Chapter 17 - Going Back Home.

The next day we left Arlest with Lily, Aiko, Tranzarus and Gyou back to our home kingdom.

"So, how's your father?" Sozen asked, while Tranzarus sat on his lap reading a book.

"He has a few days left" Lily said.

"And why are you here then?" Aiko asked. "You should be spending time with your father"

"I need to form an alliance with the Nirid Kingdom" Lily said. "That's what my father would have wanted"

"I see" Gyou said. "Anyways, I expect you left someone better than that 'hero' to take care of the kingdom"

"Of course, I left Mika in charge until I get back" Lily said.

"That's good to hear" Sozen said.

"By the way, Tranzarus what are you reading?" Aiko asked.

"Hm? Oh, it's about types of plants" Tranzarus said. "Did you know that there was a plant that was able to control your mind?"

"Oh, and what happened?" Lily asked curious.

"They got wiped out, they don't exist anymore" Tranzarus said. "They starved to death"

"What? Run out of water?" Sozen asked.

"Meat" Tranzarus said.

"I-I see..." Sozen said.

"We will probably arrive in a few days" Lily said.

"That's great" Aiko said. "We've been away from the others for a while" She said to Sozen.

"I miss them" Sozen said.

"What will I do?" Gyou asked

"Stay with us of course" Sozen said. "Until we find someone to take care of you"

"So, make another hero" Gyou said.

"Of course, it's more safer" Sozen said.

Gyou sighed and said. "I'll agree, but I choose my candidate"

"Sure" Aiko said. "Also, where's Kou?"

"He decided to travel across the world" Sozen said. "He was gonna do it after the problem in Arlest was fixed"

"That will quench his thirst of adventure" Aiko said.

"Probably" Sozen said.

Their carriage stopped.

"Hm? Why did we stop?" Lily asked.

"We will set camp here" The soldier said.

"Camp?" Lily asked.

Sozen open the carriage door and exited.

He noticed the sun starting to set. "Aiko let's help them"

"Sure" Aiko said, while exiting the carriage.

"And us?" Tranzarus asked.

"Find some food or whatever" Aiko said.

"Let's go Gyou" Tranzarus said.

"Why do I need to help?" Gyou complained.

Tranzarus left, while pulling Gyou with her.

"And me?" Lily asked.

"Keep smiling" Sozen said.

"But I want to help!" Lily said.

"Aiko, help her find something to do" Sozen said, while walking away to help the soldiers set the tents.

"Well, you know how to cook?" Aiko asked.

"Ehm... yeah..." Lily said.

"Are you lying?" Aiko asked.

"I don't know okay!" Lily admitted.

"I'll teach you while we're at it" Aiko said.

Both of them headed to the campfire.

"So, we need a pot" Aiko said, she looked around.

"Here" Lily was holding a big pot.

"Oh, it's perfect" Aiko said.

Aiko placed the big pot in the middle of the campfire and poured some water inside.

"Hey! We're back!" Tranzarus said, while carrying a wild boar.

"Got some ingredients" Gyou said, he was carrying a bag.

"Perfect, leave it over there" Aiko said.

Tranzarus and Gyou left the ingredients and then left to do something else. Aiko opened the bag, inside there was some mushrooms, carrots and celeries.

"Now, Lily, could you chop them up?" Aiko asked.

"O-Okay" Lily said.

Aiko handed her a knife and she started chopping the vegetables in pieces, while Aiko removed the skin of the boar and slice its meat into pieces.

"And it's done!" Aiko said. "Are you done?"

Lily placed the vegetables inside the pot.

"Yup! Done chopping them" Lily said.

"Great" Aiko dropped the meat inside the pot. "Now, we need something to stir it with"

"Maybe this will work" Lily had a long wooden pole.

"Great, where did you get that?" Aiko asked.

"It was laying around" Lily said.

"Well, no one will probably use it" Aiko said.

Lily placed the wooden pole and started stiring the ingredients.

"Oh, forgot to mention, we're making a soup" Aiko said.

The delicious smell coming out of the pot invaded their noses.

"It smells so good!" Lily said.

