JOURNEY: PART III

The man was shakily walking close to the girl as he was about to explode once again. Seeing the girl was not responding, he ended up exploding and was about to reach for the girl. "Are you out of your mind?"

But before he could do so, Lirius stopped him and stared at him. "Calm down."

"Calm down! Didn't you yourself say it would be dangerous? What happened to all mighty and angry Lirius? Why are you suddenly telling me to calm down! Have you lost your mind too? She'll die you idiot." He replied as he pushed aside the man's hand that had grabbed his.

Unlike other creatures that grow up to be what they are, a Kitsune is by far unique. The fact it that a Kitsune's true shape is a fox, but evolves into a Kitsune, which is a gigantic form of a fox, but the color depends on its rank as a beast.

The Demon Kitsune is the greatest of all Kitsune. It fur it pure silver-white, making it the rarest of them all, for there could only be one. It will have some shading of black at the end of its tail and paws. What makes it unique, is that there is a red mark all over the Kitsune's body, making it look like a tattoo.

Athena said nothing as she kept everyone waiting for her respond.

Lirius sat back down as he calmly looked at the girl and said, "Can you please think this through. If you wish for some creature to be with Fuji, I'll personally go. But a Kitsune..." He couldn't finish his words as his thoughts wondered at the idea of the girl dying because of the beast. Just that thought alone made his body become all weak.

"I have, and I know what decision I've made." She said calmly, as well as she looked at the man beside her who had turned so fragile and at any moment would break and lose all his will to go on.

Everyone was in shock at the girl's respond. They did not expect that after that long discussion the girl still had decided to go on.

"Very well." Lirius shortly answered.

Athena didn't say anything further as she got up and walked out of the room with Fuji. She had made her decision, and whether the two of them would accompany her or not. It was up to them.

"Lirius, say something? Are you seriously just letting her go? Aren't you the sensible one? Talk to her. Tell her that this is too risky." Serfred for once pleaded in front of the man. He looked as distressed as he worried for the girl. He was losing his mind as he didn't know what to do anymore.

"What would you like me to do? She had made her decision, and no matter what I'll say, she'll do what she thinks is best. You've also been with her the longest, you know once she made up her mind, nothing can stop her." Lirius responded as he got up from his seat and headed out as well.

"Where are you going?" Serfred asked as he was not done talking to him.

Lirius sighed as he realized he didn't even know what he was doing. "What else..." He replied shortly as he walked out of the room, not prepared to listen to any of the man's complain. As he walked out of the door, he was left clueless as to what to do or prepare. He didn't even know what made him decide to go as well. Surely what lies ahead for them is death. Even if he and the girl were somehow on par in power at the moment, still a Kitsune was twice as powerful as them, both not along after a Demon Kitsune.

"What am I doing?" He looked up the stairs as he wondered if the girl had returned to her room to finish her preparations.

Serfred, who was left all alone in the room, was filled with anger. None of the servants bothered him, as he too, walked out of the room and headed to the garden outside. He stumped his feet like a child having a tantrum and cried angrily. "That idiot!"

He was burning in, angry as he was kicking around the grass, his hand into a fist wanting to punch the man earlier. "Ah! That idiot, his supposed to be the smart one. He's supposed to stop her not be easy going and let her do as she wish. F*ck!"

As he continue to curse around and vent all his angry, he realize something which made his blood boil even worse. "Those b start, this is all their fault. Fck the Empire. I rather see it burn than see the girl..." He didn't dare say it, as he didn't want anything bad to happen to the girl at all. Even in words along, he would never dare say such things.

Without noticing at all, Serfred was taken aback when he heard a cough behind him. Stood a few step away from him was Greyford, who coughed to grab his attention. "You should calm down now, Fred. I'm sure, she has her hidden intention as well. My Lady, doesn't do anything risk for no particular reason."

"Still, why does she has too." Serfred looked defeated as if he had lost something so important to him.

