An Imperial Request

-Midi, early afternoon-

After being permitted through the border gates of Midi and traveling a considerable distance on foot, Leona set foot into a city that was like a larger version of Shirotsume. The architecture appeared to be the same, only on a much grander scale than Shirotsume. Just because it was built on a larger scale did not mean that it was less impressive or less beautiful than that in Shirotsume.

The streets were neat and clean and full of both residents of Midi and countless tourists wearing a wide variety of clothing. Leona spotted tourists from Fiore, Bellum, Minstrel, Iceberg, and even a few from Desierto. She knew this because the people in question were clustered in tour groups and wore blue lanyards around their neck with the name of their home region written on the tag at the end. Leona carefully walked past the tour groups and followed signs that pointed the way to the palace.

Wearing her green-and-gold outfit with Argent Gloves and Adaptable Armor, Leona carried her Nightshade Machete on her back and her Silver Longsword on her left hip. On her back was her ever-present backpack of supplies. In her left hand was a scroll that was an invitation from the Emperor of Midi.

She would have stood out from the crowd based on her outfit and weapons alone, but her Wizard Saint status had preceded her yet again. Leona heard the whispering of surprised tourists and natives who did not expect to see a Wizard Saint in Midi. Some of them pointed at her and a few teenage tourists even snapped pictures of her with old-fashioned cameras or iLacs of various colors. She went with it because she was in a high-visibility position and certain things were expected of her. Some of those things included being a public figure who did not mind having their picture taken.

She saw the teenagers who had taken pictures typing away on their iLacs to add a caption to the picture. She wondered what they would say about her. She was not sure, but that did not matter because the blonde was here on a mission. She was to gain an audience with the Emperor and hear a request that he had for her. That request was not written in the scroll because it was a matter the Emperor wished to speak to her in person about.

-One hour later, outside the Imperial Palace-

After an hour of winding through the city and doing her best to minimize the disruption of tourism that was the backbone of the city's economy, Leona finally arrived outside the Imperial Palace. It was a walled structure that was situated on a plateau that overlooked the city. It was built for war but was nevertheless as elegantly designed as the rest of the city. One of its most prominent features was how each red roof was made in the "pagoda" style.

Leona walked up the path leading to the gates of the palace and was met by four armed guards dressed in red samurai armor and carrying polearms with a long curved blade on the end of the pole. She believed that such a weapon was called the naginata. In addition to a naginata, each guard also carried a katana secured to their side. She stopped in place and did not make any sudden moves.

"You are the Wizard Saint from Desierto known as Leona Jarnefeldt?" One of the men asked.

"Yes. I have a scroll from the emperor." Leona answered. She held the scroll out and let the guard take it. He opened the scroll and held it out in front of him as he read it.

"I see. You are to be brought into His Majesty's presence at once. First we require that you surrender your weapons to us." He said to her. Leona wordlessly took off her backpack, then took her machete in its sheath and handed it over. She then detached the scabbard of the Silver Longsword and relinquished that weapon as well. Finally she leaned down and removed the knife from her left boot and gave it to another guard.

Another guard took her backpack, leaving Leona with only her armor. She felt oddly exposed without a weapon handy. If it meant avoiding an international incident, Leona would grin and bear it just like she had done in Desierto when she started to work for the sultan.

"This way." The leader of the guards, a man wearing a helmet with a gold band above the forehead, instructed her. Leona followed the men through the gates and past an avenue lined with cherry blossom trees. The avenue reminded her of the approach to Mister Burke's home in Shirotsume, which was similarly lined with cherry blossom trees. Soon she was escorted inside the palace.

-Inside the Imperial Palace-

Leona brushed her feet off on a black mat just inside the hallway of the palace, then walked on a red carpet with a golden border. She was escorted by the guards down a hallway decorated by tapestries hanging from the wall that featured a golden dragon coiled protectively around a miniature version of the city. There were also ink paintings of a guard standing in a watchtower and ink paintings of the emperor distributing wealth in the form of gold coins to his loyal followers. She doubted that the monarch actually handed out gold coins to his subjects, but the intent was understood; the emperor rewarded those who were loyal to him.

Leona walked past court officials and courtiers who wore long, flowing robes and elaborately decorated kimonos that featured either floral motifs, simple patterns, or wore clothing that was not decorated. She did not stray from the path and walked with the guards until she reached a set of golden double doors with a golden eastern dragon set above the doorway. The two guards flanking the door walked briskly to the doors and opened them for Leona to enter.

"The emperor himself is expecting you. It would not be wise to keep him waiting." Leona was advised by the leader of the guards who had escorted her this far. Leona turned to him and nodded, then entered the large throne room.

[Word Count: 1,050]
[Total Word Count: 1,050/12,500]

-In the throne room-

Flanked by armed guards lining the path to the emperor and watched by rows of officials and courtiers standing behind the guards, Leona walked down the red carpet with a golden dragon border and towards the throne, which was made out of expensive wood and lined with red velvet. She was careful not to move too quickly lest it be mistaken for an assassination attempt on the monarch, but the guards need not have worried because Leona had no intention of making an attempt on the man's life. The emperor was a thirtysomething-year-old man with short black hair and only average build dressed in flowing white robes with a golden dragon motif, but his magical strength was equal to Leona's own. She doubted that any attempt short of one made by the Mythal guy from the Rune Knights or Samira Nassar would succeed without the attackers having the weight of numbers on their side.

Leona approached the throne in the presence of a middle-aged man with short black hair who wore long, flowing black robes with a golden dragon motif. He greeted her with a forty-five degree bow at the waist, which Leona returned after he stood upright again. He then turned to address the emperor and a younger woman the blonde assumed to be the empress or a princess of the royal family. She had waist-length black hair and wore white robes with a golden chrysanthemum pattern.

"Your Majesties, I present to you the Wizard Saint of Courage, Leona Jarnefeldt!" The man presented her to the emperor and empress of Midi. He bowed at the waist and Leona followed suit. When he stood up, she stood up. He took a knee and Leona took a knee as well.

"You may rise, Yosuke." The emperor spoke in a tone of authority. The black-robed official rose to his feet.

"You may rise, Leona Jarnefeldt." He said to her. Leona rose to her feet.

"I have called you here because I have a request." The emperor said to her. Leona was interested in what this request was. Was she going to have to clear a bandit-infested part of the kingdom?

"What would you ask of me, Your Majesty?" Leona asked him politely.

"I request that you travel to a shrine in a city in the western half of my kingdom and make an offering on my behalf." He replied. Leona was puzzled. Why would he need her to make an offering?

"Ordinarily I would make the pilgrimage myself, but this year I am unable to for reasons I wish to keep private. I ask that you do this on my behalf." He said to her. Leona thought it over for a moment. While she was trying to make her decision the eyes of everyone in the throne room bored holes into her. After a few moments of silence, Leona had made her decision.

"I will make the offering on your behalf, Your Majesty." Leona gave her answer. The emperor appeared pleased with the decision. He clapped his hands and had a small black lacquer box brought out to her by a young female servant who emerged from the crowd to her left. The box was handed to her and the small silver latch holding it closed was opened to reveal a small golden dragon curled on itself to form a circle. After a few seconds the latch was closed by the servant and she walked away.

