As the carriage begins its journey towards Glazes, the landscape outside the window gradually changes from the familiar streets of Castledale to the open road and countryside. The rhythmic clip-clop of the horses' hooves and the gentle swaying of the carriage create a soothing atmosphere within the enclosed space.
Mary cradles Gah-Hal in her arms, her gaze alternating between the passing scenery and their precious son. Reden sits beside her, their hands entwined, sharing small smiles and quiet moments of contentment.
"It's been so long since we've been on a journey like this." Mary muses, her voice soft.
"Remember our travels before everything changed? We used to spend more on traveling than food." She continues.
Reden nods, a nostalgic smile tugging at his lips.
"For sure. You never gave up when you were determined to go somewhere sweet. We explored new places and made memories that still bring warmth to my heart. Back there in Glazes before the prince's started fighting eachother." He says while smiling.
Mary's eyes sparkle with fondness as she recalls some of the good memories.
"Remember that time we got caught in that sudden rainstorm and took shelter in that abandoned cottage? We had to huddle together by the fireplace to stay warm." Mary recalls.
"Hits the bell." Reden answers.
"Oh right. The one where you suggested ghoul stories to pass time. Hehe. Yea this I remember. You managed to only scare yourself." Reden chuckles.
Mary playfully nudges him with her elbow.
"At least it worked, didn't it? I got to snuggle up close to you for comfort." Mary says.
Their laughter fills the carriage, a testament to the easy camaraderie they share. They recall their memories to pass the time of the trip a little.
As the journey continues, they fall into a comfortable silence, the gentle rocking of the carriage and the distant sounds of nature outside creating a peaceful backdrop.
"You know, I've been thinking." Reden begins, breaking the silence.
"When we reach Glazes, it won't just be the two of us anymore. If our house is still standing and not in ruins we will need to find some free space for the small warrior over here. The house is a bit too small for three of us especially if he grows up." Reden suggests.
"I realized that too. Not a big deal. We can always build some additional rooms if necessary. This house is small so it won't be troublesome for anything new to be built. I will order materials, resources and you will just build it, right?" Mary says to Reden happily.
"Yea. I guess I will take care of it." Reden replies.
"I can't wait to show him all the wonders this world has to offer. Can't wait to hear him say his first words, take his first steps, find his first company, friends." Reden says, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation.
"I want to be proud father. I want to have something that he also would be proud of to know once I teach it. That's why I will train myself in whatever I can..." Reden says sincerely.
"It's a beautiful thought. Watching him grow, seeing the world through his eyes and guiding him as he takes his own steps in this journey of life." Mary says smiling and still craddling Gah-Hal.
"I have the same thought. I want to be proud mother. I want him to explore the world and enjoy his life to the maximum along with what you might teach him. Oh. It gave me an idea." Mary says.
"Let's divide into two. Once he gets big enough you will be his physical mentor. I will be his psychical mentor." Mary suggests.
"Where did that idea came from?" Reden says chuckling.
"I don't know. It was just idea of how to both be a good parents. You know, I don't want him to have one favourite parent." Mary replies.
"Oh. I see your thinking now. Well then maybe. We still got time for that. Even more than enough to think about that." He replies looking at infant.
They share a tender look, their hearts united in the shared vision of the future.
6 Hours Later, Early Evening
The hours pass by and the sun begins its descent in the sky. The coachman, true to his word, has provided a smooth and comfortable journey and the landscape outside the window transforms into hues of orange and gold as evening approaches.
"The beauty of orange sky tells me that we are about to take a break." Reden says while looking through the window.
"I will gladly stretch my bones a little. Sitting in once place for so long is unhealthy." Mary replies.
"Me too." Reden says.
"But anyways. This is really impressive how much he is drinking. He's not stopping. Im about to run out of supplies." Mary says jokingly as she is breast-feeding Gah-Hal.
"I told you he has spacious belly. You also see that he never cried since you met us again. His "bravery" itself is impressive." Reden says jokingly too.
"That is strange, but also somekind cute." Mary says.
As the carriage comes to a stop at a rest area, Reden helps Mary step out, making sure she's steady on her feet after the long journey. Mary adjusts the blanket around Gah-Hal and cradles him in her arms as they step outside.