"What can we do, the girl has a desire to change the world. If by capturing that beast is a part of it. Then, all we can do is hope for the best that nothing will happen to her." He replied, hoping his words would comfort the man.

"Greyford, if you could. Would you..." Serfred didn't even need to finish when he saw the look in the old man's eyes.

"She needed to ask, I would follow. It is thank to her that I am where I am now. My family is still with me as well. If I could be at service to her in any way, I would gladly do so. What she had done can never be compare to the risk she had taken for us all." Greyford's words were filled with gratitude as he explained his thoughts to the young man.

"To be honest, I wouldn't be where I am as well if it wasn't for her. I do not mind risking myself, for my life is hers. It's just, I fear..." Serfred sighs as he gathers his thoughts and takes a deep breath before continuing, "I fear that what happened before would happen again. I can't imagine a life without her."

"I'm sure we all can't. I'm sure all the servants at home right now are all wondering what they can do to prevent the girl from going. I'm sure Esme who had helped her earlier from packing, is now regretting helping the girl. Still, we couldn't do anything once she had made up her mind. All we can do it, watch her and support her. Unlike you and Master Lirius, all we can do is pray that she'll come back home."

Serfred sighs and did say anything further. He only looked up at the night sky and wondered when the sun would rise.

It wasn't even dusk when Athena got up. Emse, who hadn't slept at all, was wide awake, serving the girl with tears in her eyes. Athena didn't bother comforting her, for her words would mean nothing, as she knew what caused all those tears. When she stepped out of her room and walked around the house. All of the knights and servants were up and waiting for her.

Lance had redden eyes as well as he had cried the whole morning whilst preparing all the necessary food the girl would need during his journey. Those who helped him, had pale faces from all the crying as well.

No one dare say anything, nor pleaded for the girl to say. The fact she had made up their mind, all they could do was watch her go and wish her safe.

Seeing everyone was around apart from the two, Athena sighs regrettably. She could accept their decision no matter what. She would understand if they were afraid; she too was afraid, but she made her choices. She looked at Greyford, who forced a smile on his face as she said to him, "I'll live everything to you again."

"Don't worry about anything else and just focus on your journey." He replied with shaky hands as he held the girl's hand in worry.

"Fuji let's go." She glance back at the stair momentarily as she shook her head, pushing the thought aside. As she opened the door, the cold breeze welcomed her, causing her hair to be blown away. Just as she was about to clear the hair away from her face, she noticed a familiar figure standing all dressed, waiting for her outside.

"What took you so long?" Serfred complained whilst averting his gaze away from the girl.

Athena's eyes became all watery as she held back the tears that were about to fall. Seeing the two standing out there made her all emotional. She wiped her eyes, not allowing the tears to fall as she had hopped on Fuji's back.

"Let's go." Lirius said as he got on his horse as well.

"Everyone, will be going then." She happily said out loud with a big smile on her face.

"Take care, My Lady."

"Have a safe trip you three."

"Come home soon, My Lady."

"Will be going then." Serfred too, greeted everyone as he rode his house out of the estate.

Meanwhile, at the very same moment. Not long before they left, when a young man in his horse arrived as well. He was all dressed up. As soon as he was welcome, he notice the look on everyone's faces. It made him curious as to why they all had reddish eyes signifying they had been crying.

"What do you mean she left?" Noctis was surprised to hear the news and was lost for words.

"Yes, My Lady, along with the Master had just left not too long ago." Greyford explained.

"Did she tell you where they'll be heading?" He inquired immediately as he hopped to catch up to them.

"Forgive me, Sir, but I do not know. Even if I know, forgive me for being blunt Sir, but I won't even tell you." He explained as he dare not reveal the details of his master's journey, as he did not trust the man at all. Even if they were his master's relative’s friend, still ...

"I understand." Noctis replied all defeated and unhappy. She stepped out of the house and went back to his horse. As he looked at the horizon, he wondered. 'Athena, where did you go?'