35

after three days they were heading to the next weapons smith. Idit was next, she had a mixed expression that aero wasn't interested in deciphered, and his bruises were drawing more attention to him Galia fought well against him. and they traded hits for the days for tzilla was able to receive her weapon. which the girl was looking over with sparking eyes, when the bass was pressed it made a small note.

the travel was quiet primarily, the most action was when aero forced tzilla to use her new weapon against him. "if you can't use it in a spar you might as well go back to the old weapon,' he wasn't putting too much of a fight. it was too clear that she was struggling with the weapon.

he wasn't bothered by her struggling, as he remembered the early days with his flute staff. Watching her try to figure out how to use her fingers was nostalgic and amusing. 'did I fumble that much?' if he did he was glad that he trained alone when he could.

'my lord the transport has arrived it currently hovering above your head,' the lord blinked at the notification and moved to leave the camping ground before stopping. instead, he directed the spare energy balls up. letting it be absorbed into the storage device, it took three of the orbs that he currently possed. 'okay that's a use, could the scientist use more energy?'

'it wouldn't hurt,' the helper replied sending off the filled storage device. aero's team didn't even notice its presence as the helper contacted the scientist and requested he sends his storage device.' so my lord have you decided what is to reach the world leaders?'

'yes, I put some thought into it, a weapon is stupid but other items could believe that they came from this planet. so I decided clothing could be a good place to start. fashion has been the same for several hundred years.' aero picked at the clothes he wore as it was obvious,' not even mention what the clothing is made of. not organic from a creature and strange colors, definitely can't be from this planet. I just hope they listen to the second message about the barrier.' his eyes twitched at the necessity of getting their help.

but that's what it was, to keep the high mother from bringing down the barrier. he had to request the planet's leaders for help. 'i'm amazed we didn't get attacked while it was done... how weren't we attacked?'

'no one noticed, your people lack the ability that's noticeable from space. which usually takes the form of long-range communication methods or power sources." aero huffed but was thankful for it, "so when do you think we would develop such methods?"

'i don't believe that you people might, your use of melodies can cut many corners. plus the planets in a kind of relative peace where there is no need for advancements like that,' aero nodded they were good, and people consider the creatures to be a handled problem. so nothing was needed there. 'of course, you're presence is likely to change that!'

"What?" aero was only confused for a moment, he was telling the plenty leaders there was life beyond their planet and they would react to it. 'hows the question isn't it?' but he didn't try and figure it out as he didn't know them besides what he saw in the news sometimes.

who knew how accurate that was?

it wasn't too much trouble for them to arrive at the town where Idit's chosen weaponsmith was. she was smaller than the last, but aero doubted she was weaker. Idit did some quick words to stop the weaponsmith from stepping into traps that would set off aero and this conversation when easier than the last.

"you know this might be a bit too heavy for you?" aero responds to this by flipping the weaponsmith over his head. then deadlifting her, "you were saying something?" aero menacingly asked as the weapon smith reocevred from the attack." I clearly, spoke too soon," that satisfied aero enough that he dropped her.

"Alright," she dusted herself off after stepping out of aero's reach. "idit let's talk about your weapons shall we?" idit nodded before passing some instructions to the inn she usually used when she was in town. "so wait she doesn't live here?" Lior's question brought up a good point. "I live in the same town as my weaponsmith," tzilla replied. she was quickly asked why they stayed at an inn then.

"oh, I don't have a house, never around enough that I needed one."

"oh I get that," Lior responded," I still live with my father though I spend most of my time on missions. I don't know if I want to buy a house or live in inns," the debate of which would be better carried on long after they arrived at the inn. a small break appeared when aero had to explain that no he wasn't rooming with anyone nor were they his bodyguards.

"you know if we don't figure something out, he's going to fight an innkeeper." the rest of the girls nodded in agreement. in a short time, they've known each other. aero has shown he wasn't afraid to fight just about anyone. it was amazing and they would be amazed for a while, though it did make them curious as to who he wouldn't fight.

Aero spent this time dragging Lior into training with him, Galia was truly helpful in the part talking to Lior before aero fought her. so it took less effort for her to strick back, they also made it a point to talk to the rest of there teams as it was very clear aero was going to fight each of them at a certain point.

"you getting better," aero stated to tzilla as she managed to string together enough notes to create a melody. though it completely missed her target and took much too long to put together, it was frustrating the amount of detail and control she needed to do this. her twin throwing axes were handing well until she tried to make a melody. "you make this look so easy," she plucked a string on the left ax in aggravation.

"This took years to get right," aero said spinning his staff around his neck and a few notes playing. was he showing off yes, was there a purpose besides stocking his ego? no. did it get him a heated look from the ax-holding girl, yes but he didn't care. "a lot of it is muscle memory, practice movement that gets the notes down. then string them together."

"is that what you did?" Inna asked from the sidelines. aero nodded," was basically building a new fighting style and no one can really help you with it." not that he would have accepted it, he would have hit them instead.