"The city you are traveling to is the former capital of my kingdom. You are presenting the offering as part of an ancient pact my ancestors made with the guardian spirits of the kingdom. As long as the reigning emperor makes an annual offering to the spirits, the kingdom will prosper." The emperor explained to her the significance of her undertaking. Leona suddenly understood the significance of the object she had been given, but she was still not understanding why he could not go himself. He had expressly stated that the reason he did not go in person was to be kept private, so she did not question it.

"But be warned, Miss Jarnefeldt. The path will be a perilous one because a clan of bandits has taken refuge in the wilderness close to the path you must take. They will no doubt try to steal the treasure and kill you." He warned her. Leona was not terribly surprised by that information because bandits preyed on religious pilgrims in Desierto. They too tended to set up camps next to pilgrimage routes and wait for caravans of pilgrims to pass by before making an attack.

"To ensure your safety and that of the offering, I am sending with you one of my best warriors. He knows the way and will keep you safe." The emperor said to her. A muscular middle-aged man wearing half of an armored sleeve that went to a suit of armor, black pants with a dragon motif, and sandals sauntered out from the crowd to the right. On his left hip was a katana.

"This man is a veteran of over two hundred battles, Toshiro. He is one of my best warriors and has the potential to one day become the best. He will be of great help to you on your journey." The emperor informed her. Toshiro sauntered to her side and bowed to the emperor. He then bowed to Leona.

"I have heard much about the Wizard Saints and their power. I hope to see what you are capable of." Toshiro said to her. Leona noticed that he had what looked to be a bullet hole below his right shoulder. His magic signature was a level below her own, but he was in excellent physical shape and had fought in over two hundred battles. Leona might have a tough time against him if they ever fought.

"The road to the shrine is too dangerous to travel at night due to bandit activity. Therefore, I request that you set out first thing tomorrow morning." The emperor requested.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I will set out for the shrine first thing in the morning." Leona replied. She was not going to argue with her client because he had a very good point. She waited to be dismissed so that she could prepare for the trip tomorrow.

"You may leave. May the dragon guide your journey." The emperor said to Leona and Toshiro. Both of them bowed to the emperor, turned, and left the throne room to prepare for tomorrow.

Toshiro:

[Word Count: 1,100]
[Total Word Count: 2,150/12,500]

-Morning, on the road to the shrine-

Wearing her green-and-gold outfit with both pieces of armor, her weapons, and her backpack, Leona traveled in the company of the more lightly equipped Toshiro, who sauntered along the trail with the confidence of an experienced warrior. It was often said that the more one knew, the less one needed to carry. Leona knew quite a bit... about the desert. Outside of that environment she had a little more trouble in procuring essential items, but she could remedy that problem one day. For now she would be content with her backpack of supplies.

The pair had left the Imperial Palace exactly at sunrise at Toshiro's insistence. He defended his choice by arguing that most bandits would be too busy sleeping off drinks consumed during the previous evening to pose a threat to them. Leona could not really argue with that kind of logic, so she went along with it because getting the offering to the shrine was imperative. She did not know what kind of timetable she had to adhere to, but she was not going to stand around and twiddle her thumbs. The Wizard Saint would get the offering to the shrine as quickly as she could.

The pair were walking along a well-traveled path in the plains of Midi. They were walking by cultivated fields of rice being tended by farmers who must have gotten up at the same time as the Wizard Saint and the warrior. It was a calm morning that was a little cold because the sun had not yet taken over the sky, but Leona could live with that because the heat would be here soon enough. Leona was used to intense heat and still had a bit of difficulty adapting to cold weather even though she had been part of Silver Wolf for several months now. Toshiro did not even comment on the weather as he continued to walk down the trail.

Toshiro was not much for conversation, which was fine with Leona because the blonde was not much of a conversationalist either. She had no idea what to talk about with the tall, dark-haired warrior. He probably did not want to talk about his exploits in the service of the emperor and Leona was not eager to discuss the tale of her latest adventure in Desierto, which had the tragic consequence of 73 of Nebdoui's villagers being burned to death by slavers who would rather kill their captives than have them be rescued by their old enemy. She was still trying to get over that unpleasant experience and was not eager to talk about it to anyone.

The travelers passed by a farmer driving a horse-drawn wagon loaded with produce intended for the markets of the imperial city. They also passed by a running group of children in rural clothing playing tag. The little girl being chased darted between Leona and Toshiro, making the pair separate to avoid being bowled over by the four little boys chasing her. Once the children had ran past them and disappeared into a field the pair resumed their journey to the shrine.

Leona carried the box in her hands and thought about how much the golden dragon within cost to make. Gold did not exactly grow on trees and the level of craftsmanship needed to make the dragon was not easy to come by either. It took years and years of training and experience to put the level of detail into the offering that it had shown Leona during the brief glimpse she had gotten of it. She wondered how much it would sell for in the Tri-Council City market.

They had just passed the last of the fields when Toshiro's pace quickened and he overtook her. She wondered if he was a mind-reader and was about to chastise her for even daring to think about the value of the item she carried. He walked past her and stopped a short distance away from five men armed with katanas. The shirtless men wore brown pants and sandals. They also had animal furs like foxes and bears wrapped around their bare torsos.

"Common bandits." Toshiro snorted derisively.

The leader of the group, a man with a long horizontal scar on his forehead and a bear fur wrapped around his scarred torso, stepped forward to press them for payment.

"Give us the box and we might let you live!" He pressed Leona. Toshiro snorted in defiance.

"What is in there does not belong to you. It belongs to the emperor." The tall warrior told the bandit leader. The scarred man took offense and swaggered up to Toshiro.

"The emperor's laws don't apply outside the city gates! Out here the only law is force!" The leader argued back. Toshiro frowned and put a hand on the grip of his sword. The leader leveled his own sword at the warrior's throat.

"Draw it and your head will make a fine addition to my trophy rack!" The scarred man dared Toshiro. Two of the men, emboldened by the actions of their boss, walked over to Leona and began to press their claim to the box... and to other things.

"Give us the box!" One of them, a man with a black eyepatch over his left eye and a fox fur wrapped around his abdomen, urged her.

"I want that armor she's wearing. It's a lot better than animal skins!" The second bandit, a man with a black buzzcut and a scarred stomach barely covered by a wolf fur, claimed her Adaptable Armor. Their eyes turned to her Argent Gloves.

"I want those shiny metal gloves she's wearing." The first bandit claimed her Argent Gloves.

"I want that box! Once we get the box and kill them, then you can fight over who gets the armor!" The bandit leader told his men. Leona frowned. Her armor was not going to be the prize for some gang of poorly dressed bandits to fight over.

"I want those weapons she's carrying too." The first bandit added to his claim. Leona had had enough of these goons and their arguing over her belongings.

"You'll get them all right." Leona commented ominously.

"Try it and we'll spread your guts all over this path!" The second bandit threatened while brandishing his sword. The bandits might have had the upper hand now, but they would not have it for much longer. They would soon pay the price for their overconfidence.