The rest area is a quiet spot, nestled by the roadside with a view of rolling hills in the distance. There are a few other travelers and their carriages, but for the most part, it's a serene and peaceful setting.
Reden stretches his arms overhead, relishing the feeling of his muscles loosening up.
"Ah, that's better. I forgot how stiff I could get from sitting for so long." Mary says with relieved voice.
Mary laughs softly, moving her shoulders and neck to ease the tension.
"You're not the only one. My back was starting to protest." Mary says.
Gah-Hal now fed, blinks up at them, completely unaffected by the journey.
"Maybe let's switch. Let me hold him now because you held him since Castledale. Give your arms a break." Reden suggests.
Mary agrees, handing Gah-Hal over to Reden, who cradles their son with gentleness.
"I will talk ask coachman about continuation." Mary says.
"Okay." Reden replies.
Mary approaches the coachman and asks him about when will the trip continue. He informs about few things he has to do like feeding horses, do the quick shopping before shops close and take a quick break. He says that after 30 minutes they will be ready to continue.
Mary nods and goes back to Reden.
"We got 30 minutes. Do we need something?" Mary asks.
"I am good for now. I still have enough food for one and a half of day." Reden replies.
Mary takes a swift hair flip and comes closer to Reden.
"I actually need one thing, for free." She says to Reden closely.
Reden looks at her and smiles getting the idea.
"Okay then." He replies and gives her a tender kiss to the lips.
"Thank you." Mary whispers.
"You're welcome." Reden replies, his thumb caressing her cheek.
"Let's talk around for a while shall we? We got some time." Mary suggests.
Reden nods and they both walk around to look for romantic or interesting place.
Reden and Mary explore the rest area hand in hand, their footsteps light on the ground as they take in the beauty of the surroundings. The rolling hills stretch out before them, bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. The air is filled with a sense of tranquility, a feeling that wraps around them like a comforting embrace.
They come across a small, secluded spot under a tree, its branches providing a natural canopy that filters the fading sunlight. The grass is soft underfoot, inviting them to sit and enjoy the view. They settle down together, Reden leaning against the tree trunk and Mary beside him.
"Here. Let's wait over here." Reden says.
They sit in comfortable silence for a moment, simply enjoying each other's presence and the beauty of the moment. Gah-Hal, nestled in Reden's arms, blinks curiously at the world around him.
"I often wondered how different our lives might have been if we had never met." Mary muses, breaking the silence.
Reden looks at her, a soft smile on his lips.
"Real question, isn't it? Imagining all the alternative versions of worlds if there were just a single changes in at least a person made. For example what if there was only one prince in Glazes? The war between prince's would never take place and we would never have to leave the country. You know what I mean. When just a minor changes in the past could change the whole future." Reden says while thinking.
"Fascinating thought. But you know what? I wouldn't change a thing if that means that I got to meet you. Every twist and turn in our life has led us to this moment and I wouldn't trade it for any other version of the past." Mary replies, gazing out at the horizon.
"Yea. As much as we faced hardships, wars and dangers, they shaped us and brought us closer together. Our love and our family are the most precious things in the world to me. I dont want to imagine what would happen if I or You were to fall in love with someone else in past instead. Someone probably much worse." Reden says, his voice filled with sincerity.
Mary leans her head against Reden's shoulder, feeling the warmth of his embrace and the steady beating of his heart. Gah-Hal, meanwhile is still just lying in Reden's arms looking wherever he wants.
"It's cute how calm our little adventurer is. I didn't see a single tear on him. Not even a single sound from him." Mary says while leaning on Reden's shoulder and looking at Gah-Hal.
"Maybe we will hear it sometime. If not then he I suppose he is too strong for tears." Reden says jokingly.
Sun continues to set and it seems like it's about time to head back to the carriage. The couple stands up from below the tree. They hold their hands and go back to the carriage.
The couple returns to the carriage, their steps light and their hearts full. The coachman is already finishing up his tasks, preparing the horses and ensuring everything is ready for the continuation of their journey. He notices Reden and Mary approaching and gives them a friendly nod.
"Ready to head out again, folks?" he asks with a smile.
"Yes, we're ready." Reden replies, hopping into the carriage and helping Mary while holding their son.
The coachman takes his place in the driver's seat, reins in hand, and with a gentle command, the horses begin to move once more. The carriage starts its journey anew, the wheels rolling over the road as the landscape shifts and changes outside the window.
