A Quest for the Stars

Contrary to their stay at Hammer's Reach, the rest of our protagonists' stay at Ezmestli proved to be uneventful. But sometimes, lack of excitement is the best outcome.

Tizoc would spend his time teaching the former Blue Jays the laws of nature as well as training with weapons. Clara would aid him by taking her books to the keep and quiz the trainees on what they learned. Being farmers themselves, the former Blue Jays would ace the tests on plant life but only get average scores on everything else. They had a long road ahead.

As for Alistair and Lenoria, they spent the next day exploring the village to spend quality time together, the highlight being that very night when they went to a small food stand manned by a catfolk cook and two human companions.

Lenoria had a black eye, courtesy of Clara from a training session gone wrong the day before. Despite that, the girl happily had her arms wrapped around Alistair arm as they looked at the handwritten menu. "Street tacos are the best, Al," Lenoria said. "Try them!"

"Um, okay. I guess I'll get an order of five."

Once the two made their order, they sat by a stone table, both of them seated across each other. Lenoria laughed as she recounted everything the pair saw throughout their day, from the local wildlife to a small waterfall just a mile away from the village.

"I should have bought a swimsuit before we left the capital." Lenoria smiled to get a reaction out of Alistair, who so far displayed an emotionless expression. "Al, are you okay? I don't think I've seen you smile the whole day."

"Huh? Oh, m-my apologies." Alistair forced a smile. "Are you having a good time?"

Lenoria maintained a hunched seated position, leaning forward just a little while her hands pressed firmly against her knees. "I'm with you, aren't I? Of course I am."

By contrast, Alistair maintained a rigid posture on the stone seat, obviously feeling uneasy. "Are you sure? Because once we get to Thule, we can visit a fine dining restaurant. There's one I know that has the best T-Rex steak."

"That sounds expensive, Al. What's wrong with street food?"

"Nothing at all. I just want the best for you. I'm even in the process of saving up for a shopping day."

"Saving up?" Was Alistair short on money? "Al, we made a lot just by killing those giants. Have you already spent it all?"

"No, I set it all aside for situations like this. The gold we made isn't enough, is it?"

"For a shopping day? Al, that's enough to not worry about rent for years!"

Alistair scratched his head in confusion. "Really? You're actually fine with this?"

"Yes, I am," Lenoria chuckled as she replied. "You didn't think I was in this for the money, did you?"

Alistair sank his head in embarrassment, averting all eye contact. "I just t-thought girls wanted the lavish lifestyle."

Lenoria was taken aback. She felt a little offended, but she also wanted him to ease up, and tried to help him out after a deep breath. "Al," she held his hands with hers. "we could take a walk around a park every night just to talk about our day, and I would enjoy every minute of it because I'd be with you."

"You really don't mind? Because if there's anything you need, anything at all, I'll do my best to give it to you."

Lenoria held an amorous gaze. "Anything?"

"E-except that," Alistair corrected himself.

"Worth a shot." The girl shrugged. "There's a lot to unpack here, but we haven't had time between just us since that night at the Plains. There was bound to be some trouble eventually. Might as well tackle it together."

Lenoria gazed at the moon, which had barely begun to wane after reaching its peak that first night at the keep. She invited Alistair to watch with her by patting the empty stone seat next to her, and once he obliged, she held his hand and gave him a warm smile.

"Mr. Adams, you already won me over with word and deed. I've already given you my heart, but you seem to have the wrong idea about me."

Alistair knew Lenoria was teasing him since she has only addressed him by his last name every time she did so, but he couldn't deny the truth in her statement.

"I appreciate the gesture, and it's fine once in a while. But I'm not a rich noble girl; I don't want you to break yourself just so I could have a shopping spree for a day." She poked him on the cheek to emphasize her point. "Got it?"

"So... not even a copper piece?"

"Money shouldn't even be in the conversation to begin with. There are certainly times where I think it's okay, but generally the only time you and I need to talk about money is if we owned a business, if we're splitting a bill, or if we were pooling funds to buy something we all wanted..." A thought came to mind. "Or...if you and I w-were married."

"M-married?"

