The sunset was bright in the sky as the carriage stationed off the road. The group stepped out onto the grass, stretching their limbs from the long hours of travel. The group prepared for the night, setting up shelter like they did the previous nights, and then early in the morning they would get back on the road.
"I hear water!" Maou shouted.
"Really?! Where?!" Arthur looked to Maou.
"That way." He pointed pass the vegetation. "Let's race. Last person there is a–."
"No, not yet." Shelly held Maou by the shirt before he could run off. "We have to set up camp first."
"But–"
"No buts." Shelly interrupted. "We can't leave all the work to Frederick."
Maou sighed, rolling his eyes as he picked up a nearby dry stick that would be used for fire.
"Lady Shelly, thank you for your concern but I'm sure I can handle this much labour." Mr. Frederick stated. "Why don't you three go for a dip and refresh yourselves. I'll have everything prepared by the time you return."
"Oh…. Well if you say so." Shelly glanced at Maou and Arthur then sprinted towards the direction Maou pointed at earlier with a grin. "I'm getting in the water first!"
Maou dropped the sticks in his hands and chased Shelly while Arthur followed after.
"Last one to the water is a wet slug!" Maou yelled passing Shelly.
"Maou-sensei, I won't lose this time!" Arthur yelled passing Shelly.
"That's not fair!" Shelly complained as she slowly got left behind. "Damnit! Why are you guys so fast?!"
Refusing to lose after cheating with a headstart, she pushed herself with struggling expressions and gritted teeth. She gained on Arthur and Maou but just as fast as she closed the gap, they sped up leaving her behind. She slowed down, exhaustedly jogging until she finally came upon the flowing water.
"Damnit! Why did I have to be born a woman?!" Shelly fell to her butt gasping.
Arthur and Maou was already in the water with their shirts off, splashing each other and laughing. Maou saw Shelly spread out on the riverbank and called to her.
"Shelly, get in! The water's nice."
"I'm too tired." Shelly waved. "Just let me rest."
Maou stepped out the water, running up to Shelly with his shirt off and pulled her by the arm towards the water.
"Come on! Don't sleep here." He complained as Shelly still lay weak. "You're such a slug. Get up!"
"I'm not a slug! You guys are just too fast." Shelly rolled over pouting, salty for coming in last.
"Stop making excuses for being a wet slug and get up." Maou tugged at Shelly's arm again.
"Tck!" Shelly clicked her teeth at being called a slug, rolling her eyes. "Fine! Since I'm such a WET SLUG! Why don't you carry me to the water?! I'm too slow to get there anyway."
Being annoyed, Maou lifted Shelly off the ground and carried her closer to the water, which she appreciated as a nice gesture, then in a vengeful spite he tossed her in the air, causing her to come down splashing.
Maou clutched his belly laughing his ass off while Shelly struggled to her feet, neatly slipping twice as well as shocked to think Maou would play such a trick. Like siblings, Shelly chased up and down the river after Maou with vengeance in her eyes, swearing to drown him if she ever caught hold of him. On the other hand, Arthur laughed at the two while playing with the little river animals, even finding a wet slug.
The sunset fell and night crept up on the trio, urging them to return to the camp where Frederick was stationed.
"Hey! Let's race back to the carriage." Maou excitedly suggested.
"Yeah, Yeah. Have fun since you boys don't get tired anyway." Shelly squeezed her clothes, letting it drip water. "I'm way too tired to run anyway–."
As cunning as before, Shelly bolted off before the rest. Some may call it cheating, but she counted it as making the game fair
"Last one back is a smelly fart!!!" Shelly yelled, sprinting into the forrest.
Maou and Arthur looked to each other and smiled before running into the forrest and eventually passing Shelly like before, leaving her feeling defeated and exhausted.
"Damn you boys and your superior physical capabilities." Shelly complained, falling to her knees, huffing and puffing.
"Darn it! I keep coming in second." Arthur scratched his head. "I really am no match for Sensei!"
