II
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Arc II Chapter 5
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12th Anima Lunar VIII AAC 753
Trusting his instincts, Lambert reacted. He drew his sword, taking formation with the rest of his party. Rudolf readied his spear, Michael his blade, and Iris her staff. They were all ready, ready to fight the enemy head on. An enemy that never came.
...
...
...
“... ... ...” Time passed and Lambert scanned his surroundings, looking left and right. The forest was ... completely ... peaceful. There was no danger in sight. No bandits. No monsters. No rampant spirits. No hungry dragons looking for a little snack. Nothing. It was just them, surrounded by a lot of trees.
“...” His eyes blinked, mildly confused. Lambert sheathed his sword, his head turning to Arwing, annoyed because his client made them all look like bloody fools. “Lady Arwing, what was that supposed to be? Don’t scare us like that.”
“...” Arwing ignored him, her eyes fixed on what lay ahead. “Lambert, do you see what I see?”
“With all due respect, but see what? I see nothing. Can’t you be a bit more specific?” Lambert did not even try to hide his annoyance.
Arwing elaborated, “Look, there is a girl lying on the ground, in the middle of the road.”
“What? A girl?” Lambert furrowed an eyebrow, the surprise written all across his face. Since when were girls lying around on roads? The answer was, they didn’t.
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“Rudolf, Michael, keep your guard up and watch the area”, Lambert commanded. Better safe than sorry, that was his unofficial motto together with, rich adventurers are happy adventurers.
“Understood.” Rudolf obeyed, while Michael merely nodded.
“Iris, you come with me. We will take a look.” Iris, their favourite and only mage within their party, joined him, following him. Lambert took the lead, his armour rattling as he walked. His mail rubbed against each other in a soothing, metallic rhythm he only knew too well. His little expedition yielded a little girl, lying on the ground ..., in the middle of the road ..., with her eyes closed ..., probably sleeping ... Her arms were hugging a cute doll clad in frills and bows. The girl did not move.
“...” Lambert observed, unsure of how to proceed. People commonly said that he was a greedy arsehole, and they were right, but he still had a heart and his ethics. A child in need was a child in need. He approached the girl and knelt downwards, checking her condition. Her appearance was ragged. The girl was covered in dirt, filth, and sweat. Something had happened to her.
What caught his attention, though, were the very subtle reddish, rusty stains along her cheeks. Little sprinkles of crusted blood embellished her tiny face, wheras her clothes remained remarkably unsullied. He deduced that the girl must have cut or injured herself somehow. Probably while wandering through the underwood.
“Iris!” Lambert called for help.
“Yes, Lambert?”
“Iris, can you check on her condition? You’re more experienced when it comes to medical matters”, Lambert specified, inspecting the girl’s body.
“...” Iris frowned, significantly displeased. “Lambert, I’ve already told you countless times before, I’m not a healer. I’m a mage, not a healer! Big, big difference!”
“I know, Iris, I know, but technicalities aside, can’t you check on her? It’s for a good purpose. It’s to help a little girl.” Lambert knew Iris and her weakness and how to exploit it.
Lambert offered a bright smile. “Iris, please.”
Their domestic mage sighed before rolling her eyes. “... If it’s for her, I guess I can make an exception ...”
Iris approached the girl and commenced her work. Her trained hand touched her neck. “Her pulse is weak. Her breathing is shallow. Her body functions are reduced to a minimum.”
“And that means what?” Lambert raised an eyebrow.
Iris continued, “That means she’s ...”
“That means that the girl is sleeping ...” Arwing gave them a blank stare.
“Muaahhhhhhh!” The sleeping girl yawned before rolling over to change sides. Apparently, the road was, contrary to common expectations, a suitable place to take a nap.
The girl hugged her doll and continued her peaceful slumber, evidently enjoying her fluffy, puffy dreams, undisturbed by all the commotion surrounding her. The girl did not care. After all, she was just sleeping, was she not?
“...” Lambert retracted his hand in surprise, yet the mysterious girl started mumbling in her dreams. “Strange humies loudie. Hearing angry voicies. Can’t sleepie. Headsie ouchie. Don’t want to wakie up. Still sleepie. But no choicie.”
“...” The girl yawned, awakening from her peaceful nap, rubbing her heavy eyelids to banish her sleepiness. Her purple eyes opened, staring at all of them with a mixture of surprise, confusion, and ... fear.
“...” The girl looked terrified, scared. Her arms protect her doll close, keeping it close to her chest. The girl’s voice trembled, wavered. “Hmm, who’re you? What’re you doing here? Are you going to hurt me?”
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=^.^= An Aurora chibi!
