Joan

Chapter L

I try to direct Kaos back the best I can, but it's hard to remember where I ran off; I have this bad tendency to space out and be unobservant as fuck when I'm running. Thankfully, we come across the struggling stream which means we're close. Before we can continue further, though, I get Kaos to stop and let me down.

"Just wait here," I yell up to him, already running along the stream. "I'll call for you when things are sorted out."

But before I can get the others, I have to find something. My eyes are laser-focused as I carefully scan the area, and like the sore thumb that it is, I spot what I'm looking for.

Still wedged in the middle of the small stream, my sword glints in the sunlight. As I pull it out, I study it, making sure it's exactly how I left it. It may have been welded by a novice blacksmith, it may have slain people in the past, it might boast of horrible past deeds, but it's a part me, just as much as the ring around my neck is, and most importantly, this is not the past anymore.

Sheathing it in my makeshift sheath, I then hurry back to the spot where I left the others. I don't know what I'll be walking into- scoldings, confusion, relief, interrogating- but I brace myself for anything.

Thankfully, it seems that no one is awake. Everyone's still laid out, unaware of my episode last night. But as I survey them again, I realize that someone is missing.

"Joan."

I'm not one to be spooked like a little kid, but I wasn't expecting her to be so close behind me without sensing her.

Whirling around, I see Nimu looking at me, a look of confusion and slight annoyance on her face.

"Thanks for nearly scaring the shit out of me," I tell her.

"Where have you been?" She asks, keeping her volume low as not to disturb the others. "I wake up and you're not here. I thought you went for a walk or something, but when some time passed I became worried."

"Look," I sigh, glancing away for a moment. "I'm sorry about that. I ran off last night-"

"Last night!?" Her eyes widen in shock. "You've been gone since we went to bed?"

"Yeah, and it was stupid, but I just had a lot going on."

The shock wears away and is replaced with a look of sympathy.

"Are you in the right frame of mind now?"

I'm actually kinda relieved she didn't try to delve into my psyche and try and understand what made me so overwhelmed- it's something I feel should be kept to myself.

"Yeah, I am."

"Good because you'll need to be in order to deal with Tymos."

"Don't worry, I'm ready for him," I pause, giving her a curious look. "Are you ready?"