284 Party of One and a Fox (1/2)
'Th-that's not it!' Jack shouted in reply. 'I wasn't expecting that… And Daliea never acts like that, so I'm sure Eliza had something to do with it.'
'But since she agreed, doesn't that mean Daliea likes you? So, what's wrong with liking her back?' the fox reasoned.
'That… We're not discussing this right now,' Jack changed the topic. 'Right now, we've got to reach Churstin Canyon as soon as possible and I know just the way.'
'Oh, do we get to run there?' Bowzer asked in excitement.
'Nooo… This way we'll be there in no time at all,' laughed Jack.
'What do you mean? Hello??' Bowzer looked to Jack with a tilted head. Jack's silence was enough to let Bowzer know that Jack was already up to something. Only when a flash of light appeared and blinded him did Bowzer understand Jack's plan.
”Tralon, thanks for coming and helping us out.” Jack walked up and shook his hand.
”What's the emergency?” Tralon was on guard, searching his new surroundings. ”I don't sense any threats or imminent danger… What is it you need?”
”Me and Bowzer need to go to Churstin Canyon, but we've lent our bird to the other party members so we need your help,” explained Jack.
”But I'm not a caravan service…” sighed Tralon. ”It's not too far from here. Why not ride Bowzer there?”
”But you're already here. Wouldn't it be a waste of your mana to come here and leave without helping us out?”
”It could also be considered a waste to have me use a legendary spell to take you somewhere so near.” Tralon then burst into laughter, ”Well, you're still the same Jack that I served in the past.”
”So you'll help us?”
”This time, yes. But I'm not a caravan service, so please don't think of me as free transportation,” stated Tralon. ”I'll cast Spacial Rift so you can cross through it. Shall I do it now? Do you already have what you need?”
”We've got everything, so we're ready when you are.”
”By the way… Why are you going to Churstin Canyon? I don't remember that being in the plan you presented me,” asked Tralon.
”I'm going to meet Choron,” Jack replied with a proud smile.
”The Ninja God? Why's that?”
”Because he's had a quest waiting for me since before the Godly War and now I can finally accept it.”
”Since before the Godly War… interesting…”
Jack continued, not hiding anything from his long-time companion, ”Once I fulfill his request, then he'll be moving to Trodar and will start to operate publicly like in ancient times.
”Really?! That splendid! Leave it to you to convince a god to relocate and come out of hiding,” praised Tralon. ”Then I'm glad to be of aid in this quest. If you need my help to complete it, I'm more than willing.”
”I'll remember that, but for now we only need to get there as fast as possible, hence calling you.”
”Thanks, Tralon. You don't know how much your help and support means to me,” Jack stated. ”Oh, and sorry for not always treating you with much care before… Like when I used you as live bait, or--”
”I forgive you, Jack. Just promise me you'll rise to even more glory this time,” chuckled the old man.
”Then consider it a promise.”
Jack gave Tralon a bow before he and Bowzer walked through the Spacial Rift, disappearing from sight.
Reappearing on the other side, Jack and Bowzer exited the rift. They saw the rocky ridges of the surrounding mountains and the lack of greenery to cover the canyon in the distance.