"our future is full of hard work aren't they," Idit asked stopping in her stretches. aero just gave her a look, "what did expect when you joined my team? I'm a prideful being, you'll be one of the best to stay on my team!"

"Wow, is that really the work environment we have?" Inna asked to which aero stated he didn't want anyone breaking themselves to reach their potential. "pride is an important thing to me," he could feel his prideful energy spreading out. instinct, he let it swallow his teammates." I don't care for something you can't take pride in doing. when you become the best I want to it fill you with pride above all else."

"I don't mind such an idea, what is the point if you yourself aren't taking pride in it." lior commented, looking at the rest of her team. Galia nodded in agreement," though it isn't bad that other people take pride in what I do...but leader I have a question what happens if we can't be the best? or want to leave?" aero turned to face her, and he looked confused.

"How would you not be the best version of yourself?" the Lord asked," cause you always are the best you. leave if you wish I take no pride in forcing someone on my teams" the pride of his teams mates started flowing towards aero mixing with his own energy. "I have big plans and obligations," he left it at that and turned back to tzilla getting her to start playing out notes. while swinging her axes.

his teammates thought about his words, and aero thought about what his pride energy did. the helper had a theory and sent information to Xoqax. but didn't say anything to aero. who just thought more, 'when I close my eyes and focus on the energy I can feel some kind of reach. it feels weak,' he could feel the reach was directed towards his teammates and for the moment he had to observe but the moment it showed a negative effect he was breaking it.

even with what was now going on the original reason they came to this town went well. Idit's weapon, her gauntlets. now made sounds like a drum when they struck something, "now I just have to learn to hit the right way." she stated flexing her fingers and trying to break in her new gauntlets, she consider asking for a spare but didn't want to mess up and hit someone with a misfired melody so instead, she asked when they were heading off.

"It's not that far but I want to stay in town for another night, not worrying about creature attacks." this got no complaints from anyone and they took the chance to stock up on their supplies before turning in for the night after a bit more training. 'things are going pretty good so far, they're in for a lot of work but none of them seemed scared of it.' though part of him was still a bit worried about there reaction to his recent declaration.

he didn't let that worry bloom, as it appeared they weren't showing any kind of negative reaction. so whatever came towards him he would handle it, like he handled all things. that didn't mean much to a part of him that kept thinking about what they all might be thinking about. 'i can not be carrying about their possible opinions!'

aero forced himself to sleep after that point, refusing to think about the matter more. his expression was closed off that morning when they packed and started out on the two-week journey. aero tried to stay out of the conversation like the last two times, but this time tzilla and Idit kept asking him for tips to help with their new fighting styles. helping them train a little when they stopped for the night, halfway through their travel aero realized something.

'i don't dislike them!' he didn't like most people as many people tried to could or correct his behavior. as a result, he tried to avoid spending too much time around people in general, and his teammates didn't seem to have a problem with his behavior. aero hadn't realized it, but they accepted him being himself. he's relaxed around them, why was that frightening in a way?

'because it unknown to you,' the helper responded to his thoughts,' you're used to being on guard and ready to fight that the idea of letting down your guard catches you off guard,' it was more being afraid but saying that would causes they lord to shut his doors tight. "what do you suggest I do?" aero leaned back in his cart after washing down for the night.

'adapt to it, spend more time around people besides your mother that you can let your guard down with. it will be a skill you need when you step off the planet.'

"I'll do what I can!" aero didn't think there were that many he could let his guard down around." wait why do I need to let my guard down in space?" the helper responded with a small lecture about how dangerous longer-term stress was. "okay fine I'll learn to put my guard down," at a later date, right now he rolled over and went to sleep.

the next morning he woke up to one of his teammates walking by his cart, they were headed for the stream. it might have proved the helper's point about his guard but he wasn't going to admit to it. instead, he went through his morning warm-up as they were going to spend the day in their carts. he wanted to get in some work at least.

idit and tzilla improved in the next few days, the progress was viable they looked less awkward with their weapons each day. tzilla even managed to put together a 4 note melody during a spare with aero. while idit, figured out how to make different notes with each hit. Aero made his own note while training, on how to counter them in fights. how someone could counter him, 'are my melodies that easy to stop?'

"you know your kind of leaving yourself open," Galia commented putting together their campfire for the night. her statement was directed toward the dual ax wielder, taking a step back aero agreed with her." you swinging wide the axes make enough noise, but that leaves you open." aero wondered why he didn't have that problem, his wind instrument should take more force to make sounds. then her string instrument.

'well she can't pluck the string while swinging the axes around can she?' this thought sparked a discussion about making noise with their hybrid weapons. the wide swing was a way for her to pluck the strings. but her way of doing it left her open to anything fast enough, something aero proved by drop-kicking her.

"Okay so I need a different plan," tzilla commented rubbing her jaw where aero caught her. "but what am I supposed to do?" this was a topic the team discussed for a while, everyone had an idea for her to try out. aero didn't have an answer for her, his own was just to swing fast enough that the wind-up didn't make a difference. usable but would take some training from her, 'keep in mind unless something better is found.' tzilla thought as the sun shined above them.