It had been three days and three nights, and the only sign of any improvement to Gienna’s health was her dropping fever. She seemed to still be very ill, giving terrible bouts of coughing and agonizing moans.

Erica as always sat in her usual spot next to Gienna by the bed. She had hardly slept last night due to her sick friend getting worse, so she helped her by periodically replacing a wet towel on her forehead and feeding her soup by the spoonful.

She still remembered the fun times she had had many years ago, even though back then to get past the Conditioned Cities were much more difficult, even with Mr Kenplar’s seal. They strolled the gardens in the south and had their mini adventures in the forest, pretending they were heroines fighting in the frontlines and defending the weak from the constant waves of enemies that barged towards them.

Now she realized that being a heroine was not always just fighting for someone, but sometimes to simply be at the side of their friend at a time of need. Her head jerked back a few times from how tired she was until she finally gave away to sleep, slinking her head forward on the bedside next to her friend. She snoozed tranquilly on Gienna’s lap in peace, until she felt a rub on the back of her head. Raising her head from her nap, she saw what was the source of interruption from her sleep.

“You still snore like a horn Eri.” A teasing tone remarked.

Eyes well up with tears and rejoice filled her spirit, she leapt and wrapped her arms around her friends neck. She hugged a bit too tightly, sending Gienna squirming painfully from her grip.

“Ow, ow, Eri.” Gienna pushed her away, but after a brief paused moment holding her arms, she pulled Erica back to hug her herself, “Oh, how I missed you Eri. I missed you so much, and I am happy you are here now.” She sobbed every word, in sincere joy from reuniting with Erica.

While she and Gienna wept in each others arms, Zilian and Blade walked into the room laughing. However, as soon they saw the girls in their sisterly embrace, they all fell eerily quiet until Gienna interrupted the silence.

“Who are your friends, Eri?” She inquired.

Erica smiled, happy to make the proper introductions, “Zilian and Blade,” She gestured to them correspondingly, “Gienna. Gienna, Zilian and Blade.”

“Huh, Blade, interesting name. Your parents named you that?” She asked.

He shook his head in response, “No, it is the name I go by.”

Erica could see from Blade’s face that he did not want to delve deeper, and it appeared that Gienna got the gist too. She decided to focus on who saved her.

“Zilian was the one who found the Moonlight flower, the catalyst to heal you.” Erica went on explaining what had happened when she collapsed, and the story Zilian had given her. All the while, Gienna listened intently.

Gienna seemed to have had been especially interested in hearing that he had learned the names to every last one of the deceased. When Erica had finished the story, she requested Zilian to step closer which he did as asked. Gienna then hugged him firmly, followed by a thankful kiss on the forehead.

A smile grew on them both, Gienna then asked him an odd question, “Why did you remember the names of all of those folks? You have not even known them as I did.”

He grinned awkwardly, as if Zilian had been expecting this inquiry, “I didn’t think it is right for them to die for nothing, someone needs to remember what they did and why.”

Erica thought that was just plain stupid and was certain Gienna would agree, but she was surprised to see that Gienna nodded in agreement.

“Good friends you have here Eri, take care of them as you have done with me.” She then gave both her and Zilian another firm hug. Blade pointedly stepped back, clearly wanting to avoid any emotional hugs with someone that was just another random person to him.

Erica however did not care, she was happy her friend is alive and healthy. She was going to cherish every moment with her from here on out.

~---~

Days went by and Gienna’s health was back up to its fullest and despite Erica’s prevention, she continued to work outside in the warm humidity. They had a sisterly and at moments a strong quarrel, but in the end they agreed to let her work as long she did not over exert herself and allowed the rest to assist her in any and everything she did. All Gienna wanted to do was finish burying the bodies, giving them a proper burial site no matter how insignificant it appeared to be.

Erica was working in the front yard near everyone else, finishing in nailing the last tomb with its name. That is when she heard a trot nearing the mansion. She looked at the front gate and saw that there was a hooded figure who rode towards them, he meant danger to her when she saw a longsword strapped on the horse’s side. She did not know who this newcomer was, so she called the alarm out to everyone.

“Someone’s coming! Follow me Gigi!” Erica and Gienna then ran inside the mansion as previously planned, hiding behind a fake tile wall under the massive stairway Gigi.

Zilian and Blade took the defense outside at the front, prepared to challenge the intruder also as previously planned. Just in a moments notice, Erica could hear the confrontation outside from inside.

An enraged tone came from the coming individual, “You swine’s! You foul stench abominations! I will gut you the most painful manor known, you will pay for you deeds!”

