New World

Chapter 18 - A clumsy girl

After a day and a half, we were finally in the Fire Nation. We only stopped once, and that was to let Ace rest and to get food for ourselves in a small border town in the Fire Nation.

Afterward, we increased our pace and spent our time playing that same card game Chelsea showed us. I was hoping Jay would explain what happened in the Kingdom, but I understood he wanted to wait until we were with Sara to talk about it.

———

"It's too calm..." Jay said out of the blue, sitting down on the steering seat.

"What do you mean? Isn't that a good thing?" I asked.

"Ace, is there anyone around us?"

"Okay, listen. Jay, I know you have a connection with Ace but he can't—"

Ace didn't speak, but he unquestionably answered Jay's question making him shoot up. His face grew concerned as he looked around.

"What's wrong!" I asked as I sat up.

"I think something is watching us. Ace!"

Ace stopped dead in his tracks, tossing Chelsea and I forward, ruining the game we were playing as well as my only chance to win.

"Oh, are you talking about her? I didn't say anything because I thought you had already noticed her," Chelsea said pointing at someone coming toward us.

She must have been following us for quite some time. A young girl in a large hat slowly walked out of the forest and was approaching us. She raised the staff in her hand and aimed it at us. I felt the energy gradually moving towards her, and she began to chant.

"Oh, merciful and all-seeing God. Hear my prayer and grant me your vast power, may your power fall over my quarry. I ask of thee for this wish for I am one of your chosen children. Grant me your immeasurable strength so I may—"

Before she could finish her chant, she fell. No, I think she might have tripped over something.

"Idiot!" Jay and Chelsea said as they hid their faces in disappointment.

Jay jumped out of the carriage to help her up and brought her to us. She was clinging onto Jay, with a few tears starting to surface.

"Honestly, what is wrong with you? Can't you act a little more normal!" Jay said as he laid her in the carriage.

"Who is this?" I asked while looking at her.

"Well, this is Mia. She is about two years younger than you. She is another one of Sara's friends from the Air Nation."

She seemed to be a little taller then Aiko. She was holding a staff with a crescent moon shining on top of it, and her clothes looked somewhat different from ours, probably a style of choice in the Wind Nation. Although, I assumed the oversized hat was not a common choice. Her eyes looked to be hazel, and her hair was a very dark brown, borderline black.

"Give me one valid reason for attacking us?" Jay questioned as if to scold her.

"I thought you were bad guys," she said as she wiped her tears away.

"Alright. Now tell me why you're in the middle of the forest? Are you trying to visit Sara?"

She nodded in agreement making Jay sigh as he sat down at the edge of the carriage.

"Please tell me you didn't walk here all the way from the Air Temple. And you better not have left without permission again!" he said as if he was an unhappy father which amused me.

"I didn't! I got a stamp of approval, and I just hitchhiked up to this point. Here, look!" she said as she reached into her pocket.

She grabbed a piece of paper and passed it to Jay. Jay glanced over it and returned it back to her with a sigh.