Storm and Leyocan continued to discussed how they were going to reach Arcadia.
Leyocan's birth clan was located in the city of Kingsport, and the plan was to meet up with them and request their aid in transporting them to Arcadia.
The captain in charge of the Kingsport Clan's ship was a dwarf by the name of Gavin.
As Kingsport's main purpose was to be a trade center, Ships frequently docked to unload their cargo, before the goods are loaded into wagons to be distributed to the other landlocked kingdoms.
It was considered one of the largest and most prosperous Port Cities in the kingdoms.
"Will you be introducing us to your contact, then returning to Northburg?"
"No, I'll be staying with you and helping you with your investigations." Replied Leyocan.
"I must warn you! This mission is going to take a while!
The trip by ship will be atleast 2 weeks to get there and we have no idea how long the investigation itself will take!" Said Storm.
"I'm aware, and I've already made arrangements for an extended leave of absence.
Things have been quiet in Northburg since our little 'riot' through it's streets." Said Leyocan
"Speaking off... how did you get here so quickly? The trip by carriage took us several days?" Asked Storm .
Leyocan grinned.
"We Nogitsune have our ways!"
"I don't suppose you can use those 'ways' to get us to our destination quicker?" Asked Storm.
Leyocan shook his head.
"Sadly... the ocean is an barrier that cannot be crossed by quicker means."
Truthfully, the situation was frustrating for Storm.
He and Aurora could easily reach the island by flight in a significantly quicker time.
But because of the magical defenses and the amount of ship traffic around the island, they would be detected long before their feet touched the soil.
As a result they were forced to use the much slower travel by ship to reach the city undetected.
Something of his mood must have showed on his face because Leyocan addressed his concerns.
"This is for the best, Storm. I need time to get a message to our contact and get our identities set up.
You and Aurora need to train your magic and get it up to standard. Everything will work out."
"I know, I know! But I'm worried about my uncle! The last message he sent gave me a very bad feeling. " answered Storm.
Storm suddenly realized something that he should have addressed long ago.
"Speaking off... How's 'your' magical knowledge?!
If our investigation takes us to the Arcanium, then we're going to have to infiltrate them in some way.
"I can hold my own. Don't worry about me.
Besides, when rogues like me encounter a insurmountable obstacle, then we just 'cheat' our way past it."
They made some additional plans if things went bad, then they both decided to get some rest.
Leyocan left to go find a empty cave to sleep in, leaving Storm alone until Aurora joined him.
As the plan was to set off at first light, Storm and Aurora both decided to skip their 'nightly activities', and go straight to sleep.
The next morning, Storm, Aurora and Leyocan met up at the entrance of the hideout.
Storm had gone and retrieved Mimereus's crystal and he was safely packed away among their bags of supplies.
"Guard his crystal well, Storm. He's defenseless in that form!
If anyone of ill intent managed to steal his crystal, he'd be no better than a slave, trapped in an inescapable prison. " warned the Grans.
"I will guard him with everything that I have!" Replied Storm.
Their plan was to travel across the wilderness as this was the fastest way to reach the city.
Leyocan warned against flying as a series of lookout posts had been erected around the mountain ranges.
Aurora volunteered to help carry the few bags of supplies that they chose to bring, but Storm immediately declined and insisted that all the bags be secured to his back.
Aurora did not seem to like being coddled and she was currently sitting by herself with a pout in her face.
Augustus and the others were currently securing the travel bags that mostly consisted of extra sets of clothes and some preserved food.
They didn't want to waste valuable time hunting and running the risk of being spotted by humans.
So they choose to carry their meals with them on the journey.
Storm eyed Leyocan's fox form suspiciously.
He seemed like a perfectly regular fox, if not for his black fur and red eyes and was no bigger than a regular housecat.
His extra tails were hidden and he currently only had a single bushy fox tail visible.
"Are you sure you will be able to keep up with us in that form?
I can ask someone to fetch you a horse if you'd like?" Asked Storm.
Leyocan's black fur stood on end and he briefly bared his teeth, before his expression changed to that of a naughty grin.
"Sounds like a challenge to me?! Want to bet on it?! Loser makes supper tonight?!"
Storm grinned in response.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!!" Warned Mimereus.
Storm ignored his warning.
"Deal!!" Exclaimed Storm.
Aurora rolled her eyes.
"Count me out of this childish game!" Aurora Exclaimed.
Leyocan and Storm took up positions beside each other and crouched down.
"Would you please start the countdown, Grombrim?" Asked Storm.
Grombrim grumbled in annoyance, but moved in front of them to start their foot race.
"On your marks."
"Get set."
"Sod off." Called the dwarf dryly.
They both took off running and Storm soon took the lead.
Leyocan was fast, but there was no way he'd be able to keep up with a dragon's longer stride.
"Hope you know what you signed up for!! You have no idea how much a grown dragon can eat!!" Thought Storm.
Movement ahead of him suddenly caught Storm's eye.
He stared mouth agape as a black fox suddenly leaped out of a shadow far ahead.
It jumped at a tree, using the branches as platforms, before diving into the next shadow and disappearing from view.
"THAT'S CHEATING!!!" Called Storm in annoyance.
"I tried to warn you!!
Nogitsune are skilled shadow weavers and shadow jumping is one of the first skills a shadow weaver learns!!" Exclaimed Mimereus.
At day's end they were all sitting in a well hidden grove they had chosen to spend the night in.
Leyocan was licking clean his front paw with a smug grin on his face, while Storm had a nasty scowl on his face.
Aurora was trying her best not to burst out laughing at the sight.
"I don't suppose you have duck in your supplies do you?" Asked Leyocan.
Storm averted his eyes and gave no response.
"A pity. I suppose fowl will have to suffice then. " joked Leyocan .