"Crap!" It was too late to backpedal, and it was up to Lenoria's quick thinking to steer the conversation back on topic before her lewd mind took over. "Yeah. Married couples have to deal with bills, taxes," Lenoria snapped her fingers as something else came to mind, "and rent. Clara told me her parents would get absolutely serious whenever the rent was due."

"Those are all important things. I haven't even thought about that..."

"Order number 86," shouted the cook.

"That's us." Lenoria got up. "Your money is your money, Al. It's up to you to determine how you want to spend it, but you shouldn't do something just because you are expected to do it."

Leaving Alistair to think about her words, Lenoria walked over to the stand and called out to the cook. "What's the damage, sir?"

"Three silver pieces."

"Here you go." Grabbing a gold piece out of her coin purse, Lenoria flicked it with her thumb towards the cook's direction. "Keep the rest."

The cook caught it confidently with a single hand, inspected it, and gave Lenoria the thumbs up of approval. "Thank you, miss."

Lenoria grabbed the plates and went back to the table. She set one in front of Alistair, who took a moment to marvel at the food set before him before poking at the soft oily texture. "I know it's a little greasy, but it's just like the ones we had at the restaurant the other day."

"I-I'm not worried about that. It's just," Alistair paused as anxiety set back in, "y-you don't mind?"

Thoroughly chewing her food, Lenoria swallowed it before speaking. "Oh. Don't sweat it. Mom always said that if I ever invited someone out to eat, I should be the one to pay. Especially friends. Besides, I wanted to do something for my sweetie for taking such good care of me."

"Oh, u-um..." Alistair coughed. "Y-your mother is wise. I-I wouldn't mind meeting her."

"You'll probably like her. I know she'll love you." Lenoria uncorked her waterskin and took a light sip. "It's Pop who worries me."

Alistair finally took a bite out of his meal. His smile returned as he savored the taste of the spiced pork, onions, and some thin greens he couldn't identify right away. "T-thank you, Lenoria. I like it. It's a shame Miss Clara is missing out."

"Don't worry about her, she's got Tizoc watching her back and I'm sure she's eating something tasty. I wonder how she's doing, though?"

***

Back at the keep, the former Blue Jays sat around a fire at the center of the bailey. Training was done for the day, and they rewarded themselves with a late-night cookout. They had pleaded with Clara to stay over for dinner, who happily obliged under the pretense that she was hungry when in reality she hoped to give Alistair and Lenoria some privacy.

It took a while to get the fire going, and even longer to cook the meat they set over the fire. The lingering aroma lasted for what felt like hours before the food was ready, and even Apus displayed signs of hunger despite never eating in front of his mistress.

"I thought you didn't eat meat, or at all for that matter," Clara said to him telepathically.

"We spirits don't eat at all, but we can still enjoy things if we could somehow get a hold of them." Apus landed next to the fire and tried to peck the meat that had been placed on it. As expected, however, his beak went right through it like a hand through a puddle of water and went back to Clara's shoulder. "See? It looks tasty, but I can't enjoy what you kids eat these days."

Once food was ready, Tizoc placed the first slab of marinated meat on Clara's wooden plate. She grabbed it with her bare hands and chomped down on it. What she didn't expect was a chewy surface and a solid center like stone, the impact felt through the roots of her teeth, her gums, and eventually all the way to her brain.

"It's...good, but it's hard and tough. What is it?"

"Roasted basilisk," a former Blue Jay answered ecstatically. "Some of the meat is calcified, so you have to be careful when you bite down."

Clara fought the urge to regurgitate what she had just swallowed, but the taste was enough to convince her to tough it out. She watched the rest of the Blue Jays remove the rock-hard center from their helpings by peeling the meat away from them and discarding the center to the ground. Not wanting to go through with that, she instead pointed at a drumstick on the fire.

"Tizoc, do you mind?"

"Not at all. Here." He grabbed the drumstick and placed it on Clara's plate. "When done right, cockatrice is just as good as chicken."

Taking a bite a moment too late, Clara chewed away as everyone around her merrily recounted the events of the day. The taste was far from bad, and the texture was just right. She took her seat to get comfortable, and once Tizoc was done serving the others, he took a portion of basilisk for himself and sat next to her.

"What have you been up to since you left our village," he asked.

"We went to the alps in Ulysses Crossing before moving to Helix City ten years after that. That's where I met Lenoria and Alistair."

