Rem's face was still tinged with embarrassment from Amaia's reminder about the side road when Amaia spoke again, her voice amused. "My lady, yes, really, this is a side road. Do you want to backtrack to the main road, or continue on this one? From the orbital surveillance aboard the Arc, this road also leads to the Dark Forest, which is ultimately our destination. We'll just encounter monsters more frequently here since Darkgloom's soldiers don't patrol these routes to curtail the population. We could eliminate them as a gesture of good faith for the Adventurers Guild. Cindy Lou said our Guild IDs track monsters we kill even if we don't bring back the body parts. The more we kill, the better our reputation and rank within the guild. Adventurers are the primary front line against monster incursions beside the military. They protect the light races on the surface and the Underworld's dark races."
Rem stopped walking, adjusting Ciara in her arms. She studied Amaia's words as if weighing them. "Actually, Amaia that's not a half-bad idea. Establishing ourselves as powerful monster vanquishers will help our reputations. The higher we rise in rank in the guild, the more doors will open to solve how fragments of magic and humanity's technology ended up here on Elsera." Rem's eyes moved across the treeline and then back to the empty road ahead. "But honestly would it kill the dwarves to build a train to the Dark Forest? The entrance to the Underworld is buried inside that gloomy place, and on top of that, the border crossing manned by the dark elves. This world is more tightly regulated than Earth people sneak across borders there all of the time. Still, once we get to Verda, I will learn the Dark Elf queen's name and gather more information about their spider goddess, Lilith."
Rem adjusted Ciara in her arms again, the fox curling comfortably against her chest. "Your plan has merit, Amaia. We will continue going this way, takeing down goblins and whatever else comes at us on the way, and maybe even locate their nest. From what I read at the Guild, surface goblins don't live in caves like the stories from Earth. They camp out in the open. Let's track them down. Hopefully, we won't run into survivors last thing I want is them dragging us back to Darkgloom."
Amaia dipped her head slightly, her tone respectful. "Actually, my lady, you're forgetting the Arc is orbiting this planet. We can use orbital surveillance to locate the goblin nest easily. If we needed to, we could even deploy more magical constructs or other creations aboard the Arc to clear it. There's no need to wander aimlessly."
Rem stiffened, straightening her back, her chin rising as she declared, "Of course! That was my plan all along, Amaia. I was just about to propose it to you. My idea is brilliant, isn't it?"
Catching on immediately, Amaia placed one hand against her chest and bowed her head. "Yes, yes, my lady. A brilliant idea indeed. Using orbital surveillance to track the nest I can't believe I didn't think of that myself."
Rem's lips curved up faintly in satisfaction. She nodded with authority. Ciara punctuated the moment with a soft "mew."
Rem looked down at the fox. "See, Amaia? Even Ciara agrees with my brilliant idea."
Amaia let out a soft laugh, the edges of her voice almost warm, and bowed lightly. "My lady's insights and wisdom are as perfect as ever."
Amaia raised her wrist, a faint glow running across the runes etched into her armor as she linked to the Arc above. Silent communication passed, data feeding into her mind. After a moment, she turned back. "My lady, if you will follow me, I will show you the way to the goblin nest. If we destroy it, the goblins will stop plaguing this road for quite some time."
Rem adjusted Ciara one last time and pointed ahead. "Go ahead and lead the way, Amaia. Ciara and I will follow. And this time, when we get there, let me join the battle. Ciara needs her exercise. And I still need to figure out what to feed her." Rem's eyes dropped to the fox in her arms. "Do you think she would like goblin?"
Ciara hissed sharply, her ears folding back, her tails bristling.
"Okay, okay, Ciara," Rem soothed quickly, rubbing her head. "I'll get you some beef from the Arc. We will arrange it. For after we clear out the goblins, we will have a nice picnic instead."
Amaia gave a curt nod. "Understood, my lady."
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