Xavier jumped down the tree. Maybe the bandits were so desperate because he had a grimoire and a magic stone. Not to mention, the clothes he wore from Baron made him look like a noble. Xavier had no choice but to walk his way home. It was a far extremely long way, he had to walk through to the city of Krosphia to get a carriage then make his way to Třekov. The city of Krosphia was a place where many bandits and thieves roamed maybe the ones who attacked him were from there. Xavier had a goal to make it to Třekov before it was dark. If only those bandits hadn't attacked Xavier wouldn't be in the situation he was in now.
" I can't waste any more time." Xavier held his abdomen as he limped. One could tell that he was in serious pain for his face looked pale and moved slowly.
He regretted not learning healing magic. It would have been a wise thing to learn it if a situation like this ever happened again. Xavier learned his mistake, he didn't even try to learn any subsets and that was his downfall.
As Xavier used the trees to help him walk properly he could feel that the bandits were still around the area. He had to slow down once more. He ducked moving tree to tree not wanting to be spotted. The trees were big which was an advantage to Xavier helping him hide better. Xavier watched his step, he couldn't make a single noise since the enemy was nearby. He had to be on alert. If he didn't want to get caught he had to do stay on high guard. As Xavier followed the road path, he saw a carriage. A man stood outside the carriage smoking. Xavier couldn't ask the man for help since the man would most likely be their next target. The whole thing was a bother for Xavier. It was an annoying situation to be in.
Xavier immediately noticed something. If I stayed around the man then his location would be revealed from the smoke. Xavier heard steps coming from the trees.
" Is that him?" A woman's voice echoed throughout the forest.
" No, just some old guy." The voice from before was now followed by a man's voice.
" Rob him too you idiot!"
Xavier hid behind a tree as he watched them pin the man down and steal his stuff. If Xavier was caught then instead of his stuff being robbed his life would since he saw their faces. Xavier immediately ran away.
' The river!' Xavier thought. If they circled the road that led to Krosphia then they had no one patrolling the river which was also the same river from Rivermouth that also stretched straight to Krosphia; Xavier could use the river instead. Not to mention, the water could also help ease the pain from the slash on his abdomen. Xavier smiled," You didn't think this one out did you."
Xavier rested his body and the river as he continued moving forward. The river water was clean, in fact, nearly too clean to be from a river. It was also clear. As Xavier got in, the river pushed his body forward. If he continued for the next hour, he could make it to Krosphia without breaking a sweat. Xavier pushed his way to the river quickly.
It was just as he thought, there were no bandits around; he beat them to it. It was a smart strategy.
" This reminds me of a game I played," Xavier said." Damn this world doesn't even have internet!" Xavier was reminded of that.
Xavier was someone who spent hours in front of their computer. It was single, he couldn't do without it; now he has to live a long life without it.
***
Xavier had reached. The city of Krosphia was nothing like Aynor nor Třekov. It was called a holy city yet it was such an agonizing sight. The nobles pampered themselves in their huge houses while the poor begged in the suit. There were barely any carriages, stores, or anything for that matter. All there was, was the poor begging on the streets. And pickpocketers passing by. The houses were quite small and the environment was dirty and poor for it was the slums. Nearly the whole city was ruled by the poor while the nobles locked themselves away from the peasants. The people of Krosphia begged and wiped the tourists' shoes for a penny. They even had an association with thieves. The people smelled dirty and their clothing was tattered; it looked muddy.' This is place is a mess.'
As Xavier walked by, someone bumped into him.
" Sorry there." Xavier bowed as he apologized even though he was the one who got bumped into.
Xavier felt his pocket, it was empty. Xavier ran after the man. The moment he touched the man, he froze half of his body making him unable to move. Xavier took his money back," You messed with the wrong guy." Xavier said as he counted his dollar bills." I'll take an extra gold coin since you robbed me." Xavier smiled as he threw the coin up into the air and caught it. Guards then runner after the man he was now frozen and arrested him.
" Looks like someone beat us to it." One of the guards said." I don't see anyone around."
As Xavier continued walking his wound opened up once again and started bleeding." Damn it!" Xavier pounded on the wall. Xavier then saw someone leaning on their carriage.
" Can you take me to Třekov?"
" Sorry but I don't give my service to nobles." The boy looked down at Hacker's wound." And I wouldn't want any trouble either."
" Look I'm not a noble nor am I in trouble. A group of bandits attacked me but I got away."
" What about money. You're just a kid let alone an orphan on his own, you wouldn't have any money."
Xavier took a bag of coins at him," I'm not an orphan!"
" Look I just told you I don't interact with nobles."
" I'm not. If you're wondering about the money then would you believe me if I say my father's a holy knight?"
" Fine!"
The boy had long black hair in a bun and a horse face. He was in his teens. His eye color was brown. He also wore simple clothing and had an old carriage. Xavier walked into the carriage and sat down. It was a bit dusty. Xavier was slowly losing consciousness as his eyelids closed down. He tried fighting it but he was in too much pain to operate.
***
" Hey wake up, we're here." The boy woke up Xavier.
Xavier's eye opened slowly." I don't think I can walk."
" Fine, I'll carry you for an extra coin."
Xavier smiled," Deal."
Jake then placed his arms over Xavier's shoulder helping him walk.
" By the way my name's Jake." He tried being friendly.
" I'm Xavier."
" Your a bit too matured for your age, you know that right Xavier?"
" Hah, I get that all that all the time." They both laughed.
" How old are you?" Jake asked.
" I turned nine today," Xavier replied.
" Wow happy birthday man!" Jake said.
" Thanks."
" Well, until next Xavier."
They reached up the hill. Jake waved him goodbye.
" What about the extra coin?"
" Come on, I was just joking."
Xavier smiled,' He's a good guy, I hope we meet once again.'
" Xavier?" Was the voice of a woman, she ran up and hugged him.
"It's only been a few weeks mom." Xavier smiled.