The carriage bounced along the dirt road, causing me to sometimes jump up on my seat. It was a bit awkward but better than any carriage ride I've ever been in. We've been riding for around a day now. We had to set up a camp yesterday during the night. Since none of my ''teammates'' knew how to build one, me and the driver, Sebastian, decided to build it ourselves.
We had a good night's sleep, at least in my case, and woke up to keep going. It's been a few hours since then.
I looked behind me through the small window and realized that the trio had fallen asleep yet again. I guess they aren't used to traveling long distances.
''So, Mr. Isaac,''
The driver's voice jolted me out of my thoughts. I turned toward him, his vision still focused heavily on the road.
''A war veteran, aren't we? Two years of service, I heard.''
His words brought a sea of bad memories. I nodded at his question.
''Mhm, I see...''
His words trailed off at the end as if he was carefully considering his words. He took a brief glance at the insides of the carriage, then asked.
''What do you think of this war with Sacrada?''
My eyebrows twitched. I was caught off guard by the man's question, and I hesitated for a few seconds.
''Haha, I know what you must be thinking. Don't worry, I am a but a mere carriage driver. I don't work under the queen, so just say whatever you want.''
Well, it was that. But it was also the fact that I had to be careful because these crazed dudes are still behind us, even if they were sleeping.
I gulped and decided to trust their sleepiness.
''It's ridiculous, to be honest. Lately, I've been thinking that the queen has to be some sort of war-loving maniac, otherwise her actions make no damn sense.''
Sebastian chuckled at my words.
''Haha, I completely agree. We were on pretty good terms with Sacrada, and now everything's gone to hell. So many businesses ended up in the mud because of that lady.''
I smiled at what he said. It seems I've found my people, after all
''And also, so many men and women had their lives ruined because of her. If she hates Sacrada so much, why doesn't she go and fight the king herself? We should put them on a ring and make them sword fight.''
Sebastian let out a hearty laugh at my joke and patted himself on the chest to calm his laughter down.
''Haha! I'd kill to see such a thing!''
We laughed as we joked about the queen. Obviously, I couldn't be the only one who hated that woman for her decisions. Most peasants and citizens of the middle stratum did, as they were the only ones affected by this war. None of the nobles were in the slightest bit damaged by this whole thing, as most of them chose to either be scholars or adventurers and so they got off scot-free.
That bitch only sends us cannon fodder to the field. Well, at least now I'm ''important'' cannon fodder. Working directly under the queen.
''Say, Mr. Isaac, you were in the siege of Erilis, weren't you?''
''Yeah.''
''What was the battle like? They say we overwhelmed Sacrada, but I don't believe a lick of what those people in the newspaper said. Owned by a bunch of snotty nobles, I can only imagine how full of lies it was.''
I raised my eyebrows, before frowning a bit. Should I tell him?
I instinctively turned back again, to see that the trio was still fast asleep. I guess I still have some time.
I explained to Sebastian what happened exactly, from how we were organized to how the battle went when we entered the city. Many times he made shocked faces, grimaced, or became angry. I lightened the mood a bit by making some self-deprecating jokes, and he laughed, his typical friendly smile returning.
''I see, no wonder they weren't very specific on the matter. More than four thousand men lost in a single day...''
''And still counting.''
''How terrible. And that horrific strategy, to charge directly against the main gate, I can only imagine how scary it must've been.''
Sebastian spoke with a hint of pity and sadness, to which I only smiled at him, assuring him I'm doing fine. He sighed and whipped the horses to run faster.
''That woman will be the end of our country...''
''I hope not, I still need my sister to graduate at least, otherwise, we'll end up as peasants in another country.''
''Oh, your sister is a scholar?''
Sebastian asked me, surprised. I let out a deprecating laugh.
''Yeah, she studies in Belica's Magic Academy. She's only 15 but she's a genius, apparently. Although not more than this girl right here.''
I pointed behind me towards Fiorella, who was sound asleep still.
''That's impressive. You and your sister are quite the talented pair, aren't you?''
I shrugged, unsure of how to respond.
''Haha, I don't know about that. I just know a bit about fighting, but to be called talented is...''
Yeah, I didn't really fully believe it. Part of me did think it was true, and the other part completely refused to accept such a thing.
''And now you're going to a dungeon, quite unlucky of you, Mr. Isaac.''
''Never been lucky, never will, but it is what it is.''
Our conversation ended, and a comfortable silence fell between us. I gazed towards the passing scenery, taking in the view and enjoying the beautiful flower fields.
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''And this, should be the place...''
Eduardo said, stopping in his tracks.
Having arrived at the outsides of the former town, Erilis, which had now become a military camp, we hopped out of the carriage and began making our way through the vast and surrounding forest. We followed behind Eduardo, who was deemed the most responsible and capable of guiding us. He had a map of sorts, which really just said where the dungeon was roughly located.
After walking for what seemed like half an hour, we finally reached our destination. A colossal tree with vines and roots intertwining around its base.
Eduardo gazed at the tree for a few seconds, before saying:
''I see. Fiorella.''
''R-Right!''