"It does" Aiko said.

Sozen walked to them, a bit worried.

"Hey, how's it going?" Sozen asked.

"The food will be finished in a few minutes" Aiko said. "What's wrong you seem worried?"

"We're missing a wooden pole" Sozen said. "It supports the tent"

"Eh? Wooden pole...?" Lily said, while looking at the one she had found.

"Lily, is it that one?" Sozen asked.

"Might be...." Lily said, she said looking away.

Sozen sighed "Clean it and give it to me later" he then walked back to the others.

"Did I do something wrong?" Lily asked.

"You just made a small mistake" Aiko smiled. "Anyways, let's finish cooking"

Minutes later, everyone was eating their soup, they were all enjoying it. Everyone gathered around the campfire, except Sozen sitting alone on a rock. Aiko walked to him and sat beside him.

"Oh Aiko, didn't notice you there" Sozen said, while finishing his soup.

"What are you doing here?" Aiko asked.

"Just thinking about life" Sozen said. "And watching the starry night"

Aiko looked at the sky, it was full of stars like last night. When she remembered she blushed.

"In a few days it will be winter" Sozen said. "We will be probably stuck at home until spring"

"Hey Sozen, why don't you consider yourself as a hero?" Aiko asked.

"I don't want to talk about it" Sozen said, he then yawned. "I should go to sleep" He stood up and before he left he said. "Goodnight"

"Goodnight" Aiko replied.

"Sozen really makes me worried a lot of times" Tranzarus sat with her. "How's your relationship with him?"

"Still getting closer" Aiko said calmly.

"That's good to hear" Tranzarus said. "I remember my old master having 5 wives"

"Sozen wouldn't do that" Aiko said.

"Well, old master's wives left him three years later" Tranzarus said. "And I kinda did too"

"But how? You aren't allowed to leave your master" Aiko asked, confused.

"Well, it was the end of the contract" Tranzarus said. "I never mentioned it, because I usually leave my masters"

"And how long is Sozen's contract?" Aiko asked.

"To tell you the truth, I wanna stay with you guys" Tranzarus said. "Thanks to him I met you guys"

"That's good to hear, Sozen would be sad if you left" Aiko said.

"Well you would probably try to lighten him up" Tranzarus said. "We should rest, we still need to travel for a while"

"Well, I'm heading to my tent" Aiko stood up. "Goodnight"

"Yeah, goodnight" Tranzarus said.

Aiko entered her tent and fell asleep.

The next day, everyone woke up when the sun started rising and tidied everything.

"Gwood morning.." Lily said, still half-asleep.

"Good morning Lily" Sozen said and gave her some water. "Here drink some water"

"Uhuh..." The half-asleep Lily drank the water.

"We will continue our journey, so get in the carriage" Aiko said.

"O..kay.." The half-asleep Lily entered the carriage, with the help of Tranzarus and Gyou.

A few minutes later, they continued their journey. They passed through the villages they've been before, the golden statues of the Bow Hero were being melted back gold coins, people waved happily at Lily and the others, she waved back with a smile.

"Seems like everything is going back to normal" Sozen said.

"And I'm very thankful for that" Lily said. "Thanks to you guys and the resistance"

"Well we also defeated Cosmos and her army" Aiko said.

"You defeated Cosmos, Aiko, we just defeated her army" Lily said.

"Can't believe I fell asleep during that" Sozen said.

"Well, thanks to you we survived when we first encountered her" Gyou said.

"True" Tranzarus said. "That huge fireball would have annihilated you"

"She was powerful" Aiko said. "I got lucky that I defeated her"

"Luck? You defeated her with your own skills" Sozen said.

"And a magical sword" Aiko added.

"That doesn't matter, you defeated her with your own skills" Sozen said.

Hours later, everyone had fallen asleep.

"Princess! We're here" The driver said.

They all woke up and looked outside the carriage, they were in the entrance of the city.

"We're back" Aiko said happily.

"Yes we are" Sozen smiled. "Yes we are"

They all left the carriage and reunited with their friends, that were waiting in the entrance. It was great to be back home!