Chapter 49 Chapter 49 - Until Dawn III (2/2)
”Alright, it was me. But, hey, they made me their representative. So it's basically them.”
”... I should have listened to you.” she said solemnly.
”Hm?”
”You told me the formation wouldn't last until dawn and that we'd only be wasting the Qi Stones,” she glanced sideways at him. ”But I didn't listen. Remind me the next time that I'm the dumbest one in the group.”
”... ah, that.” Smite chuckled lightly. ”You're not the dumbest. You just chose to believe in him. There's nothing wrong with believing in other people, Aeala.”
”... I'd risked your lives, the whole of the city, on the parting words me told me, Smite.” Aeala. ”I'm acting like a love-bound girl whereas I should be acting like a leader.”
”Well, I'm not denying that there was definitely some favoritism going on there,” Aeala chuckled for a moment, shaking her head. ”But it'd be strange if there wasn't. You didn't just believe his parting words... you believed him. A man who saved you whilst almost dying in the process. Someone you grew to care for. That there is a lot more than just trusting words.”
”... isn't your agenda to turn me over from him?”
”Oh, definitely,” he said, taking out a bottle of water and drinking a gulp. ”As the matter of fact, I'll reluctantly admit that I was rather happy when I saw he didn't show up. But, you're in pain. Our little rivalry takes a backseat to that.”
”There's no rivalry, Smite,” Aeala said. ”A woman knows when she's a replacement.”
”... then he's an idiot.” Smite said. ”About twenty years ago,” he continued after short silence. ”I met this girl, Evelyn. I was just a teenage boy back then and I'd just learned from my dad that he's a cultivator and that he'll be teaching me all these magic tricks. So, to impress her, I performed one of the Martial Arts my dad taught me back then. That very night, a group of people broke into our house. My mom and sister were killed while my dad was left crippled. I never told him I recognized one of the girls he'd killed that night and that it was my fault.”
”...” Aeala stared for a moment at the solemn face full of pain, saying nothing.
”Point is, that's what being quite dumb is,” Smite said, chuckling. ”You pulled out before we were in danger. That's all that matters. Qi Stones? We'll get them back, in time.”
”... you're strangely optimistic about this whole affair.”
”Because, believe it or not, I'd grown to understand you over the past few months,” Smite said, gazing deeply at her. ”We all have. You're a... remarkable person, Aeala. Stronger than anyone I'd ever met in my life, all of us here included and combined. I know that the only reason you seem dispirited is because you're trying to tell us it's fine to be the same. I'm fairly certain we all know that. We also know that the eastward journey wasn't something you just came up with. Believe it or not, there's no place in the world where I'd feel safer than here.”
”... you're giving me too much credit.” Aeala smiled faintly. ”I never planned on running out of Qi Stones... or going to war this early.”
”... perhaps. But you already plans if you had to. It's alright to be humble... just, there's no reason to sell yourself too short.”
”... keep it up and you might just win me over.” Aeala said, chuckling.
”Oh, is this the first affirmative sign? Could it be that I'm finally starting to beat out that kid?”
”You really have a strange obsession with him, you know that?” Aeala said, squinting her eyes.
”Hey, it's your fault,” Smite replied, shrugging his shoulders. ”You've mystified him to the point where he's, well, a damn myth. I just want to meet this fifteen year old Core Realm boy who killed a Mythic Realm cultivator while warding of six peak Core Realm ones and with you in tow. Intrigue is strong.”
”... well, if we do ever get to meet him,” Aeala said, looking up at the sky. ”I assure you that you won't be disappointed. One look into his eyes will tell you everything.”
”... it always does.” Smite mumbled lowly, turning toward the direction of City of Mercenaries, stunned for a moment. ”Eh? What's that? Hey, Shaneine, do you see that?”
”I do.” a cold voice replied from the darkness as the rustling sounds of branches echoed out while Shaneine climbed the tree nimbly.
”What's going on?” Lucky asked.
”Look toward the city.” Smite replied; a mere moment later, the whole group gathered around the fire, gazing off into the distance. ”Shaneine?”
”... it's fire and smoke.” she replied. ”I can't make out much else but it looks like someone's fighting.”
”Who the hell---no, no way,” Smite said, sighing. ”Right?” he glanced at Aeala.
”Don't look at me,” she shrugged a reply. ”I don't know.”
”It's your call, m' Lady.” Kraval said, picking up his warhammer, eagerness painted on his face. ”Should we go back in?”
”If we do,” Lucky said. ”We'll probably be encircled with no hope of escape.”
”If we don't, on the ot'er hand,” Fish said, taking a gulp of his wine. ”We'll leave whoever that is to die. Or worse.”
”... how could it be any worse---you know what, forget I asked,” Smite said, rolling his eyes. ”What will it be, Aeala?”
”...” though five expectant gazes landed on her, Aeala seemed unhindered by them, remaining calm, gazing off into the distance where smoke began to rising toward the high sky. ”Do you trust me?”
”Always.” the five replied almost at the same time.
”We're heading back.” she said. ”Lucky and Shaneine, move roughly fifty paces ahead of us and scout. Fish, take the rear. Kraval, stay at the midway point between Smite and I and Lucky and Shaneine and be ready to assist either group. Let's go and see what the hell's going on, guys.”