@SpicySparrow (clarifying our destination...) Aine smiled. "Why walk all the way back to Steamington and then Greenbury when we can harness the power of the wind?" With that, she cast a spell. Karuto, iichida shou...
@Spicy Sparrow Within seconds, the two adventurers were back in Steamington. The clangs of forges and puffs of steam now felt like old friends.
@Puppet Master After dinner, Atelier set about looking for the inn which they had stayed earlier. Now that he was well fed, he just needed a good night's rest before heading out for Latermore and Kickenham tomorrow.
"And we're back again." Xuehua instinctively drooped a little under the volcanic heat - going from a lush forest cave to this? She wasn't a huge fan, but it was what had to be done.
@SpicySparrow Aine noticed Xuehua sweating. "It's okay...we can reach Greenbury from here--that's our ultimate goal."
Blacky too, had finished dinner by then and paid for his meal. He then followed Atelier to the inn and went straight to bed. After all, the thought of passing by home filled Blacky with... an indescribable feeling. (Should we move on to the next day right away? Or should we wait for the girls to settle themselves at a nearby inn?)
(They could even spend the night travelling over, using another torch - assuming they still have some of those sticks left.)
(I mean, since the boys are spending the night in Keelford, I'm not sure when to move on with "the next day" narration, so... Still waiting for @122 Generation's opinion for this one.)
(From the looks of things, the boys’ day is done and we’re waiting on the girls to finish theirs. You could skip to them arriving at the inn at Greenbury… or by morning)
(I don't mind, though it largely depends on @SpicySparrow. Xuehua is the one sticking with Aine, after all.)
(In that case, let's fast forward then.) The night had passed and the morning came. Blacky woke up a bit earlier than usual and now taking his time to double-check his inventory: swords, berries, protective items, random thingies, everything.
@122 Generation @Puppet Master @SpicySparrow Aine yawned as she woke up the next morning. The previous day was very tiring, and she was very well aware that Latermore--and the fourth Dragon King--waited for them.
Xuehua was almost late in waking up - travelling the whole night to Greenbury and her lack fo sleep was catching up to her. It wasn't until she remembered their objective that she'd snapped awake. She could sleep in a little when Ardamore was safe.
Atelier also had woken up and took his time to pack his belongings, weapons, and tools, and then checking his books were all there. Then there was the Perfect Apple which still puzzled him as to why it was still with him. Then he set about getting breakfast in the lobby. Since he also had time, he decided to prepare some coffee too.
@SpicySparrow "What do we do now?" Aine wondered. "Do we continue to Kickingham and then Latermore, or meet up with the others?"
(@WavePearl I thought the Kickenham route is for the boys?) @122 Generation One breakfast later, the boys made their way to Latermore via Kickenham as there was nothing else to do in Keelford. The trip itself was rather uneventful... until they arrived at Kickenham when Blacky suddenly had an urge to visit his birth parents' graves. "Hey, uh..." Blacky nervously called out to Atelier. "Would you mind if I visit my folks' graves for a moment?"