The girl jumped and replied to Eduardo's voice, quickly making way toward the tangled roots and vines.
Placing her hands on the thick roots, she whispered something under her breath. Suddenly, her hands glowed a blinding light, forcing us to cover our faces. The light disappeared after a few seconds.
Our vision returned, and we opened our eyes to see the tangled vines and roots beginning to move around, finally revealing two large metallic doors engraved with the figure of an armored man.
''I-It's done.''
She said, her voice shy and quiet.
I couldn't help but be amazed. It was my first time seeing such magic, and it was just as fantastical and ethereal as I thought.
I turned to the side and saw Vittorio nervously putting on a helmet, his hands trembling as he did. I guess he wasn't nearly as brave as he made himself out to be.
Eduardo looked at the metallic doors and hesitated, sweating dripping down his neck. It seems none of them were willing to actually enter.
''...I'll go first.''
The trio seemed to relax in relief.
I sighed and walked towards the doors. Seeing them closer, I could make out the figure engraved in the doors more clearly. It was a broad-shouldered man holding a short sword in his hand, with armor covering every bit of his body. His helmet seemed to have large horns protruding upward.
I grabbed the handles of the door and split them apart, revealing the dark inside. It was nothing but darkness that extended endlessly, with no apparent end. Even the natural light from the outside couldn't penetrate it.
''...''
I gulped looking at it. Was this how it was supposed to be?
''..I-I-I'll go, too...''
A fearful, shaky voice spoke up from behind me. I turned around and saw Fiorella, who was standing right behind me, tightly gripping the wooden wand in her hands.
''You sure?''
''Y-Yeah, I-I don't want to be such a scaredy cat...''
Her voice was barely above a whisper, although that was something to be expected from the type of person she was.
I looked further away and saw Vittorio and Eduardo both standing next to each other. They both warily eyed the darkness inside the room, but looked at each other and nodded, following Fiorella's lead.
''All right then, if you're all ready, let's go..'''
I took a deep breath and stepped forward, Fiorella and the other two walking right behind me. At first, there was only the sound of our footsteps filling the room.
But suddenly, a loud sound echoed, as if something or somebody had fallen flat on the ground, making Fiorella scream.
''Eeek!''
Her voice echoed inside the darkness, and she clung to the edges of my armor. I turned around and looked for Vittorio and Eduardo, but they were nowhere to be seen. In fact, the entry was also nowhere to be seen. It was now truly pitch-black inside this room.
''Hey!''
My voice reverberated, and yet no answer came.
Another loud sound echoed, and I felt Fiorella's grip loosen. I spun around again, yet she was nowhere to be seen.
''Shit, what is this---?!''
And then it hit me, a sudden, nauseating, dizzying feeling that seemed to come out of nowhere. I dropped the halberd on the ground and clutched my head. It hurt like hell as if someone had struck my head with a metal bat.
I fell flat on the ground, and I lost consciousness.
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''---AHH!''
I let out a piercing and pained scream as I woke up. I sat up in a frenzy, my eyes darting around the dark room I was in. I was hit again by the familiar feeling of a headache, but it wasn't as intense as before.
''Shit, what...''
I rubbed my temples with my hand, trying to gather my thoughts.
''Y-You're awake, t-that's nice...''
A familiar stuttering voice reached my ears, and I turned to see Fiorella's tired face. Her eyes were looking at me with a mix of fear and confusion.
I took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. Panicking won't do me any good.
''Where are we? What happened?''
I asked Fiorella, who frowned and tried her best to smile as she answered:
''T-This place is giving out t-the same magic waves as the dungeon's entry, s-so we should be inside the dungeon, but...''
She hesitated a bit, looking away towards something in the distance.
''It doesn't look like any dungeon I've ever heard of before...''
I frowned at her words. She pointed towards somewhere at the end of the room. I followed her line of sight, and I could just barely make out a balcony.
I stood up slowly from the ground, and Fiorella followed right behind me.
We walked slowly towards the balcony, the outlines of the tall buildings slowly making themselves clearer in the darkness of the night.
When I reached the balcony, my mouth hung just slightly agape looking at the city. Tall buildings made of stone and brick stood firmly, their roofs steeply pitched and adorned with chimneys. The smaller houses and shops were made of firm and elegant wood, with hanging signs written in a language I could recognize even from this distance.
Looking at the distance, I could make out the massive building furthest away from the city, standing proud like an elegant castle and surrounded by a garden.
I knew what I was looking at, and that made my heart race. With excitement, with fear, with anticipation, many emotions swirled inside of me. This dominance of brick and stone, the design of these massive churches, this gothic architecture, I recognized them very, very clearly.
''What's that?''
Fiorella spoke and pointed at some place in the ground. I looked down and strained my eyes to see what she was pointing at, and saw a sight I had only seen in movies in my past life, train rails. And sitting on top of them, was a run-down, seemingly abandoned trolley.
We both stood in silence at this view.
Fiorella was amazed at the architecture of the place, and the seemingly unknown and alien structures.
As for me, I was amazed by something else.
By the fact that we had somehow been transported to a city from the victorian era, something which only existed in my world.
''Quite an anti-climatic return...''