Continuing our travels we move further north east, traveling past many beautiful places I can really feel the excitement that comes with travel. Berk has many lakes and the further we travel the more spirits I see on the way as we go through more and more rural places. Sometimes on our breaks I would play with them but even though I always asked Sally to join, they never did. Instead they spent their time in the campfire watching me. I think they might be a bit shy.
About a week into our journey, while I was training my fire mana absorption, Sally walks out of their fire and climbs on top of my shoulder.
“Sorry, are you bored Sally?”
Sally shakes their head and starts to glow and as they do, I feel mana flowing into me, it’s warm and gentle.
“Is this…Natural fire mana? Are you helping me Sally?”
Sally nods with a determined look on their face.
“It’s so different from what I imagined. It feels more like drinking warm tea under a warm blanket than a blazing fire.”
The feeling then stops and Sally stops glowing, they then put their foot on my cheek and look at me, “Do you want me to try now?”
Sally nods again.
We then train together and over the next week of travel, I’m starting to get a basic sense on how to absorb the natural fire element but I’m still far from being able to do it well enough for the ritual. Sally also became a lot more attached to me. It seems like they have fully recovered now and don’t need to be in a lantern all the time anymore. They have also gained beautiful crimson scales and seem way more energetic and healthy than before. They now spend most of their time either on my head or on my shoulder, only going into the fire to sleep or eat. I also found out that matchsticks are one of their favorite snacks so I tend to give them one whenever the rest of us eat snacks. Then, as the first snow of the year gently floats down, we approach a town between two mountains, surrounded by a river.
“Look everyone! It’s my home town!”
John perks up from a nap, “Are we finally here?”
Sher Aka adds, “This will be quite exciting, I have never been to beastman town.”
Feeling nervous, I tug on Rayla's jacket, “D-Do you think your family will be okay with me Rayla?”
“Huh? Of course! Just be yourself, you’re part of the pack now!”
As we come upon a checkpoint on a bridge, a pair of guards tells us to stop, “Halt! Who are you and what is your business here?”
Rayla then jumps out of the wagon, wearing her thick winter clothing, “Heh, don’t tell me you don’t recognize your niece anymore uncle!”
“Rayla!? Gosh you became so pretty! You’ve really grown up!”
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They then hug each other's tails and the guard yells loudly, “Eh!? Six huh? You really hate moderation don’t you? Sniff Why is there such a strong man smell on you?”
“That’s actually because I have a new little brother now! Come out and say hello, oki!”
A bit nervous, I come out of the wagon with my mask off and nervously approach Rayla’s uncle. He is a bit short but he is quite muscular and has a nice big white beard with blue tips. His face looks very weathered and his two tails look quite unbrushed.
I’m so focused on making a good impression that I completely overlook him pulling out his hand for a handshake and instead hug his tails, “It’s nice to meet you, Sir.”
He seems a bit surprised by that but then puts his arm around my waist, “Haha, I didn’t expect Rayla to teach you our customs. Welcome to Sovar sonny, I heard of you from Nekara’s letters.”
We then stop the hug and he puts his hands on my shoulders and looks me straight in the eyes, “Man, Nekara really wasn’t kidding, you look like a mountain bandit, haha.”
“Uhm…Sorry about that.”
Slapping me on the arm, he says, “Pfft, what are you apologizing for? My face looks like a meat platter too. Ya can’t do shit about that sorta stuff.”
Sher Aka and John then also leave the wagon and introduce themselves, “Hello, my name is Sher Aka and this is my little brother John, we’re your niece’s traveling companions and fellow adventurers.”
“Oh my…What a sophisticated lady! Rayla, you should learn from her!”
“No thank you, I’d rather be myself, isn’t that right oki?”
“Huh? Y-yeah!”
She bumps her hip into me, “Geez, loosen up already. Uncle likes you, I’m sure it will be the same for my parents and brothers.”
“Do they both still live in the village? They’re older than you, right?”
“Yep, Marcelle is 21 and Gino is 23. Marcelle works as a butcher with mom and Gino is a carpenter.”
“Is there anything I need to know to not offend them or something?”
Getting a warm grin on her face, Rayla takes my hand, “Thoma, come here. Look at me. You're perfect just the way you are, even if they don’t like you, that’s their problem not yours.”
“But…But what if they say you shouldn’t be around me anymore…”
She gives me a mischievous grin and answers bluntly, “Then I’ll just tell em to fuck off.”
“Wh-what!? Can you really say that to your family?”
“Sure I can, if they don’t accept you I won’t accept them back.”
“You’d really do that for me?”
“Of course, you're my lil brother after all!”
I then give Rayla a hug and nuzzle cheeks with her.
“Thank you ane”
“Gee…You’re such a big baby, come on let’s go we haven’t even entered the town yet. Uncle are you coming with us?”
“Nah, I still have a job to do, I’ll see you for dinner though!”
“Alright, see ya later then.”
We then hop back in our wagon and cross the river. Driving by multiple fields we come upon a giant stone wall with a gate surrounding the village. We don’t even have to say anything when we approach because the gate opens for us without further interrogation. Behind it, lies a bustling town full of blue fox Beastkin and stone houses with wooden decorations. Each house we pass looks unique with all them having differently carved pieces of wood adorning them. Some seem to tell tales of the people living in them, others are just made to look pretty. Then we come upon a house with both beautifully intricate carvings and child-like carvings on it.
“This is my home! We don’t have any stables so sadly we can’t park here but I wanted to show you guys on our way to the Inn!”
“It’s super pretty, ane!”
“Right!?”
We then travel further down the busy streets to a small Inn and park our cart at the stables.
“Do you two want two rooms or will you share one Sher Aka?”
“I think we’ll share one, is that alright with you John?”
“Sure, I’m not really into Beastmen so there is no need for separate rooms.”
“Alright I’ll get you a room then, be right back!”
Rayla giddily skips into the Inn and shortly after comes back with a room key, “Here you go, second room on the left.”
“Thank you.”
“Alright let’s go visit my mom!”
Stopping her, I say, “Oh before that, where is my room key ane?”
“Pfft, don’t be silly. You’re not sleeping in the Inn, you'll sleep at home with me!”
“A-are you sure your parents will be fine with that?”
“Of course!”