[Word Count: 1,100]
[Total Word Count: 3,250/12,500]

Leona and Toshiro would unable to act just yet, but Leona had an idea. She would summon her harpy sisters and use the resulting distraction to get enough time to give the bandits her weapons, albeit not in the way that they wanted them. The two men in front of the blonde were pressing her to hand over the box, so she would have to act fast.

"Give us the box already! It's not like someone's gonna rescue you!" One of them verbally prodded her. Leona kept a straight face as she began the chant to summon Sky Champion Rafale.

"SKY CHAMPION SUMMON!" Leona telepathically chanted. As predicted, the confusion of his appearance caught the men off guard and gave her enough time to draw her Nightshade Machete. Rafale's appearance gave Toshiro enough time to knock the bandit leader back with a sharp kick to the chest and draw his own sword.

"So you two want to die, huh? Fine by us! We're getting that box one way or another!" The surprised bandit leader promised. Leona was too busy cutting the hand off of the first bandit who wanted to claim her weapons to listen to him blow hot air. The bandit yelled and grasped the bleeding stump of his arm with his other hand as he ran away. He did not have much time to run before Rafale stabbed him through the chest and into his heart.

"GET THEM!" The bandit leader yelled, charging at Toshiro with his weapon held high. The tall warrior blocked the two-handed downward stroke with ease and countered with another kick to the chest, sending the bandit staggering backwards. Seven more bandits appeared out of the field just behind them, complicating the situation just a little bit.

"Get the shirtless men with the animal fur wrapped around their chests!" Leona telepathically instructed Rafale. He nodded and stepped in front of Leona to protect her from the sword of the second bandit. He swung his left energy blade and cut the sword in half, making the bandit drop his useless weapon and run for safety. Rafale chased him and stabbed him through the back.

Leona was busy fighting with one hand because she had to hold onto the box with the emperor's offering, but she was still able to hold her own thanks to Rafale. Four of the newly arrived bandits rushed at her, so she quickly put away her Nightshade Machete and cast a Wind Blast with her free hand. The four men were so tightly packed together that the blast knocked all four onto their backs and gave her a little breathing room.

"Get the men behind me!" Leona ordered Rafale. He flew by her in a straight line, slamming into one of the men who was attempting to attack her from behind and knocking him onto his back. The would-be attacker slid across the dirt road on his back for a dozen feet until he came to a halt. The second man managed to draw his sword back and ram it into the back of her armor.

"LEONA!" Toshiro called out. He punched the leader in the face and rushed to her side. He killed Leona's attacker with a single diagonal slash across the torso that left a silver afterimage of a blade just before the bandit was cut in half from the left shoulder to the hip. Leona slumped to the ground.

"Toshiro... I'm OK." The winded Leona said to her companion. Rafale grabbed the weapon with both hands and pulled it out of the back of Leona's armor. Once the weapon was removed she felt a little blood come out of her back, but thankfully the tip of the weapon had only pieced her skin and did not hit anything vital. The wound was still a painful one despite not hitting any internal organs.

"Toshiro? Toshiro the Elemental Swordsman?" One of the bandits asked his boss.

"The one and only." Toshiro answered proudly. He faced the three bandits who came after him and held his weapon in a two-handed ready position. Even thought they outnumbered him and Leona, the bandits refused to get any closer to him because apparently they knew of his reputation, a reputation that the blonde knew nothing about.

"It doesn't matter who you are! You're as good as dead!" The bandit leader bellowed. He rushed towards Toshiro with his sword held high. Toshiro snorted and made his blade glow silver, then spun around and slashed downward, projecting a silver crescent of energy that cut through the bandit leader and made him split down the middle. His halves fell onto the road and the other men paused in place.

"What is in that box does not belong to you. Leave now!" Toshiro warned the remaining bandits. The men looked at the pair and at one another, then raised their weapons in unison and rushed towards the two fighters. Leona stood up and prepared to use her Wind Blast spell when Toshiro jumped in front of her and his sword glowed silver. He made a blindingly quick horizontal slash from right to left and a silver afterimage of the sword appeared in the air. One of the men paused in place while the other six continued their attack... and split in half at the hip in mid-run!

Toshiro faced the one bandit smart enough to avoid the attack and sauntered towards him. The bandit tried to put on a brave front but his sword betrayed him because it was wobbling back and forth despite being in a two-handed ready position. He began to sweat profusely as the Elemental Swordsman approached him. Once Toshiro got within sword range of the bandit, the latter put away his weapon and ran for his life, disappearing into the field from whence he had come.

Toshiro turned around and faced the bleeding Leona. With the help of Rafale she had removed the backpack and armor; now he was lifting up the back of the top to her outfit with a blush on his face. It had absorbed the blood and left a quarter-sized mark where the blood had been absorbed into the garment. Leona kept hold of the box she had been entrusted to carry.

"The wound is superficial, but if left untreated can become much worse. I know a healer in the next village. We will visit her." Toshiro said to Leona.

"All right. If you feel that's the best course of action, we'll do it." Leona said to her companion. Rafale fished out the antibiotic ointment and bandage to provide basic care until she could get to the village. He applied the ointment to the wound and carefully wound the gauze bandage around her abdomen, being careful not to touch Leona's backside in the process. Leona was amused at her summon's delicate efforts to treat her wound. Toshiro was also mildly amused by the scene.

"That treatment should hold until you get to the village, Leona." Rafale told her, the blush still on his face.

[Word Count: 1,200]
[Total Word Count: 4,450/12,500]

-In the next village, three hours later-

It was almost afternoon when the pair arrived in the village that Toshiro had spoke about shortly after they had fended off the bandits earlier. They walked through the market district of the village and watched the peaceful village of men and women going about their daily lives. Merchants were busy selling fruit, handmade clothing, hand-woven carpets with a dragon motif, and other wares. The scene reminded Leona of the market district of the Tri-Council City and the numerous wares that were sold there every day. Toshiro was quick to notice that and spoke to her.

"I understand that you are from the region called Desierto." He said to her. Leona looked at him and nodded.

"Yes. I'm from a desert village called Nebdoui." Leona answered. She had put on her Adaptable Armor since both hands were busy carrying the box and she did not want to treat Toshiro like a pack mule. She had dispelled Rafale so that he did not alarm the village's residents; otherwise the summon might be the one carrying the blonde's armor.

"Then you are familiar with the life of a small village?" The swordsman asked her.

"Yes. I'm familiar with it. I spent sixteen years living in the desert. It's a lot different from life in the city." Leona told him. He nodded at her.

"I grew up in a small village much like this one. I never expected that my path would lead me to the emperor's palace and a place as one of his chosen warriors." Toshiro told her a bit about himself. He seemed like the type who had grown up in a small village, but Leona did not dare voice that thought. They paused at a crossroad and let a wagon full of hay pass them before continuing straight when it was their turn.

"I didn't expect to leave the desert. I expected to spend my entire life in Desierto, but circumstances didn't let me stay there forever." Leona said to him as they walked.

