The lush green plains flowed with the wind. The sunlight beaming onto the grasslands as a carriage slowly trods through an overused path.
Where we are now is called the Cascadia plains.
Just north of Shanford. It stretched about fifty miles north to be correct. It's still about a one week trip before you can reach the kingdom of Prusha. A little more north of here is where you see the boundaries of this land and another. Once you find yourself in a forest, you'll know you entered Prusha's territory.
The Cascadia plains route is the most frequently used route to get to Prusha From Ozoth, which was the kingdom when coming from the south pass Shanford. It's vast openness and clear view makes it very easy for those who are traveling. Not many creatures roam this area, except for some horses and sometimes wolves that hunt for the wild life here. It's easy to camp when nighttime comes.
The Cascadia plains does not belong to anyone of any kingdom, it is set as a border for both kingdoms of the north and south as it spread from the west and east. Though some of the people in the east and west call their part of the Cascadia plains different. It was a set rule made by both kingdoms to leave this section of the continent free. Which also meant it didn't belong to any of the kingdom's rules.
It isn't shocking that most mercenaries and bandits find themselves in this area. Most villages or cities in this region have their own rules and trading routes that connect to the kingdoms.
This is a neutral land zone for any traveler. Anything goes.
I closed the book, finishing the book that Synthia gave me. The one about the regions and continents of zenith.
She packed this book and the other book about the creatures and races as well just in case.
Because I'll be honest, I'm confused as fuck out here.
I remember falling asleep in the carriage and now I've awoken in some green plains. I asked Derrick how much time had passed and he said that about four hours passed since we left.
He and Edward have been trading driver seats every hour so that they can both get equal times with driving and keeping an eye. Right now, it was Edward who was driving.
Edward was a mystery to me. He kind of reminded me of a Russian man, only that he just never talked unless it was Derrick who was talking to him. Whenever I tried to make a conversation or talk, he'd just freeze up and make a "Hrm" noise.
Like what the hell did that mean?
Derrick told me that Edwards wasn't that good with kids and it shows pretty clearly. The man hasn't even looked back at us or checked on us, unlike Derrick. I shouldn't be too harsh on Edward, it's not that he's doing bad. He just sucks at talking with us.
Derrick on the other hand. Liked to talk to us. When I was asleep, he talked with Lilith to keo her company. Lilith herself is somewhat shy, so if he managed to make her talk and feel comfortable, then he's pretty good.
Learning more about Derrick and Edward, both were a part of Gerald's group. More specifically, Edward was the ears of the group, he actually had an extremely high sense of awareness and smell. Like a bloodhound kinda. He managed to get their group out of many dungeons and traps just by his eyes and smell. He was also one of their frontline men when doing dungeons, he had dual blades that he used which went along with his fast reflexes. The man seemed like a highly trained predator.
Derrick was basically the support of the group, he handled supplies and mended to the groups equipment. He carries a hammer with him, which is pretty fucking terrifying when he uses it. I've had first hand experience with it. He said that when he was testing me, he sort of let out his crazy side since he's never fought someone who'd use magic like that. Usually when he fought someone with magic, it was easy to close the distance with them since that had to do incantations, while I didn't and I actually played smart with some of the stuff I did.
Speaking of what I did, I know that I technically can do intermediate magic now. However, I felt it was a fluke. Given my short time with actually studying (It was just a year and some weeks), I don't believe I can fully incorporate combined magic perfectly. The dry ice spell I made was, in my own opinion, lacking. It was too unstable and would have backfired. It was just out of pure instinct to live that forced me to even use it.
I guess I'm saying I'm lucky to have even managed to do it. Hell I did it without an incantation, which is surprising. I wouldn't have even been able to say the chant in time, plus I didn't even know the chant. I guess being a silent caster has some major benefits.
Now that I am awake in this carriage, I looked to my left and saw Lilith still sleeping, she was laying on her side on the bench. She took off her cloak, so now she was just in a new dress she got from her home. Wait a minute, did she change in here? She didn't even care that I might've been awake? This new dress was a silver color, with a black belt on her waist.
That's like what? Three dresses she's worn? I don't even know how many clothes I brought with me. I've been wearing this white shirt this whole time. Not that it smelled, I remember synthia telling me about how I can use water spells to rinse my clothes, so I've been doing that. Last time I rinsed this was a day before I fought Derrick.
Out of my own curiosity, I looked at my backpack again just to double check. Seemed like I had clothes that would last me this whole trip.
Synthia really prepared me, she even got me some underwear and some socks. Damn, god bless this woman.
As I dropped my backpack on the floor of the carriage, I heard Lilith mumbling. It seemed like she was finally waking up.
I still don't know what she said to me before I passed out from exhaustion. Curiosity is killing me. Maybe she was asking me about her father?
Or maybe…
"Lilith, are you fully awake?" I poked at her cheeks when I said that.
No answer.
I proceeded the only way I thought was possible. Annoyance. I'm going to annoy the hell out of this girl.
I pinched both her cheeks and stretched them out. How devilish of me. Now I'm acting like a real five year old. The question can wait, I'm living the dream!
Now that Lilith was awake from my sudden stupidity, she very cutely struggled to release my hands from her cheeks. I can't say I'm sadistic or anything, but…it's very enjoyable watching her struggle, it's very cute to look at. A blushing face and how she kept saying "I'm awake." And "stop it!". I'm finding myself blushing at her actions.
What was not cute was the sudden punch to my face she struck me with. A solid jab from her right hand. And with that punch, I'm now contemplating my actions and the sins I've done.
I rolled from the impact and hit the bench behind me, rubbing my injured face. I could see through my somewhat teary eyes that Lilith was surprised even herself. That must've been out of reflex or something.
