Little Rookies no more

"Are you serious, Nao? After everything we've been through?" Reika asked.

She and Nao have been arguing a lot since their encounter with Demons. Right now, they were at their usual inn, the Buckler, waiting for Anne and Lia.

"I mean... that was the plan from the start, right?" Nao said with hesitation. He was never very good at arguing with Reika. He would rarely take a stand. Most of the time he just did as she said. But that has changed since meeting Keita. He became more confident in his own opinions.

It has been two weeks for the party since they split up. They've arrived in Atestari only just a few days ago but Nao was already talking about leaving. Taking care for Koba's funeral and reporting to the headquarters has been difficult for all of them. It was no surprise Nao wanted to leave as soon as possible but that wasn't why Reika was frustrated.

"You want to go looking for him? With this injuries? Let's just go home Nao. What reason do you have to remain with humans? The Demi-humans need help too. Ratmen keep raiding our lands. Let's remain here until you are healed and return home, okay?" Reika pleaded. She had about enough of Nao's selfishness.

Nao abruptly stood up and raised his voice.

"What about Kei? Or Anne and Lia? Are we just going to abandon them? They are our comrades, our friends. Do you think nothing of them?"

Reika remained silent. She waited for Nao's temper to pass and realize that he was making a scene. She kept her gaze on him. Nao looked around him and calmed down a bit. He took his sit embarrassed.

"Keita Raigon... I'm not blaming him for Koba. Koba was the first one to move when Keita was attacked. He tried to do his duty as a Priest to the end. He knew the risks following Keita's plans and we've all prepared for it. But this is different. Trouble follows Keita. You can't sense magic power so you don't understand. That woman, that little girl in robs..." Reika's hands were shaking with fear. "She was undoubtedly a monster. The Seven Sins were all as strong as the Dragonslayers but she was completely different. Just standing near her was enough to make me unable to move. You should already know who it was right? You heard it. She was the Demon Lord. No one has ever seen her before and now she just showed up for Keita. If... things like her keep showing up near him, sooner or later we'll be killed."

Nao wanted to argue but he couldn't. What Reika said was the truth. Wrath, Morran the Elder Lich and now even the Demon Lord. Danger followed Keita wherever he went. These were being no mere mortal could stand against. Without Keita's transformations, or the Shinning Sun's help they would have been dead a long time ago. It wasn't a stage they could enter halfhearted.

"Besides have you looked at yourself? Who gave you those injuries? Just approaching Keita in that state almost killed you!"

Nao was covered with bandages. Even the Priest of the church couldn't completely heal his burns from when he tried helping Keita. More than half his body was scarred from Keita's out of control magic power.

"What are you talking about?" Lia and Anne arrived just in time. Nao was running out of arguments.

"We are discussing what we should do from now on. What about you two? What do you think?" Reika responded.

The two looked at each other. It was a topic they avoided so far. After taking their sits, Lia was the first one to talk.

"I mean... we all avoided talking about it but we need a new member for the team. A Priest or a Shaman. A Paladin might do as well but a Shaman could also heal Reika..."

The Little Rookies looked at each other. It was true that if they wanted to stay as a team they needed someone with healing capabilities. But that wasn't exactly on everyone's minds.

"I think what Reika is saying is if we stay as a team or take different paths." Nao said.

Lia's surprise couldn't be hidden.

"Why? I mean..." she lowered her voice. "I don't want to split up... This party is important to me. I know loosing Koba and learning about Keita's past is a lot to take in, but still... I want us to stay together."

"I have to return to my home." Anne said calm as always. "There are things I've kept on hold for too long. After I'm done, I would like to keep the party together."

Nao turned to Reika. She was the only one still undecided.

"I'm going home." she said.

And just like that, the Little Rookies were no more. Only Nao and Lia remained, planning to meet up with Keita and Anne in the future. Nao still had his injuries to worry about so they both stayed in Atestari for a while. After a couple more weeks, they begun their search for Keita.

* * *

"This is boring me." Welzour said.

It's just been a week since they have started traveling together.

"You are the one who wanted to team up. That's what it means to be a part of a team." Keita responded.

It wasn't the first time Welzour the Dread said those words. Keita felt like he was traveling with a child.

"How much longer? Why can't we just fly there?" the Dragon asked for the tenth time.

"We still have a long way to go. And I already told you we can't just go flying above Human territories. Besides, will you even let me ride on top of you?"

"No, I was planning on holding you on my hand."

"..."

"..."

"How much longer? Just an estimation is fine. You should know how many days it will take to go through the whole Human realm from South to North."

"Well if it's from South to North, it should be three months by foot. I think."

"And how much have we been walking for?"

"A week."

"A week? Seven days?"

Keita nodded his head.

Welzour looked at the sky for a moment.

"Okay, I am leaving. I'll see you after you deal with the Half-Dragons."

He transformed to a dragon, tearing the clothes Keita bought for him and left just like that.

Keita let out a long sigh. This was the attitude of the Dragons? Or was it just Welzour?

'At least I'll have some quiet now...' he though staring at Welzour flying in the horizon.