"I never expected to leave my village, but that choice was taken out of my hands when bandits raided one night. They burned it down and killed almost everyone there, everyone except me, my father, and eight other villagers who were away when the attack happened." Toshiro told her part of what led him from the life of an ordinary villager to a warrior of some renown. She did not ask further because the memory was clearly painful to him. She shared a part of her own story with the warrior.

"My village's been the target of constant bandit and slaver raids almost since its foundation. I've fought off a few raids myself. I started fighting when I was twelve years old because the bandits didn't spare children. I made my first kill at twelve years old. I had to defend the village granary and managed to kill three bandits." Leona told Toshiro part of what led her down the path she had taken to date.

"I was that age when the attack happened. We settled elsewhere, father to the east where bandits could not reach. My father trained me in swordsmanship and made me promise to avenge my mother and brothers before I died. I trained under another swordsman and learned his ability to channel the elements through his sword. I spent six years looking for the bandits who destroyed my home." Toshiro continued to tell his story. Leona listened to the tale with interest. It seemed that she was far from the only one who had dealt with bandit trouble at a young age.

"I tracked them down to a camp in the west and destroyed most of them. I killed any I could find with fire, with wind, with lightning. However, the leader and a few of his subordinates managed to escape my vengeance. The emperor heard of my feat of arms and offered me a position in his army as a reward. I accepted and worked my way up the ranks in fighting against the bandits who trouble the people of Midi." Toshiro continued his story as the pair paused in front of a house written in the language of Midi, a language which Leona did not understand.

"Here we are. This is the clinic of the healer who saved my life after I was shot with a rifle by a bandit king in Northern Midi." Toshiro informed Leona, tapping on the partially healed hole in his chest. He was trying to assure her that the healer was competent and could be trusted. Leona was in no state to argue and if he trusted her, then she would trust the healer too.

"OK. If you trust her, I'll use her services." Leona said to him. He nodded, then turned to the door and knocked on it. Moments later a young pink-haired woman with brown eyes and wearing a green robe with red borders over a white outfit answered the door.

"Oh, Toshiro! It's been awhile!" The young woman greeted the tall warrior with a smile. Toshiro bowed to her. Leona, not knowing what else to do, followed suit.

"Indeed it has, Motoko. It has been at least three years." Toshiro answered. Motoko's eyes darted from Toshiro to Leona, who was standing with a hand pressed against her lower back where the tip of the blade had managed to punch through her armor.

"Hello there. I don't believe we've met." Motoko greeted her.

"I'm Leona Jarnefeldt." Leona introduced herself to the pink-haired healer.

"Oh, Leona Jarnefeldt! I've heard of you. You're the Wizard Saint of Courage who's from Desierto!" Motoko said to the blonde. Leona nodded.

"Leona needs your help. She was wounded in a bandit attack earlier when a bandit sword punched through her armor and its tip stabbed her in the lower back. The wound is superficial, but it must be treated before it worsens." Toshiro informed his friend of the purpose behind their visit. Motoko nodded and stepped out of the doorway, giving them space to come inside.

"Don't worry, old friend. I'll treat her right away." She assured Toshiro before ushering Leona inside. Toshiro stood outside a moment to watch for unwanted company, then stepped inside and shut the door.

[Word Count: 1,075]
[Total Word Count: 5,525/12,500]

-Inside Motoko's clinic-

The clinic was small but comfortable. It had a strong traditional feel with the architecture and featured wall scrolls with large characters of the Midi language written on them. The walls were off-white and the floor was wooden, but the place did not feel sterile like the hospital in Rose Garden did. The clinic felt oddly comfortable to the blonde.

Toshiro and Leona wiped their feet off at the door, then deposited their footwear in a wooden storage bin with compartments for the shoes of Motoko's guests. Leona put down her weapons and backpack, then took off her Adaptable Armor and left it on top of her backpack. She handed the lacquer box with the offering to Toshiro.

"Look after this for me while I'm being treated." Leona requested of him. He nodded and she walked to the back with Motoko. Leona did not know what kind of time they had to get to the shrine and she did not dare request the healer to hurry up, but she hoped that this detour would not take too much time out of the time allotted to reach the shrine.

-In the back of Motoko's clinic-

Leona was led into a small back room with an acupuncture chart on the wall and a fairly wide examination table to lie on. Motoko closed the door behind them and brought out a glass jar filled with a green solution of some kind. The pink-haired healer then spoke to Leona.

"Please take off your outfit top and lie face-down on the table." Motoko requested. The healer turned her back as Leona slowly removed the green-and-gold top and laid it across the back of the chair, then removed her Argent Gloves and set them in the seat. She then lowered herself to a face-down position on the table. Motoko gently cut the gauze bandage with a pair of safety scissors and gently pulled the bandage away with her bare hands, being careful not to touch the wound.

"OK, I'm ready." Leona said to Motoko. Motoko opened the jar and poured a bit of the green solution onto the wound, which made the blonde jump because it was cold to the touch.

"It's a special solution that's meant to disinfect the wound. Sometimes the bandits like to rub their blades in dirt and other unpleasant substances so that they can slowly kill their quarry even if they get away. They count on the infection to kill anyone who escapes them." Motoko explained as the previously cold liquid began to heat up. The blonde clenched her teeth and balled her hands into fists as the burning liquid began to flow down into the wound. She hoped that the solution would work because she did not want to suffer from an infected wound down the road, especially if she and Toshiro had to fight off another bandit attack.

Leona faced the wooden floor and stared at it for five minutes until the burning began to subside and the solution began to cool down again. Motoko then took a white washcloth, put a bit of cold water on it, and gently rubbed away the excess solution. Leona shivered at the touch of the cold washcloth as it wiped away the disinfectant and dried blood. Motoko then took a towel and gently dried the area around the wound.

She put the towel down and raised her hands, which began to glow ice blue.

"This won't take too much longer. Just bear with me a bit longer." Motoko urged Leona.

"OK." Leona said to the healer. The young woman then lowered her hands and touched the wound on the blonde's back. Leona gasped and almost rolled off the table as the site of the puncture grew cold. Moments later the sensation faded and she felt her wound actually begin to heal over.

"Just a few seconds more and you can get up." Motoko told Leona. Leona nodded and stayed where she was. She was no longer troubled by pain and started to feel better as the injury closed up. Having the wound treated sooner rather than later was a wise idea.

Motoko raised her hands and the ice blue glow faded.

"OK, you can get up whenever you're ready. Don't worry, I'll look away while you put your outfit top back on." Motoko assured her before turning her back. Leona got up and walked over to the chair, then put the top back on and slipped on her Argent Gloves. The dressed blonde then spoke to the pink-haired woman.

"I'm dressed again. Thanks." Leona informed Motoko, who turned around with a smile on her face.

"You should be fine from here on out. Let me take a look at the back of your outfit. I noticed quite a bit of blood on it." She said. Leona walked over and let the healer take a look at the garment. She raised a glowing white hand to it.

"I can remove this bloodstain. It'll only take a second." Came the assurance. Leona looked forward as the magic removed the bloodstain from the back and made it look good as new. Leona was appreciative of that added touch because it saved her from having to trash one of her favorite outfits.

