"Ai ai ai, up you go kid."
Griff raised his head to see a fat man with a beard, which looked like one that belonged to a dwarf, pointing his finger at him. Griff was slowly raised with the sack, and found himself standing up like he hadn't even fallen in the first place. The faint glow on the man's finger faded and he lowered his arm. He smiled cheerfully. He was a short man with a round beer belly. His beard was ginger red and he had almost no hair left on his head, excluding a couple of lucky strands.
Before Griff could even utter a word, the man pointed his finger at his and James's sacks, raising them once more. He moved them through the air to a nearby cart and placed them in the back.
"You the rest of the lads I hired, right? Those two that came to fetch me mentioned a rookie starting today to gain some experience. I presume you're him, right young man?"
The short, fat man was indicating Griff, who nodded obediently.
"Ah ah ah, youth these days. You all seem to get more embarrassed and clumsier than your predecessors. Your tall friend here isn't as embarrassed or clumsy as you now, is he? Ah, never mind me. We better bring in the crates as well."
James and Griff followed the dwarf-like-man to the back of the Town Guild Hall. There, next to a couple of old items, 4 crates were stacked next to each other.
"I can only levitate two objects at a time, you two youths take the other two."
The trio started walking back to the front of the Town Hall. Upon arriving next to the cart, Griff saw that Ann and Harry were already there. They were sitting in the back of the cart. They'd tidied the cart up when the trio were at the back.
"Place them right there, right in front of where you adventurers will be sleeping. Yes, right there."
After completely loading the cart up, and leaving enough space for the four adventurers to sleep and sit, the dwarf-like-man called them to talk about the road.
"Hello to all of you who accepted my request in a protection convoy while traveling to Alfrum. My name is Bargun. As you can see, I'm a dwarf. Well, I'm a merchant unlike most of my race which focuses on metal forging."
He took out a dusty map from his pocket and laid it on the small table inside the cart that was meant to be used as a dinner table.
"We are currently right here."
The fat dwarf circled the area named 'Ange Plains'
"And we will be going here."
The man circled the outskirts of Alfrum.
"That is where my client resides and I'll trade with him. Later on, I'll ask for you all to escort me to Alfrum which is about 30 minutes far from his mansion in the outskirts. Seeing that you bunch are experienced in the area of Ange; what kind of threats are there throughout the plains here and the mud road that connects to the port of Alfrum?"
James spoke up
"Well, Mr. Bargun, what I can say is that we have encountered a lot of wild wolves during all of our escort missions up to today. That is why we suggest taking an alternative route from the main mud road, and go through the plains to the north where we will connect to the rocky road leading to the town of Briskar, a small rural town 5 days away from Alfrum. We haven't used that route a lot, but our experience tells us that there are less dangerous conditions to the northern roads. This is, according to me, due to the recent emergence of the disturbance in the northern mountains which has driven most wild animals, beasts, creatures and monsters, as well as petty organizations, southwards. From Briskar we can stock up on supplies and re-connect to the mud road to Alfrum, which gets safer as we near Alfrum."
"Understandable, I had searched on the roads and couldn't think of another alternative. However, if your experience as an adventurer states that the northern path is safer, I shall comply as your employer. I am in your hands."
James put up a very friendly smile and patted the dwarf
"Mr. Borgel, we shall do our best."
Seeing that the adventurer and merchant had finished their serious conversation of picking a route, Griff spoke up
"Excuse me, Mr. Borgel. When you stopped me from falling and made those crates float, were you using magic?"
"Ah, you're the rookie. Well, yes that was a very simple magic. I know some simple magic that help me in daily situations such as lifting objects and such. I don't know a lot of spells, however. That spell was a wind spell: Levitation. It gets stronger as the user studies it, but I'm kind of lazy."
The merchant scratched the back of his head as he said the last part, smiling embarrassingly.
"So, I didn't study it at all."
"Well, you're awfully frank..."
"Anyways, do any of you have anything left? I'd like to set forth as soon as possible now."
"No, we are all ready"
stated Harry.
"Then off we go!"
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It had been several hours since the group had exited the town of Ange and had begun heading towards the crossroad of the rocky and mud road. Griff was very interested in what he was seeing as the cart strode forward. The sky was crystal blue and plants such as bushes and grass were growing all across the Ange Plains. The wind was a little rough and was messing up Griff's hair.
"Hey Borgel! There are several trees ahead of us. It seems like a good spot to eat our lunch" said James.
"Griff! stick your head back inside, you're going to fall off!"
Ignoring Ann's show of concern, Griff continued to look around at the wildlife and enjoyed the sight. Such beauty was truly beautiful to see.
A chop to his head brought Griff from the lands of imagination
"Jeez Griff, wake up already. It's time for dinner."
"Fine."
Griff responded to James with a very annoyed tone.
"I'm pulling over. While you all eat your dinner, I'll feed the horses."
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"Oh boy! A feast to my belly..."
"Is James always like that after eating food?"
"I'm afraid he is, Griff."
James was lying on the ground, holding his stomach that seemed it could burst any moment now. Ann and Griff were just standing next to him, laughing. It created a friendly atmosphere, one that Griff wasn't familiar to.
"Oi brat! Keep laughing and *burp* I'll hand you your *burp* ass in a spar! *burp*"
Borgel, Griff, and Ann, hearing James's funny response, started laughing even more than usual. Even Harry, who seemed very bored, joined in the fun, teasing poor James as he tried to get up but continued to fall because of his big belly.
"Borgel, we better rest here for a while or who knows what would happen to us without our stupid, but capable, swordsman here."
"You're right Harry. We better stay here for a while."
Harry and Ann were talking with Borgel, speaking about a serious matter but looking like they were about to burst laughing.
"You youngsters are right! The horses need some rest as well anyways."
Borgel looked over at James and smiled at him.
"You're in for it old man *burp*."
"Hahahahahahah"
Everybody was laughing together, enjoying the funny scenery of James's attempts to grab his sword.
"Might as well rest then..."
Aaaand, James fell asleep just like that.
"How can he do that in the middle of the wilderness?"
"James has a lot of talents you don't know yet Griff. He's a funny guy."
Griff was pretty shocked seeing that James had fallen asleep in mere seconds.
"Ann, I'll be sleeping too, you help Borgel with the horses."
"I guess... I'll rest too."
Harry and Griff laid on the grass, closing their eyes and folding their arms, listening to the voices of nature.