Chapter 23: Level 7 Blues (2/2)

It was now mid morning judging by the light outside and Agni felt it would be a good idea to get moving asap.

”Get on.” Agni said as she knelt down in front of Katrin.

”Huh?” Katrin said as she wiped away the tears from her cheeks.

”Let's get moving. We can't stay out here for too long. Soon the sun will be directly overhead and we don't have any water. We'd better get a move on.” Agni explained.

”I can walk…”

”I know.” Agni interjected. ”I just wanted to carry you. ..Is that okay?”

Katrin nodded as she took Agni up on her offer. The familiar sensation of Katrin's busty breasts against her back soon filled Agni with a purpose as she lifted up and began to walk. There was silence, simply because Agni's intuition suggested to her that there should be -- for the moment. She carried Katrin for quite some time before any words were spoken, instead Katrin rested her cheek against Agni's shoulder and hugged her snugly.

”I'm sorry.” Katrin said suddenly after a time.

”For what?” Agni asked, after all, in her mind Katrin had nothing to apologize for.

”This. All of this. It was my idea to party up. It was my idea to stay at the campsite. This is all my fault. If I had never suggested any of this we wouldn't be in this situation.”

”You mean naked and barefooted, in the forest by 'this situation' right?” Agni tried to lighten the mood with a little joke and felt as if she'd failed miserably.

”All jokes aside. You have nothing to apologize for. I.. I honestly felt something was off the moment we arrived at the campfire last night. I couldn't place it, but something told me that Abeni wouldn't simply let things go. I didn't feel it was in her nature to do so. It's my fault, I should have listened to my intuition.” Agni replied.

”Besides, you're my party leader. Not Abeni.” Agni then added. She felt Katrin's grip tremble slightly.

”Did you know? I remember everything from my past life.” Katrin began as she spoke about how she really felt.

”Really? I can't remember much. I remember that I--” Agni paused as she thought about whether she wanted to reveal the fact that she used to be a man.

”I know. You were a man in your past life. Most everyone could tell.” Katrin revealed.

”Is that so? H-how?” Agni said nervously as she thought back on how she could have possibly acted to let such private information slip.

”The way you acted about everything. Particularly your body. It's hard to describe but, as a woman… there's a certain way men and women act. It was obvious to most of us that you were having a hard time.”

”Oh…” Agni said. Her mind immediately wandered to the most perverted thought she could imagine, which was that perhaps she'd left a snail trail of love juice someplace due to how wet she constantly was.

Agni blushed at having even thought of something so ludicrous.

”In my past life I always felt that I messed everything up at critical times. In a word, I was just inept. A failure at making connections, a failure at succeeding in my job-- in the end I worked too much and enjoyed my life too little.” Katrin continued.

”That's why, when I arrived here and was presented with the chance to be an adventurer I wanted to grab the opportunity with both hands, firmly. But, I'm already messing up again. It's like I can't help it.” Katrin said as her voice began to break again. Agni could feel the warmth of Katrin's tears streaming down against her skin as a solemn mood set in.

”Katrin. Send me that party request again.” Agni said suddenly.

”You're my party leader after all.” She added with a smile as the two continued towards their destination of Grenvale, the city of beginnings.