"Thanks!" Leona thanked the young woman, who simply nodded and opened the door to the lobby where Toshiro was waiting with the box clutched in his arms.

-In the lobby-

"Leona will be fine, Toshiro. Her wound's been treated and she'll be able to get back on the road." Motoko informed her friend.

"Thank you, Motoko." Toshiro said to her and bowed. Leona soon followed suit.

"It's nothing, Toshiro. It's the least I can do after you helped save my clinic from those bandits." She informed him. That reminded Leona... she had to pay Motoko for her help! Leona walked over to her backpack and fished out a bag of Jewels that she handed to the pink-haired woman. Motoko pushed them back at Leona.

"I don't want your money. Instead, I'd like to ask a favor from you." Motoko said to Leona. The blonde was curious. What kind of favor did she want from them?

"What kind of favor do you want?" Leona asked. Motoko walked behind a desk in the lobby and produced a small bag of Jewels that she then handed to the blonde. Leona held onto them.

"My clinic's been busy the past few months, so I've been unable to make the trip myself. I want you to take these to the shrine and offer them to the monks who tend to the shrine. I owe them a lot for teaching me the healing arts." Motoko said to Leona. Leona nodded and put the bag of Jewels into her pocket. With that bit of business concluded, Motoko walked into a room behind the desk and the smell of brewing tea began to fill the air.

"Motoko is a master of brewing tea. You will enjoy the green tea she makes." Toshiro assured her. Leona nodded back as she stood in the lobby and heard the sound of a whistling kettle fill the air. After a minute or two Motoko walked into the lobby with a silver kettle held by its handle.

"Tea is ready." She announced with a smile.

"I'd like you two to join me for tea before you set out again." She requested of them. Toshiro looked at Leona and the blonde looked back at him, then gave a thumbs-up to the tall warrior. Toshiro then looked at their hostess and nodded to her.

Motoko:

[Word Count: 1,300]
[Total Word Count: 6,825/12,500]

-In the small back room-

Motoko, Leona, and Toshiro sat at a low wooden table in the back room of the clinic and slowly drank the tea that the pink-haired healer had brewed for them. The mood was quiet but sociable. Leona and Toshiro had their weapons nearby in case the surviving bandit from the attack near the farm had followed them and had come back with friends. So far there was no trouble and the clinic was quiet. Leona did not mind quiet because the rest of the trip might not be so tranquil.

"If I may ask, what's in that box?" Motoko asked, pointing towards the black lacquer box sitting on the table.

"It is the emperor's offering to the dragon spirits which protect our country and guide it to prosperity. We are tasked with ensuring that it reaches the shrine safely." Toshiro answered the question. Motoko raised an eyebrow after sipping from the tea.

"So you two are headed to Sakae Shrine in western Midi?" Motoko inquired.

"Yes. I am escorting the offering to make sure that bandits do not steal what belongs to the emperor and the dragon spirits." Toshiro answered.

"You don't have to tell me any more than that, my friend." Motoko said. Toshiro hmmm'd and sipped from his white porcelain tea cup. Leona was surprised that a warrior who looked so bellicose was so gentle with the delicate cup. The dark-haired warrior was quick to note her glance.

"Leona, do not think that warriors are incapable of appreciating the finer things in life." Toshiro gently admonished her, his dark eyes burning into her eyes. Leona blushed in embarrassment. Their hostess set down her cup and spoke to them.

"You weren't always so appreciative of tea, my friend." Motoko butted in. A look of dread crossed Toshiro's face.

"It took awhile for Toshiro to learn to appreciate tea drinking. It took many months and many porcelain cups for him to learn how to be gentle with them. I know all of this because I taught him." Motoko chimed in with a knowing smile. It was Toshiro's turn to blush in embarrassment. Leona did not dare laugh, but she gave a small grin. The warrior took the embarrassment of being called out surprisingly well and simply smiled about it.

The trio finished their cups of tea in a jovial mood. Toshiro gave a low bow and stood up. Leona followed his lead. Toshiro handed the box to Leona while their hostess took the Adaptable Armor and began to clean the bloodstain off of the back using the same spell that she had employed to clean the back of Leona's outfit top. Thirty seconds later and the bloodstain was gone; aside from the puncture mark no one would have ever known that Leona had been hurt.

"Thank you." Leona thanked Motoko. Leona handed the box back to Toshiro and put on the Adaptable Armor, then took the box back and began to gather up her weapons. She put on her backpack and was ready for the road. Toshiro attached his sword to his left hip and opened the door for Leona.

-Outside the clinic, two hours later-

"Good luck on your journey!" Motoko bade them as she stood just outside the door of the clinic. Toshiro and Leona waved back to her as they started walking towards the village outskirts. It had been a pleasant visit, but they had to get going and get to Sakae Shrine with the offering. The pair walked through the market district that they had seen earlier and merged with the bustling crowd that was perusing the wares for sale. They had no interest in buying anything... going through the marketplace was simply the easiest way to get to where they needed to go.

-On the road, thirty minutes later-

Toshiro and Leona had gotten back on the road and were currently walking through a forest. The midday sun was high in the sky and its rays were piercing the verdant canopy under which they walked, casting spots onto the dirt path in front of them. So far everything had been quiet, but neither of them knew how long the peace would last. The abundance of trees made for plenty of hiding spots for bandits to use.

The pair walked and looked all around them for trouble, but no trouble had presented itself. The chirps of various forest birds were breaking the silence and providing a high-pitched soundtrack for their trip. Leona did not entirely like it because the high-pitched squeaks prevented her from listening to the surroundings, but there was not a whole lot that could be done about it. Toshiro seemed to be more than a little annoyed by the birds as well.

Toshiro's annoyance only increased as four shirtless men with green pants and katanas at their hips jumped out from behind the bushes on each side of the path.

"Bandits." He tersely remarked to Leona as he drew his sword. Leona took a few steps back to protect the box.

"We own these roads! Pay our toll or you won't leave the forest alive!" The leader, a shirtless man wearing a conical straw hat, demanded of them. Toshiro snorted.

"We will give you nothing. Leave us!" Toshiro demanded. The hat-wearing man frowned.

"That's the wrong answer. Now we can't let you leave here." The man answered. The four men drew their swords and began to advance on Leona and Toshiro.

"That is not for trash like you to decide!" Toshiro countered. He raised his sword into a ready position and focused until it glowed silver. The four men rushed at him and he swiftly brought his sword to the right, then performed a swift horizontal right-to-left slash with his blade. A silver afterimage of the blade appeared in the air and faded. The four men split at the hip and fell onto the path, expressions of shock frozen on their faces. Leona watched as the tall warrior wiped his blade off on the bushes of the forest.

"They have paid the price for their foolishness." Toshiro commented as he stepped over their bodies. Leona, wary of being left behind in a bandit-filled forest, quickly followed him down the path. He had very little tolerance for bandits and even less mercy on them.

