Chapter 185: Reunion during emergency (1/2)

”Are you okay?” Irea asked, looking at Layn with worry. ”You know, I don't think they will try to blame you for what you did,” she added, grasping her partner's hand in an attempt to cheer him up.

”You don't know them as well as I do,” Layn replied, happily accepting the invitation of the girl's hand. His eyes were glued to the now visible cloud of smoke produced by a large group heading their way.

And now, there was no mistaking it. With the distance now close enough for him to see the outline of the entire group, Layn was more than sure that the two people leading it were the two companions of his from an entirely different timeline.

”What does it matter?” Irea asked, leaning her head over her shoulder. ”I don't think they are bad people. You didn't include them in your gran arcana intentionally. Rather than that, from what they told me, they are the ones that involved themselves in the matter of their own volition,” she added as she shook her shoulders. ”All in all, if they want to blame anyone, they only can blame themselves,” Irea said, tightening her hold over Layn's hand.

”You see, the reality is not as simple as we often want it to be,” Layn countered, still unable to get over the anxiety filling his brain.

”You know, I really wish I could just kidnap you for a moment. I think a good fuck could cure your anxiety,” Irea said playfully, pushing herself to Layn's side. ”I know it's a simple solution, but it's a solution nevertheless,” she added, hiding her head in Layn's chest.

”I really regret all the time I spent living without you,” Layn admitted, moving his arm to coil it around the girl and hug her closely. ”But I will have to spare you the trouble this time,” he added, turning his head towards the group in the distance. ”It would kill my pride as a man if I ever admitted I could get it over within the little time we have left before they will arrive,” he added, turning the entire situation into a small, situational joke.

”Heh,” Irea chuckled but didn't elaborate any further.

For the next few moments, the two of them simply stood at the border of the camp, waiting for the other group to reach the place. Behind them, every single mercenary left stood in line, ready to receive their guests.

”Are you guys done flirting?” Al asked as soon as he approached the pair. He then swung his head towards the distance, unable to stop a smile from appearing on his lips. ”It seems that they brought some of my people as well,” he added. But this small smirk disappeared from his face in the very next moment. ”Huh?” he moaned in surprise, turning his head around.

”Something wrong?” Layn asked, noticing the peculiar behavior of the man. But even when he followed the sight of the man, he couldn't see anything but the endless expanse of grass in the direction his legendary ancestor was looking.

”Not really,” Al replied. ”I guess it was just a stray feeling,” he said.

'That didn't sound convincing at all,' Layn thought, although he ultimately decided not to voice this belief of his.

Then, the archmage twitched.

'What was that?' he asked himself, unable to figure out what this strange feeling was.

But that feeling didn't last long. Before the long-awaited guest would have a chance to finally reach the camp and reunite with their old friend, Layn, Al and Irea all turned their heads in the same direction.

Only to notice a lone rider pushing its horse to its limits to reach its place as soon as possible.

”LAYN!” the winds carried the voice of the rider. As it got closer, Layn recognized the rider's face.

”Sitra?” he muttered under his nose, unable to believe in the random chance that would make all his acquaintances reunite with him at the same time. ”What is she doing here?” he asked out loud, confused to no end.

Layn's expression quickly sank from happy and anxious to anxious and determined.

'She doesn't look like someone who just brought a report,' the archmage thought. A strange yet familiar feeling dwelled deep within his soul, pushing him into making a step forward. Then another one.

And soon, Layn was running towards the girl, disregarding the calls of his old friends that he could already hear from the direction opposite to his chase.

”LAYN!” Sitra shouted, quickly reaching the perimeter of the camp.

Layn stopped in his tracks. Now that the girl was close enough, he could see the state she was in.

And it wasn't good.

Her forehead was dirty from all the sweat and blood that mixed on it. From how she held herself by her side, it was clear that she was injured. Even her horse was in a sorry state with all kinds of scratches and wounds marking its sides.