TRAILING SHADOWS

"But, believe you me… Sunday, you cannot always rely on the Soul bond. To put total trust in people other than yourself is you deliberately and happily courting death, Sunday." Niniola said, shrugging at him as he now rose from the ground.

Sunday bent, dusting his dusty trousers on the back, not giving her any facial attention.

"Look, Sunday. I know this might sound somehow but unless you learn to rely on yourself most of the times, you are..." She sighed, exhaling with trembling shoulders.

'She... Your girlfriend is right, you know.' Bane called out from within Sunday. 'You cannot always rely on me. Not at all '

'I don't remember asking you for your suggestions. You have always not wanted me not to rely on you so why are you blaring that out? Besides, whether or not you agree. You Are. My. Soul. Bond' Sunday yelled out mentally at the form of the Prickled Bane Winged Wolf.

'I'm serious, Sunday.' Bane rumpled his wings before stretching. He splayed his feathers wide, yapping at the air. ' I am being serious here. Forget how things were in the past. If you truly want to keep your head in the long run, you should learn some moves yourself. Because while I boost your power, I cannot entirely and adequately be sufficient for you over time.' Bane flapped his large wings twice, settling down on his hump.

'Why?' Sunday, in his soul space asked. Below him was a water poodle, as before. In the far distance, just beyond the cage restraints of Bane was the little burning fumes of dark miasma.

Seeing it, Sunday wondered just what it was. Ever since the incident with the Wolf, he had begun to notice that speck of darkness in the far end of his Soul Space.

And no matter how he tried to reach it, he just never got to it.

Perhaps, he reasoned, that might just be the way with which he could get in contact with Trixius the great? But then again, how could he? When each time he tried to get close, the shadowy stuff seemed to get farther and farther from sight and reach.

He drove the thoughts of this into the back of his mind as he focused on what was before him.

He'd never seen Bane be as serious as this. At least, without throwing sarcastic remarks or telling him he was only helping because if Sunday died, he was going to be trapped in there.

'Why?' He repeated his question, waking through the poodle to reach the bars again. So far, he had noticed that when he got into his Soul space, he never appeared close to Bane, even if he had his been communicating with him in the last second.

The moment he left the Soul Space and re-entered, he was back in the distance, away from Bane.

'Why? Your girlfriend already said it. You are going to pass through Orun Apaadi. If you keep relying on me, you just might never make it." Bane muttered, watching Sunday seat and crumple his back against the metal bars of his cage.

'In Orun Apaadi, demons don't exactly fight the way battles take place. They are dirty, using underhanded tactics just as far as it gets them your soul severed from your spirit. ' Bane scowled at this. 'Ive had my fair share of them back then. As you know, I am a Rare Type Wolf and by biology, I am drawn towards fated beings, beings who are making disruption in Fate stream. One of those beings are readily demons. I am telling you, Sunday. We might just get into Orun Apaadi and I would be ripped out, forcefully extracted from you in a blink, especially now that I am vulnerable in this state that I exist in. And when that happens, what becomes of you, without me?' Bane said, lowering his head, his snout coming before Sunday's frozen face.

"Sunday, are...are you listening to me?" Ninola's voice jolt him back to reality. "Sunday... Is what I said unsettling you?" Ninila asked, looking enquiringly at his face.

Thud!

Ninola looked back at the source of the sound. She sees Tayo in his back, one knee stretched out while the other leg remains flat on the ground, his head inside the tent a bit.

She rolled her eyes at this, seeing the law of war practitioner chomping down on one of the roast meat.

"Sunday." She turned back to Sunday. "Listen to me. I am not trying to bring your spirits down but what if we get into Orun Apaadi. I mean, you... What if you get into Orun Apaadi and then, unluckily, you arrive the area dominated by Law of Envy Experts. You know what they will do?" Niniola asked, cramping her neck and shoulders together in an exaggerated motion, gesticulating. "They will simply cast their techniques and split the Prickled Bane Wolf from you in an instant. I've been in Orun Apaadi for longer than you would be, so far. I know how it works and I know the demons would do anything to steal away whatever advantage you have over them. And the moment they notice your strength come from a soulbond, oh wow... You're done for!

Do you want that? Do you want to be forcefully split from the Wolf in just a heartbeat?" Niniola asked him.

Sunday s.u.c.k.e.d in air at her words. He was beginning to understand what she meant. He had never been in Orun Apaadi after all. 

And everything that was being said pointed out to the fact that he was not strong yet.

Not at all.

"That's why I have to be there with you. So that I can assist you for as long as it takes us to find a dimensional gateway into Eledumare's pet planet."

"Wow!" Ibiyemi cooed, her eyes glittering with interest. "So, in other words, despite how powerful Sunday is right now. He still has to get strong on his own terms. Nice."

CHOMP! NOM. NOM...

Ibiyemi scowled briefly at the loud biting sounds from Tayo. She turned her back to look at the Irunmole who lay down on his back, not a worry to be seen on his cloaked face.

CHOMP!! NOM...NOM... NOM...

" I have an idea, Niniola. Why don't you train Sunday. And since I also need to get strong too, mister noisy eater can teach me on what I need to get strong too." Ibiyemi suggested, turning towards Niniola now.

"Well, I guess we can work with that!" Niniola shrugged, turning towards the fire. "So, Sunday, rest up or train up. By First Dawn, I am not taking it easy on you " She smirked, picking one roast meat and biting delightfully into it.