As the boy left, Eckhart heard a loud rumble.
"Shit! Did Wasp rig something to explode?" He covered his ears, then uncovered them as he he saw Taiga's horse galloping towards them, a blue haired woman on it's back.
"Ugh, I'm never going to get over that."The conversation between Taiga and the new girl was incredibly brief. Soon both had left, Taiga wishing him well before riding off. "Thank you!" Eckhart called after her. "For everything!"
"Crazy broad." Belladonna meowed condescendingly. "You reckon she was making up the reincarnation thing?"
"I... I have no idea. She could have been." Eckhart admitted. The healer looked around, taking in his surroundings. People had begun to gather around the inn that had been blown up, calling out for survivors. "Bella?" he asked. "What the fuck happened?"
The cat sighed. "From the looks of it, one of your sister's rivals put out a hit on you. Not Kaida." she added quickly. "The dragon had nothing to do with it."
Eckhart's eyes widened. "B-but... doesn't that mean that-"
"Eckhart, calm down." Belladonna said sharply. "We made it through the day, that's all that matters."
Eckhart shook his head. "No. It- it wouldn't end with one failed attempt. Somebody else will try to kill me- somebody who isn't a lunatic like...
Wasp." The fear in Eckhart's voice as he said the assassin's name was audible. "This is just the beginning."
"That may be so." Belladonna agreed. "But let's not get freaked out just because of what the future might bring." She flicked her tail. "We could get hit by a freak storm tomorrow and die
that way- no assassins involved." Upon seeing Eckhart's face grow even more worried, Belladonna changed the subject entirely. "Hey, look! Your knife wound healed!"
"What?' Eckhart reached for his back. Little more than a scab remained where an open wound should have been. "Did... did I heal it without even realizing?"
"You must have." The cat purred. "I'm impressed, I can't imagine you doing that back when we first met."
Eckhart laughed excitedly. "Hahaha! Oh Ansgar, that's awesome!" The boy's face paled. "But... my jacket..." He looked at the bloodstained fur coat, trying to see if there was a way he could fix it. His heart sank- it was damaged beyond repair. "The side is all shredded..."
Belladonna groaned. "Don't get sentimental on me, Tuna Fish. That thing was awful and you know it." She sat down, tail curling around her legs. "You finally have an excuse to buy a new one!"
"Yeah..." Eckhart said softly. "I guess..."
The healer and his familiar spent that night in town, feeling they had enough travel for one day. They would leave for Maestoso in the morning- and this time, they took a carriage.
~fin~