“No, you idiot! She’s clearly resting,” came another, sharper voice. “What kind of lunatic disturbs someone who just saved their life?”
Kaede’s brow furrowed, her eyes crag open slightly. Her vision blurred as she tried to make out the figures standing a short distance away.
Kaede shifted, the bark of the tree digging into her back as she tried to sit up. Her voice came out groggy but ced with irritation. “Huh? Who…”
A sharp gasp. “Crap, she’s awake!”
“Nice going, genius,” the sharp-voiced one hissed.
Kaede blinked, her vision sharpening as three figures came into focus—a brown haired swordsman, a petite mage clutg a staff too big for her frame, and a rge man with a regur head who looked like he hadn’t slept in days. They were huddled awkwardly near her makeshift defeheir expressions a mix of gratitude and guilt.
“Uh, hi!” the swordsman blurted, an overly enthusiastic wave. “Sorry to wake you! We just, uh… wao say thanks?”
“We didn’t wake her,” the mage grumbled, elbowing him sharply. “That was all you.”
“Was not!”
Kaede sighed, ping the bridge of her nose. “Alright, before this turns into a full-blown argument, mind telling me who you are and why you’re here?”
The swordsman stepped forward, his hands raised in a pg gesture. “Sorry about them. I’m , that’s Ellen,” he said, nodding toward the mage, “and the silent one is Gido. We’re just a group of adventurers who, uh... we owe you our lives.”
Ellen nodded, her expression softening. "Yesterday, If you hadn’t intervened, we’d have been toast. I almost blew my head off.”
grinned sheepishly, scratg the back of his head. “Yeah, so, uh… thanks for that.”
Kaede waved a dismissive hand, her exhaustion making her blunt. “Don’t mention it. Literally." She paused, still feeling some phantom pains. "It wasn't pretty."
“Oh, uh… that,” said, looking guilty. “It must have been awful. Ow!!” He jerked as Ellen elbowed him. "Stop being iive."
"Oi!! I'm the leader here, stop treating me like this."
Watg the two adventurers devolve into an argument, Kaede raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity cutting through her fatigue. 'Hey Artificia, why didn't you warn me someone roag. Isn't that what the drone was for.'
"So uhm..." Ellen's voice grabbed her attention as she started pulling by the ear. "We're gonna leave. Thanks again." Gido followed after them silently, but not befiving her an appreciative bow.
Kaede watched the odd trio retreat, their voices still carrying faintly through the trees as protested Ellen’s releugging on his ear.
“Unbelievable. I am the leader, you know!”
“Sure you are, fearless leader,” Ellen shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “You're the reason we even came here in the first pce.”
Gido’s low grunt of agreement barely registered, but it was enough to make groan loudly.
Kaede exhaled, shaking her head with a faint smirk. “What a bunch of characters.”
Her amusement faded as she turned her gaze back to the horizon. The sun was beginning its slow dest, casting long shadows through the dense forest.
“Alright,” she muttered, stretg her arms. “Let’s get moving. Wonder what Kirara is up to."
"No do." She stood up, staggering lightly before bang her steps. She made her way to the middle of the camp, gazes and stares directed her way the eime.
Entering the rgest tent, she saw general ordrid two others standing around ahen table, with Kirara seated on a stool in the er.
Kaede stepped into the tent, her presence immediately drawing the attention of everyone inside. General Ordric, looked up from the earthen table, his pierg gaze softening slightly when he saw her. Beside him stood a nky woman with twirapped to her bad a stocky man whose armor seemed to creak with every movement.
Kirara, lounging on a stool in the er with her legs crossed, perked up as Kaede entered. “You're awake.” she said with a grin.
Kaede ighe ent, fog on Ordric. “What’s the status?”
If it was a day ago, Ordric would have ignored her, even going as far as berating her over knowing her pce, as he saw the otherworlders as reckless children with power undeserved.
However, a few ho, he had witnessed her save the lives of several adventurers at the cost of her wellbeing, including his own. Yes, Kirara's and was incredibly vague. Ordric was a general and teically not a lowly soldier. He could still feel the cold edge of his bde.
estured to the crude map etched into the table’s surface. “The first camp has been pletely ralized. Thanks to your efforts, no casualties... on both sides. We've received word from Rhalin's group, they’ve already ed up their raid and are holding position here.” He poio a mark on the map about ten miles east.
“Any plications?” Kaede asked, leaning closer to study the map. Instinctively, without realising it, Kaede elled her inner guild master.
“None so far,” Ordric replied, though his tone carried a hint of doubt. “But we’ve yet to reestablish unication with their scout. Might just be interferen the forest, but I don’t like it.”
Kaede frowapping the table lightly with her knuckles. “Is there something special about that forest?”
Ordriodded grimly. “It's called the great forest of Jura, and is quite possibly, the most dangerous forest in the world.”
Kaede’s gaze flicked to Ordric. “And they decided to pnt a base there? I mean, it makes sense in theory, but still, it's a double edged sword.”
The nky woman disagreed. "It's not quite as cutthroat as it may seem. While the forest of Jura may be dangerous, it's only because of the storm dragon's influehe bandits most likely settled down at the edge b the forest. This way they make a quick escape into the forest wheime es."
Ordriodded in agreement. “Which is why we roup with the sed team immediately. From there, we’ll coordihe assault ohird camp. Before they escape."
Kaede straightened, her exhaustion temporarily fotten. “What’s the estimated time on moving out?”
“Two hours,” Ordric replied. “Enough time to resupply. After that, we march.”
“Good,” Kaede said, her tone brisk. She looked at the stocky man. “Perhaps a quick perimeter check before we leave.” He nodded, leaving the tent.
"I'll ready the troops." Ordric spoke, lifting his helm as he left, the nky woman simply nodded, a half step behind him.
As Kaede turo leave, Kirara fell into step beside her. “So,” Kirara begaoeasing, “you’re the big leader now, how in the world are you bossing them around so easily?”
Kaede shot her a sidelong gnce. “It's not bossing, it's leading. I guess I got carried away for a moment. I miss my guild so much.”
Kirara shrugged, her grin widening. “Not sure what I say to that. Like, I've got your back, just no suicidal acts of heroism. You don't owe these people anything.”
“Of course not,” Kaede replied, though her voice carried a hint of sarcasm. "But I don't need a reason to do the right thing. You shouldher.”
Kirara’s grin faded, repced by a serious face. If Kaede noticed she didn't show it, simply walking onwards.
The two women parted ways, each preparing for the battle ahead in their own way. As Kaede made her way back to her lodge (tent), Kirara stood in the middle of the camp, her thoughts a mess.