The walk to the border couldn't have been more than a mile, but Trinity's thoughts were elsewhere. She was trying to picture Takeo's town before she transported them to New York. She was imagining houses, not just plain, feeble tents they have now. The town would be booming with small businesses and people walking around with friends and family, making conversations with all those they meet. How could the king have destroyed such a beautiful place? He should pay for all he's "Oof!".

Trinity ran into Takeo who had suddenly stopped. "Stay back." he held his arm behind him and crouched to the road.

"What's going on?" She followed his lead and made herself appear small, almost laying in the leaves and other debris that covered the road.

"Be quiet." he hissed. "There's something out there."

Trinity had been too busy daydreaming to notice the rustling in the bushes. Shit. She steadied the staffs she had been carrying, getting ready to swing at whatever came out of the forest.

"Hold." Takeo held his hand up in a fist as he started to rise and prepare himself for a fight. As Takeo began to inch forward, a fawn emerged from the trees.

Trinity let out a breath as Takeo started laughing. The fawn looked up at him an darted back towards the forest in which it had emerged.

"Thanks for the heart attack." Trinity said sarcastically, "I really appreciate it."

Takeo winked and replied "Any time." He glanced behind them as the sun started to set. "Do you want to keep going or head back?"

Trinity observed the sky. "We can't be too much longer, plus I think we have enough stuff to camp out here for a week."

"So, that means keep going?"

"Yes, Takeo. It means keep moving." She shooed him forward as he jokingly stuck out his tongue at her. 

They finally set up camp fifteen more minutes down the road on the other side of the wall they had passed when they first arrived in Martialis. It covered them from the road and the trees covered their backs, but other than that, they were back in an open, green field.

"Is this enough?" Trinity asked, "Can this hide us from the king?"

"Hopefully, they still think we are in the town and leave us alone for a while."

The town. "Should we have done more to help? Do you think they'll punish them for us running?" Her head was spinning. She didn't know what she would do if innocent people go hurt  because of her. "She looked up at Takeo, "Should we go back?"

He walked over to her slowly, approaching her as if she were the fawn, gently cupping her face, "The village is best protected if you survive. If you can defeat the king, Matialis will be free again and will be able to thrive." He softly rubbed his thumb across her jaw. "You are more precious than any one and they may seem weak, but I've seen people who have less fight harder for more. You have to trust them and me."

"I trust you." She whispered.

The wind was picking up and blowing Takeo's hair in all directions, but Trinity was only focused on his eyes. They darted over every aspect of her face, landing on her lips. They stood there for a second more before Takeo sighed and took a step back. He smiled, "I know, and I trust you too. Now are you ready to begin our training."

Trinity was suddenly breathless, but managed to say, "Sure."

Takeo's smile widened, "Let's start by setting up the tents." He tossed his bag to Trinity, "Lesson one, the camp."