They hadn't reached 10 kilometers yet and they were all already dead of exhaustion and hunger… except from Coco, of course.
William was sweating as he scooted further on the ground like an earthworm.
Soon enough, Coco got annoyed as he looked down at him.
''Bro. Even your sister didn't die yet. You'll go underground later.
-Maybe…'' he choked out breathlessly. ''But we're so tired… we've been walking for hours…'' a pause, then— ''Did you just say I'd go to hell—?
-Maybe.''
William pouted.
Leyla leaned against Coco's chest out of exhaustion.
Coco sighs and transforms into a tiger… without any lines—
Leyla was now sitting on his back.
He gripped William's shirt and pulled him onto his back as well.
''Alright… we can go fishing and drink some water…
William and Leyla both smile brightly at that.
''But you'll have to do all the work.''
Their smiles instantly fade for some reason.
Arriving at a small lake, Coco slaps William with his tail.
''HEY—!''
Ahhhhh… such lovely noises…
Both William and Leyla stand up from Coco's back and look down at the fishes in the water.
William's stomach grumbled as he searched for a long, wooden stick.
When he found one, he smiled lightly and attached it to a thin file that he threw into the water.
He was about to sit down, when Coco pushed him sharply, whose appearance turned back into a human one.
''What—''
Before William could properly register what had just happened, his home-made fishing rod.
He stared at it with a pained smile and shrugged.
''What's the plan…?
-You need to use your powers to fish and to drink potable water.'' Coco said with a huge, excited smile.
Leyla and William looked at each other, as if deciding whether to drown themselves in the water or actually doing what Coco said—
They both sighed and reluctantly used their magic.
Leyla closed her eyes and concentrated.
The air around her slowly and gently blew around her like a giant air-ball.
Her blond curls lifted slightly because of the wind as she took a deep breath.
''Windo watero celestié…''
The air was heavy with tension.
A proud smile was slowly forming on William's lips.
Coco shrugged indifferently.
''Windo watero celestié.''
The starry sky turned darker as birds started flying away…
Leyla, with her eyes still closed, started frowning softly to concentrate better. The water in the lake started trembling…
Coco's lips were pressed in a thin line, trying to gauge if that girl was actually worth keeping around…
''Windo…''
She started.
''Watero…''
One last time…
''Celestié.''
The sky returned into its usual color and then…
William farted.
Coco snorted before bursting out laughing and pushing William again.
He yelped and looked at Coco with a murderous look… not that he could kill him anyway—
He just sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with a dark blush.
'Coco is a pet.'
He told himself.
'He doesn't know what he's doing.'
He took a deep breath.
'It's the same thing when a cat scratches you because of too many strokes.'
He glared at Coco.
'He doesn't know what he's doing…'
He closes his eyes.
'He…'
Coco pokes his cheek.
'Doesn't…'
Coco yanks on his hair.
'Know what he's doing.'
Coco slaps him.
Okay, that was enough.
William lunged forward and pinned Coco to the ground.
Coco stopped laughing abruptly and looked up at him with wide eyes.
''How dare you—?!''
Coco slapped him again and stood up.
He brushed off his clothes and looked at William as if he was crazy.
''What did I even do wrong?''
William's jaw drops.
''What did you do wro— are you serious right now?!?!!''
He was about to lunge forward again, but Leyla stopped him.
She looked up at him with her innocent green eyes and prayed that he would stop this…
William softens at her interruption and sighs.
''I'm sorry…''
He gently pats his head with a soft smile.
He looks back at Coco with a forced smile and says through gritted teeth:
''I should apologize to you too, Coco… I shouldn't have hurt you like that…''
Coco shrugs.
''You didn't hurt me. You're too weak for that.
-Oh—
-Anyway… I forgive you.''
Coco smiles at him and steps in with a wide smile.
William relaxes and smiles.
''Thank you, Coco…''
Coco grins and pushes William into the lake—
''MOTHERFU—!!!!''
He gasps for air as he tries to stay afloat…
Only to realize that he could reach the ground.
Thirty minutes later, Leyla was trying her spell again.
William left to search for wood to make a fire, and Coco was preparing seats for them to rest near the fire.
He glanced at Leyla, who was taking several deep breathes to concentrate. He wanted to roll his eyes at the sight, but Leyla's concentration and devotion made him think of… Capricorn.
He walked up to her and stared at her closely.
When Leyla opened her eyes, she was surprised at how close he was. She pushes him away out of reflex, causing him to stumble backwards…
He blinks at her and sighs.
''You take too much time to concentrate… you should be concentrating so much for a hard spell. Not a levitation one…''
He looks down at the lake.
''You wanted to levitate the fishes, right??''
She slowly nods and looks down, a little ashamed by his words.
Coco didn't notice it and kept talking.
''You only managed to levitate something else…''
He snorts at the thought.
''But it wasn't that bad. ANYWAYS. You need to learn how to believe in yourself thanks to the pOwEr Of FrIeNdShIp! Kidding— ahem— but seriously, you need to learn how to be confident.''
Leyla blushes softly in embarrassment.
''I'm trying… but it's hard…'' she mumbles. ''I am not a God like Silver or Adam…''
She sighs.
Coco blinks at her before bursting out laughing.
''BAHAHAHAHAHA— Silver isn't a Goddess!!! Only Capricorn is!'' His laugh dies down before he looks at her properly.
He gently grips her shoulders and leans in.
''Buddy, even if you aren't a God, you still are somebody. At least, you have your older brother. Try to think of him while casting the spell..! I'm not sure if it'll work, but you can still try…?''
Leyla thought about it for a while… but she reluctantly agreed.
''Windo Watero Celestié…''
William came out of a bush at a small distance. He looked at them curiously and clutched at the wood in his arms harder.
He paused in his tracks and looked at Leyla. He didn't want to just go out there and disturb her…
He hid back in the bush and crouched down.
He had an encouraging smile on his lips.
She stretched her arms before her.
The air shifted—
A light wind started blowing around her and Coco.
The water trembled… and then… a small sphere of water levitated. With a fish inside.
A small smile plastered on Coco's lips.
And before he could do anything else, William abruptly stood up and ran towards them.
''LEYLA!!!! GOOD JOB! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!''
The sudden voice made her eyes open, and the water fall back into the lake.
Coco's eye twitched.
He took a deep breath and reminded himself of what Capricorn told him: killing people isn't good.
He sighed and punched William's arm when he arrived.
''Ow…!'' William yelped.
But he didn't have a say in the matter, so he just pouted.
Coco turned to Leyla and cracked a small smile.
''Alright, little lady. It counts. You get a fish.''
He shape-shifted into a tiger again and lunged into the water. He caught a fish with his teeth and brought it to Leyla.
Her face lightened up as she took the fish with a light giggle.
William smiled at Coco sweetly— a little too sweetly— and asked:
''Can I—?
-No. Leyla tried and succeeded. Before YOU came. While you didn't even try.''
William pouted again and sighed.
''How many kilometers are there left anyway?
-70 kilometers to reach the mountain.''
This time, William fainted.
Probably out of fatigue…