Chapter 5: Travel Begins
Alura made her way over and looked at the wizard that was sitting under a tree waiting for her with his eyes closed. “Um…Marenzo…”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDG7bZT5M6
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“Yes?” he questioned while opening his eyes to turn his sights on her. “What is it?”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvuRUPxRP0
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“Um….I…I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. It wasn’t like me or necessary for me to be moping around while you were trying your best to help.” She began to rub her right arm while looking down to the side. “I should of been mature enough to handle talking about what was bothering me that I saw instead of…” she took a deep breath and spoke while exhaling, “acting like a baby and pretending that no one else is involved in this.” She turned her gaze back on the wizard. “I hope you can forgive me and aren’t too angry at me for how I acted.” She watched him start to stand with his eyes closing as if he were thinking it over. “We…we can still be friends, right?”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgXy2ODhDO
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“I suppose we can be.” He began in a serious tone before opening one eye and cracked a grin. “I also couldn’t be mad at you.” This brought her to smile and her shoulders to relax in relief. “Besides,” she blinked curiously as he continued. “Who would be my guinea pig for any spells I wanna try out at a later time?” he joked with a grin and sticking his tongue out at her.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R5WMyZI3c
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Alura rolled her eyes and hit him in the arm. “Oh sure, like you can do is actually magic.” She responded teasingly with a small giggle after rolling her eyes.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW2mNMzrxa
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“You better be joking because you know I never truly fight a lady.” He remarked with a prim and proper tone as one with great sophistication while a hand pressed to his chest, his head turning to stick his head up in the air. His face was serious before breaking into a grin then laughter at his own impersonation of an upper crust person.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxETsANBOK
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“Oh my most deepest and sincerest apologizes, good sir.” She apologized while bowing her head while moving her arms out as if she were extending a dress on either side. “I guess I just never learned how to behave like you would enjoy seeing.” She used a meek proper tone with her words before starting to grin and snicker as well while she turned her eyes up to look to see him eyeing her over.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZujLKcz00
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He folded his arms pondering. “Hmm well I guess you could learn but it will take years to train you to be a proper lady.” He critiqued with a stuck-up tone while trying to resist snickering. “Such as, you’ll need to dress with only the most costly of fashion as well as jewels.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkmc3KwmVz
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Alura straightened while giggling behind a hand as she tried to get her words out. “Hey now, who gave you fashion advice of what a woman should and shouldn’t wear to be considered a true lady?”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePg5pwY0Rr
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“Mother, of course,” he purred with a sly grin.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2ux7mFkXN
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“Well that don’t count.” She snickered and couldn’t hold in the laughter anymore nor could he as they both broke out laughing. Alura wiped away a tear after a bit while calming down. “Oh man, your impression of a snob is too funny.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYfBQ8aNxP
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“You’re the one who started it.” Marenzo pointed out while also calming down his laughter with a deep breath. He put his hands on his hips as he waited until she finished calming down. “So, have you made up your mind as to where we’re going to start our search outside of Flora?”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr0NjaXjyO
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Alura straightened her clothing while nodding with a renewed determination in her eyes. “Yes, I’ve decided after meeting with someone that we will begin in Meldano.” She instructed while starting to lead the way to the airship that lead traveled to that island.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAxecmv39j
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“Huh?” he blinked following after her. “What guy? I don’t recall seeing anyone.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXSVtNfOto
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Alura pulled out the note and showed him while telling about the odd man who spoke with her. “He was a real jerk to. I mean, come on, he wouldn’t even say his name then he just poofs without much of a proper goodbye. Although, I suppose his ‘tah-tah’ counts as a goodbye but it’s not a normal one where you say ‘goodbye’ and ‘see you next time’.” She complained at the end of her story.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfn2haJttn
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During her talking, Marenzo had been reading the note and trying by way of one of his rings to try tracing the writer. This resulted in him getting a back shock, a sign it was enchanted to keep the delivery person safe from being found unless they showed themselves. “Are you sure this isn’t a trick?” he asked with suspicion. “Maybe we should do the list out of order just to be safe.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbb87jR8IYq
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Alura retook the note with a headshake. “If it is then we’ll be read.” She replied confidently while skipping ahead in order to turn and watch him with a smirk as she walked backwards. Her hands moving behind her as she slightly leaned towards him. “It was you who told me I am powerful and you obviously are very powerful so I think we’ll be fine.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCEUzGq7s8
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“Now hold on, I did say that but you might be a bit cocky there.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBd7g5MfJk
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“Are you saying I’m not powerful and strong?” she pouted sadly with a tiny voice giving him big sad eyes.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA2Q36wp9T
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Marenzo groaned and closed his eyes while sighing. “No, you are but right now-”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8L8sKjmuR
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“That’s what I thought!” she squealed with victory as she grinned and stuck her tongue out at him. “Now just have some faith that we’ll be fine. Especially if you aren’t wanting to be calling me a weakling after you made such a strong case that I wasn’t helpless.” Before he could speak she whipped around and marched forwards with her back towards him. He released a defeated breath while mentally repeating words his father had said about men never winning an argument with a woman.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCejRgbi8uS
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It would be about a couple or so hours later before they would come across the airship docks with a ship waiting to take off. Passengers paid the Captain as they boarded the well-built craft. “Welcome aboard.” The bearded man warmly greeted. “Where is it you wish to go?” he asked so to point them in the right direction if needed.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTHfsepFBh
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“Um,” Alura began as she thought his warm cheerfulness was a bit overdone but said nothing. “We would like to go to Meldano.”
