The battlefield was still shocked by Kaito's display of skill. Both Dante and the trickster has just watched Kaito defeat the hunter. A feat that should've been impossible for a D tier adventurer.
Dante didn't know what to say, should he apologize to Kaito for what has happened?
Breaking the silence dange clears his throat. "There's probably, no point in going back to the den of thieves now, we should just continue forwards." Dante advises.
Kaito still partially out of breath nods. "That's a good idea."
"I'm not sure where to though, we should get you somewhere you can rest." Dante says to him.
Kaito smiles. "Yeah i'm sure we'll come across something." Kaito agrees. Dante nods. "I'll make of map of anything we find since this only covers the general area."
The trickster places there things down next to them. Returning Kaito's book.
The trickster begins walking away. Feeling out of place. She's stopped by Kaito calling out to her. "Wait, aren't you coming with us?" Kaito asked.
Her chest felt tight. "You really want to travel with someone like me? I'm a thief you know." She says, in an attempt to detour him.
Kaito smiles brightly. "You're one of the best people I met, of course I want you to come with us!" Kaito's joy is evident in his smile.
Dante nods. "I thought you were annoying before, I really thought you were gonna leave us behind there but you really came in clutch when we needed you." He says showing his respect for her.
"Well I can't force myself along so." She says enjoying her praise so much she attempts to make them continue.
Kaito nods. "Well I respect your decision." He says. The trickster panics. "H-hey I was kidding!" She saves herself.
She clears her throat. "Well you should be delighted to have me around, the famed mage from across every edge of Shea!" She announces herself.
Kaito laughs. "Well good to have you trickster!" Kaito says.
She sits nervously for a second. Hesitating for a moment before she decided to speak. "My name is Rika." She introduces herself.
Dante bows. "I'm Dante Fills. It's nice to meet you properly." He says. "And i'm Kaito!" Kaito also introduces himself.
Kaito then stands happily wincing from his wound. "Now were a three pol!" He celebrates.
"It's called a trio Kaito." Dante corrects him. Kaito snaps. "Right that's what Kate was saying." He says.
They begin to walk but Kaito immediately collapsed. Dante sits by his side opening his bag and mending his wound for him.
Dante isn't exactly a doctor but he has some field medicine skills. So he's able to patch Kaito up with some stitches.
"If it's easier we can stop at my hideout. I need to grab some stuff since you guys totally need me." Rika says.
Dante nods. He attempts to lift Kaito up, but he fails. Rika giggles before lifting Kaito into the air with wind magic. She summons a giant boomerang and places Kaito on it flying him around behind them.
Dante is a bit surprised by this. "Your magic control is pretty impressive." Dante compliments her. She snickers before looking proud of herself. "Please hold your applause, I know how cool i am!" Rika celebrates.
She taps Kaito on his arm. "Our friend here isn't all bad either. She didn't know he was also a wind mage, and I never even thought to use wind magic offensively like that, he might've just put some new tricks in my bag." Rika says which makes Dante think.
"I guess I didn't know Kaito was a wind mage either, now that I think of it Kaito never really used much magic so I guess it makes sense." Dante thinks but he has this strange itch in his head. "But how come he can use ice and fire, those are opposites. Weird." Dante thinks.
They arrive back in the den of thieves and right into Rika's hideout. "Welcome to the Rika cave." She announcing the place.
It's a messy place and it's hidden away in an abandoned building. Dante looks around feeling very uninspired. "How do you live here?" Dante questions.
"I usually squat here whenever my guild accidentally leaves me behind." Rika says as she digs around. Still floating Kaito around.
Dante sees day old food sitting on her desk. "Looks like you're here a lot."
"Yeah they forget me sometimes, they're just really silly sometimes." She responds.
"How could a guild leave it's own members behind?" Dante questions.
Rika sighs. "No everyone else is always together they just forget about me." She says sounding a bit sad. She perks back up quickly. "I get it though i'm the most useful member so they just wanna keep me in their back pocket." She copes.
Dante just doesn't understand that.
Rika cleans off a spot and places Kaito down on a bed while he sleeps.
Dante walks around the room and sees all of her stolen stuff she's hoarded in here. Then he notices something that excited him. "Woah you have the new game console!?" Dante shouts. He picks up a controller. "I've always wanted to play one of these!"
Rika sits down on the floor and turns it on, picking up a controller of her own. "We can play, warning you now i'm really good at it." She says.
She boots up a fighting game.
Dante once again just thought it was her gloating. But to his dismay after a few rounds she had utterly destroyed him. Not even really teaching him how to play first.
It went on for hours, "you're a no life, get outside more!" Dante shouts at her. "You just suck!" She retaliated. While the two bicker Kaito wakes up.
He sees the screen and it fascinates him. "Woah what's this! You can control the tiny people?!" Kaito questions.
Dante hands Kaito the controller. "Good luck man." He says to him.
But after a few rounds Dante is offended, Rika is taking it way easier on Kaito then what she did with him. "That's no fair! How come you destroyed me but let him win!" Dante shouts.
Rika shrugs. "Told you, you just suck." She says with a playful smile on his face.
She then boots up a party game and passes Dante another controller. They play the game for far too long well into the night, until they all eventually fall asleep with the screen still on.
They awake the next day. Kaito yawning deeply the fatigue from yesterdays battle still lingering.
Rika stretches. "I forgot to say but let's go to Trays." Rika says. Dante checks his map. "Why is something special about that town?" He asks.
Rika shakes her head. "No but my guild should be there, that's where they said they were going." Rika says. Kaito nods. "It could be some fun stuff there." He says.
Dante shivers at the thought of camping outside of a barrier again, after what he had to go through with the night stalker.
The boys leave the Rika cave first. Rika lingers and packs up her game. She has a feeling she won't be coming back for awhile. "Bye bye Rika cave." She salutes it. She runs outside catching up with the boys.
As they walk through the town a man stops Rika. "Have you already been kicked from another guild?" He questions in a mocking tone.
She throws a rock at his face. "Shut it old man!" She yells before walking off.