Camilla found herself staring at the empty space where Aurora once stood. No. No. NO!
She rushed forward and tried to feel the air where she had been moments ago to no avail. Despite having worn slightly better clothes she still fell to her knees, fingers clawing at the dirt.
Camilla spent several minutes frantically searching for any clue of what had happened to her friend. Unable to find anything Camilla collapsed to her knees as her emotions threatened to boil over. She couldn't truly let her emotions out before a loud crash caused her eyes to snap towards a nearby alleyway.
She slowly stood up and made her way towards the end of the alley. She turned the corner and noticed 3 cloaked individuals attacking a man in leather armor. He appeared to be on the backfoot as they clashed swords slowly trying to break his defense.
She slowly creeped closer, noticing 2 dead men on the ground wearing the same outfit as the mysterious attackers. She inspected them closer and realized she had seen these outfits before. So destroying our city was enough!? Now you plan to do the same here?
"You struggle for nothing! Just give it to us, old man!"
The trio started a coordinated attack that the older man struggled to defend against. Camilla noticed he was bleeding from several cuts. Feeling that he was about to die, she made a split second decision.
"HEY YOU!" She dashed forward snatching up a sword from one of the fallen men and swung towards the closest hooded figure. They swung their sword in retaliation meeting her attack head on causing them to lock blades.
The individual was shocked they weren't able to immediately overpower this stranger.
"W-who are you?!" A feminine voice asked.
"None of your concern! How dare you attack someone in this town!" Camilla pressed forward, knocking her opponent back and landed a strike across their shoulder.
The woman stumbled, placing her hand on her wound reflectively.
"You bitch! I'l! slaug-"
Camilla interrupted her by resuming the attack, trading several more blows before her opponent made a vital mistake. The wound was slowly taking a toll on her opponent, causing her to react slower, something that Camilla used to her advantage. She dodged a desperate thrust and grabbed her attacker's wrist. She pulled her forward while driving the sword into her chest, killing the woman instantly.
She turned her attention towards the other three after freeing her sword. However the old man was now on his knees, a deep wound across his belly. The two men chuckled and turned towards her, shocked to see her alive they circled her carefully.
This is bad. I doubt I can fight both of them at once. The duo charged forward at the same time, not giving her the time to think. Dammit I can't die here! Why'd I have to go and get involved? She cursed herself for staying true to her family's principles at this moment.
She blocked the first two strikes from each of them before she felt herself get grabbed by the arm and tossed into the wall. She cried out at the jolt of pain in her back as the men towered over her.
"Hurry up and kill her while I get the medallion!" the taller man made his way over to the dying old man. The man standing above her readied his blade to end her
So this is how I die after all...Aurora, I'm sorry. Before the man swung his sword a bright light appeared at the end of the alley. The man turned towards the light and was impaled by an icicle in his heart causing him to drop dead.
Camilla blinked her eyes trying to peer into the light and teared up slightly.
"Aurora…" she whispered.
The elf giggled as she helped her friend to her feet." Hehe. Miss me?"
"Y-you! Where have you been?!" She
Aurora scratched her cheek "well…I'll tell you later, for now I need to deal with him." She gestured towards the last survivor.
"Great another interruption. This was supposed to be easy." he looked down at the hole in his thigh caused by another icicle. "Well as much as I'd like to stay and play but I have a job to complete ladies."
He pulled out an object and threw it at them causing a cloud of smoke to obscure their vision. When the smoke cleared there was no sign of where he had gone.
"He's gone." Aurora scoffed and turned towards Camilla and gasped when she noticed a cut on her arm. "Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine, can you check on that man over there?" She pointed towards the old male.
"Will do!" She gave her a hug before heading to check on him. She knelt down and checked him over. Luckily for the moment he was still breathing so she began attempting to slow the bleeding.
His eyes snapped open and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer to his mouth, a soft whisper leaving him. "The…the m-medallion…"
Aurora was confused by his words, "A medallion? Why would they be after that?"
"The dragon's -cough cough- you m-must find i-it" his breathing started to grow erratic and his eyes glazed over. "A-Amy, I failed you." as the words left his lips he took his last breath.
Aurora closed his eyes in respect before making her way back to Camilla. "Come on, we need to hurry with our registration and then go find Lord Blackwood."
Camilla nodded back, slowly standing up and dusting herself off. She grabbed her friend and pulled her close, placing her head on Aurora's chest, hiding the tears staining her cheeks.
Her voice cracked slightly, "I-i thought you had vanished forever…believed I'd never see you again."
Aurora's expression softened as her ears twitched, "Oh come on, as if I'd leave you alone after what happened to us. We promised each other, didn't we?"
She drew back from the hug and slowly wiped the tears from her friend's eyes. "Better now?"
"Mhm." Camilla's cheeks flushed a bright crimson as she stared into those sparkly ruby-like eyes. God, why is she so stunning. The longer she looked at the elven beauty before her the more she wanted to embrace her.
Come on Camilla! Since when were you a coward? She took a deep breath and raised her vision back to Aurora's gaze, who responded by tilting her head in a confused manner.
"Are you sure you're okay?" She clasped her hands over Camilla's, worry etched on her features.
Rather than answer her directly she gently cupped her face and pulled her close. Aurora let out a small squeal as her ears and cheeks tinted red. She opened her mouth to say something but was silenced as Camilla's lips met her own in a slow kiss full of long-silent feelings.
A few moments passed before they slowly separated, both blushing while catching their breath. Aurora slowly stood up and pulled Camilla with her, still holding onto her hands.
"So did you enjoy our date my dear Camilla?" The smirk on her face grew wide at her friend's embarrassment.
"T-that wasn't a date!" Camilla averted her gaze, her cheeks burning.
Aurora leaned down to the side to look at her face while teasing her, "Oh then what was it?"
"It-it…was…uh." God why is she like this? She looked side to side, trying to think of a reason to change the topic. "Look, just forget that for now! We need to go make this report!" She turned and pulled Aurora with her as they made haste towards the city hall.
"Camilla, slow down!" Aurora giggled "We passed the turn three streets ago." She pulled back, stopping them in their tracks and pointed back down the road towards a pub. They changed course and continued on their way.
~~~~~~~~
Aurora walked into the city hall alone to make her report while Camilla went to register them as adventurers. She approached the lady seated at the front desk who looked up at her.
"Hello there Miss. How can I help you today?"
"I have an urgent report for Lord Blackwood. Is he available?" She rested her arms on the edge of the desk as she waited.
The receptionist looked at a paper for a moment before standing up. "Wait here for a moment please." she disappeared up a nearby staircase leaving Aurora to take a seat in the lounge.
She took out one of the magic books Aqua had given her and started to study some more advanced ice magic. While the book would give her the proper casting technique, she knew that it wouldn't mean much without practice.
Well enough of that for now! Placing the book back in her pouch she stood up and stretched her limbs as she spotted the lady returning with a well dressed man accompanying her. They met halfway and Aurora gave a slight bow towards the man.
"No need for that young lady. Please follow me." His direct approach shocked her, but she shook her head and followed after him. She was led up the stairs to the fourth floor and down to a room towards the end of the main hall.
The man stopped and gestured to the door. "Lord Blackwood is expecting you."
"Thank you sir." She took a deep breath and stepped into the room.