-Further into the forest, ten minutes later-

Toshiro was in the lead and Leona walked just behind him. The warrior sauntered down the path and kept an eye out for further trouble while Leona looked behind them for bandits trying to be stealthy by sneaking up behind them. The blonde did not need to worry about sneaky bandits because five more jumped out in front of Toshiro and barred the way. Toshiro groaned.

"This is our road! Pay the toll or die!" Their leader, another shirtless man wearing green pants and a conical straw hat, demanded of them.

"They never learn from the mistakes of their predecessors." Toshiro commented as he brought out his sword and got ready to fight. Leona stepped back and got ready to help Toshiro fend off the latest gang who thought robbing them was a good idea.

"If you're tired of living, we'll be happy to end your lives!" The bandit leader retorted. He and his men drew their weapons and advanced on the two mages.

[Word Count: 1,250]
[Total Word Count: 8,075/12,500]

Toshiro was ready for their attack and effortlessly parried the bandit leader's blade, which was the first to reach him. The warrior then kicked aside a second bandit who made a lunging stab and punched a third in the face with his left hand. The remaining two bandits were not idle; they focused on Leona and the box she was holding.

Two of the men broke off and headed for Leona, who calmly aimed her fingers in a gun and fired a Wind Bullet at the first man to get within striking distance. The marble-sized bullet hit his chest and sent him flying backwards onto the road, where he rolled to a stop and accidentally stabbed himself through the chest with his own sword. The second man paused for a moment to reconsider what he was doing, then faced her with determination in his eyes and charged anyway. Leona simply put two fingers at her side and focused magic into them, then performed a right-to-left horizontal slash that left a brief afterimage and cut deeply into the attacker's chest.

The man paused in place, then screamed as his chest began to gush blood. He dropped his sword and ran away while clutching his chest in an attempt to stem the bleeding. The irritated leader looked back and shouted at the fleeing bandit.

"Get back here you coward! It's just a flesh wound! If I find you I'll kill you my-" The leader berated the fleeing bandit but was interrupted in mid-sentence by Toshiro's sword cleaving through his neck, lopping his head off of his shoulders. Their leader's head had barely hit the ground when the surviving two bandits looked at each other, then looked at Toshiro. He simply raised a hand at them and they screamed, dropped their weapons, and ran for their lives into the brush. Toshiro made a show of stretching his right arm.

"They knew when they were outmatched. That makes them smarter than the preceding bandits." Toshiro commented dryly, nudging the leader's decapitated body aside with his right foot. He looked at Leona, who was still holding the box and was none the worse for wear. She had not become a human pincushion this time.

"Let us go before they recover their courage and come back in greater numbers." Toshiro suggested to Leona. The blonde nodded and followed behind her protector, carefully stepping over the corpses they had just created. Maybe they could get through the forest without another bandit encounter, but the blonde was not holding her breath. At least she had Toshiro to help clear the way.

-One hour later, outside of the forest-

The pair emerged from the forest without encountering any more bandits... the survivors must have warned their friends to steer clear of Toshiro and Leona. They were grateful to finally be out of the woods and see the sun again. They paused to stretch their legs and get the lay of the land. In front of them stretched a wide dirt path that was starting to show ruts from frequent wagon usage. Leona saw a wooden sign pointing forward written in the Midi language.

"I will read it." Toshiro said to her. He calmly walked over to the sign and began to read it.

"What does it say?" Leona asked him.

"Good news. We are on the right path to Sakae Shrine." He answered with an economy of words. He read the sign further and frowned.

"I take it there's bad news too?" Leona asked him.

"Unfortunately, yes. If we travel the whole distance on foot, it will take eight days. We only have seven to get the offering to the shrine in time." Toshiro told her. Leona finally knew how long they had to get to the shrine before the job was considered a failure. Her first idea was to hop on the back of the Winged Lion and fly the pair to their destination, but she did not have to because a horse-drawn wagon of older men and women dressed in simple white robes rolled by and rattled to a stop just in front of them.

"Hello there! Are you pilgrims on the trail to Sakae Shrine?" An old man with a pointed white beard asked them. Toshiro held up a hand to indicate that he would take the lead on this conversation. Leona kept quiet and let the Midi native do the talking.

"Yes, Honorable Elder. We are on pilgrimage to the shrine on behalf of the emperor." Toshiro answered, then gave a slight bow.

"Are you? Perhaps we can help you in your travels... if you aid us." The old man offered. Toshiro was intrigued. So was Leona.

"What do you need?" Toshiro asked the man.

"We are but humble pilgrims who are growing old and are long past our prime. We also have no weapons except simple wooden staves. If you provide us with protection on the trail, we can speed your travels along. At our current pace we can make it there in five days." The old man informed them. Toshiro and Leona looked at one another. This was an opportunity too good to pass up.

"We will protect you in exchange for a place on your wagon." Toshiro informed them. The leader nodded.

"That is excellent news. Truly you are a blessing from the dragon spirits!" The old man thanked them for their willingness to protect the elderly pilgrims. Toshiro climbed onto the wagon, then extended a hand for Leona to get on board. The blonde secured the box in her left arm and reached up with her right, grabbing Toshiro's hand and being pulled up. The two then took seats opposite each other in the back of the wagon.

"Now that everyone is on board, let us continue our journey!" The old man said. He moved the reins and set the horses in motion. Thanks to this stroke of luck, Leona and Toshiro might make it in time after all. They sat back and let the wagon carry them farther down the trail.

[Word Count: 1,025]
[Total Word Count: 9,100/12,500]

-On the trail to Sakae Shrine, three days later-

It had been an uneventful three days full of travel and seeing the natural sights of Western Midi; prominent among them were orderly fields of crops being cultivated by diligent farmers and abundant forests brimming with trees. The two mages were glad to have a break from walking and fighting with bandits. Either the bandits were laying low or Western Midi was not the bandit hotspot it was made out to be by the emperor. Leona did not look a gift horse in the mouth.

"We are getting closer to our destination. We have but two days more and we shall reach the shrine." The old man who was the de facto leader of the pilgrims told Toshiro and Leona. The pair were glad that they did not have to walk the entire way because in addition to being unfathomably tired, they would also miss their deadline and incur the displeasure of the emperor. Neither one of them wanted to have to go back to the Imperial Palace and face His Majesty to explain that they had failed in the task they were given.

"Excellent." Toshiro said to the man. He then turned and faced Leona, who was looking at the box she was carrying. She was afraid to let it out of her sight this close to their destination. She would make sure that the emperor's offering reached Sakae Shrine if it was the last thing she did.

Leona looked towards her fellow travelers, then towards the confident warrior. She wondered what paths led them to the shrine and wondered how long they had been traveling this route. Another horse-drawn wagon of pilgrims dressed in the same white robes as the people Leona and Toshiro were riding with pulled in behind them and settled into a slower pace. This wagon was full of middle-aged pilgrims carrying simple wooden staves.

Leona turned back to the old man who was driving the wagon and saw him turn back to face the new wagon. Leona was worried that she would have to fight the occupants of the wagon behind them. A smile spread across his face.

