"Here, have some." Feywa said, handing Nithara one of the fish she cooked before answering.
"She...has history involving moonstones. One that left a scar deep into her soul."
Nithara didn't flinch nor act surprised. She had a feeling that that was the case— for she, too, experience similar things.
"If you don't mind me asking." Nithara hesitated for a bit.
"Was she by any chance... an emperiment?"
"DON'T CALL HER THAT!" Feywa snapped.
It confirmed Nithara's intuition nonetheless. "Calm down, I'm sorry if it didn't reach you well. I just had to ask because I experienced something similar."
Feywa's anger began to subside. "What do you mean?"
"I wasn't exactly an experiment, but rather, they kept me as a specimen. Since I wielded Amethian magic, they wanted to know how and why it reappeared through me after disappearing hundreds of years ago."
Nithara fidgeted with the cooked fish on a stick she was holding.
"How about her?" She asked. Catching Feywa averting her gaze in hesitation to answer.
A long pause came after, so Nithara added, "I understand if it's a tough matter for you to share—"
"They implanted a moontone in her heart." Feywa finally answered.
"Ahh, a Crystalline Core Implantation. That explains it."
"Explain what?"
"Her reaction. She's traumatized, isn't she?"
"It's been a while since she had an attack like that." Sadness coated those words that came out of Feywa's mouth.
"She never wanted to have that ability. She may look like she loves the animals she creates. But deep down, she thinks that it's the main root of her horrible past." Sadness trailed off of her words.
"They treated her like a pig. But after they concluded that the experiment wasn't possible, they threw her out like trash."
"How did she survive? From what I know, no one survives that experiment."
"I don't really know exactly how, but the crystal within her heart played a major role in keeping her alive after that, and soon enough, she started developing Citrian abilities. When she saw those crystals, it triggered a bad memory from those horrible days of her life."
"Then you found her?" Nithara asked.
"..."
"I'll go check on her for a bit. You can finish the rest of the food." Feywa said as she made her way to the cavern. Nitara responded with a nod.
She failed to rest the whole night.
-+-+-+-+-
In the early morning, they set out to check the nearest town to gather more supplies to make up for the ones they had to leave on the train.
Nithara was visibly in no shape to stay awake. She looked like a walking dead person, stumbling and swaying with her eyes barely open.
Eruana saw this and asked, "Did you not rest well?"
Nithara was jolted awake by the question. She rubbed her eyes and answered, "No I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me."
She wanted to ask Eruana back, but feeling the heavy gaze of Feywa who was behind them, she decided not to.
In fact, she didn't have to. Just like what Feywa said, Eruana was all bright and giddy again, skipping and giggling about on their way to the town, her dress dancing along the wind.
Soon enough, they reached the town entrance. This town was neither too big nor too small, and on that day, a festival seemed to be in motion within the town.
"Find a place you can blend in and stay there. It'll be safer if I'm the only one who goes to the market. Hunters may be around, so please take care of Eruana for me." Feywa instructed in a serious tone.
"Wait, how are you gonna find us afterwards?" Nithara asked.
"Don't worry, I will find you" Feywa answered before heading to the market, but before she could go far, Nithara called out to her.
"Hey wait! Take this with you."
"Wait— where did you get this?!" Feywa was baffled by what Nithara had forced her hand to hold.
There laid a small rectangular card made with glass and had a golden rim—it looked like a see-through cash card.
The numbers that were supposed to display the amount it contained displayed a series of dash signs—indicating it was limitless.
"It's a long story." Nithara answered while scratching the back of her neck.
"Just take it, you'll be able to buy everything you need without any worries." She added.
Feywa wanted to argue further but ended up just taking it and giving Nithara the pouch containing the money she was gonna use in exchange.
Then, they went on separate ways.
Nithara looked around, looking for a place to stay, with Eruana in tow.
The streets were bustling with people, causing them to squeeze their way through.
Both tall and short building signs displayed synchronised patterns that consisted of the same bright colours of red, yellow, and white. Huge banners that had lion symbols were hung up on the streets, making it lively as countless stalls lined up on the sidewalks as people gathered in each one of them.
A few minutes later, they stumbled upon a stew shop that wasn't too crowded nor too empty.
"Perfect, we'll really blend in with those travellers inside, and the place is a bit hidden, so I doubt hunters are nearby."
The place was a little shabby, some chairs missing their legs, the ceiling cracked open with molds coming out of it, but the sweet aroma coming from the kitchen seemed to have bewitched them into ignoring all that.
A loud rumbling sound caused Nithara to look behind her. She was met with the sight of Eruana on the verge of drooling.
"Sit down, I'll get us something. The money in Feywa's pouch should be enough. I'll also get some for Feywa. I hope she comes and finds us soon, though. Her food is gonna end up cold if she comes late."
Nithara went to the counter, while Eruana picked a table for them.
"I'll take two of your best selling stew, please." Nithara said to the lady behind the counter.
"Nice choice, our mushroom-chicken stew is on the top of our chart this week since it's our 'stew special' for the Lion festival." The lady replied.
"Lion festival?" Nithara grew curious.
Despite the hassle of preparing Nithara's order, the lady still replied with enthusiasm.
"Our town has a week-long festival dedicated to the lions that once guarded this town in its early days."
"Oh is that so? What's so special about them?" Nithara asked.
The lady placed the two bowls of stew in front of Nithara, then propped her chin on her hand before replying.
"Those were not ordinary lions. They were lions summoned by a Citrian who once lived here.." Nithara was taken aback.
"They guarded the Arcanians that lived in this town and kept hunters from entering." She paused, then let out a sorrowful sigh.
"Sadly, as scientific weapons progressed, this town was conquered by hunters. All Arcanians were purged, and all that is left is this festival to honour the times they were here."
An internal void formed inside Nithara's heart.
She politely took the bowls of stew and came back to where Eruana was sitting. Eruana was quick to dig in, stuffing her mouth one spoon after another.
"Slow down, you might choke on it, HAHAHAHA." Nithara took her first sip, and she too began to stuff her mouth one spoon after another.
With the blink of an eye, their table was filled with six empty bowls while they slumped on their chairs, with stomachs filled to the brim.
By that time, the travelers that dined two tables away from them had already left.
"I wonder when Feywa's coming? I wonder if she got lost looking for us." Nithara asked.
"She usually never takes this long, but don't worry, she'll find us soon enough." Eruana reassured her.
"Anyways, I saw you talking with that lady earlier. What was it about?" She asked, pointing at the lady behind the counter.
"The town's celebrating as tribute to the protectors of this town."
"Oh is that so? No wonder the streets were so full and colourful."
In the middle of their conversation, the bell to the stew shop's door rang, indicating someone had gone in.
The two being on the table nearest to the door were the first to meet the young lady clad in servant uniform carrying an empty basket.
She had a soft smile on her lips as she greeted the shop owner.
"Good day, Ms. Marion, and happy Lions Week!"
She made her way to the back of the shop and came out minutes later, her basket now full of all kinds of vegetables.
She bid the shop owner goodbye and made her way to the door.
That's when she locked eyes with Eruana and Nithara.
When she laid eyes on Eruana, her expression went grim. She staggered backwards and dropped the basket she was carrying, causing the vegetables to scatter on the floor.