187. Where, When, How Long?*

"" Why can't I go !? ""

Funnily enough it was my daughter and Nifa who were the most offended by announcing the hunt.

" Nifa..ask my husband...princess..ask your father. " - I said being busy stretching while the other two already outside shooting in the dark.

I saw my six year old pouting the same way the 20 something year old blessed..who can paint..which is why she wanted to come.

" I need too see the battles and capture them..they will sell for an absolute fortune. " - she said half dreaming about her future earnings. " Imagine Zephyr...half naked and covered in blood ..by Ehlite, princess and Queens would pay with gold . "

I didn't doubt that..but.. " Why half naked? "

She smiled biting her lips. " The question is..why not? "

She was not wrong.

" As I said, ask him.. just don't mention the last bit there and you should be fine. Now go find him.. " - I said and picked up my daughter.

" Remember what your father said, up the mountain? " - sat her down asking seriously.

She lost her annoyed expression and took a dramatic sigh perfect copy of her fathers.

I smiled how smart she was, we talked a lot that weekend yet she looked like she knew.

" ' Don't grown up too fast. '...Mom?..Don't tell him? " - she looked up after repeating the gist of it.

She was so adorable. " Aww..of course I won't.." - picked her up and we walked outside leaving Nifa to find Zephyr who I haven't seen since dinner.

We walked outside to a perfectly lit yard.

I asked the girls to light a few torches and dummies already looked like porcupines with the arrows all sticking out.

" Still don't want to pick up the bow? " - I asked seeing her face lighting up seeing her aunt's fired up like never before.

" Nah, it's okay...I mean..it's wood mom.. " - she chuckled..and I felt as if I'm holding my husband. " Nah,Nah ..I'm going to find Ciren and make sure she can't go either. "

She jumped off my arms landing athletically and run back inside.

" Well..she sure has her priorities straight. " - said Demelza without looking back.

Myself took position. " I feel like she wants to fight...sooner rather than later and her father will have to deal with it. "

" What about her mother " - asked Eleanor.

( TWACK )

" She will do the same with their son...in 20 years or something. " - I said after hitting the chest of the dummy.

" I cant believe we're going to hunt divine beasts..well at the very least we will help. " - Demelza took a sip of water night dreaming.

" How many ...

" I have no idea..or Zephyr. " - I cut off Eli. " ..I know of two ..Rosemary childhood home Kaiden and the abandoned town near the sea, where Catalina and her family came, called Metla. "

As far as Catalina told us, Metla is some kind of water beast and Kaiden is ..well we need to talk to Rosemarie to understand more about that one.

" So where is Zephyr? " - asked Demelza.

" Probably talking to the guys about logistics or maybe talking to granny as well.." - I said and went to gather the arrows.

I stopped and started checking them and remembered.

" I wonder, if Olaf did something about those drawings Carlos brought back. "

They had some intricate designs.

" Let's go there tomorrow and might as well talk to brother about it, if he and the others ever wonder home. " - said Demelza.

Just as she said that the noises from the house leaked outside.

We had to stop training because got interested what Zephyr has decided.

Inside were filled with people standing over Zephyr with endless suggestions.

" I believe we should start with Hori and Misao. " - said Alexander reaching over Zephyr shoulder smushing his nose a little. " ..They are the closest to Emet and we can finish the both of them and be home in a week. "

" Well if we talk about purely distance.. we should just end Nerio first. " - Carlos pushed Alexander hands over and pointed toward the north and Dharma. " We can use the village of Nerio, those people live wretched lifes. " - he finished.

" Do we even know what type of beast they are Master? " - asked Manata.

He actually looked up hearing it.

" Finally.." - he sighed exhausted and massaged his temples a little. " ..we don't know the types other than Metla. " - pointed at down the map southwest. " ..and Kaiden. Both lives inside the water, Metla being some kind of..fish..

Carlos interrupted here temporarily gaining the rooms

attention.

" It's a called a Hsark Zeph and it's been..

" Not now.. God.." - Zephyr said already struggling less than 2 hours into planning. "..and Kaiden is terrifying predator who can fly..and hid underwater. They both sound a nightmare of battle considering we can't effectively fight, as a group on either of those spaces. "

The room got very quiet and we moved towards Nifa and Cintia who were talking to Mother.

" You drawn a map already? " - Eleanor asked Nifa.

She looked up watching from watching the kids. " They just needed names of beast we come across and Ceron is compiling more as we speak. " - she explained.

" How many so far? " - I asked.

" Well...5 for now as they mentioned. " - answered mother instead. " But those they have information on are far away..weeks on horseback. "

Well that's not good.

He wouldn't want to leave Anna or and village that long 20 days wasn't that long. Not to mention, now that spring arrived Karta could restart their offensive whenever they wished.

" Alright now..we will recognize ourselves tomorrow. " - Zephyr said standing up. " As agreed a small party of 25 Elite aside from the the five of you. "

He pointed at Lucian, Alexander, Manata, Stuart and Carlos.

" You all be choosing your own five and be responsible for them and we thank God we have a few days of time...go go.." - he walked towards me while still talking. " .. someone go to Ceron and take his list. Goodnight.."

He grabbed my hand picked Anna with the other and we headed towards her room.

She was soon in bed but had questions.

" I obviously won't go.." - she started out suspiciously. " ..but how long will you two be going? " - she asked making herself comfortable.

" Of course you can't come why said it like that? " - he asked back.

Zephyr looked at me for a little but, I was unreadable.

" No reason..." - Anna said.

" Well we won't stay longer than a few days...maybe we won't go at all. " - he said shaking his head.

" What do you mean? " - I asked.

He looked up shaking his head a little. " ..Anyway, it's still some time from now princess. Sleep well..." - he kissed her and got up.

" Goodnight sweetheart. " - I gave her a little kiss and left her room closing the door shut.

Instead of walking towards our room he was looking down towards the kitchen.

The people didn't move an inch and buzzing like a beehive.

I smiled and pushed him towards our room.

" They mostly live here my love it is, what it is .. come and talk to your smart wife instead. " - I said closing our door behind us cutting of the noise.

Needed to clear his mind..and make sure this Hunt will happen no matter what.