Tamar remained silent for a few seconds.
"The survey team is lacking a melee fighter now. Ray can do a lot of damage from stealth, but he is not well-suited for direct combat. Without that Echo, the team will suffer heavy casualties... if they can even make it back to the main camp.. They won't have a way to cross the canyons, either. The mission will fail."
Rain stared at her incredulously.
After a while, she said:
"So... it's not that you can't summon the Echo. You won't summon the Echo. Because you would rather die than put the team - and your mission at risk."
Tamar nodded.
"That's right."
A strange smile appeared on Rain's lips.
"That is very noble of you, Lady Tamar. It's commendable that you have decided to die for your duty. But what about me? Isn't it a bit strange that you have also decided that I will die to uphold your duty? Doesn't seem very fair.”
The young Legacy frowned.
"Have you no loyalty? Those people are your comrades, and our mission is important for the future of the Song Domain. We... we must be ready to sacrifice for the greater good."
Rain laughed.
"Loyalty? I am sorry, Lady Tamar... I am a hired laborer, I get paid a pitiful amount of coins to carry rocks and do tedious chores. Am I supposed to die for the right to carry rocks or for the privilege to do chores? I've been only doing that to put food on my plate. The only thing I'm loyal to is my stomach."
Tamar glared at her with indignation, then took a deep breath and grew quiet.
Sprawling on the ground in exhaustion and clearly suffering from pain, she remained silent for a few moments, then sighed.
"...You're right. You are not a Legacy, or even a soldier. So, I can't expect you to understand. Still... I won't compromise the entire survey team for the sake of one member. I won't leave them without the protection of the Echo."
Rain sighed inwardly.
'Stubborn fool..’
Tamar, meanwhile, looked at her with a grave expression.
"But I also can't expect you to share my burden. So... leave me. Your legs are perfectly fine. You stand a chance of making it back alive without me. I've seen your skill - you are not defenseless. So, I'll... I'll give you a few of my Memories. You won't be able to use the enchantments, but they will still be helpful. If you are careful enough and lucky enough, you'll survive."
Rain studied her pale, determined face silently.
After a while, she asked in a neutral tone:
"So, that's your plan? To send me off and stay here, immobilized, to die on your own?"
Tamar raised her chin arrogantly.
"Who says I'll die? I'll crawl and find a good place to hide. In a week or two, the survey team will reach the main camp. Then... someone will come to find me. I just need to last for a while.”
Her tone was confident, but her words did not sound very convincing.
Rain did not say anything for a while, then massaged her temples with a grimace.
Eventually, she said:
"Fine. Don't summon your damned Echo. Instead, summon a rope. Or a cloak... something like that."
Tamar frowned in confusion.
"A... a rope? What for?"
Rain stood up and raised her hands above her head, stretching her body. She could feel strength returning to her limbs.
"Because I am going to drag you to the main camp Instead of that Echo. If I have to. You did save my life back in the canyon, after all. I might be a simple porter, but I'm not an ingrate... my mom taught me better."
She had decided to stay with Tamar
After all, there should not be a lot of difference between carrying rocks and carrying a slim Legacy girl...
They were going to make it back together, or not at all.