, this was the worst-case scenario… How long's the wait?" Hotaru looked up to the coachman.

"Can't say for sure, but the word around is at least two days before travel's permitted again."

"Is there no way to speed it up?" Fumeko leered.

"I mean, sure… It's risky and it'll cost you a little extra. These warnings aren't something uncommon after all."

"Ooo! Is this where we bribe you and go anyway!?"

His tail spiked straight, "Hey! Quiet down elf, or else we're all gonna spend way longer in Hartamat."

Hotaru shook her head, "Sorry for that. We'll stay put for now and go two days after. We have no issue to tip you a little extra of course."

"Not like I'm going anywhere else Miss. The gesture's kindly appreciated," he tipped his hat and walked away.

"Great, plan's a bust," Fumeko mumbled. The food arrived with the aroma of spices and freshness…

"Mmmm… I'll forget the plan for now!" Fumeko dug into her lobstrane, grilled to perfection; meat like fowl and texture like that of soft lobster meat. Her mouth watered to the taste.

Hotaru picked up her fork, side eyeing Asobi as she dug into cookies that oozed chocolate. The redhead wriggled her lips, "Anyway," she looked away, "The plan's not a bust, just delayed."

"This is delicious!" Asobi's face sparkled in pleasure, munching further, "Would you like to try some!?" she offered everyone.

"No thanks…" the words barely squeaked out; Hotaru faced her entire head away.

"This salad's more savoury than sweet," Jotou chewed with her mouth closed, "Maybe another time; since we have two days… As long as the budget's fine."

"Mhm, budget should be fine till we get to Cravolta City and take up some commissions. We have a wiggle room of about fifty platinum."

"Gimme some Sobi," Fumeko cracked the other cookie in half. She took a bite… "This is… so tasty…" she stared at the bitten cookie in her hand, "I need more…" she whispered.

"Well," Hotaru cleared her throat, "Eat to your heart's content and we can go into town and find some clothes for you two."

'And so we were stuck here. Once again because of some stupid war and by the same damn Regime… I wish I could throw some sand in their eyes and make them go away already. Sigh…'