As they settle back into their seats, Mary rests her head on Reden's shoulder and he wraps his arm around her in a comforting embrace. Gah-Hal, still just unamused with everything.
"I wonder what he's thinking about right now. Totally untouched with everything." Mary muses.
"Probably taking in all the new sights and sounds. Everything must be so fascinating to him." Reden replies.
"I wish I could see the world through his eyes. Everything is so fresh and new for him." Mary chuckles softly.
"Wanna switch? Now you can hold him." Reden suggests.
Mary agrees and takes the infant into her arms once again.
They fall into a comfortable silence, content to watch the world pass by as the carriage continues its journey. The road stretches ahead, winding through fields and forests, and as the day transitions into night, the stars begin to appear in the sky.
"Look, Gahy." Mary says, pointing at the stars visible through the window.
"Those are the same stars that have watched over us since the beginning." Mary continues.
Reden looks up as well, a sense of wonder in his eyes.
"It's a beautiful, isn't it? Knowing that no matter where we are, those stars are always watching over us." Reden says fascinated.
Mary nods, a smile on her lips.
"And they'll continue to shine down on us, guiding us through whatever comes our way." Mary says.
Gah-Hal once again instead of looking at the stars he just doesn't rotate his head anywhere like the stars don't impress him.
The night continues to deepen and the carriage carries them forward on their journey. Reden and Mary share whispered conversations, laughter and moments of quiet contemplation. As Gah-Hal eventually drifts off to sleep in Mary's arms, they exchange a tender glance, their love and gratitude for each other filling the air.
The road stretches on, winding through the darkness, but the light of their love shines brightly, illuminating their path. With the promise of a new day on the horizon and the comfort of each other's presence, they continue their journey together, ready to face whatever adventures lie ahead. And as they travel onwards, the world seems to fall away, leaving only the warmth of their love and the endless possibilities of the future.
3 Days Later, Late Evening
Three days have passed since Reden, Mary, and Gah-Hal set out on their journey from Castledale. The carriage has become their temporary home and each day is marked by the changing scenery outside their window and the shared moments within the carriage.
As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape, the carriage continues its steady pace along the road. Reden and Mary sit close together, their fingers intertwined, as they watch the world go by.
"Reden. I have only 5 silver coins left on me. We need to eat less. What we had was supposed to be enough for 2 weeks. Now it will suffice for around 4 days." Mary says.
"Wait really? I thought we had more than that. I didn't even realize how fat diet I've gotten. Should've said earlier." Reden says a bit confused.
"I also didn't realize. I mean. We still got something in pouch so if we stop in village next time we will buy some more provisions. I want to leave the dried meat for later because it doesn't spoil too quick. You know what I mean?" Mary says sincerely.
"I got you. Next stop then. I will try to hunt something if you want to be more frugal than that. I'm costing you a bit too much I suppose." Reden says.
"Haha. No worries. If you want we can hunt something. At least we dont need to spend money on anything to drink because we have my ice." Mary says with smile and wink.
Reden chuckles at Mary's playful remark.
"Your ice magic does come in handy, that's true. But still hunting sounds like a good idea. We can supplement our supplies and make our provisions last a bit longer and also saving some money." Reden says.
"Plus, it'll be nice to have some fresh meat for a change. We can cook it over a campfire and make a proper meal." Mary says.
"Maybe even treat a coachman a little. He works so hard taking us so far." Reden suggests.
"Let's think about that tommorow. Once we wake up." Mary says.
They remain in a comfortable silence for a while, simply enjoying the tranquility of the moment and the gentle swaying of the carriage.
Once Reden and Mary are asleep and coachman is still moving his horses and carriage to their destination, Gah-Hal is awake.
Gah-Hal lying on Mary's laps looks at the Mary's bag next to her. He then takes a quick rub at it with his small fingers. Suddenly the bag seemed... fuller? From half empty looking bag it now looks like it is almost completely full.
He then places his hands back on his chest and falls asleep. Nobody saw what happend.
Next Day, Morning
Morning arrives, the soft light of dawn gradually illuminating the landscape. Reden stirs from his sleep, stretching his limbs as he blinks his eyes open. He then looks over at Mary, who is still asleep with Gah-Hal cradled in her arms. A gentle smile tugs at his lips as he watches the two of them, his heart filled with love.
