[MGM]: 84 - Planning

Under the dim moonlight filtering through the window, I found myself sitting opposite Cassia as she scribbled in her notebook. Her handwriting was neat, almost artistic in nature. I found her focused expression particularly charming. There was no denying she had the most exquisite facial features among my summons—and not the least of it was related to her hefty bosom.

"Oh my," Cassia trilled, resting her elbow on the desk to support her chin. "The way you gaze so intensely, people might mistakenly believe that you've fallen in love."

"People can be right sometimes," I said, smiling.

"Oh? Are you suggesting the possibility of you having fallen for me?"

"I'm merely pointing out that assumptions can lead to false biases."

The Foxkin silently stared at me, her lips curling just slightly in a mock smile.

"Enough of the games," I said, leaning back. "I asked you a question—answer me."

Cassia was the most forthcoming of my summons, even more so than Pyra had been. There was something about her that felt both true and false. She certainly didn’t feel any affection for me—not the way others had developed it. Instead, there was a barrier between us, keeping me from seeing her true self.

After Pyra had stated her required ingredient, Amara and Tania had seemingly accepted that there was nothing that could be done to save the Baron. Apparently, Spirit Sunflower was something of a special existence—a cross between a Spirit and a plant. In that way, they were similar to Pyra, who was a half-elemental.

Their formation required a deep concentration of nature energy that also had to double as a burial spot. The dead would birth a nascent spirit that would eventually grow into a Spirit Flower.

While rare, they could be acquired if sufficient funds were put in place. Indeed, scarcity became a problem when a specific species was in question—like a certain Spirit Flower called the Spirit Sunflower.

I admit I lacked thorough knowledge regarding the Continent, but Cassia had taken to reading extensively—a prospect I found frustratingly tedious and boring—and ought to have a decidedly more extensive knowledge base than the rest of us. I had heard from Luna that the Foxkin had barely, if ever, left the confines of the leather-bound walls, burying herself under an ocean of knowledge.

"Pyra is right in assuming that it’s a difficult thing to find," Cassia said. "A Spirit Sunflower, even in the right conditions, has a low chance of blooming. Almost nowhere on the Continent provides the exact circumstances where one might be found."

"So, it's a hopeless endeavor?" I asked, sighing.

"I didn’t say it was impossible. I said no natural spots exist to facilitate the conditions for birthing one."

"Stop trying to beat around the bush and just answer plainly—can we find it or not?"

"My, you’re an impatient one too, aren’t you?" Cassia gave a foxlike smile, her eyes narrowing in amusement.

"Cassia..." I drawled, blinking. I was growing tired of the games, and despite knowing that, she continued to act mischievous.

"Fine," she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Red Forest. There’s your answer."

"Wait, why Red Forest?" I asked, frowning.

"Elves," she answered, as if that single word explained everything. When I didn’t respond, she seemed to realize that I lacked the obvious context and decided to elaborate. "I’ve been reading up on the geography and culture of the Continent, and Elves fit the bill."

"Explain," I said.

"Elves are known to bury their dead beneath the trees, but over the years the land itself has transformed into a cemetery. Their natural affinity for nature already makes them viable hosts for anything Spirit-related. Add in the cemetery..."

"It stops being a statistical probability and becomes a logical certainty," I finished, suddenly comprehending her meaning.

"See," Cassia said, "you can make good use of that brain if you decide to focus on more than just learning how to punch things."

I smiled, but chose not to answer.

That night we gathered in the meeting room—as we had chosen to dub it—which included me, Amara, Tania, Pyra, Luna, and Cassia.

"Let me get this straight," Luna said. I offered a nod. "You want to travel to the Red Forest, where the Elves—who supposedly hate humans—live, and demand from them a Spirit Sunflower?"

"Basically, yes." I nodded.

"I think you forgot to mention the part where they try to kill you or chase you out of their home," the Wolfkin added.

"She's right," Amara voiced, just as I was about to reply. "We can't expect them to show us any hospitality. If anything, we are likely to be hunted rather than given the opportunity to speak."

"If only there was an Elf among us," Pyra commented wistfully.

My summoning slots were full, so unless I ranked up, I was unlikely to make another summon. And the chances of that summon being an Elf were marginally lower than what might otherwise be suggested.

"But we have to go there," I said, tone rigid. "We can't let the Baron die."

"Why not?" Cassia questioned.

"Because I don't want to," I replied, sighing. I leaned against the wall and looked up. "We can't keep running forever. I know you people aren't strong enough to face off against the truly strong hunters, but if we keep running away, we will never be able to contend with them. I don't want that for us."

No one replied to my words, and for a moment, silence reigned in the room—until Pyra spoke.

"You sure that's not the Dragon in you speaking?" she asked, raising a brow.

I frowned. "What?" I asked. "I'm not like that anymore."

"I think she means the pride," Cassia offered.

I looked between her and the Ifrit and grumbled under my breath. I mean, sure, there might be some influence there, but I wasn’t fool enough to follow my base instincts. I just couldn't bear to let someone else’s actions be the deciding factor in our course of action. It felt less like freedom and more like paranoia.

"Alright," Luna said. "Hypothetically, let’s say we agree to go. What exactly will our plan be?"

"Simple," I replied. "Since we want something from them, we just have to offer something of equal value in exchange."

"And you think they would settle for something of equal value?" Pyra asked.

"We can ask," I said. "I mean, negotiation is still on the table."

The group exchanged glances between themselves, as if engaged in some silent communication. Despite Amara and Cassia’s apparent animosity, they somehow managed to stare at each other without baring their teeth. I was happy on one hand, but slightly less happy to be reminded of their dependency on me.

"Very well," Amara said finally. "We agree."

"Perfect," I said, standing straight as I clapped my hands. "Now we decide who stays and who goes."

I could tell you about the discussion that followed, but honestly, it was nothing more than arguments piled on top of arguments, as we decided who should accompany us and why.

I told Amara that I needed her to stay. Though she insisted that it would be impossible—considering how we had never separated before—I managed, after a lot of nagging, to turn her around. Tania and Pyra were considerably easier to manage.

Everything worked out fine until that moment—when I announced that Cassia and Luna would accompany me—and all hell broke loose. Indeed, Amara hadn’t forgotten the slight of that night and found the Foxkin just as irritable as salt on an abrasion.

It took serious effort from myself, Tania, and Pyra to talk her down, until she was only grumbling about the fox having put a spell on me.

The reason I hoped Amara would stay, though, was because she had proved herself a capable leader. And Arianna, despite her training, would need someone with experience and strength to support her. Pyra was paramount in keeping the Baron breathing while we worked to find him a cure. Tania, I wanted to stay because she would need to completely change the Rune powering the barriers.

Once the decision was made, we all retired to our rooms. Tomorrow we would depart from here to the Capital City, and then to the Red Mountains from there.

It would prove to be an enlightening journey.