"Oh sorry, Kota. But you shouldn't have woken me up like that…" she timidly looked down and said that. She always does that when she thinks she did something wrong.
I thought my stupidity would've gone unnoticed, but I heard Derrick and Edward chuckling at the outcome of what I did. It seems like I completely forgot about them.
"HAHA, Edward did you see that? The boys got some Courage to be doing that at his age, HAHA." Derrick kept laughing as he kept poking at Edward.
While Derrick was now annoying Edward, I casted a healing spell on myself. I rarely ever use a healing spell, but that's just because I'm careful with myself. Lilith was watching as a green aura enveloped my face. I could see what she looked like, but I already know she was watching with interest.
"Did I hurt you that much?" she asked.
"No, you did catch me off guard. Were those your reflexes?" I finished my spell and looked at her when I said that.
Lilith was examining her right hand, maybe she didn't even think she'd punch me. She frowned for a second before smiling.
"Wanna see again, if it is?" Raising her fist.
"…no."
"No cheek pinching."
"Ah. Ok"
I heard Derrick bellow from the driver seat again. I can hear him slapping Edwards back as he groaned in pain from it.
"BWAHAHA, oh I love the young love these two have! HAHAHA. Edward, did you have a young love like that? No? Course you didn't, HAHA."
I really liked Derrick's eccentric attitude, he's the kind of person who'd probably lift up a whole party's mood in an instant with that laugh of his. Edward was the complete opposite of him. He's kind of like that dude that would go to a party to mingle with the pets the party owner has if they have any. Maybe he'll even talk to plants?
I looked past Lilith and looked out the back of the carriage, it was still sunny outside with a breeze that rustled the nearby greens. I focused a bit more just to see if I could see anything in the distance, but I was met with no result from it except for a weird looking bush. It feels like we are in the countryside.
"Hey Derrick, how far are we from Prusha?" I asked.
"It'll be about a week. We ain't even been on the road for a day yet! HAHA. I like your urgency though. We'll make a stop at a small village in a couple of hours and rest there for a night."
A couple of hours? What the hell am I supposed to do for a couple hours?
Groaning, I sat back next to Lilith again, who was looking out the back. I feel like I should be excited about looking outside. But every time I look out there, I realize I'm quite literally just looking at grass. Grass and dirt road.
Maybe I should bother Lilith.
"Hey Lilith." I waved at her to catch her attention.
That grabbed her attention as she turned to me and smiled and pointed at the outside.
"Look, wolves!" She pointed at an odd looking bush.
Huh.
Odd…looking bush…
Oh dear.
"Uh, Derrick? What do we do with wolves?" I asked in a somewhat frantic way. I hope both our eyes are deceiving us.
"Oh, wolves? Yes they do occupy this area sometimes, are there some on our tail?" He asked.
Looking out the back, I can see that this "odd looking bush" was seemingly getting closer to us.
"I-uh, yes? Uh, do we…what do we do?" I stumbled on my words for a bit.
I didn't expect to be dinner for a wolf today. And Derrick's eccentric attitude is frightening me now.
"Wolves on our tail, huh? Well that's a shame." He casually replied.
What do you mean "that's a shame"???
I was producing cold sweats now and Lilith noticed.
"Kota, are you scared of wolves?" I can see the impending group of wolves heading towards us now.
There's like what? Fucking four wolves now chasing the back of our carriage?
Why is this happening? Why does it smell…like…meat?
I looked at the front of the carriage and saw that Edward was eating some meat sticks in a knapsack he was holding.
Ah. I see.
"Edward, I believe your snack time has attracted some wolves. Mind taking care of that?" Derrick casually grabbed Edward's knapsack much to Edward's dismay and simply tossed it towards me and Lilith.
Edward sighed and…he rolled off of the carriage?
What is this man doing?
Derrick didn't seem to as he casually took the role of driver once Edward fell off the side.
Once Edward stood up, I saw from his back that he had two short swords on his back that he reached for. Pulling them out, he took what looked like to be an unusual stance I didn't recognize.
As the impending group of wolves drew closer, I saw that Edward had thrown one of his short swords at one of the wolves, impaling it in its neck with precise aim. Edwards immediately followed it up by running at the group of wolves, who had their attention focused on him now.
One wolf tried to swipe at him, but Edward effortlessly dodged it and slashed a huge gash along its side. He grabbed the short sword he had thrown from the impaled wolf and went on to attack the last two wolves.
This shit was all happening while we were moving and they were moving too. Edward was behind the two wolves who were running when suddenly the wolf on his right stopped and tried to jump on him. But to no avail, Edward thrusted both his swords onto the incoming wolf, impaling it in the air. He threw the wolf off his blades and proceeded to the last wolf.
Lilith was watching in awe as Edward tackled the last wolf and slit its throat. The blood sprayed onto his face and his ushanka looking hat. Then he ran right back to the carriage.
"Woah, Mister Edward that was amazing!" Lilith seemed to have enjoyed the little action scene she had seen.
Me? Well I was trying to not vomit. That shit was disgusting to look at. That was not something I had wanted to see. But then it suddenly dawned on me that it might happen even more, which made me want to throw up even more.
This world is pretty cruel.
"Ah, Edward. Good job with putting on a show for the kids! Haha. Ah, you got something on your face Edward. Kota! Come splash some of that water spell on him!" Derrick hollered at me.
This whole trip to Prusha has already made me question my life, and I've been out here for about five hours now.
I sighed as I headed to the front of the carriage, casting a water ball in my hands, ready to douse Edward in water. Lilith pushed up against me as she wanted to see me do this.
Please, how long is it going to take to get to this village?