He looks at them for a while and then at the window, he looks at the changing landscape as they continue moving in carriage.
Mary begins to wake up. She stirs with Gah-Hal on her laps and slowly opens her eyes.
Reden and Mary exchange morning greetings, their voices hushed as they share a quiet moment together.
Mary, now fully awake, looks down at the bag as well. Her eyes widen slightly in surprise as she notices its apparent fullness.
"Did you pack more supplies while we were sleeping?" Mary asks, a hint of confusion in her voice.
Reden shakes his head.
"No, I didn't. Why?" Reden asks.
Mary's brows furrow as she examines the bag more closely.
"I'm sure the bag wasn't so full last night. Was I hallucinating?" Mary asks confused.
"I saw that too. Maybe we were both hallucinating? Hehe... Heh..." Reden says while slowly realizing something.
Reden looks at the bag and thinks for a moment.
"Wait. I had something similar few weeks ago when I was on the way to Castledale. Wait... I wasn't crazy?" Reden says.
Mary looks inside the bag.
"Oh my. This is actually full. It's completely filled with supplies. Both dried meat and bread." Mary is shocked by what she sees.
"Even honey is refilled." She says while picking the honey jar up.
Reden looks at his own bag and checks if something similar happened to him.
"My bag is still the same I think. Nothing new here." Reden says.
Reden and Mary exchange puzzled glances, both trying to make sense of what just happened. Gah-Hal, seemingly unaffected by the strange occurrence, continues to sleep peacefully on Mary's laps.
"Could it be some kind of magic? But who would do this and why? You said it happened to you earlier." Mary wonders aloud, her mind racing with possibilities.
Reden scratches his head, deep in thought.
"Yea it happened to me one before but I thought I went insane and didn't think about it further. I thought it was part of spell casted on me from when I started to run to Boullegarde." Reden explains.
Mary then just sits still and thinks.
"Whatever that was I'm grateful for that. I guess we don't need to go anywhere. Wait. When was the last time the coachman went asleep?" Mary asks and knocks into the carriage.
The carriage stops. Mary hands sleeping Gah-Hal to Reden and she leaves the carriage to ask coachman few things.
"Excuse me. I realized you didn't sleep for the whole time we traveled. How is that?" Mary asks.
Coachman laughed and showed the bottle of yellow liquid to her.
"Stamina potion. I dont need to sleep for a long time when I drink one small bottle. My son is alchemist and he produces these. This way I can satisfy my clients by getting to the destination faster." Coachman explains.
"Oh. I see. Also did anyone else enter the carriage in night?" Mary asks.
"I dont think so. I'm not risking stopping the carriage in the night." Coachman says.
"I see. Well then sorry for stopping you." Mary says and goes back inside the carriage.
Mary takes Gah-Hal from Reden again and cradles him.
"So?" Reden asks.
"He stuffs himself with stamina potions. He also said nobody was in the carriage for the whole night except of us." Mary says.
"Oh well then." Reden says with shrug.
Carriage then started moving again. Their journey continues.
Reden and Mary sit back in the carriage, the mystery of the magically replenished supplies still lingering in the air. As the carriage continues its journey, they share theories and speculations about what could have caused such a strange occurrence.
"I guess we'll never know for sure." Reden muses, looking at the bag of supplies with a mix of fascination and puzzlement.
"Yeah, it's quite a mystery. But at least it's a mystery that worked in our favor so I don't know if I want to get into it any further." Mary replies with a smile, grateful for the unexpected abundance.
Gah-Hal, now awake, looks up at his parents with curious eyes.
"Hey there, little one. You're witnessing your parents solving the great case of the magically refilling bag." Reden says playfully to Gah-Hal.
Mary chuckles and adjusts Gah-Hal in her arms.
"Maybe he's the one responsible, practicing his infant magic secretly." Mary says while still cradling him.
They both share a laugh at the thought, their hearts light despite the enigma surrounding them. After some time they ignored that something helped as they thought it's nothing to worry about.
As the day unfolds, they continue to enjoy the journey, taking in the passing scenery and sharing stories, dreams, and laughter. The supplies they have will once again suffice for around 2 weeks which means it should be once again enough until the destination is reached.
Same Day, Noon
"This is so boring. We should get ourselves something to do." Reden suggests.