He nodded, “then you’re at the right ship. That will be 200 Relu, please.” He held out a big callused hand showing he was a hard worker. Alura gave a quick nod while digging out her money pouch. She got out two rounded platinum coins and paid him. The Captain eyed the front of the coin to make sure the leaf design was right. He examined the back to ensure the tree with a falling leaf was right before closing both inside his closed hand. A light came and went then, after uncurling his fingers to see both coins still intact. “You’re clear, get on board.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROOEAzK9k9
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“Can you believe we might find something at Meldano?” she softly questioned Marenzo as they stepped onboard and went to their cabin as directed by one of the crew.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGw6UgorqJ
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Marenzo shook his head as they went down to their room. “No, I can’t believe it because it stands that we might or might not. I hope we do find some clues to go on of course.” He replied softly walking in behind her as she moved into the two bedded room.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMpzHTA1R5
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After setting down her bag a thought occurred to her and this caused her to look at the wizard who teleported in his own bag he had left back at the tree. “Hey, something I been wondering is…why are you still with me?” this caused him to pause while looking for something. “I’m just wondering because I thought you might have wanted to leave before now for some reason.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwaeCGjViv
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Marenzo was quiet for a bit as he thought as his heart was pounding in his chest. “I…well I just want to make sure you stay safe. What good is it to have a friend if you’re going to leave them behind just to get hurt or worse?”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQwgRuj98X
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“Hmm well that is a good point…”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUeFvNkfAi
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“Right so I think it should stay at that.” He stated and forced a confident smile as he looked up and over to her. “How about we get comfy and relax since it’ll be a while until we arrive at our destination.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPE8Y8hBOR
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She had a feeling something was off but just quietly nodded in agreement with him. “Um alright, sure thing,” she softly said and he went back to going through his bag. She wanted to ask for a better reason that felt more honest yet had a hunch in her gut that might not be the best idea right now. Moving she looked out a window at the beautiful sky to calm her concerns down with a deep breath. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzLAFANxBK
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Once the last passenger had boarded and the Captain went to the cabin, an announcement was made to explain they would be taking off shortly. It would then be but moments after that the engines began to kick on and power the propellers. The unseen shield went up to allow the passengers access to the deck during flight and the structure of wood, metal, and glass lifted before heading off towards Meldano. “I hope Talon is doing alright. I haven’t heard anything from him or anyone about how he’s doing there without me.” Alura commented after they were minutes into the flight.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZda2z7ECVR
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“I’m sure he’s fine and misses his big sister.” He answered while they were walking up to now stand on the deck and enjoy the beautiful scenery around them. “I bet he’s always waiting and watching for you while praying that you’ll return to him soon, safe and sound.” Marenzo assured her as she leaned to rest on the railing to look forwards as he leaned with his back against it at her side.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9gO2Qojlf
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She put on a soft smile. “I’m sure you’re right but I’m just worried. I was so preoccupied with Ginsu and fascinated by what was there that I didn’t exactly spend the most time with my brother.” She admitted a bit sheepishly. “I feel bad about it and I hope he doesn’t hate me or resent me to some degree.”643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpUr3ik0hP
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Marenzo made a noise with his lips vibrating as he blew out some air. “Who could hate you aside from a real meanie or jerk?” he chuckled and nudged her with his shoulder. “You’re just worrying too much. Give the kid some credit. I doubt he’d hate you for being busy training for what you are expected to do.” 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqUWJGB0Nn
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Lightly Alura chuckled as her gaze came to meet his. “Alright, I’ll try to calm down my helicopter senses.” She returned her sights to the passing scenery with thoughts to assure herself all was fine with Talon. When night would fall the pair with others went to their cabins and settled in for bed.