Maou grinned victoriously, hands on his hips. Before them was a campfire with a metal pot above, sitting on rocks. The horses that drew the carriage were tied to a tree as they ate slices of watermelon from Frederick's hands. Noticing the trio had returned, he suggested they sit around the fire to stay warm as he went inside the carriage for some towels. Each person received one, nicely wrapping themselves up like a burrito while chatting around the fire's warmth. Frederick removed the pot from the fire. Opening it's lid, a heavy steam escaped while a sweet aroma flooded the air around them.
"It isn't much but please enjoy."
Frederick poured the soup into three bowls and handed them over to be consumed. Everyone took a big sniff and marvelled at the smell. Maou, being too eager for his own good, went to tilt the bowl to his head but Shelly stopped him.
"Careful! Don't you see how hot it is?" She said, handing him a spoon. "Use this and don't burn yourself."
"Haaaa! Fine." Maou sighed.
He filled his spoon to the brim and shoved it in his mouth. Immediately, he spit the soup to the ground.
"Ouch!!!" Maou ached. "My tongue."
"I told you to be careful." Shelly put down her soup. "Give it here. I'll feed you."
Setting her soup aside, she took the bowl and spoon fr him and fed him like a mother to a child, cooling each spoonful before giving it to him. In longing silence, Arthur observed the two. Looking at his reflection in the soup, in his heart he wished for such affection but he had no sister nor mother to comfort him growing up. Pushing his sorrow aside, he tilted the lukewarm soup to his head, gulping everything down. From the corner of his eyes, Frederick noticed Arthur's silent sadness and a feeling of pity befell him for his young master.
Eventually, the hours went by and everyone was sleeping covered by sheets to block the nights cold. Frederick rose two hours before dawn while everyone slept soundly and free from trouble or sudden ambushings. He traveled to the river with a spare set of clothes to take a dip in the cold water. The water soaked him with his bodily scars and toned figure, the effects of the military still on him. He hummed a song while splashing water on his face and rubbing his teeth clean with a small cloth. When he was finished, he dipped his hand into the water and collected a few small stones. With the stones, he aimed then flicked the stones at the fishes, knocking them out with a precise strike to the head. Returning, he collected several fishes to cook for breakfast after quickly gutting and cleaning them by the river.
"Yawnnnn!" Shelly rubbed her eyes.
"Lady Shelly. Good morning." Frederick greeted. "Did you sleep well?"
Shelly nodded while standing up, still feeling groggy.
"Do you want help?" Shelly mumbled.
"Thank you, but I have this under control." Frederick replied.
Just like Frederick did earlier, she cleaned herself at the river, then changed her clothes after washing the used ones.
"Haaaa! That felt good." Shelly returned refreshed, wide awake.
"Would you like some tea Lady Shelly?" Frederick replied.
Shelly sat down where she slept last night while Frederick poured her a warm cup of tea with two sweet biscuits. She blew the steam from her cup, listening to the sounds of the forest. Soon after, Maou and Arthur were drawn out of sleep by the smell of steaming fish. The two were immediately sent to the river to clean up and return for their meals ready to be served.
While it was just Frederick and Shelly at the camp, he spoke to her.
"Thank you." He said, looking at her. "Both you and sir Maou, I am forever in your debt."
"Huh? Debt?" Shelly responded confused. "Why would you be in our debt? If anything, we're the ones who owe you guys."
Frederick chuckled softly.
"It's been awhile since he's enjoyed himself this much others." He requested. "Please continue to be friends with Arthur. And don't be afraid to treat him like a younger brother… like you do Maou."
Frederick's words left Shelly stunned for a bit then a smile befell her. Just then, Maou and Arthur came bursting out the forrest.
"Geh! Hehehe! Three wins in a row." Maou gloated.
"Wow Sensei! You really are fast." Arthur dropped to the grass, breathing hard. "Even after getting a headstart–." Arthur paused to take a breathe. "I still couldn't beat you."
From then, the five ate what food Frederick prepared and soon after packed up and continued their journey, the early morning sun sitting on their skin.