Despite being twins, Ayami sees herself as the elder sibling. So, seeing Ayaka in that light, Ayami couldn't help but yield to her.
"OKAY... fine! but," looking at the Tempest siblings, she continued, "I'll be keeping an eye on you! A reminder that I don't trust you guys, at all! particularly you!" Pointing her finger towards Ewaan, "white hair!"
Witnessing Ayami's demeanor, Ewaan's irritation soared high. But since her sister was willing to help, he didn't utter anything but one word, "...Ewaan..."
"Huh? What was that?" Ayami's brows furrowed in confusion as she tried to make sense of his mumble.
With sudden intensity, Ewaan closed the distance between him and Ayami, locking eyes with her as he uttered. "My name, is Ewaan Tempest; not some white hair! I don't need your trust, but I'll tolerate your suspicion. However, after we reach the city, we may find it best to part ways, given you have more trust issues than you can handle right now. But until then, let's focus on reaching our destination safely."
Ayami became agitated and flustered after seeing Ewaan so close, her cheeks flushed red as her eyes locked with his.
Even though Ayami's words were not particularly harsh, but her behavior triggered some unpleasant memories for Ewaan, reminding him of the girl who used to bully Maya back in middle school.
Maya sensed Ewaan's inner turmoil through his actions. To ease the tension, she interjected, with a sheepish smile, "Please disregard his tone, he tends to be like that..." Then giving a friendly smile, she said, "I'm Maya Tempest, by the way..."
Realizing Maya's intention, Ayaka, who had been on edge throughout their ordeal, visibly relaxed and spoke with a warm smile, "I'm Ayaka, and she's my twin Ayami. We're the Takagi sisters. Please disregard her tone as well; it's my fault she's so overly protective of me... hehe..."
°°°
As the dusk settled, casting long shadows through the distant trees, the Tempest siblings and the Takagi sisters embarked on their journey towards the King's State.
With Ayami leading the way, her sword at the ready, Ayaka and Maya in the middle, and Ewaan trailing at the back, they ventured into the vast wilderness beyond.
The intentional spacing hinted at the tension between Ayami and Ewaan.
"Thank you again for letting us travel with you guys," Maya said, breaking the silence as they walked.
Ayaka smiled warmly. "Of course! We're all in this together now."
Ewaan nodded, though his expression remained guarded. "Just keep an eye out for any trouble. We don't know what's going to happen next."
As they walked, Ayaka began reminiscing about their hometown, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "I miss our home. Ever since we left on this adventure, it feels like misfortune has followed us every step of the way."
Maya listened attentively, nodding in understanding. "It must be tough, leaving everything behind like that."
Ewaan nodded silently, his mind begun to occupy with thoughts of their sudden transportation to this unfamiliar world and the friends they left behind.
He wondered how Shousuke and Hayato were faring back home, and if they were worried about their sudden disappearance.
Meanwhile, Maya and Ayaka continued their conversation, reminiscing about their hometown and the challenges they had encountered since embarking on their adventure.
Ayami, though initially silent, eventually joined in, expressing her frustrations with Ayaka's impulsiveness and tendency to trust too easily.
The atmosphere became heavy with the weight of their shared experiences or misfortune, each word adding another layer to their bond as they navigated the unfamiliar terrain together.
Amidst the expanse of the wilderness, their conversation served as a comforting reminder of the familiarity they had left behind, even as they ventured into the unknown.
With the conversations lightening the mood, the laughter of the girls echoing through the vast wilderness, they continued on their journey, the distant forest looming ahead as they approached.
°°°
The moon shined along with the setting sun as they navigated through the forest with ease.
Now Maya walked beside Ewaan, Ayami still leading the way and Ayaka at her side. Tempest siblings' steps light and cautious as they observed their surroundings.
"Why are we entering this forest?" Ewaan asked, although still stoic, his voice tinged with concern. "Shouldn't it be dangerous, with monsters lurking in every corner?"
Ayaka glanced around at the towering trees, her expression serene. "Not this forest. This is the domain of the Dryads, the forest spirits. They protect these woods, ensuring that no harm befalls those who pass through without malice."
"Huh?" Ewaan squeezing his eyes skeptically.
Maya nodded in understanding. "So, we're safe here?"
Ayami nodded. "Yep, the Dryads keep this forest free from harm. We'll be able to travel through without fear of monsters or other dangers."
With the assurance that they were under the watchful gaze of the Dryads, the group pressed on, their footsteps echoing softly against the forest floor.
As they continued deeper into the forest, the atmosphere shifted, becoming quieter and more serene.
The trees seemed to whisper secrets among themselves, and the air carried a sense of ancient magic.
The tranquility however was shattered by a sudden loud growling sound that echoed through the enchanting woods.
Ewaan, ever vigilant, assumed a defensive posture, scanning their surroundings for any potential threat.
"What was that sound?" He asked, his voice laced with concern.
To his surprise, Ayaka sheepishly raised her hand, her face flushed red with embarrassment. "Um, that was me..." she admitted, casting her gaze downward.
Maya, unable to contain her embarrassment, blushed furiously, her cheeks aflame as she joined in with a low growling sound of her own.
Ayami, sensing the awkwardness of the situation, intervened. With a warm sighed smile directed towards Maya and Ayaka, she suggested, "We should camp out here for the night. The forest is safe, and it's best not to travel in the dark. We can continue our journey in the morning."
"Agreed," Ewaan said with a stoic expression, nodding in approval.
Ayami cast him a confused glance, the tension still evident between them.
Then, she cleared her throat and suggested, "Then we should collect firewood while there's still light and since the forest is safe we should split up to save time."
"But it's not long before it'll get dark," he glanced at the sky, "so we need a beacon to lead us back here. Since you can wield fire," pointing at Ayami, "go climb up a tree and be our beacon! Miss Ayaka and Maya can gather wood together in that direction," he gestured forward, "and I'll go this way," he pointed behind them, "I saw some branches laying around there earlier."
Although Ayami pointed a finger towards him, she couldn't utter a single word to argue with the logic of Ewaan's plan.
With a deep breath and a nod, she agreed, and they set off to execute their tasks, following Ewaan's lead.
Ayami climbed up the tree, feeling a mix of frustration and admiration for Ewaan's plan.
After waiting for a moment, she drew her sword from her waist and raised it high.
"Damn it!" she muttered to herself. "That stupid white hair... His plan was so perfect that I couldn't even say a thing!"
Sighing, she infused her sword with fire magic. "[Sword-Flame Infusion]..."
The edge of her sword began emitting flames, casting a bright light that illuminated the surrounding area, effectively becoming a beacon for the group.
As the night sky darkened and the moon's light intensified, the forest of Dryads began to glow like fireflies, emanating hues of blue, green, and purple.
The ethereal glow added an enchanting ambiance to the surroundings.
Ewaan finished collecting the branches and began heading back, following Ayami's fiery beacon.
However, sudden whispers echoed throughout the glowing forest, sending shivers down his spine.
"Hey, hey, he's really here, hehehe~"
"He finally arrived."
"Hehehe~ he's here, he's here."
"Woah, it's really him."
"Gotta report, gotta report, hehehe~"
The unsettling whispers seemed to be addressing him directly. Ignoring the eerie chattering, Ewaan quickened his pace and hastened back to the group.
°°°
As the forest began emanating its ethereal glows, Ayaka and Maya found themselves entranced by the enchanting sight.
They walked slowly, taking in every mesmerizing detail of the glowing foliage around them. With small branches in their hands, they strolled leisurely, allowing themselves to immerse fully in the magical ambiance of the forest.
••• ••• •••