"What in the hells happened to the ATV?"
I asked as we all regrouped at the ATV before heading out, the sun still slightly hidden by the horizon marking that summer was beginning to come to an end.
The ATV seemed almost like a different vehicle with the change in both shape, size, and more. Large circular spotlights shone ahead on the road from above the windshield bolted to what seemed to be a new metal roof rack. A New plate with a spell of some kind sat suspended in the center console, the rings of the magic circle bouncing up and down as if balloons on elastic strings. The plates around the ATV were thicker, with several sporting more magic circles, these ones lying dormant and quiet. The engine hummed with a smoothness that was unusual for what it had been as it seems even the engine had received some changes. There was even a small arm sitting near the passenger seat, another magic circle was pulsing as Aiden and Selene sat in the front seats.
"L-Look, look, it works. I Can see your HP and everything"
Selene said, sounding excited as she swiveled the small arm to show Aiden something.
However the trailer seemed to have gotten the most dramatic overhaul. It had been a simple roofless trailer where the passengers had used our sleeping bags as seats while we bounced along. When it rained we had to hook up the tarp in a makeshift rain cover, so while it was better than walking, it wasn't comfortable.
The trailer was longer by a good 6 ft, the entire thing was covered with a front hatch for people who wanted to head up to the Ballista. Several hatches sat on both sides and seemed to be where Liora was placing our luggage inside. The same plates that covered the ATV seemed to be covering the trailer. A small spinning circular thing spun on top of the trailer with its purpose being unknown. I looked over to Jax and Beatrice who were starring slack jawed into what was the lowered ramp at the back of the trailer.
Making my way over I looked inside and I saw why they seemed so surprised.
The interior was completely changed, no longer was the trailer a flat spot with wheels and small walls to keep cargo on it. There were padded seats, and even a table. Cabinets lined one side of the walls, as on the other there was even a small side space that looked to be set up with a sleeping space.
"When did this happen?"
Beatrice asked as she walked inside and ran her tail along the interior of the new trailer as if not sure if it was an illusion or not. Liora walked back with a smug look on her face.
"Like the upgrades we got?"
I turned to Liora as I asked.
"How much was it to buy these upgrades?"
Liora shrugged as she put her hands on her hips and said.
"In total, a little over 8k, but Aiden, Selene and I divided the bill, and the upgrades are totally worth it."
Liora led us inside as she began to point out our different upgrades.
"We got Spotlights, driver assistance, emergency shields, mending magic, an engine upgrade, a health checker thing, an Auto Eject system, Interior living spaces, Air conditioning for cab and trailer, and insect repellent."
The last one caught my attention more than I would like to admit. Because when it comes to the tales of adventurers, they never tell you just how many mosquitoes are everywhere at night. Especially when your in a sleeping bag. Part of the reason we always make a fire is because the smoke wards some of them off, but the times we have woken up with less blood because of the little leeches is more than I would like to count.
As we all loaded up to head out, we practically sank into the nice cushioning of the seats as Liora, Jax, Beatrice and I let out a contented sigh. The normal jarring, sharp bounced that made the ride better than walking, but not completely comfortable were gone, replaced by the simple pleasure of suspension and cushioned seats.
Jax and Beatrice moved to the Ballista platform after a bit, and while Liora began to follow them to annoy them, I used my strings to pull her back. She had embarrassed the pair enough yesterday to the point where they couldn't look each other in the face without turning away embarrassed. It makes me wonder if the concept of romance was only brought up in their minds when Liora brought it up. While I was not someone who would say I follow romance as a hobby, I must say it is rather fun to watch the two being awkward around each other. I found myself preparing to take a nap when Liora put a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, Thalia, I have a question."
I turned back to Liora. Normally I would say ask me after I took a nap, but there was something about her tone that made me pause as I turned back to her.
"That is?"
Liora seemed to fidget for a moment before she looked at me, and almost like her words were running over each other to get out of her mouth she asked.
"Is there a way to make Ymer dying look like an accident?"
I looked back to Liora with a silent expression. Her eyes were too soft to be asking questions like this.
"There are several ways, but you can't do it."
Liora gave me a scowl as I felt the air begin to shiver around me as Liora's mana unconsciously seeped out. I twitched my finger, letting a single string trail out as I began to worm it on the ground and behind Liora and through one of the supports in the roof of the trailer.
"Are you defending that man right now?"
Liora asked, her voice dangerously quiet. I shook my head as I said.
"No, I agree, he needs to be dealt with. His pride will always make him come back, and because of his class, pain won't be a motivation to avoid us. What I'm saying is that you can't do it."
I let my string trail up as it made a slow circle around Liora's neck before knotting itself, Liora seemed oblivious to this. She seemed bewildered as she said.
"I Don't."
I cut her off by flicking my hand, not to hurt her, but to tighten my string enough that she could feel where it was as well as how I could drag her up if need be. Liora froze, a look of shock and a pale fear on her face as she felt my string tighten and pull slightly. Her eyes met mine as I centered myself and forced myself back to that day. The feeling of emptiness and silence that came from what I had done as I met Liora's eyes with my own empty ones.
"The mind is a powerful thing, but the body has its own instincts, one of those is to avoid killing others like you."
I released my string as Liora held her neck and audibly gulped, but continued to watch as I slowly paced.
"People get over this instinct in 3 ways. The first is by dehumanizing, ripping away what makes someone like you, labels like the enemy, or savages. Its how soldiers do it. The second is out of desperation, in moments where one can only await death, the body is more lenient on what it does and doesn't try to stop."
I waited for a moment, for the inevitable question Liora would have as she asked.
"And the final way?"
I turned back to her and said simply.
"Thats simple, you have to take the proverbial cold plunge and get your first kill, it only gets easier from there."
I began to lay down in the small sleeping Hollow as Liora asked me.
"How do you even know this?"
"It's the eyes, that faint emptiness it is like something was lost. Jax has it, Beatrice has it, Selene has it. Only you and Aiden are still fresh in that regard. As for why I know it works, I won't answer. All I will say is to let my past sit until It's the right time to reveal it."
Liora didn't say anything after that, she just stared at me for a bit before heading out the side hatch and from the sounds of it, laid down on the roof of the trailer.
I pulled my pillow into my head as if that would help silence the echoes of that day in my mind, my body shivering from a distant fear and lingering nausea from that day as the voice of a much younger me echoes crying out for grandpa.