"Do not worry, my dear. They mean us no harm. Another band of the faithful has joined us on our journey to the holy shrine." He commented calmly before facing forward to keep control of the horses. Her concern thus addressed and proven to be unfounded, the blonde simply faced forward again and paid no heed to the wagon behind them. Toshiro turned to face them for a moment before facing the Wizard Saint again. A calm expression was on his face as the wind blew his hair about.

Leona had not felt this calm in some time. In Desierto she would have gotten into at least three fights by now. In Midi the wagon ride had been bumpy but calm and free of peril.

Sprawled before them on all sides were the sights of nature and the passing of other people on horseback or on foot. Leona saw people in all manner of outfits who were either on their way to the shrine or were simply passing by on their way to other destinations. She saw men in green clothing armed with bows and arrows, elaborately dressed men and women in elaborate carriages escorted by bodyguards on horseback, farmers in simple clothing with their tools shouldered as they walked to their fields, and others who ran the gamut of lifestyle in Midi.

There was no danger on the horizon, not life-or-death struggle looming just ahead. It was a simple ride with the elderly pilgrims, who showed no concern for the present and were meditating as the wagon bounced down the road. Leona wondered if she would make it to old age if she continued to follow her current lifestyle. She probably would not, but she would not want to live any other way because the life of a mage gave her chances to explore the world beyond Desierto, a chance she would never have gotten if she had stayed at home.

The midday sun was high above them as the wagon pulled over and stopped by the side of the road. The wagon behind the first joined them in taking a rest stop. Toshiro and Leona got down first, then assisted the elderly off of the wagon and kept helping until all of the passengers had safely disembarked. Once that task was complete Toshiro handed Leona the box and the pair then began to talk to each other.

"Do not let your guard down, Leona. I am not sure if more bandits are nearby." Toshiro advised her. Leona had an idea. She would summon her Owl and let him be a surveillance system. Leona raised a hand into the sky and spoke the chant.

"PHARAOH OWL SUMMON!" Leona called out. The owl appeared on her right forearm and spoke to her.

"What do you ask of me, mistress?" Ramses asked her. Toshiro looked in amazement at the owl.

"You... you summoned him? Out of thin air? And he can talk in human language?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes. He's Ramses the Pharaoh Owl. He's a summon of mine. I'm going to use him to keep a watch on the woods while we're taking a break. He'll let us know if he sees anything strange." Leona informed the warrior of her plan.

"I will be on my way then." Ramses said, stretching his wings before takeoff. He flew to the woods and roosted on the branch of a tree that faced the open field where the travelers were stretching their legs, making a quick meal, talking to each other, or simply meditating on the grass. Toshiro watched the owl fly off and turned his head to speak to the Wizard Saint.

"Your magic is interesting. I have fought summoners before, but they preferred to summon demons and spirits. They wanted to take over Midi and bend people to their will." Toshiro said to her with a tone of caution. She was not sure if he had a fear of summoners because of his experiences, but she would do her best to convince him that she was not an enemy.

"I've fought demons and ghosts before. They're not easy to fight against. Demons are just plain tough to kill. Ghosts are hard to kill unless you have strong magic or a silver weapon." Leona told him, patting the pommel of the Silver Longsword at her side. She had fought demons alongside Amanda of the Order of Lightbringers and had fought ghosts for both the Order of Lightbringers and the Order of the Silver Blade. She could speak with authority on the subject of fighting demons and ghosts.

"I can tell that you speak the truth. As young as you are, you have seen many battles. I can tell that you have fought many battles to earn the title of Wizard Saint of Courage." Toshiro said to her.

"I fight because I have to. I have the power to defend people and I'm going to use it. If I don't fight for the people of my home village and for the people of Earthland, then I'm just wasting my power." Leona said to him. She omitted the fact she felt that fighting was all she was good at doing. Maybe he felt the same way. Their eyes met and they had a moment of understanding.

"It is the same with me. I cannot stand by and let bandits terrorize the people of Midi. If I can defend them with my power and my sword, then I will." Toshiro affirmed. Ramses had not warned her of anything yet, so the blonde assumed that the pilgrims were still safe for the moment. She would do everything she could to make sure that they remained that way. There was a lot of ground between the forest and the wagons that had to be watched by the pair.

[Word Count: 1,350]
[Total Word Count: 10,450/12,500]

-Two days later, Sakae Shrine-

"At last, we have made it!" The elderly leader of the wagon train exclaimed to his passengers. Leona and Toshiro jolted away after almost falling asleep. It was late afternoon when they finally reached the shrine, but the sight of the shrine's massive torii gate, white walls of the temple, and numerous monks clad in orange robes and sandals walking the shrine grounds captivated the blonde. She had never seen such a magnificent shrine before; Desierto had nothing to compare to it. Only the sultan's palace could compare, and even then it would be a close contest. Toshiro chuckled to himself.

"Sakae Shrine is magnificent indeed. I have only been here twice before, and both times were in the company of the emperor." Toshiro told her of his previous visits to the structure. Leona stood up and sat down, gently sliding off the back of the wagon as Toshiro jumped down. The pair then helped the elderly pilgrims get down safely and secured the box they had been carrying for the past five days. Toshiro took his sword off of his hip and handed it to Leona, exchanging it for the box in her hands.

"Weapons of any type are forbidden on the grounds of the shrine. I ask that you remain behind with the wagon and my sword." Toshiro requested of her. Leona was disappointed that she would not get to go inside the shrine after coming so far to get here, but she understood why he asked her to stay behind. She took the sword into her hands and nodded.

"OK, I'll stay here." Leona said to him. She produced the bag of Jewels that Motoko had given as an offering to the shrine and handed them to Toshiro.

"Don't forget to give these Jewels on Motoko's behalf!" Leona reminded the warrior. He nodded and raised a hand in thanks as he passed under the torii gate and joined a long procession of other pilgrims who were streaming in to make offerings to the dragon spirits. Leona hopped up onto the back of the wagon and sat in place to watch the steady stream of arrivals and departures. People of all walks of life were coming here to pay tribute to the dragon spirits and ask for their continued protection of the land. Leona watched them all while holding Toshiro's sword in her hands.

Leona's disappointment at being unable to enter the shrine grounds was assuaged by getting to watch the people pass by. She saw rich people and poor, young and old, well-dressed and more simply clad. She wondered where each of them came from and how far each of them had traveled to get here.

-Early evening, three hours later-

The moon was just beginning to come up when Toshiro finally emerged from Sakae Shrine. She was so drowsy that she barely noticed that the shrine grounds were now aglow with the orange light of countless paper lanterns hung around the grounds. Leona shook off the drowsiness and jumped off the back of the wagon to greet Toshiro.

"Our job here is done. We have delivered both the emperor's offering and the offering of Motoko." Toshiro informed her of the success of their mission. Leona was glad to hear that all this traveling had not been for nothing. She handed him his sword back and he secured it to his left side again. He then looked towards the road.

"Now we must return and tell the emperor of our success." He said to Leona. Leona decided to ask the question she did not get a chance to ask a few days ago. She would ask if he was willing to ride on the back of her Winged Lion summon.

