Travels

The sun still behind the mountains, a group of four people leave the Sealed castle and head out to the mountains.

"Why are," Rwel can't help but yawn from lack of sleep, "We joining them on this mission..?" He manages to finish asking while still half asleep.

"Because I don't trust Sedar to keep an eye on Des," Cheral states.

"Could have just said you wanted to help," Sedar says, already exhausted from silently arguing with her and failing at making her stay at the castle ever since midnight, "And once again, I'm Getron's right hand man, don't know why you think I'm not strong enough to keep him safe," The woods ahead leading to the only passage through the mountain walls draw close.

"I have no doubt you're strong enough, you're the only person who lasted more than a second arm wrestling Rwel. My problem is you're lack of focus or concern for others. You always lose a soldier or two just getting to our destination because they get lost or mauled by a bear, and with Des being your only companion, that doesn't leave much room for whose gonna become some animal's next meal.

"Every soldier I've lost in those ways have had seals on them and didn't know how to do anything but battle orders. Des is, or was, the only person going with me on this mission, and I don't plan on taking my eyes off of him for a second,"

"What's a seal?" Des asks.

"A seal is what we use to, help, people in battle," Sedar explains very briefly..

Unconvinced, Cheral decides there's no point in continuing so she just rolls her eyes and that's the end of the conversation. The smell of pine fills the air as rays of light start peering into the forest and animals start to wake up, greeting the morning with their chirps and squeals. After awhile they make it to the other side of the mountains, being met by a beautiful view of a vast landscape. Nothing but fields and forests as far as the eye can see made golden by the rising sun.

"The view is always so stunning," Cheral says as they all stand their for a moment, taking in the view, "What do you think Des? Gorgeous right?" Des merely looks out at the fields, as if it were something he sees everyday and is completely use to.

"Yeah," He answers rather monotonously.

His response takes Cheral by surprise, causing her unease. Seeing how Rwel and Sedar don't seem to take notice, Cheral decides to keep it to herself for now. As they travel while they have daylight, they only stop for a quick snack break, but before they know it the sun is nearly gone. The group stops in a field, a large lake lay nearby. With the forest a bit away, Rwel and Sedar run off to gather some wood for a fire. Des and Cheral lay their bags down, taking off what feels like fifteen tons off their back.

"Man, who knew clothes and food could weigh so much," Cheral says with relief and she takes a seat on the soft grass.

"They're really heavy," Des responds as he also sits down. Cheral takes a close look at him, wondering if the purple in his eyes is natural or not. She then notices a little bump in his shirt on his chest.

"...Are you feeling hungry at all?" Cheral asks out of the blue, "Or tired at all?" It takes a second for Des to respond.

"I could eat a bit, and some sleep would be nice,"

"Well here, have an apple," She says digging one out of her bag.

"Thanks," He says taking it. Cheral looks off in the distance back at the mountains that house the castle with worry. As the sun is nearly gone, with the last blades of grass glowing in the fading rays, Rwel and Sedar get back with bundles of twigs and cut wood.

With some wood being laid in a pile, Cheral wipes her finger along a twig near the base causing it to ignite and the pile sets ablaze providing warmth and protection from the night bugs. The smell of cooking meat soon fills the air as grasshoppers chirping make music with the crackles of the fire.

"It's so peaceful one can forget that we're at war," Rwel says as he starts to dig into his share of dinner.

"Well, than how about a scary story?" Sedar asks mischievously.

"Hm?" Rwel already looks a bit scared.

"Oh, are you going to tell us about what happened to Reaper?" Cheral says with excitement.

"The Reaper?" Des asks.

"You don't know who Reaper was?" Cheral asks, "Sedar, how could you not tell him about him?"

"I was busy training him, sorry I didn't think to give him some history. Now can I get back to the story?"

"Yeah," She says crossing her arms.

"Thank you,"