"You've made friends who care about you. They have done far more for you than I ever could," he said with a sad smile.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Tizoc. The only reason that demon was beaten was because you managed to hold it in place." Clara took about out of her drumstick. "We owe you for helping us out."

"I guess things ended up working out after all." Setting his plate down, Tizoc took a deep breath. "Can I ask you for a favor? Please don't tell anyone else my village is inhabited by Lycans."

"We wouldn't know that if you hadn't said anything in the first place."

"I know, and it was impulsive. But I thought last night would have been my end. I know you can do right by me, but your paladin friend-"

"I can tell you right now you won't ever have to worry about that. Alistair is a good man, and if you explained the situation to him, he'll understand." Clara smiled. "So, you're a Lycan? And from the looks of it, you were born that way."

"Yes. Some of the villagers hold rats, bears, or boars as their totem animals, but the majority of us have the jaguar as our totem. As far as I can remember, things were always this way."

"Wereboars?"

Tizoc smiled amusedly, despite the incredulous tone in his voice. "Really? That's the one that stood out to you?"

"Sorry. I studied a little lycanthropy back at the Guild, and even now it still amazes me how there are 'were' versions of every animal. And you came from a village full of them. Why keep it secret?"

Tizoc went silent and gazed at the waning moon. He put a lot of thought into his next words, hoping Clara would understand. "When people don't understand something, they fear it. And just like any other feeling, fear at its extreme makes people do questionable things."

Clara nodded sadly but quickly patted Tizoc with a compassionate smile, deciding not to press the issue further. If there was anything he wanted to say, she believed he'll tell her eventually.

The two continued to talk between bites. The rest of the former Blue Jays were laughing the night away as they drank cheap ale and sang songs (some too crass for young audiences). Clara and Tizoc laughed at the sight, but both settled for observing from a distance as they continued to catch up.

"So," Tizoc said with a frown, "you're leaving tomorrow."

"Yeah. My friends say it's for the best. We had some free time on our hands, but we all agreed it was best to head for the border as soon as possible. I don't think this is the last time we'll hear from the Order of the Blue Jay, and maybe Miss Bisset can give us some information about them."

"You could always stay," Tizoc offered with a hopeful look in his eyes. "I'll see to it you have food and shelter, and the two of us could lead this new order once they grow strong enough. Please think about it."

Exotic food, a beautiful rainforest, and a humble populace. Clara admitted to herself she wouldn't mind staying longer, and with Tizoc by her side, at least she wouldn't feel lonely. The former Blue Jays were far from perfect, but the thought of tutoring them had its appeal. She could teach them more about the fauna of the Jaguar Lands, just like Instructor Gardens taught her.

However...

"I'm sorry, Tizoc." Clara rose from her seat and turned her back on Tizoc. "I know you mean well, and if I stayed, I know I will be protected not only by Tsukuyomi, but by you as well. You've been nothing but patient with me, and I wish I could have given you everything you wanted. But..."

Tizoc kept silent as Clara struggled to get the words out. He couldn't see her face, but her body language - closed fists, shaking, and facing the ground - said it all.

"I already made a promise to Lenoria. Things may be fine now, but she's going to need my help once we cross the mountain border. I don't want to leave her." She turned around, staring at Tizoc with a guilty look. "You caught me at a bad time, and-"

"Clara," the catfolk interrupted her, "there's no need to explain yourself. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It's enough that you are well, and as disheartening as it is, if leaving with your friends means you won't suffer, then I will set my feelings aside so they won't bar your path."

"Tizoc..."

"Besides," he said with a smile, "the only reason I can't join you now is because I have my own role to play here. But it's only temporary; once these men shape up and become proper defenders of the rainforest, I will come find you. And should your friend Lenoria need my help, all she needs to do is ask."

The invisible wall Clara had built around herself crumbled under the weight of Tizoc's words. Quiet tears dripped on the grass of the bailey as she timidly approached Tizoc, who pulled her into his welcoming arms. The young elf may have forgotten the time she spent with Tizoc during his childhood, but she was nevertheless proud that, thanks to her influence, he grew up to become a proper man. She was also proud that, thanks to her, Lenoria had gained another ally she could count on.