Artoria fled in defeat (or rather, victory), leaving Sovell alone, disheveled in the wind.
Ah, quite literally disheveled in the wind.
The instant that warm, soft sensation touched his lips, Sovell felt his body temperature shoot straight up.
His body subconsciously drew wind elements down through him from head to toe, attempting to cool him physically.
Sadly, even as the wind sent the mane of the Kelpie in front of the carriage flying every which way, Sovell's temperature remained stubbornly high.
The Kelpie's mane grew messier and messier, and the person behind the Kelpie even seemed intent on making things worse.
At last, the Kelpie could stand it no longer. Using a stream of water, the Kelpie unfastened the harness on its back and slipped free of the carriage shafts.
The Kelpie walked up to Sovell and lowered its head, pressing its glossy black horns against his exposed neck before silently unleashing a water-element Mana Burst.
"Hiss-"
Sovell immediately stopped overheating and sucked in a breath of cold air for good measure, doing his part to contribute to the greenhouse effect fifteen hundred years in the future.
His senses restored, Sovell looked at the Kelpie snorting indignantly before him. He had no choice but to produce a comb and smooth its mane back into place.
"Hey, Sovell, how come you've got time to groom the Kelpie now? Speaking of which, where's Artoria?"
Kay returned from the river carrying a basin of water. Seeing only Sovell by the carriage, he asked just that.
"I'm here."
The girl's voice came from inside the tent.
Kay suspected nothing and replied casually:
"Pack your things and come out to wash up. I've left the water by the entrance. We'll be heading out soon."
"All right."
Once Artoria had finished washing up, the three