Chapter 37: An Unexpected Encounter

I was sitting on a large branch of the tallest tree in the area. I had used the magical chain to climb up here. I was pleasantly surprised to see the thing lengthen and shorten as I needed it to. Leaning my back on the trunk of the tree, I watched Erik and the others fight a group of horned lions in the distance.

My shoulders dropped as I remember yesterdays conversation. After finding Erik and the others drunk in the tavern, I had a small fight with them. Eventually, we decided that I'd work separately from the group but still keep an eye on them.

The innkeeper had recommended me this place as a vantage point, and I was grateful to her. It allowed me to both keep and eye on the others and do some grinding of my own.

I spotted some small eagles – much like the ones that accompanied the giant eagle we killed with Rina and Alex that night. I used Dark Bolt to dispatch of them. "How does this not have a range?" I mumbled as I opened my stats panel.

'Kai Friseal – Level 40 Soul Keeper | Exp: 1200/20000 - - Souls 100/100 + 53 - - Mana: 480

I sighed as three more souls joined their fellow dead. I had gotten somewhat used to the coldness they brought with them. It was always there, buried deep within my chest. I shivered despite the glaring sunlight. It was uncomfortable.

"Look who's here!" A familiar voice sounded from below. I flinched and looked down to see Rina and Alex standing beneath the tree. I grinned and waived at them.

"Good to see you both alive."

"That's my line!" Alex said with a grin as she lifted Rina up to the lower branches. I was quick to climb down and help her. She smiled as I helped her climb to the higher branches. "Thanks,"

"Give me a hand, would you?" Alex said as she jumped and caught the lower branch.

"You know there's no what I can lift you, right?" I protested. I was nowhere near strong enough to do that. Just the weight of her tail would be enough to dislocate my shoulder. Alex pouted. "Don't be so rude to a lady!"

"I'll help out." Rina said as she cast a spell. I flinched; she hadn't summoned her skills panel.

"There we go!" Alex said as she pulled herself up with ease. "Thanks!" She climbed past me, then grabbed me with her tail and lifted me up to the branch I was sitting on previously.

"Uh, thanks." I said with a nervous laugh. I glanced towards where Erik and the others were fighting. Everything seemed to be going fine.

"Any time, dear." Alex said with a warm smile. "We were on our way back to the village when a bunch of bird corpses landed near us. We guessed it'd be you."

"Sorry about that," I fiddled with my hair. "I didn't see anyone else around, so I thought it'd be safe."

"Oh, it's fine." Rina smiled. "But why are you here, alone? What about Samantha and the others?"

I hesitated. "We had a… discussion." I said, averting my gaze. "Our fighting styles clash a bit too much. We decided it'd be best if I kept an eye of them while doing my own thing." I faked a smile and shrugged. "It's better for me anyways. I've been on my own for too long, I can't quite adapt to fighting with others."

Alex glared at me. She seemed somewhat upset. "We all know that's a lie, Kai. You were in perfect sync with us the night before. You're perfectly capable of adapting. The way I see it, they just didn't want to adapt to your existence." She said with a deep, angry voice.

"She's right. You did fine, saved both of our lives too." Rina added with a low voice. "Don't put all the blame on yourself. Calm down, analyse the situation with a clear and subjective view and decide accordingly."

I remained silent, not because they were wrong but because there was nothing I could say. Part of me wished I could tell these things to Erik and the others but there would be no point in doing so.

"Is there something else bothering you?" Alex asked.

"Oh!" I said as I remembered. "It's not bothering me or anything – I'm just curious; how did you cast that spell without using the interface, Rina?"

She hesitated, then lifted her palm. "I think I can teach you. I'm not sure, but I can try." A warm light appeared in her palm. "You can sense magic, right?" I nodded. I could sense the flow of her power, though I couldn't make much sense of it.

"Try to mimic it with your own magic." Following her, I lifted my hand and tried to focus my magic. It was… challenging, to say the least. It was like trying to move a muscle I didn't have.

We intently stared at my empty palm for several minutes before I gave up. "I don't think I'm very good at this." I said as my shoulders dropped.

"It's fine," Rina said with a smile. "I was only able to do it once I got my truesight and the ability to see magic."

"You can see it?" I asked in surprise. I couldn't even imagine what it'd look like.

"In a sense." She said with a smile. "It looks like faint, semi-transparent strings." She squinted and leaned towards me. "Yours didn't move at all when you tried it just now." She poked my palm. "What about that aura of yours? How do you control it?"

I hesitated as I recalled. "You know about that too?" I laughed, of course she did, why was I even asking? "I'm not sure. I just do." I clenched my fist. "I'll figure this out somehow too."

Alex chuckled. "Don't be too hard on yourself. I can't do it either." She grinned and looked at Erik and the group. They were sitting in a small opening in the woods, enjoying their lunch. "Looks like they're having fun."

Rina nodded as I sighed. They were taking things way too lightly. Though, I couldn't help but feel like I might have been too hard on them. I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts and focused on Alex and Rina. "What are you two doing out here anyways?

Rina opened her inventory to show me a bunch of different herbs. "We've been collecting materials for our sisters to use."

"Wait, so your sisters are also here?" I felt bad for them all of a sudden. They had to worry about keeping family safe. "I had no idea."

"They're not fighting." Rina said with a smile. "My sister is doing alchemy. Alex's little devil is an enchantress." She gestured to my clothes. "You bought these from Luhen's place, right?"

I nodded. The enchanted clothes were really useful. Their protection had already saved me once.

"My sister's the one selling them to Luhen. Why don't we introduce you to those two some time?" Alex said with a bright smile. I hesitated, not because I didn't want to, but because I worried about scaring them with this look of mine.

"Oh yeah, that's a good idea!" Rina chimed in. "I'm sure they'll-"

A loud screech interrupted her words. I heard yelling and panicked screams coming from where Erik and the others were taking a break. I looked that way to see something as bright as the sun, descending towards them.

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Dweia

Hello everyone!

Here's a little bit of a fun behind-the-scenes type of fact:

When I first wrote them, Alex and Rina were only going to be in the eagle chapters. Somehow, them and their relationship with Kai grew on me, so I decided to keep them around.

So, what do you think about them? Are they fun to have around? Don't hesitate to let me know!

Anyways, take care and stay safe!

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