'No matter how many times you keep asking. I'm not answering. I won't tell you what that fox said. Just trust me that you can trust that damned sorry excuse for a High Priest.' Avalorne growled in my mind, 'Just do me a favor and monitor your friend. His energy levels are all over the place and it scares me.'
"Seth?" I asked.
'Who else would I be talking about?' Avalrone growled more, 'Ryan Allen is road kill, tastes like asphalt.' His presence faded and I shook my head.
Seth gave us a jumpscare. Auri repeated what her fox said and Seth doubled over in pain. His body started supernova-ing. It reminded me back when Quinton sacrificed himself. The same type of energy came off of Seth and I thought he was going to cause an Aetherial Explosion right here in the room. I nearly had a heart attack. Though the light dimmed quickly after it started, those fifteen seconds felt like an hour.
Whatever entity is possessing him, better take a hike. I don't like it one bit. What I didn't tell him was that his eyes were a bright pale gold instead of his golden eagle like eyes. His pupils also had that same star shape that is imprinted on the scrolls of Astoria. Something about that star plays a big significance in that lost nation. If a dragon from Astoria is housing in Seth, we have a big issue. It would also explain his abnormalities.
Auri summoned one wolf. They were big, but not as big as Avalorne. The wolf had chains around their neck and the chains draped along their sides and wrapped around their tail. They also had gauntlets of black and silver on their paws too. The wolf gave off a dusky aura that left the air around them bitter cold.
Ryan and Lucas got on the wolf's back and we cut the lights. It lunged forward and vanished. Auri summoned another one in its place. Seth and I got on and I shivered, it felt like life was being sucked out of me.
"Hang on tight." Auri said.
I felt the wolf move forward and they jolted. I saw darkness and then light as we resurfaced. Auri appeared next to us. We were a few yards away from the inn, covered by bushes and the shadows of the trees around us. I slid off the wolf and it looked at me in question. The wolf then crouched down and Seth hopped off. I gawked, these wolves are so considerate! The two wolves then melted back into the shadows.
Lucas was looking at his map, "Good news, straight shot to our destination. Bad news, lots and lots of Kaelos monsters."
"That's not a straight shot, Priest." Ry scowled.
"Heh…"
Seth was staring at the night sky, his eyes seemed vacant and lost. The night sky is very pretty here. Don't get me wrong, but why is he looking at it with such grief?
"Let's get moving. We'll camp soon. We just need to get away from this inn." Lucas said quickly.
We followed him. Auri was given a piggy-back ride from Ry, per his request. Seth walked behind me like usual. I glanced at him every-so-often. He seemed lost in thought. I wanted to talk to him, but he seemed defensive, just by his body language. I opened my system panel and began to type to him.
『 Want to talk? 』
Seth sucked in a breath quickly as it was sent to him. He sighed and walked up to me. HIs hands were in his coat pockets. Seth stayed quiet for a while.
"No, but I know you'll keep nagging me until I do talk." Seth said finally.
"Yes, you're right." I nodded.
"You care too much." He said flatly.
"Where is the hurt in that?"
"You seem to care about me more than your own nation."
"And what if I do?"
There was a long pause. I looked at him. He seemed conflicted and confused. His eyes were moving back and forth like he was skimming a book. Seth moistened his lips.
"Why? Your nation is more important than me." Seth sighed.
"Mmm… I won't answer that." I smiled, "But you are important Seth."
"To you.." He said quietly.
"And to others, and don't you dare say, 'yeah right.'" I caught him before he could mutter those words.
Seth closed his mouth and looked away. I smiled faintly. He's a big mystery to me. I'll probably never know why he's so closed off. It's been built up over time and situations. I just wished he would understand that he doesn't have to be closed off around me. I would never judge him.
____
Seth withdrew his blade out of a Kaelos boar and his sword turned back into his black ring on his left hand. He looked at Auri who was jumping up and down on the one Ry killed. Lucas wiped the sweat from his brow and flicked blood off of his sword.
"That was one random hoard." Lucas whistled.
"You sure we should still camp here?" I asked him and kicked aside the boar that I killed.
"I'll put a barrier up." He paused then slapped his forehead in distraught, "Wait… I can't. Ugh. I wish I still had my powers." Lucas cursed in Solarian.
Seth smiled gently and my heart throbbed. Auri yawned. It was really late.
"Whatever. The kid is tired. We'll camp here and do night shifts like last time." Ry sat down.
Seth's eyes widened quickly and then he narrowed them. He spun around and glanced from side to side startled.
"Seth?" I called out to him.
He continued to look around for a while before looking at me.
"You see something?" I said cautiously.
Seth glanced over his shoulder as he walked back, "No… sorry. Must have been my mind playing tricks on me." He sat down.
His recent behaviors still worry me, but I won't judge or press. Instead I smiled warmingly and sat down beside him.
"I'll take the first watch." Seth said while breaking a stick in half,
"I'll take the second." Lucas said.
"Your Highness?" Ry tipped his head.
"I guess I'll take third," I sat back on my hands.
"I'm last then." Ry scratched his head.
"Cool, sleep well everyone." I got up and Seth's hand flew up. He grabbed my wrist and I turned to look at him. His head was slightly down, "Seth?"
"Kinnarus is angry. I can hear her." Seth said ominously, "We have to hurry."
"What?" I blinked then shook my head, "I mean, y-you can hear Kinnarus?"
Seth let go of my wrist and looked up at me, "Hmm?" He looked confused, "What's wrong?"
I drew back. Something is really going on with my dear friend and I don't know what.