Thud. Thud. Hikari was walking back to the estate after her morning run.
She skipped a day of running so that the workshop could patch up her running flats.
It seemed that the extra wiring and patching would allow the flats to last another few runs.
On the way, she saw yet another refugee camp being set up.
"Another disaster? I guess the scout master might have something for me."
As she entered the outer palisade, she saw in the distance that a crowd had gathered around the estate walls.
She stopped and observed.
The crowd was blocking the side gate where she used to enter the estate.
"Whats going on there?"
She contemplated if she should just leap over the crowd but decided against it.
Her leaping distance at her new size wasn't as predictable yet. It would be catastrophic if she accidentally lands in the middle of the crowd.
She got closer and hid behind a large warehouse closer to the central junction of the town.
The RazenHeir estate was just across the junction.
Ding! Ding! The towncrier rings his bell.
"Hear! Hear!"
She glances at her flats.
Her sweating condition was improving.
But she could still feel the sweat build up below.
"Would the same trick work? But i'm in the middle of town."
Then, a cloaked man rode up to her.
He was wearing a hood over his head but Hikari easily recognizes his horse.
"Urrghh." He exclaimed, pinching his nose.
"Scout master."
"There you are. As you can see, we are in need of some crowd control."
"What happened?"
"Nothing good. Anyways, I've got dispatch orders for you. But first, we have to clear this crowd."
"Scout master?"
"Don't worry about it. Just do your duty, leave the matter to her Ladyship to worry about."
"Yes."
"Now, I hope you remember what I meant by your Ergonomical Hazard?"
"Hmm?"
"Let it loose. Walk upright to the estate with your shoes off. I care not what the maids say. There's no good way out of this now."
Hikari gave him a confused look.
"Do you want to go back to your chambers or not? I am but a man of reason. We just got to do what we got to do."
"Alright."
Hikari stood up. She slid out of her flats and hung them on her fingers.
"Urk! Whats the smell?"
The crowd immediately responded.
"Hey! That's the giant knight!"
"Smells like rotten eggs!"
"She looks stunning!"
"The smell is so good!"
"Are you out of your mind?"
Thud. Thud. Step by step, Hikari approached the crowd, watching the ground carefully at every turn.
The crowd reacts to her.
Some ran away from seeing the intimidating giant approach.
Others held their breath or ran away from the stench.
Some stared at her in a daze.
Others still cummed in their pants.
The scout master gave the signal.
A troop of RazenHeir recruits in their training fatigues armed with wooden poles pushed the fragmented crowd away.
Hikari was back in her chambers.
Breakfast was on time. It was fortunate that the stores still had enough to feed her for the day.
"Hikari, a word" The scout master's voice came from outside.
"Coming."
"There's no need to dress up. I need you on the frontlines. The forward post has been stocked with provisions for you. I'll be riding off right away. You may have another day's rest."
"Yes, scout master"
The rest of the day passed.
Hikari sat leaning against the wall.
It was close to her bed time.
She would normally be either still training or in bed already.
She had to report to the front tomorrow. So her training was rather light.
Perhaps there wasn't enough fatigue for her to fall asleep yet.
Hikari felt a wet feeling on her soles.
She opened her eyes and saw Ella licking her feet.
"Ella?"
"(Good evening Hikari)"
She closed her eyes again and leaned back.
Ella's long wyvern tongue could cover the length of her master's big toe.
Though, her master has grown much larger since the first time she cleaned her feet.
"(Ella thinks Hikari is feeling down. Ella wants to make Hikari feel better)"
Hikari hears her voice in her head.
She does not respond.
It does feel better.
After running day after day, it does feel good to have a bit of light massage.
But Ella's words, though coming from a being wholly unfamiliar to the realm Hikari had been living in, does bring some comfort.
"Ella. Do you know any, what's that word, economics?"
"(Economics? Ella does not understand. Ella knows that word from two leg people text. I think lady Ria mentions that a lot)"
"She does."
"(Ella thinks home is in trouble. Ella sense that Hikari's mind is foggy)"
Hikari took a deep breath.
She has been training, slaying monsters, and growing stronger as always. In fact, she had just had another growth spurt.
She had fulfilled all a knight needs to do.
But something is unsettling.
"Yes."
"(Ella sees)" The half wyvern continues cleaning her feet as she speaks to Hikari through her mind.
"(But Ella senses no monsters near home. But Hikari senses something wrong with home?)"
"Yes. It's 'economics'. I think"
"(Economics? Ella does not understand)"
"Me neither. Lady Ria understands."
"(Ella sees. But should we find Lady Ria? Is Lady Ria is trouble?)"
"No. She's fine. She just doesn't want to burden us with the 'Economics'"
"(Yes. Ella sees. Ella only knows how to burn monsters. Hikari also only knows how to burn monsters. So lady Ria does the economics)"
"Correct"
"(But Hikari wants to help her with the economics now?)"
Hikari was rather stumped.
"But how?"
"(Ella does not know.)"
Hikari shrugs.
"Let's just go burn some monsters first."
"(Yes Hikari, Lap* Lap*)"