Mary leans back against the cushioned seat of the carriage, her expression thoughtful. Gah-Hal, nestled in her arms, blinks up at them, seemingly sensing the change in mood.
"Good idea. We've been on the road for quite a while, and it wouldn't hurt to break the monotony." Mary agrees, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Reden raises an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what do you have in mind? Something kinky? Should I be scared?" Reden says.
"How about a little game? It's been ages since we've played anything together." Mary says and grins playfully.
Reden chuckles, intrigued by the idea. "Oh. A game, huh? Alright, I guess. What do you have in mind?"
Mary taps her chin, pretending to think.
"Let's see... How about a game of riddles? We take turns asking each other riddles and if the other person can't solve it, they owe the other a favor." She suggests.
"Riddles, huh? Sounds like a challenge." Reden says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Alright, I accept. Hmhm. Heheh. This will be something easy for me." Reden says grinning.
Mary raises an eyebrow, her smile widening.
"We'll see about that. I'll start. Here's one for you: I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?" Mary riddles.
Reden leans back, pretending to ponder, but his eyes sparkle with amusement.
"Ah, a classic. The answer is an echo." Reden answers.
Mary claps her hands in mock frustration.
"Impressive, you got it right." She says with big smile.
Reden grins.
"Your turn." Mary says.
Reden thinks for a moment before posing his riddle.
"Alright, here's one: I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released and yet I am used by almost every person. What am I?" Reden riddles.
Mary's expression shifts into concentration as she mulls over the riddle.
"Hmm, that's a tricky one. Is it... a pencil lead?" Mary says.
Reden's grin widens.
"Bingo!" Reden says.
As the riddle game continues, Reden and Mary engage in a playful battle of wits, challenging each other with clever and sometimes tricky riddles. Laughter and teasing fill the carriage as they take turns stumping each other and trading riddles of varying difficulty.
Reden leans forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Alright, let's step it up a notch. How about a more... unconventional riddle?" Reden suggests.
Mary raises an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Oho, now you've piqued my interest. Lay it on me." Mary says playfully.
"Alright, here it goes." Reden begins with a sly grin.
"I come in a lot of different sizes. Sometimes, I drip a little. If you blow me, it feels really good. What am I?" Reden asks with very big grin leaning closer to her.
Mary's eyes widen in surprise, and then she bursts into laughter.
"Aha. That's quite a good one you've got here." Mary says.
Reden chuckles.
"Come on, give it a shot. Don't be afraid of answer." Reden says still with grin.
Mary can't help but laugh even harder at the cheeky riddle. She covers her mouth with one hand, trying to stifle her giggles, while the other holds Gah-Hal who seems curious about all the commotion.
"Well, you certainly know how to make things interesting." Mary says, still chuckling.
"I will risk my answer though. I really liked blowing candles when I was younger. It was satisfying. So my answer is candle." Mary says not sure of her answer but is also quite embarassed.
"Hehe. The answer is nose. You know. When you have runny nose and some noses are smaller and bigger." Reden says with laugh.
Mary's face turns a delightful shade of red as she realizes the true answer to Reden's playful riddle. She bursts into a fit of giggles, her laughter infectious.
"Oh, you! You got me good with that one. You cunning bastard." Mary says through her laughter.
"I thought you'd appreciate that one. It's all in good fun. At least you didn't fall for another answer." Reden grins, thoroughly enjoying her reaction.
"Definitely creative, I'll give you that." Mary replies, still trying to catch her breath from laughing.
"So. You lost. It means you get to do my favor." Reden says playfully.
"Okay then. What could you want from me, master?" Mary plays along.
Mary leans her face closer to Reden and Reden leans his face closer to Mary. They both look at eachother with smile for a while.
As Reden and Mary share a tender moment, their faces just inches apart, their laughter subsides, and a warm, affectionate atmosphere fills the carriage. Gah-Hal, nestled between them just watched and nothing else.
"You know. We are in carriage so I will ask for something simple." Reden says softly,
"For my favor, all I want is a long passionate kiss." Reden suggests.
When he says that the carriage suddenly stopped.
"Okay. If you say so." Mary says while getting her face closer to Reden.
Before they both kiss Reden stop Mary for a moment.
"Why did we stop? It's too soon for a stop." Reden says to Mary with a hint of confusion.