"Are you afraid of heights?" Leona asked the warrior. Toshiro looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I can summon something for us to ride on. We can fly back to the Imperial Palace. It'll be quicker and safer than walking back." Leona told him. Toshiro raised a hand to his mustache.

"What... what kind of summon are we walking about?" He cautiously asked her. Leona raised both hands above her head and called out the words.

"WINGED LION SUMMON!" Leona called out. The Winged Lion appeared in the sky and slowly landed in front of her. Toshiro appeared both concerned and impressed.

"Is it safe to ride?" Toshiro asked Leona.

"If you do not threaten my mistress, then you have no reason to fear me." The lion answered on his mistress' behalf. Toshiro took a step back from the talking lion.

"He's safe." Leona answered laconically while hopping onto the back of the lion and scooting forward. Toshiro warily climbed onto the lion's back and got settled.

"We're going back to the Imperial Palace." Leona said to the lion.

"It will be done." The lion said. He flapped his wings and began to take off with his two passengers in tow. Leona looked down on the shrine from above as the lion flew in a circle above the shrine, then went straight in the direction of the Imperial Palace. It was beautiful to see the glowing lanterns illuminating the shrine from above.

-The Imperial Palace, morning-

The Winged Lion flew low and slow, banking to safely lose speed. He landed on the path a short distance from the gate to the Imperial palace and his passengers disembarked. Leona dispelled the summon and stood facing Toshiro.

"Here we are. We're back at the palace." Leona said to the warrior.

"That we are. The trip was fast even though we flew all night." Toshiro answered in amazement. He faced the quartet of guards who walked up to them and greeted them.

"You are back earlier than we expected." The flabberghasted leader of the guards said to Leona and Toshiro.

"I gave the emperor's offering to the monks and it was accepted on behalf of His Majesty. Leona has carried out His Majesty's will in accordance with the request." Toshiro reported to the guard captain. The guard captain looked at Leona and gave something resembling a smile.
Leona wordlessly handed over her weapons and backpack to the guards, who took them and treated them with respect.

"This way, please. His Majesty will want to hear from you both." The captain told them. Leona and Toshiro followed the guards inside the palace and the door closed behind them. They were on the way to speak to the emperor himself.

[Word Count: 1,100]
[Total Word Count: 11,550/12,500]

-Inside the Imperial Palace, the throne room-

"Your Majesties, I present to you Toshiro and Leona Jarnefeldt!" Yosuke announced to the emperor and empress as guards and court officials watched the proceedings. Toshiro and Leona bowed to the emperor and then took a knee. The emperor soon spoke to the weary travelers.

"You may rise." He said to them. Toshiro and Leona stood up and faced the emperor. They listened to the emperor speak to them.

"News of your success has reached my ears. I have heard that you two made the journey from here to Sakae Shrine in only five days. My trust in you has been validated." The emperor said to them. They were glad to hear his words of approval after all the effort they had went to to deliver the offering safely. The monarch let his words sink in before he spoke to them again.

"I am pleased with your efforts on my behalf, Leona Jarnefeldt. Since you have successfully fulfilled my request, I will reward you accordingly." The emperor announced. He then clapped his hands and the same servant girl who had brought her the box several days ago brought her a large bag of Jewels as a reward. Leona took them with both hands and bowed to the emperor.

"As for you, Toshiro. You have served me well, my faithful warrior. I thank you for your work in protecting Leona Jarnefeldt and ensuring the safety of my offering." He said to the dark-haired warrior. The monarch clapped again and another female servant emerged from behind the curtain with a large bag of Jewels for him. Toshiro accepted the monetary reward with both hands and bowed to his emperor.

"I may ask for your assistance again, Leona Jarnefeldt, Wizard Saint of Courage." The emperor addressed the blonde directly.

"If I am available, I would be glad to aid you, Your Highness." Leona replied to him. She could not drop everything and arrive right away, but she would do her best to answer the call. He looked as if he were scrutinizing her. Leona worried that she had offended him, but he appeared pleased at her acceptance.

"I thank you." He said to her. He then sat back down beside the empress, who wore a neutral face the entire time.

"You may leave, Leona Jarnefeldt." The emperor said to her. Leona and Toshiro bowed to the emperor.

"Provided that you continue to obey the laws of my kingdom, you will always be welcome here, Leona Jarnefeldt. Now go. And may the dragon spirits protect you." The emperor told her. The empress finally gave a smile. Leona bowed to him and turned to leave the throne room. Toshiro bowed and followed close behind her.

-Outside of the Imperial Palace-

"Thank you for your assistance in this matter, Leona. Your aid was most welcome." Toshiro thanked her outside the gates to the palace. Leona's weapons and backpack had been returned to her outside the gates and she had put them back on.

"It was nothing, Toshiro. You were the one who helped me more than once. I wouldn't be in nearly as good a shape as I am now if it weren't for you and Motoko." Leona told him.

"I look forward to our next meeting. Perhaps we can meet under circumstances that do not involve fighting." Toshiro expressed his wish to her. Leona felt the same way. She would like to meet him again and learn more about Midi without having to kill bandits to do so.

"Me too. I hope we meet again some day." Leona said to the warrior who had been her companion over the past several days. Except for when she was being treated in the room of Motoko's clinic, he had been by her side the entire time. He had helped her through the battle near the fields and the two battles in the forest. She had grown to like the company of the Elemental Swordsman.

"And now I bid you farewell." Toshiro said to her before bowing. Leona returned the bow. He then turned around and sauntered towards the palace gates, which opened to admit him. They closed and Leona turned around. She summoned her Winged Lion and spoke to the summon as soon as he landed.

"We're going home. To Silver Wolf Guild Hall!" Leona told her summon.

"It will be done." He answered calmly. He flapped his wings and took to the sky with his mistress on his back. The lion flew a circle above the Imperial Palace, then took off directly for the guild hall.

-Inside Silver Wolf Guild Hall, four hours later-

Leona had finally returned home to the guild hall. She had spent a few hours in the hot springs to get over the worst of the exhaustion, then got out, got dressed in her freshly laundered green-and-gold outfit, then went to her office to take care of the paperwork that had inevitably accumulated in her absence. She was glad that she had traveled to Midi to help the emperor.

The Wizard Saint had met the emperor and empress and had also met Toshiro. She had seen the natural beauty of Midi that had barely been touched by human hands. She had seen the beauty of Sakae Shrine from above. All in all the trip was worth going on.

Having finished the mound of paperwork after three continuous hours, Leona stood up from her desk and took the completed paperwork into her hands. It had to be carried to the appropriate departments to be filed away for future reference. She carefully opened her office door, then closed it with her foot once she was outside.

-Three hours later-

It was early evening when the Guild Master had finally finished with carrying the paperwork to the appropriate places. She stood outside the guild library and thought about going in to help them with their work, then decided against it on the grounds that they were doing just fine without her. Leona walked back to her room, shut the door, and fell face-first onto the bed without bothering to change out of her clothing. She was too tired to do anything else but try to sleep. If the guild staff or guild members needed her, they knew where to find her.

[Word Count: 1,062]
[Total Word Count: 12,612/12,500]