“SO I’m stuck with just you lot again…?” Johann sighed as he fixed his vestment’s cuff outside Port City. He looked at the people he was to travel with again: Elias was doing squats to warm-up for potential monster encounters, Leo was yawning and stretching like a lazy cat, and Aki was fidgeting as she still wasn’t used to the Field yet.
…Why does this give me a bad case of déjà vu? It reminded him of the first day he set out on the Field with them.
Perhaps the reason it felt like a lifetime had passed since then was because they had each overcome a variety of personal obstacles that left lasting scars.
Leo stopped doing breathing exercises and flashed them a lopsided grin. “Feels like we’re back at the starting point with this group.”
“It was our first party line up,” Elias said, smiling with his hand resting on the Holy Sword’s pommel.
The biggest change from when they first began their journey and now was that everyone had learned hidden truths about each other and the world. A greater understanding of the world gave them new objectives to pursue.
Even I have changed from the person who was just supposed to be spying on Elias, Johann thought, reflecting on his own growth. Now I am traveling with him as a true member of his party. It’s so freeing.
“How long will it take to arrive at the Advanced Nations of Academia?” Aki asked, cupping her hand over her eyes as she looked out at the never-ending plains.
“Good question. Probably a couple of weeks by foot,” Leo answered.
“A c-couple of weeks? Ugh.” Aki blanched.
Realizing Leo was teasing her, Johann glared at him and took control of the conversation. “Leo, that wasn’t very nice. It will indeed take several weeks if we walk there with our own two feet. However, we are in no position to aimlessly waste time, so we will be borrowing help from Leo’s partner.”
“Leo’s partner… Oh!” Aki clapped her hands together. “You mean Milsheep!”
“That’s the one,” Leo confirmed.
Indeed, crossing the Field in a decent amount of time was best done on the back of a summon beast. Quick traveling was actually the best method, but since they were going to need large amounts of magic to teleport to the Dark Lord’s Castle, they had to reserve their supply.
Milsheep’s feet should cover the distance in a few days, and the danger was minimal at their level.
“Stand back.” Leo gestured with his hands and pulled out his small Grimoire. He rested it on his palm, and it magically opened to the correct page. He closed his eyes, held out his hand, and began drawing the summon circle in the air. “Can you hear my voice calling out to you? Answer me, my contracted friend. Cross the skies to come for me.”
An amused grin lit his face as he held open his hand and an adorable POP cracked the air, followed by a puff of white smoke.
Wind swept away the billowing smoke and returned the scenery to normal, leaving behind a dazed little lamb anxiously looking around with big, round black eyes. As soon as it located its master it let out an adorable bleat.
Summon beasts are cute…
Johann was relatively bad with animals, but he was envious of the pure, loving adoration the little creature gave Leo. Solar Magic was incapable of summoning, so his longing grew even stronger.
Milsheep transformed into her giant form without delay and the boys leaped onto her back with familiar ease.
“You guys good to go?” Leo, who had taken up position at the front of Milsheep, looked back at the rest, his hands sinking into her wool. Even the way each member told him they were ready was like a throwback to their first day out adventuring.
Once he confirmed everyone was seated, Leo swung his hand down in the direction of the plains sprawling into the distance.
“In that case, the Hero Party is departing! Onwards to adventure!”