I slow down as I approach the road, quickly taking in the situation. Five people on the ground, my team all on their feet. Another guide standing further up the road, unmoving. Geneva further down the road, taking her sweet time approaching now that the festivities are over.
With no immediate need for action, I move toward Alana. She’s standing over a boy who looks worse for wear, his body curled up in pain and covered in dust. His hands are held out in front of him, shaking. I recognize that reddish-pink tint. Fresh burns. Did she do that to him? Added to the beatdown, that’s a little harsh for my future saint.
“You okay?” I ask.
“We’re fine.”
I notice her subtly moving her hand behind her back. I grab her by the arm, brows furrowing when she winces. She tries to fight my grip but I force her hand up. Fresh burns.
“He do that?” I ask, cutting my gaze to the sad sack on the ground. After a second glance, I think he’s in good condition. Too good of a condition.
Should trash like that be breathing?
My attention is drawn back to my friend when she rips her hand from my grip, rubbing her forearm. “Yes. People tend to get injured in fights.”
“Bell can heal you. I’ll—”
“What are you going to do?” she snaps angrily. I recoil from her glare. It’s not the usual playful disapproval. There’s…something bitter behind it. “Our opponents are down. They don’t have access to a healer so that’s the end of the qualifiers for this team. Are you going to cripple them on top of that?”
“I…fine. If you care about what happens to them, I’ll leave them alone.”
“Thank you,” she says drily. With her good hand, she reaches down and grabs her beaten opponent by the collar and drags him away, ignoring his whimpers of pain and choking as he gets a face full of dust. She barks orders, Arthur and William helping her to bring the rest of the enemy team together. Her shoulders are tense as she stands over them, sternly explaining their situation.
“Lou,” Geneva says cheerily as she comes to stand beside me. In her arms are five folded blankets.
“Hey. Does she look off to you?” I jerk my chin in Alana’s direction.
“You know her, my summoner. There’s no need to doubt your own judgment.”
“Knowing something’s wrong is different from knowing what’s wrong,” I mutter. Did something happen during the fight? But Alana isn’t one to balk from pain and gore.
“Would you like me to find the answer?”
“No. I’ve told you, I won’t ever do that with her.”
“Then I suppose you will have to use the ancient and primitive method of simply asking her.” Geneva chuckles. “Preferably while walking. We do have a time limit for this test of yours. I assume your desire for everyone to participate will mean traveling on their own feet? If so, it will take far longer to reach your watering hole.”
I wince. Woe is the fortune of mortals. “I should have kidnapped Alana and done this alone.”
“Perhaps. But for all your power, rewinding time is beyond your abilities. Best to deal with the current situation.” She walks over to Alana, tail swinging, and I follow with a shaking head.
“—care. You may be young but you are still responsible for your fates. You chose to follow that man, you chose to stand beside him. At any time, you could have walked away and de-escalated the situation. Thank the saints that the consequences of your choices didn’t result in you losing your lives.”
Alana sneers at them, particularly at her own opponent. Only one of them has the courage to meet her gaze, the oldest. He is bare-chested and shaking, his bloody shirt wrapped around his arm. His expression is angry but his eyes are afraid, teeth grit and face pale.
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“We’re going to leave you as you are. I would hope that you all can focus on the objectives of the qualifier rather than irrational grudges.”
The leader, I’m guessing, holds his tongue but if looks could kill, my friend would be nothing but a bloodstain.
“Team, let’s get a move on.” She turns to me. “I’m assuming you came running back after finding water and not because you thought we couldn’t defend ourselves from a group of kids?”
I frown at the hostility in her tone. What did I do? “Yeah, but it’s a bit of a walk.”
“Good. Let’s get moving.”
“Wait!”
A teenage boy lying prone struggles to sit up, wincing with one hand on his side. The older leader tries to stop him but the boy shifts away from his reaching hand, looking up at Alana with sad eyes. “Lady James, I would be much obliged if you allowed me to join your team.”
“You!” the leader shouts, but the pain from his wounds keeps him from getting too excited.
The boy looks at him with disdain. “Shut up! Picking a fight with another team for no reason. Because of you, we’re a sorry mess before even half a day has passed. Griping about others looking down on you. Ever thought it was for a good reason, idiot?!”
“I should…have never let you on this team,” the leader grouses. The effort must have been great as he immediately lies down, chest heaving with his deep breaths.
“…you’re getting ahead of yourself,” Alana says darkly. “The team limit is five.”
“A lone hunter is more easily trampled by worthy prey.” Gazes turn to the other team’s guide. He exchanges a nod with Cloud before looking at Alana. “The rules state that there can only be a team of five. If the boy accompanies you, it will not be as a team member. He will not receive any positive evaluations for cooperation. His lack of judgment and quick betrayal are noted. You will not be penalized if you decide to take him along.”
The boy smiles triumphantly. A girl beside him with the makings of a bruise covering half her face looks at Alana with calculation but my friend is the first to speak.
“Again, you’re getting ahead of yourself. I may not be penalized taking you on but there are no benefits either.”
“I can—”
“Do nothing,” she cut off brutally. “We don’t need you.”
His face is ugly at the rejection. “I guess he was right. You think you’re too good for us.”
“I am.” She says decisively. “But it has nothing to do with titles. I’d never be shameless enough to ask someone I assaulted for a favor. I could continue giving you explanations but you’re not worth the time. We’re leaving. Now. Lou.”
I don’t waste time and start walking, gesturing the others to follow. It’s easy to know I’m going in the right direction. My hasty return left a furrow in the ground, creating a clear path. We trudge off in a disorderly group, moving at a snail’s pace compared to my earlier sprint on account of our slower members.
After a few minutes of walking, I drop back, keeping pace with Alana. She gives me look that clearly says ‘leave me alone’ before speeding up. A part of me wants to heed the warning. Problem is, wounds left alone tend to fester. And walking in silence would be too boring.
Like a knight charging a dragon’s den, I speed up and put a hand on her shoulder. “So, you want to tell me what’s wrong?”