A Long Odyssey (7)

"Hey you! I'm so happy Clain decided we would be done with the assessment yesterday. He has to report to the General today anyways." Kavira was excited to be walking side by side with Linx, she held his hand and leaned onto his arm. "Happy birthday, Linx."

Linx smiled with warmth in his heart, he kissed the top of Kavira's forehead and walked down to the Market. It wasn't a family day but it was still quite busy, it was early afternoon so the food stands were just setting up and cooking, the aroma was incredible. "What would you like to buy something before we head to your house for the celebration. I'll buy you anything you like."

Linx was happy, how did he get so lucky to have someone who cared about him so much. "I already have everything I like." He pulled Kavira into his embrace and kissed her forehead once more, Kavira was too busy giggled but she knew that he didn't want much.

"Okay, well a few days ago I secretly came here and..." Kavira pulled Linx to a stand where there were love bracelets, the merchant was showing some beautiful jeweled matching ones. The lady went on explaining that these bracelets are infused with the messaging flower that the fairies use except that they can't be used to talk rather to transmit emotions. "Wherever you are I would be able to feel your emotions."

Kavira felt it was a beautiful concept and thought that Linx might appreciate it but his expression said otherwise. "You don't like it?" Kavira was yet to understand how a man fully operates and even though she liked this, he did not.

She felt a tad bit embarrassed by being so excited for those bracelets so she bid farewell to the merchant and walked away. "I'm sorry Kavira, those kinds of things are really not for me." Kavira wasn't going to argue, she simply nodded and asked him to continue looking for something he would like.

In the end, Linx chose a small knife one that could be hidden in many places and not be seen. Kavira thought it was beautiful and quite handy, she gave the merchant the shells and they both walked to the Fei residence.

"Happy birthday Little Bro", "Happy birthday Linx", "Happy birthday". People echoed as both Kavira and Linx walked through the house. Master Fei had decided to cancel the elaborate part and to only celebrate among close friends and family. The sandpit had been in use so to the Master it made more sense to have a simple dinner.

"How does it feel to be eighteen?" Damon was the first to ask. "Yeah little brother, how does it feel to finally catch up?" Nyla chimed in with her teasing, having been slightly older.

"I feel the same as I did yesterday." The group laughed and made a toast, drinking and conversing, drinking and eating, then drinking and laughing some more.

It was the first time Kavira had ever had a drink, she started to feel dizzy after a few and stood up to go to the restroom. The room was spinning and her vision was so blurred that she was unsure of where she was going. She felt someone take her hand and lead her to a place that appeared unfamiliar to her but she recognized the toilet and as soon as she reached it she fell to her knees vomiting everything she had eaten.

She heard a voice speaking but she wasn't able to reply. The person then picked her up and took her to a room, they held onto her until she couldn't hold her eyes open anymore and fell asleep.

The following day Kavira woke up feeling normal, she looked around the room but no one was here, this wasn't even her bed or her things. It was definitely a woman's room though, there was a dresser with a mirror over it and a few robe dressed, woman sandals and some pants with shirts covering the breast area. Maybe this was Nyla's room but then, where is Nyla?

Kavira woke up to the sunlight, perhaps everyone else was still asleep. She unlocked the door slowly, tip toed down the hall, down the stairs and out the house. She took a deep breath, relaxing her body making her way to the Generals house to find everyone was outside of the front door.

"Hey! Where have you been? We just got here, it's time to go on our long odyssey." Linx walked up to Kavira whom was still wearing the saw red tunic she wore last night. "Did something happen? You're still wearing last nights clothes."

"I'm not sure what happened but I think I was in Nyla's room and I fell asleep there." Linx gave an 'oh' of understanding and acknowledgement but she was sure someone had set her there, if it wasn't him, then who?

"Go grab your bags and say bye to everyone. Imma head off to go fix Jacko up, Nyla and Clain already went on ahead as well. I'll see you there." Linx kissed the top of Kavira's forehead and jogged off to the royal stables.

"Fun night, huh?" Damon was the first to say something noticing that her clothes were the same. She greeted everyone before running up to her room and changing into her leather armor. She chose a brown short tunic to wear under, the length was two inches above her knee, she felt and looked like a warrior.

Her things had already been packed three days in advanced so she simply grabbed her bags and ran down stairs to say goodbye to everyone. Ms. Folly, packed her a breakfast to go so she was ready to leave but she paused, the last person she had yet to say goodbye to was General Tross.

He was outside with everyone else but she looked at him for the longest with a sad expression. He was like a father to her, everyday he made sure she was bathed, clothed and fed. She owed him so much, seeing his worried expression from time to time bothered her and she later found that they were because of the reports of the dead army arising once again. She promised that she would find what this staff could do and bring it home to protect everyone, just as she did as a child.

She couldn't give this man a simple handshake, a wave or just a farewell. She dropped her bags and dove into his open arms thanking him for everything and promising to come back. They both knew that it would be a long time until they saw each other again but she would never forget him. Tears were flowing but she had to let go. Everyone was waiting for her, she walked back picked up her bags and made her way to the Grand Gates.