After that encounter with the inspector, Hikari was back in the RazenHeir camp.
She stood in the wind meditating. Her blossoms appear over the wooden palisade.
She could sense the marching of the slayer columns towards the wyvern peaks for the conclusion of the raid.
Her support troops were packing up. The fire forge was snuffed. The wyvern skin tanners fold up their racks as do the weavers.
She was in a fresh set of clothes, big enough for her new size. A cotton shirt and a skirt that made it easier for her weavers to keep up with her size out in the field.
Shoes were a problem though. There wasn't enough boot sole material so she wore them like sandals, her long toes uncomfortably sticking out over the soles.
The wyvern attacks on the supply convoys had petered out.
She was finally able to get a square meal like she did back at the estate. Though that portion now felt a little unsatisfying.
Ria walked through the gate.
"I just spoke with the royal inspector. My, you're quite the trouble maker. Siphoning the mana veins. Did the baby fawn general Rey put you up to this? Don't answer that. You'll get him in trouble."
"I apologize"
"Don't worry. Good thing you didn't bring anything back from the man veins. They can't prove anything based on your mana levels since it has always been ridiculously high. So, I guess we're in the clear."
Ria slowly walks up to Hikari. She raises her hand, placing it on Hikari's calf. Running her fingers down the skin.
"Looks like you had a great time out here. I remember that I just about reach your knee caps if I jump. I really have my work cut out for me finding new shoes for you when we get back to the estate."
"Ria"
"I know. I see that my knight isn't completely socially unaware."
Ria walked back in front of her.
"Well. It's a done deal now. We get 80 percent of the excess spoils after covering losses and expenses. Well, thanks to you, the baby fawn general didn't suffer very many casualties, so we're taking home a fairly decent bounty."
"Home?"
"Well, not quite yet. The feast is in a week. Our contract states we have to guard the route until the raid fully concludes with hopefully the death of the wyvern queen."
"You think so?"
"Well only one out of every ten raids actually succeed. You might have to go back into the caves to drag the baby fawn general out. He's an important contact to develop business relations in Herdial now."
"Hi…Ka….Riii…!"
A large body catapulted itself over the wooden palisade, hugging the side of the tower of muscle that is Hikari, before sliding onto the ground.
"Sheela"
"Hey, looks like the raid is done. C'mon how bout another duel eh? I gotta get some payback for the humiliation. I know ya have some time to kill."
"Um.. miss hearthstone, the raid is still ongoing. Asking Hikari for a duel might jeopardize the operation. Especially when your brother is still at the front."
"Oh, you have a point. Where's my brother?"
"He barricaded himself in the mine shaft."
"See! He can take care of himself. Let's go Hikari! Hey, you seemed to have gotten bigger since I last saw you. Whatever, let's do this!"
"Sure"
They stood in the sand clearing again.
"Master Sheela"
"It's been a few days, my good student. I'm so bored without you. Now, lemme check on your condition."
Sheela knelt down in front of Hikari and placed her hands on the hearthstone sigils on her feet.
Hikari closed her eyes as she followed Sheela's mana movements.
"Holy Herda's blossoms. You gotten much bigger. What did you eat the few days you were in the mountains?"
"There were some strong creatures."
"He. Not bad, my student. Hmm… it's not good to teach you anything new now since your body needs to stabilize after a growth spurt. How about a run then?"
"A run?"
"Yep! Here's the catch. We run in the sand. The uneven ground makes it excellent training. Circulate your mana as you run. And don't worry, there's energy potions in my tent in case you need to go out.
"What's the route?"
"See that fortress in the distance? We run just outside of their cannon range and back."
"Ok."
"Ready when you are. And don't cheat by hardening the ground or there's no point."
Hikari nods.
Sheela stretched herself, and began running at a surprisingly slow pace.
Hikari paused as she stopped to observe Sheela's strange movements.
Then, she started running like she always does.
The force of her foot pushed a dent into the sand. She lost her balance.
Then, she observed Sheela's small steps.
She copied.
Shuffling her feet in a slow jogging motion, so was at least able to move.
Even so, her foot made such a deep imprint in the sand that made it difficult to move.
"He. You're starting to get it. That was quick. As expected from a student of mine!"
Hikari plowed through the sand behind Sheela towards the fortress in the distance.
If she glided through the air like how she usually travels, she would have reached the fortress by now.
But she didn't complain. She actually enjoys training. Whether it's with Sheela or Ria.
Her barefoot touched solid ground, allowing her to pick up the pace.
The ground ahead of her was sparsely populated with trees.
A myriad of wildlife emerged from the grass, scurrying away as two giants terrorized their territory by their jogging.
In the distance, a strip of farm along the river, bustling with activity.
On solid land, Hikari quickly dashed past Sheela, reaching a Guard tower.
"Halt!" The Guard aimed his musket at her."
As Hikari came to a stop in front of him, his nose bled.
"Apoogizes."
"Umm… you are approaching… fort… tits… I mean fort…"
Both his musket and side arm were shaking as he struggled to piece together a sentence.
"Hey! He's with me! I'll be back now."
Sheela caught up. Showing the Guard her hearthstone badge.
The guard's nose bled harder, muttering incoherently.
"Let's go back now. Gotta keep that blood pumping."
They turned around.
Hikari had gotten a much better grasp of her body.
Her movements had gotten more fluid allowing her to run at faster speeds.
Sheela reached the starting line and found Hikari already meditating.
"Man! What really happened to you in there? Did Herda show up and let you drink from her blossoms?"
Sheela rested her hands on her knees panting.
"I ate some fruit I found there I guess."
"Well, I wish I could do that. Haha! I suppose there's no need to question why a student of the great master Sheela got so strong! It's natural isn't it?"
"Yes master Sheela."
"So how do ya feel?"
"Good. Really good.
"Ye. I can tell. Your mana levels are through the roof right now."
Sheela's stomach growled. Followed by Hikari's.
It was evening.
Two cauldrons worth of stew.
Ria stared at Hikari's steeled abdominal muscles glimmered in the golden evening light as the viscous mixture disappeared down her throat.
"Still, hungry? Hikari?"
"Yes."
Ria rolled her eyes, ashamed of herself.
"The supplies won't last at this rate. I'll implore my father for more."
"Apologies. I'll stick with one cauldron."
"Oh, don't worry too much about that. If you need two cauldrons, just eat. What matters is maintaining you at top condition."
Hikari scraped the cauldron with her dagger.
Sheela finished her cauldron.
"Yep, food is a big problem right now. There're constant riots everywhere. Including outside the hearthstone estate."
"Those farms we saw?"
"That's not enough. There's gonna be a civil war over there once the harvest comes." Sheela scraps the cauldron with her fingers.
Hikari licked her dagger.
"But there's good news. The re-cultivation of the Carla province is underway. The territorial army is reoccupying the place. Apparently, demons are still emerging from the Carla ruins."
Burp! Sheela let out a loud burp and fell asleep in front of her cauldron.
Ria turned her eyes to meet Hikari's.
"Could we…?"
Hikari darted her eyes to Sheela briefly, giving an awkward smile.
"Oh, could I just sleep in your tent then."
Hikari wrapped her fingers under Ria's armpit, lifting her by the shoulders into her tent. Allowing her to rest between her blossoms and under her loose tops.