The Ride Over

-----Yui's POV

After finishing up with the guild, we went back to the dorms and packed a few things since the day is starting to end. I stored the sandwiches Olivia made into my bag for the ride over. It's nothing extravagant, but it certainly is better than anything I could make. The lady at the reception desk said they'll be leaving on sunset so roughly an hour or so from now.

I had most of my casual clothes in Luna's room so we went there first. Walking in I'm only reminded of fond memories of Luna, but it feels weird walking inside without her. After pausing for a moment, taking it all in, I walk into the bedroom and start gathering a few of my clothes.

Kaede: "Here. Take this."

She hands me a bag, quite similar in size of that strange bag she carries around.

Kaede: "It can hold quite a lot of things. Fleur said that if you want a specific item you stored, you just imagine it and you can bring it out."

Yui/Olivia: "Really?!"

Both Olivia and I were shocked to hear exactly how it works as I immediately go to stuff some of my clothes inside to test. I then think of pulling back out one of my button up shirts and just like Kaede said, it was the shirt that I thought of.

Yui: "Wow~ So Fleur gave it to you?"

Kaede: "The one I have yeah. That one is- well yeah."

Judging from the look on her face it seems to be a sensitive topic so I hold off from questioning further. Maybe if Olivia weren't with us she'd open up about it, that's what I thought.

Yui: "So, I can have this?"

Kaede: "Mhmm! It's yours. I don't really use it anyways."

Yui: "Thank you."

We smile at each other for a few moments before I start to put more things into the bag.

Olivia: "You two sure are close huh."

Yui/Kaede: "Ye-"

Mai: "Well they are quite intimate with each other-"

Yui/Kaede: "!!!"

What the hell is Mai saying right now?

Mai: "Just the other night I saw them in bed together doing-"

Yui/Kaede: "STOP!"

We both yell at Mai, but Kaede slammed her palm against Mai's mouth, forcing her to stop talking. My heart's beating like crazy as I quickly glace over to see Olivia, who had a confused look on her face.

Olivia: "...In bed together?"

In hindsight we should've stopped Mai earlier as now it seems quite difficult to come up with an excuse for that, especially when Mai brought up the world 'intimate'. Put two and two together and what else could it be?

Kaede: "Yes. Sometimes during the stormy nights I get scared, so I end up sleeping with Yui in her bed."

Unlike me, unable to think up any sort of lie, Kaede almost immediately comes up with a very believable lie, letting go of Mai's mouth in the process. At least from what I know, Kaede isn't afraid of thunder at all, in fact she kind of likes it, saying that it's a nice background noise to sleep to. I on the other hand neither like or dislike it.

Olivia: "Oh~ I see! yeah I get scared of thunder as well, I know how that feels!"

Kaede: "Uh- yeah."

Unintentionally, we just learnt one of Olivia's fears, but the look on Kaede's face is somewhat forced as I can see the hidden layer of guilt behind that smile of hers.

Olivia: "Maybe if it storms in Azalea we can all share a bed together."

Mai: "Pfft!"

Olivia: "Hmm?"

Mai: "Good luck with that. Those two won't even let me sleep with them, and I'm Kaede's 'familiar'."

Olivia: "Hmm~ So, it's something they only do together?"

Mai: "It would appear so."

Olivia glances at both Kaede and I as if she was trying to figure something out. Did we fuck up? Did she find out? She turns her attention back to Mai with wide open eyes like she figured something out.

Olivia: "Then we can just do it together!"

Mai: "Huh? You want to do 'THAT' with me?"

Olivia: "When it's stormy, yes!"

Mai: "Ohooo?~"

Oh god, did Mai misunderstand what Olivia said? I turn to Kaede in a panic as she does too, her expression appearing just as panicked as mine as I think of how to correct this. We can't just say "NO!" that'll only be more suspicious and we'll have to explain why. With those thoughts, Kaede also seems to be at a loss as we remain seated, watching the two of them.

Mai: "Sure. I can't say I'm not curious about it."

