FVN 5-36 Frontier
5-36 Frontier
5-36 Frontier
“Is there anything you can’t do?” Erin asked as she walked out of the Gate spell after Aedan.
“Oh, plenty,” Aedan responded dryly.
Through the use of the Gate Spell under Spatial Magic, the two managed to return to the surface. The place they emerged into was the riverbank near the spot where they had fought the Scylla.
“As if anyone who knew you would believe that,” Erin scoffed. “You always have the right tools for the right situation. Are you a Seer perhaps?”
“I’m just as prepared as I can afford to,” Aedan retorted with a smirk. “I’m thousands of years old, Erin. Well, spiritually and mentally at least. I have accumulated a lot of experience... and mistakes. I also had a lot of time to spare. With only these three— minus one— one can accomplish a lot.”
“Is that so?”
“That is so.”
Erin sighed in exasperation. “Why do I keep bothering...” she grumbled in silence.
“So, what do you intend to do with that... Kirin?”
Erin looked down at her hand. A Demi-dragon, bearing the semblance of a kitten, was resting on her palm. It had been shuddering and cowering in fear just a few minutes ago but it was now fast asleep. It must have gotten tired from all the frights and shock it had faced, Erin surmised.
Regardless of the real reason, the Kirin being fast asleep would make things easier. However, there was one thing Erin realised she failed to take into account. The moment she turned towards Aedan for assistance, the solution was already provided.
“What is this?” Erin asked, looking at the transparent cube that was hovering above Aedan’s outstretched hand. The was around twice the size of Aedan’s palm. The cube was made using Spirit Magic, she could sense it. The Spirits were flocking around the cube.
“It’s a Pixie Trap.”
Erin raised her brows. “A what?”
“A Pixie Trap. You know what Pixies are, don’t you?”
“I do but I don’t understand why anyone would create something that is dedicated to ensnaring those poor little buggers?”
“They are mischievous above all else, sweetheart. They love sweets and all things sweet. This cube is actually invented by the Fae themselves to impede these mischievous buggers from gobbling up all the sugar and sweets. The Pixies can get in but they can’t get out unless someone lets them out.”
“Alright... I get the history but... why a Pixie Trap?”
Aedan smiled. “I don’t exactly have anything else that fits this Kirin’s size.”
Seeing no better way, Erin carefully placed the sleeping Kirin inside the cube. Since the cube was capable of levitating, she didn’t need to worry about the Kirin falling off in its sleep. Furthermore, the cube would follow the last person who injected their Mana into it.
“How does it fare against insects?” Erin asked.
Aedan chuckled. “Wasteful,” he answered. “It works fine though.”
Satisfied with the answer, Erin moved on to the most crucial question. “Anyway, how are the others?”
Aedan gave a reassuring smile and trod into the forest.
Erin followed without a question.
“They’re safe,” Aedan answered. “They weren’t taken away by the army if that’s your concern?”
“You avoided crossing paths with the army?”
“Nope. Our paths crossed but surprisingly and unsurprisingly, they left us alone.”
Erin couldn’t believe her ears. “That’s definitely surprising, Aedan. How is it not surprising?”
“You forget, Erin. You have friends in high places now. You have the endorsement of House Valdrun, the Adventurer’s Guild, and also the Scarlet Blade herself. It seems they had worked tirelessly behind the scenes. The commanding officers recognised us and we were exempted from being... detained.”
“Information has travelled far and fast. That’s hard to believe.”
“What the...” Erin blurted out when she saw a carriage tagging along the riders. At first, she thought a high official was eager to meet her but that was only half of the truth.
“I am Sir Jamon of House Vorin,” greeted the official onboard the carriage. “You must be tired from the long walk and battle, Lady Erynthea. Allow us to escort you for the rest of the way.”
Erin didn’t reject the offer. There was no reason to. She was tired and she was in a bit of a daze to reject any goodwill offer.
Naturally, Aedan came along.
“I must say, Lady Erynthea, your absence from your party gave us quite a fright,” said the high official as the carriage began to move, ambling along the road.
“A dead Fae would be bad for the territory,” Erin mused absentmindedly in response.
“It’s not just the withering of the lands that we are concerned about, Lady Erynthea. Our positions and jobs are also at stake here.”
“Why would you be blamed for my death?”
Sir Jamon smiled wryly. “You have some very... caring and powerful acquaintances, Lady Erynthea. Has the gentleman here not explained anything to you?”
“I have,” said Aedan. “But it’s more credible to hear it from the responsible individual himself.”
“Of course, Lord Aedan. Anyway, you can rest easy, Lady Erynthea. Your companions are safe and sound. A lavish meal and a hot bath await you at the camp.”
Erin’s ears perked up when heard the words “hot bath”. It was one of the delights that were just irresistible to her.
“But before we reach the camp, there is something I need to be sure of.”
Erin sensed the shift in the mood. She heightened her vigilance in tandem.
“That thing trapped in that floating cube, what is it?”
Erin narrowed her eyes. “A harmless fellow, that’s all you need to know, Sir Jamon.”
“I meant no disrespect or ill will, Lady Erynthea, but I need to be thorough. We have cases before where some idiots brought a harmless monster pub back to the camp, not knowing they had incurred the wrath of the pub’s parents.”
“This is no pub, Sir Jamon,” Aedan said. “Contrary to its appearance, I can assure you that this creature is no pub and it’s harmless. But of course, as long as you or your men don’t try anything funny or stupid. Do we have an understanding?”
Erin expected the official baulk but instead—
“I understand,” Sir Jamon relented quite easily.
“He’s afraid of Aedan?” Erin mused inwardly. She heard the official’s heartbeat. It thumped hard and fast when Aedan threatened him under the guise of clarification. It was reasonable to feel intimidated but it went beyond just feeling intimidated. It was the fear of death that she sensed from Sir Jamon. “Just what did you do, Aedan?”
The ride that had been slightly bumpy turned smooth and gentle. Erin looked out the window and saw that they had entered the encampment. Much like how it was when she approached the outpost, she was drawing gazes from nearly everyone in the camp. Though they couldn’t see her properly, they could imagine and what they imagined only inflamed their curiosity and intrigue.
The carriage travelled for another few minutes before coming to a stop.
“We’re here,” Sir Jamon said.
“My thanks,” Erin bade and got off the carriage along with Aedan, not before stowing away the cube in the baggy sleeve of her robes. The Kirin was far too intriguing. She didn’t want to risk attracting the wrong kinds of attention.
They disembarked onto a sparse part of the encampment. The tent before her was much like a small house made of cloth. The moment she took a step towards the tent, Lyra and Nivia emerged from within. The former rushed at her while the latter had a milder reaction.
Lyra didn’t shout Erin’s name like she always had. She simply threw herself into the Foxkin’s embrace and wrapped her arms tightly around her.
Erin smiled wryly and returned the gesture.
Aedan spread open his arms and motioned for Nivia to do the same but at him.
“Kill yourself,” Nivia spat with a stern glare.
“I miss you too, Nivia.”
Soon, the rest of the party emerged from the camp and they all swarmed Erin while crying out tears of joy and relief.