Mystic Quest

Chapter 16

Lyria glanced between Yuna, Emerys and Solarys. The four friends had decided to set up camp slightly further than the battle field in order to talk. Noriran was lying against his mistress; and the three others heroes were facing her.

Lyria had some trouble starting, but the fact her friends seemed more curious than angry or wary reassured her.

“As you can now guess, I'm an angel. I'm at the service of someone, but I prefer to keep their identity secret.”

Yuna couldn't help but ask, “Was he the one you talked to in the previous village?”

Lyria looked at him, surprised. “Yes. You knew?”

“I just heard the end of the discussion. I only knew someone was hiding something.”

Solarys and Emerys stared at him. They almost asked why he didn't say anything, then they realized Yuna couldn't have known in who between his three friends the swordsman could trust.

“Ah... Sorry. You must have asked yourself many questions.”

Yuna shrugged and smiled at Lyria. “I soon understood this person didn't mean bad things.”

Lyria chuckled in relief. “Indeed, it has never been my intention. At first, my master asked me to gather you and to talk to you about your mission. However, to my great surprise the prophecy chose me too. So, I swallowed my surprise, which was the reason to my anger at the temple. Well, it was more than I was annoyed at my master. He had seen the temple and he knew. But he didn't tell me! He will hear me, you can count on it!”

Her friends laughed wholeheartedly. They could guess that while she called him master, Lyria was his friend.

“Well, enough talk of this little tease. I passed myself as a human and I started travelling with you. My master and I didn't know how you would react when learning my true nature; that's why we thought good of hiding it. I hope... You don't resent me too much.”

Her three friends exchanged a glance. A silent discussion seemed to pass before Solarys turned her gaze toward the other young woman with a smile.

“No. We can understand. We would have liked to know, but well. It's normal to choose caution. And also; you did save me! You have all my gratitude!”

A blinding smile illuminated the angel's face. She threw herself at Solarys and hugged her, happy.

“Thank you! Thank you, my friends!”

Yuna and Emerys hugged her back happily when she threw herself at each of them. The friendship of the four young people was stronger than a simple lie.

“Friends, I've got an idea! What if we rest a bit and we celebrate all we haven't celebrated?”

Emerys' proposition was received positively. Lyria had to wait some before continuing the journey and to fight; and her friends felt the need to stay somewhere calm after the intense fight and the reveal about Lyria.

For the occasion, Solarys and Emerys went to hunt, gratefully the demons and monsters hadn't kill off food; while Noriran fished a bit and Yuna and Lyria collected some fruits. A true feast getting ready.

Then, they lit a fire where they could cook the meat and fishes. While waiting for lunch, Emerys produced from his travel bag cups and a big flask. His three friends raised their eyebrows.

“Is this alcohol?” Yuna queried.

“Yep! Mead, taken in the last town!”

Lyria and Solarys smiled at each other. Each took a cup then Emerys served everyone. They raised their cups; and it was Solarys who declared their toast.

“A toast for our meeting! I couldn't hope for better friends!”

Emerys followed up. “Don't forget to toast for your lover! You took your sweet time acting, you two!”

Yuna became as red as a tomato, same for Solarys. The swordsman looked at Lyria who laughed at them then finished the toast. “Don't forget we have an angel with us!”

Lyria scratched her cheek in embarrassment, but her three friends could see her happiness. Cups hit each other when the four heroes toasted. Yuna tried to drink his cup in one go, but sadly he missed and coughed.

Solarys tapped his back while taking a sip. “Come on Yuna, that wasn't clever.” She teased.

Emerys giggled, which earned him a dark look from the young raven-haired. Emerys mentally thanked the young blue-haired woman from being beside the swordsman and calming him. Lyria, for her part, laughed at all this.

When the gaze of the two young men went on her, the chestnut glanced away with a whistle. Then she looked at the food.

“It's ready!”

Lyria could thank meat and fishes for taking everyone's attention!

They ate quite fast, starving after the battle. When the moment came to eat the fruits, Lyria became thoughtful. Solarys, curious and a bit worried, looked at her. Lyria smiled at her.

“Should we make an oath?” Her three friends looked at her. “From now on, we will be the best friends in the world; and we will thwart tricks and defeat threats!”

The oath made her friends smile, who quickly repeated it. And so, the friendship of our four heroes blossomed fully; to flourish and bloom, forever.

To be continued...