". . . Donkey, my friend."
I rested my right arm and leaned against his body.
"Friend?"
What dirty fur. Why did I lean on him?
"Hmm, yes, you are my friend, a great Do... A great pure-blooded Horse."
There are so many flies flying around Donkey's ears. It's worse than Lyra.
"Kaela, I am aware that I am a pure-blooded Horse, delicate and sensitive to manual labor, however..."
"However?"
He really thinks he's amazing.
"I am not your friend."
"What!!!?"
Calm down, Kaela. Don't lose your composure.
"Hahahaha, Kaela, you just got rejected by Donkey."
Lyra!
"Hmm, Donkey, your words hurt my heart. I am opening myself up to you."
Wait, that sounded weird.
"I am here to explain the importance you have in my life, like a brother I always wished for but never had."
"Waaaaah!"
"Kaela, are you..."
"Donkey, I'm sorry. I couldn't contain my happiness."
"Kaela, count on me."
So that I don't...
"Me too."
Don't squeeze me.
"Me too."
Don't pull my chest.
"Thank you very much, everyone. You are my true friends, unlike Donkey, who thinks he is an elegant Horse but attacks me without mercy at the first chance."
"I don't do this nonsense."
I won.
"Thank you, everyone, for supporting me. Don't listen to this lying animal."
I'm running out of air. Don't squeeze me.
"Kaela, I'm your friend too. You can count on me for anything."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Donkey's tail was wagging uncontrollably.
Like a dog waiting for an order from its owner.
He was missing only the barking.
"Carry me up the mountain?"
". . ."
"Pfft!"
"Hey, everyone, don't hit me."
Kaela, we believed you were really crying.
"Smack!"
"And I almost believed you were going to find me a woman."
"Dorian, when did I ever promise that?"
"Step on her until nothing remains."
Lyra, you traitor.
"No, Donkey, don't rub your butt on my face."
". . ."
"Rest in peace."
"I'm not dead!"
My... my body hurts. I can't feel my legs. I want my mother.
"You bunch of bastards."
You are nothing without me.
"Hahahah!"
Donkey, remember that those who laugh last laugh best. Ow, my body.
"Wow, that move was incredible. Teach me?"
"Lyra, someday I will teach you."
"Incredible, are you a hero?"
Everyone, don't be fooled by this Donkey.
"Now I'm the leader here. Any objections?"
I have one, but my voice refuses to come out.
"No one is against it, so let's create a plan to climb this mountain."
Donkey started eating grass.
"I, I have an idea for climbing."
"Chomp!"
It didn't matter if the plant was green or dry, he devoured everything.
"This grass is delicious. What is your idea, Lyra?"
If someone helped me stand up, I would jump onto Donkey's back.
"My master once told me this: if the mountain prevents you from climbing from the front, then climb it backward."
What?
"Excellent, Lyra. Applaud her."
Donkey was ecstatic.
"Clap clap."
"Thank you, thank you."
Seraphine and Dorian, don't believe these crazy people.
"How do you plan to climb backward if we don't have rope?"
"Silence, commoner."
Commoner is your grandmother. Donkey, you're bold.
"Does anyone have another opinion?"
"We should not use my plan."
"Lyra, maybe someday."
Hahaha, it's so good watching this circus performance.
"I have a plan."
Let's see Seraphine's clown plan. The circus cannot stop.
"Donkey, you need to move away and run at full speed, and when we are halfway up the mountain, we jump so you can climb to the top."
"Hahahaha, my stomach hurts. That's your plan?"
"Silence, commoner."
Then perish. Jump from up there yourselves.
"Seraphine."
Donkey grabbed a bundle of green grass.
"What, cute Donkey?"
I could no longer see Donkey because of all the flies covering his body.
"Take this grass and keep cutting it."
"Never ask me for affection again."
Seraphine actually cut it even while being pushed.
This is beautiful to my eyes.
"Dorian, my womanizer friend, do you have any plan? I know you're as intelligent as me, a horse with an IQ of over two hundred."
IQ of two hundred? Definitely, but with a minus sign in front.
"It is so good having a four-legged partner who shares my tastes, meaning a passion for women. However, there is one problem."
"Rip!"
Dorian tore his shirt.
"What's the problem?"
"Mortar..."
Dorian rubbed the cloth against Mortar's eyes.
"This beautiful woman is afraid of heights."
"Shut up."
"I didn't say anything."
"But you intended to."
Grrr... Donkey, your end is near...
Ow, I bit my tongue.
"Dorian, you make me proud. I truly see in your soul the fire of desire for women, however..."
"Hey, don't come near me. Don't hit me."
Ow!
Huh?
"Kaela."
What?
"You are the leader again."
"But you already gave up? Aren't you superior to all of us?"
Donkey walked away with his tail between his legs.
"You filthy people, I will never forget what you did to me."
Silence.
"But while you were arguing about each other's nonsense, I managed to create the perfect plan that will take us to Asterium."
"Kaela, we will do whatever you ask."
". . ."
"Push."
"Kaela, I can't."
"No crying, Seraphine."
"Push."
"My arms hurt."
Dorian, I don't want to hear excuses.
"Push."
"How... dare you? I have no energy."
"Donkey, you just ate."
"Push."
Where is Lyra? Did she fall while pushing the cart?
"Crack!"
"Ah, my back! Who hit me?"
"Strength, slaves."
"Lyra, what are you doing on the cart? You were supposed to help us push."
"Hahaha, joke. I am Lyra Fluxart, the demon hunter. I refuse to work for scum like you."
"Crack!"
"Ouch."
And so we continued the entire way up the mountain.
After the thirtieth whip strike, I lost track of time and don't know how many happened until we reached the mountain's peak.
"We arrived, slaves. I don't need you anymore."
"Lyra, I'm going to beat you up."
"Don't hit me."
Take this flick to the forehead...
"Look over there."
Lyra pointed.
"What?"
All my friends were left speechless.
I had never seen anything like that city.