Devilla
I arrived in an empty tent, Lucy having apparently already packed up her bedroll. Exiting myself, I stretched my arms towards the sky and let loose with my best impression of a yawn.
"Eena!" Lucy called out, hurrying to embrace me. "You're awake!"
"And you're already dressed," I remarked, noting the armor that once more adorned her form. It was rather hard to ignore, what with my body being pressed against it. "Did I truly oversleep that much?"
Lucy shook her head. "It's not that!" she promised me. "I just smelled Dyona's cooking."
"Cooking?" I asked, belatedly sniffing the air. My nose quickly caught the scent wafting from the campfire where Dyona was cooking slices of what almost looked like bacon on a pan she held over the blaze.
"My Lady makes a point of procuring fresh ingredients whenever possible," Dyona informed me without lifting her gaze from the makeshift stove. "It's part of why we travel by carriage. She
hates
travel rations."
I swore I saw a flicker of a smile on Dyona's lips as she said that last part, but it was gone too quickly for me to be certain. Even reviewing the memory left me unsure if I was looking at a sign of affection or just a random twitch of her lips.
Regardless, it was nowhere to be seen a moment later when a yawning Grell walked out of the carriage. "What's for breakfast?"
"Fried pork rations and eggs. You're free to eat the first while we await the latter - assuming you wish to show off your gluttonous side in front of our guests, that is?"
"Bah, they've already seen plenty of it yesterday," Grell remarked. "And I'm sure Eena here won't mind. The Heroine said you have a good appetite too, yeah?"
"I enjoy food, if that's what you mean," I replied. "Though I would hardly describe myself as
gluttonous
..."
Lucy giggled at that for some reason before plopping down on the ground and gesturing for me to sit besides her. "Come on! We can snuggle up together until breakfast is done being cooked."
"As lovely as that sounds, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least offer my help making breakfast."
"You can cook?" Lucy asked, looking at me with surprise.
"A little. Abigail taught me."
"The offer is appreciated, My Lady, but I can assure you that I have things handled," Dyona replied. "Why don't you sit down with your girlfriend? I'm sure the Heroine missed you during your brief absence, seeing as how she was out here half an hour before you."
I froze briefly at the mention of absence, only for my posture to thaw a moment later when Dyona clarified. For a moment I thought she'd been suggesting she was aware I wasn't around last night.
"Well, if you insist," I agreed, shaking the worry off and settling on the ground next to Lucy and leaning against her. Though I wouldn't exactly call it cuddling, what with her armor in between the two of us, I would certainly call it a pleasant way to spend time before breakfast. Even if I couldn't feel the warmth of her flesh, simply knowing she was next to me provided a warmth all of its own.
From there the day passed in much the same way as the previous had. We ate a simple meal, waited for Dyona to enter the carriage, and then picked it up so that we could continue towards the city.
It was a straightforward, if slightly boring, journey and thanks to our efforts we had the city in sight before nightfall. We
did
have to pick up our pace a little in order to make it to the gates before they closed.
"Are you doing alright?" I asked Grell as the guards waved us through. They'd been a bit bewildered by the sight of three girls carrying a carriage, but they didn't ask any questions after noticing Lucy. I suppose such feats of strength were expected from the Heroine and her companions.
"I'm
fine
!" Grell insisted.
