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In the castle back at Sol, Inadi was still somewhat showing signs of doubt. The entire time the dragoons and the others were talking about the plan he was out staring at the damage the kingdom had gone through due to the attacks while they were gone from a nearby window. All the fire and broken rock that lay strewn across the very same land that they had seen filled with such splendor and wonder was now just a victim of misunderstanding and circumstance. And in a small sense it was their fault....they failed to do what needed to be done in time.

Inadi looked at his spear that he regained after the witches left and began gripping it tighter in his hand. Looking up his right arm that was clutching the weapon he began noticing some strength returning to it. Jasper's work had clearly done a lot to improve his condition. And now he felt like he could at least wield the thing again without half of his arm shooting pain throughout his body. Then again the likely hood of him actually getting a good shot on these witches was unlikely should they run into them again. What was it? Their heads over a fire was a sign of victory? Inadi gripped his neck with his free hand, hoping he never had to part ways with the thing mounted on his shoulders.

As the final decisions were made about the dragon Inadi felt somewhat confident in the plan. Lesley was clearly the best choice for baiting the dragon back to them. He was the only one in the group that the little thing wasn't absolutely scared of or hated their guts. Though Inadi had to roll his eyes at the last part, as he was the only one who actually made the dragon mad in the first place. It was his fault they couldn't get the dragon to laugh and it was his fault Sol looked this way now.....a thought that made the spear in his hands suddenly seem a lot heavier in his arms.

As everyone left Tobias' room, Inadi stared at Lesley working his magic on some poor guard to try and carry him at least some way towards the mountain again. He rolled his eyes and continued walking. A few hours ago Inadi may have opened his mouth and made a snarky comment but at this point he did not have the energy to be that person today. He went back to using his spear somewhat as a walking stick, using the pointed end to get gripping where he needed it. 

Eventually the trip was beginning to show signs of exhaustion on everyone. For the most part Inadi kept close to Ace and Jasper and he himself didn't show much signs of being tired. The sweat on his brow had been collecting for a while, but he never seemed to wipe it off. Not even a grunt at times as he reached the more difficult sections of the mountain side and while to some it may be that he was just toughing it out, inside he was pissed beyond belief. The entire trek he would shoot glances at Hakuren who was more than a few steps away from him but he would constantly check to see where he was both on the cliff side and in regards to his appearance. If he wasn't going to show weakness, neither was Inadi. Haku's words still stung him deep in his mind, but there was no way he was going to let the man call him a coward AND weak on top of it.

However, constantly putting that strain on himself he was beginning to run out of strength in his legs. Back in the real world he was never much of a hiker and the consequences of that kind of non-athletic lifestyle were beginning to show up. His legs began feeling strained and it forced Inadi to put more power into his arms as he tried to almost pull himself up the mountain using his spear. Eventually his right arm began acting up again and he winced a bit as he stared at his right arm, looking at the skin and burn marks that covered it. With the sleeve to his jacket gone the burns and cuts were there for everyone to see, and yet Inadi showed no signs of want to have it wrapped or covered. While it was nowhere near the condition it was in the cave, the muscles were clearly still a problem and the strain was beginning to show as certain cuts seemed to be reopening and his burns began stinging as the sweat ran over them.

To his side he looked and saw Jasper next to him also looking at his arm. Perhaps she had seen him showing signs of pain. He quickly shook his arm as if to show that it was fine. “Thanks Jasper. I appr-” Inadi would have finished his sentence had it not been for Lesley suddenly began pushing his way between him and Jasper. The man began frantically running his hands over Inadi and eventually over some of the cuts and burns on his arm. A quick hiss left Inadi's throat as he dropped his spear at the sudden shock of pain. Watching the spear land in a crevice nearby he quickly shot his left hand out to Lesley's wrist that was connected to the hand that caused the suddenly pain. His grip was firm, but not hard enough to harm the flamboyant member of the troupe.

Inadi slowly lifted the hand away from his body and let the wrist go quickly. Giving Lesley a quick pat on the should he carefully walked to where the spear was and picked it back up. “I appreciate your concern as well Lesley. Truly I do,” Inadi said as he began climbing further up the mountain side with his make shift crutch. “But for now it just needs to left alone. Fretting over it won't make it go away and it certainly won't get us to that dragon.” He told him with a look on his face that showed confidence and an understanding of Lesley and Jasper's concern, all the while it was being used to hide a grimace of pain that hid behind his framed up eyes.

As he made his way back to his spot he heard Jasper whisper to him her distaste of Hakuren as well. Inadi gave a glance back at the man again and let out a sigh. Turning to Jasper he never gave her eye contact as he stared down at the ground near where his spear head had been set for his next step. “Jasper, as much as I don't like him right now I can't hate him. And it isn't bullying if he's proving a point,” He told her as he turned to head further up the mountain, following the rest of the group. “...its just stating the facts.” 

The last sentence seemed almost to be groaned out of his mouth, as if it was painful to say each word in succession. He had already admitted to himself back in the cave. He was a coward. He didn't want to risk anything in his life and stick with what he knew would work. He was a shut in. A person afraid of his own society and fellow man. But Inadi continued to climb the mountain, now at a more rigorous pace. He may have been a coward then, but there was no chance he was going to give Hakuren an opportunity to call him out on it a second time during this journey.