Zilian snapped back, “You will pay! You have no honor whatsoever!”

A gasp of recognition escaped from Gienna, Erica eyed her curiously. Does she know who he is? She thought to herself.

Gienna pushed the loose tile out and ran outside to the entrance, Erica could not stop her so she followed closely behind. The moment her friend stepped outside, she shouted, but not in fear. Her friend was shouting very excitedly and joyfully, and ran forwards to the man who a moment ago was standing his ground threateningly.

His eyes widened in recognition of the newcomer, and his angered expression quickly changed into a wide smile. “Gia!” He called to her.

He immediately dropped his sword, ignoring the two boys who initially confronted him. He clearly was no danger to them, all he wanted was to see Gienna. However, Erica did not remember in seeing him ever before, so she was at a loss here.

“Semet!” Gienna called his name.

They both embraced each other and tenderly kissed, leaving everyone else dumbfounded from the transition of events. Gienna stepped away from him, she curled her hair behind her ear to address them.

Gienna made the introductions, “Guys, this is Semet, my fiance. Semet, these are my friends, Erica, Zilian and Blade. They saved me.” She explained briefly.

He nodded in understanding. Firmly shaking Zilian’s and Blade’s hands, officially shrugging off their initial meet and kissing Erica’s hand.

He however had his attention back at Gienna, ignoring the rest of the group, “I am terribly sorry for not making it sooner. As soon as I have heard about Mountain forces breaking past the border and cutting off as many of the Conditioned Cities, I tried to make leave to come warn you all. However, I was too late and they had barricaded everyone off from getting in and out. I feared the worst for you and father. Speaking of which, where is father?” Apparently talking about Mr. Kenplar himself.

Tears welled up in Gienna’s eyes as she recalled her painful experience, however she wiped the tears off, “He didn’t make it.” She said plainly.

He shook his head sadly at hearing this, “He would have wanted you to live on anyways. We will remember everything he has done. We do need to leave right away however, there are more soldiers on their way over here and we don’t want to be around when that happens.”

Everyone understood the repercussions of that, and nodded in agreement. Gienna however did argue about one thing.

“What about my friends? We cannot all fit on two horses.” She remarked.

It was Zilian who spoke up, speaking reassuringly, “Best you go Gigi, take our horse too. We will be going on our own way now.”

Erica wanted to contend with Zilian, the last thing she wanted to do was separate herself from her friend. They had gone through a lot together and thought that it was fitting they would stick together. “Where do we have to go Zilian? Best thing to do is stick with Semet.” She countered.

He scratched the back of his head grinning, “Sorry, I meant to mention this earlier. I will be going with Blade, I have a purpose now and I wanted to do right to everyone that died here. What I mean is I will be going, and you go with Gienna and Semet.” He handed out a hand, offering a final farewell shake.

Erica stared at that hand, gears in her head winded to make a choice. Go with her old friend Gienna or stay with her brother-like friend? She reached her hand out hesitantly as she thought about it, as she was about to grasp his hand, she smacked it away.

This merited a shocked look on Zilian’s face as he clenched his hand from the sting, at the same while as Gienna and Semet chuckled from seeing her reaction.

“Ow, why you do that for?” He demanded.

She then pushed on him, which sent him stumbling back a bit and then barked at him, “You know how much I hate good byes! Did you think I would abandon my little brother? No, you are stuck with me whether you like it or not.” Even though she sounded a little harsh, she grinned amusingly.

Zilian also grinned back, “Well, honestly, I was worried you would have said yes. Oh, and technically I am big brother, while you are the little sis.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes comically.

After having a heartwarming laugh the two groups said their good byes and parted ways, “Bye! Take good care of yourself Eri!” Gienna’s farewell echoed through the forest as she and her fiance leave the trio by themselves as they stood at the entrance.

Erica wanted to know what they had planned. “So, what are going to do now?” Clearly Zilian had given something some thought without her input, she wanted to know if she would approve it or not.

Zilian stared out in the forest, “I think it is time I make a change in this war, and to do that I need training. Proper training. Blade suggested we meet a guy a week’s way on foot from here. And I think it is time I tell you something else, but while we are on the way.”

She eyed between him and Blade, the man giving her an assuring thumbs up which was anything but assuring to her. Giving it a brief thought, she smiled. A change in this war. Heroes and heroines. She thought to herself.

She agreed with him and her pent up excitement grew for an actual adventure, one that would mean something to her personally. “Well, it sounds as good of a plan as any. So what are we standing around and waiting for?”