Olivia: "Yay!"

Thank god Olivia specified only when it's stormy. But now that just leaves me praying that it never does during our trip over to Azalea.

We eventually get all our stuff ready. Kaede chose to wear the same black dress I first met her in when we reunited, with me wearing some of my noble attire that I got from my parents which only reminded me more that I need to go shopping one of these days.

The sun was just about to set when we finally arrived at the gates west gate of Inasdale, where many of the adventurers have gathered around the many caravans.

Olivia: "Seems like we made it on time."

Yui: "Yeah. We sure did cut it close. If it wasn't for this bag we might have been late."

Olivia: "Thank you again for storing my stuff in your bag, my lady."

Yui: "Sure thing!"

Once we realized just how powerful that bag Kaede had given me, I felt it was only natural to put Olivia's stuff with mine, making our travel as light as possible. Plus it wouldn't be fair for Olivia to be the only one carrying heavy amounts of luggage.

Caravan Driver: "Alright, everyone inside! We're departing now!"

Hearing the sudden announcement from one of the caravan drivers we quickly hopped onto one of the caravans further back, with me seated in between both Kaede and Olivia.

Yui: "Hey Kaede-"

Kaede: "Hmm?"

Yui: "How long did it take you to travel from Azalea to here?"

Kaede: "About 5 days? But I was stopped along the way so I maybe could've reached here in 3 or 4 days."

Was this in normal human speeds, or Kaede's in-human speed... Probably the latter. If that's the case then it'll take us a week to get there perhaps. Wait, we're travelling on horse drawn caravans so maybe it'll be shorter? I'm not sure.

During our talk, the other adventurers started filling our caravan as they sat down around us. Most of them were men but there were a few older women as well, making us stand out even more.

Adventurer1-M: Well well, if it isn't Kaede, the famous dragon slayer"

Kaede: "It was a group effort, everyone there played an important role. So no, I'm not this 'dragon slayer' you're talking about."

Adventurer2-M: "Oh no, we were there as well. But when you ran off, everyone was talking about you-"

Adventurer3-F: "If anything we were the distraction and you were the killer."

Acventurer4-M: "Don't forget, she saved that guy on top of that. Glad to have been there with you."

Wow, Kaede sure has become some sort of big shot. It reminds me of when I competed back in school in track and field. My other teammates would praise me similarly like this, but every time they did I'd be humble about it, unlike Kaede who seems to have no interest in interacting with any of this praise.

Kaede: "Whatever"

Adventurer2-M: "So, you're coming to fight the monsters invading near Azalea too?"

Kaede: "That's why I'm here aren't I? I have family there so I want to make sure they're safe."

It was like Olivia and I were invisible to these guys as all their eyes were focused on Kaede, leaving both Olivia and I remaining silent.

Adventurer1-M: "Ah that's right~ You were born in Azalea. I forgot about that."

Adventurer4-M: "Is your family also as strong as you?"

Kaede: "...Who knows."

She let out a sigh before answering with a vague response. Her expression looked as if she was already exhausted from this short discussion as it made me chuckle just a bit.

Adventurer3-F: "Hmm? Oh, are these 2 with you?"

Kaede: "Yes"

Finally seeing a chance to introduce ourselves, I look towards the women who asked that question.

Yui: "My name's Yui."

Since we were doing adventure business, I chose to give them that name instead of the other, as it may make the situation worse given the popularity of my family's name.

Olivia: "Olive! Nice to meet you guys."

Adventurer1-M: "Adventure names huh?"

We nod our heads in response.

Adventurer1-M: "I'm Onyx."

Adventurer3-F: "And I'm Onyx's big sister Garnet."

Both gem names? I felt that to be a bit stereotypical, but then again Olivia's adventure name is just her name without with 'ia' part to it.

Adventurer1-M "Royce!"

Adventurer4-M "Xavier!"

I half expected them to have gem names as well, but I stand corrected. I highly doubt I'd remember their names, but at least on the ride over I'll be sure to remember.