Little Moon Town

"Adma, it has been a long day," I huff as I step out of the dressing room. She'd taken me to the guardhouse so I could get some proper clothing and equipment. They had some clothing for female soldiers that I was able to fit into. A breezy white tunic and leggings.

You can't even tell it's women's clothing! I put the cloak that Larissa lent me on over it - it's still a little damp from being cleaned, but you wouldn't be able to tell it ever had blood on it! 

I received a sword from her - not a dinky one for trainees but a nice one made of glistening steel. The kind that would strike fear into an Encephalim's heart.

She also got me some boots, but they were made of dead animal and clunky. I opted to keep my shoes on - moon runners. I can get up to thirty miles an hour running in these. Why would I want some ugly leather boots?

 I know, I know. How did someone who can run that fast get caught by a lousy guard? Listen, I was afraid to jump...

"You look somewhat presentable, August Madera." she gives me a feeble but assuring smile. 

"I feel fantastic!" I say. All decked out in human gear, I bet I look just like one of them. Unless someone peeps my shoes, at least.

Or forces me to show them my wings in some sick display of barbarity. 

I know. You're curious about the wing thing. I'll think about it. Promise. After I find Kieran.

"Where do you think this accomplice of yours might be?" Adma asks. "We're already having the royal hunting grounds searched, thanks to your shenanigans."

Oh, she doesn't even know the half of it. I neglected to mention the corestone theft. 

"It depends. How far is the earth shrine from our location?"

"There is a shrine in town."

"Then we start there."

Adma nods. "It will be some time in the carriage to make it to town. Not enough, of course, but perhaps you could get a moment's reprieve. 

"Yeah. How long we talkin'?" I ask, before flashing her a big silly smile. Hey, I even get a smile out of her! My goofiness is melting her big lord commander heart. Aw.

"About an hour."

I suppose an hour of downtime is better than nothing. 

...

We make it to the carriage, and as we begin our journey down the road, I look out the window into the red fields. Every bit of open land here seems to be covered with those spiky red bushes. They look like they're pretty tough to walk through. Guess most people stick to the paths.

That should make it a little easier to find Kieran. If he ended up out here, he'd know to try to find a landmark of some sort. Maybe even find this road. 

But of course, we were supposed to teleport to the earth shrine. So hopefully, he's already there, wondering where I am. 

I wonder if Larissa made it out okay. She didn't exactly do me any favors, but she was a nice girl. And I think she thought I was cute, so it might be fun to tease her some more.

I look over to Adma as the carriage goes over a bump in the road and I'm almost launched into the roof. The downside of being small and light.

"So, uh," I say as I try to ignore that embarrassing moment. "What's all that about the Flamekeeper stuff? Is that...true?"

Adma glares at me for a second before her expression softens. "Have you not heard of the Flamekeeper, August Madera?"

I shake my head. Surely not. Have you, Sola?

Sola hesitates to answer. Hello?

"Let's hear what Adma has to say," Sola responds, quieter than normal. 

Adma looks out the window, almost as if to calm herself before she speaks. "The Flamekeeper leads a tribe of people who worship a dragon," she informs me. "And that Flamekeeper claims the dragon to be the will of the universe itself. A manifestation of a star."

"Wow," I reply. "That's...kind of cool. Is the dragon like, his Vessel or something?"

"No." Her tone is flat. Serious. "The Flamekeeper is the Vessel to a primordial fire that has burned since the beginning of time. And the Dragon's Vessel, we believe...is the Sun itself."

"Holy hell," I say, my eyes wide. "You've made quite the enemy."

"Not just us," Adma says sternly. "You as well. For it is known that the Flamekeeper's number one goal is to destroy the moon and every life upon it."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you serious? Is that even...possible?"

Adma shakes her head. "We don't know. An informant close to the Flamekeeper's tribe told us of this plot three months ago. The Flamekeeper can indeed burn anything he touches away to ash. Perhaps...even the moon."

The Flamekeeper's tribe worships this dragon. The dragon must be the one calling the shots. Sola, do you think the dragon is his Guide?

"If the dragon were a Guide, it wouldn't need a Vessel. However, they may be mistaken that the dragon is using the Sun as its Vessel. An urban legend, perhaps? It is certainly possible that the dragon is a Guide. Though, why a Guide would have an imperative to destroy the moon is beyond me..."

I don't know either. Also, thanks for the non-answers.

"If I knew something I thought you should know, I would most certainly tell you, August."

I turn back to Adma. "If that's what's happening on the moon right now, I don't think I'll be able to save everyone," I sigh. "But I don't think it to be the case. Before I came to the planet, I saw the Encephalim. They were attacking Little Moon Town, not some flame guy or some humans."

"Unfortunately, the idea that the Flamekeeper is working alongside the Encephalim is not off the table..."

On those haunting words, Adma encourages me to get some rest while I can, and the carriage skitters off toward the town and the earth shrine.