Waking up a few hours later I prepared for my journey before hearing a well timed knock on my door.
"It is Trynowin's servant sir I am here to collect you."
"On my way"
Opening the door I was met by an elf with black and silver hair who looked older than Trynowin himself. He had an air of refinement and by his meticulous and smooth actions I could tell he was the height of a perfect servant.
"Please follow me sir the carriage leaves in 5 minutes."
"Lead the way."
We met Trynowin standing outside of a carriage that seemed of high quality.
"Ah your here, I hope you had a good night's rest?"
"Yeah I did, is this the carriage were taking?"
"Yes have you ridden in a carriage before?"
"No I haven't "
"I see. I hope you don't have motion sickness as the carriage jostles around quite heavily during travel."
Maybe I could invent suspension systems for carriages or other forms of travel altogether.
"Let's go we don't have much time before departure. "
Sitting in the carriage Trynowin's servant led the lizard-like beasts that replaced horses out of the village and we followed a dirt path. He was right it was bumpy to say the least. Trynowin was reading a book about leadership or something like that I wasn't sure as the title was confusing. I decided to close my eyes and rest while I could, I doubted I would get any rest once I made it to the city.
~~
*Bang*
The carriage abruptly stopped launching me forwards into the other side of the carriage since we were going so fast.
"Ambassador Trynowin come out of that carriage! Slowly! If you try anything funny we won't hesitate to activate the explosion rune beneath you."
"It looks like it got you caught up in a mess boy. I'm sorry."
"That doesn't matter right now can you distract them for a bit?"
"What are you up to? They are all C rank at the least with their leader being B rank and your mana is telling me you are at the most an E rank."
"If you give me time I can creep up on the leader and assassinate or distract them. Even if they are B rank if I channel all my aura and mana into a single point they should be Maimed or at least be distracted."
"I thank you for the plan and the intended help however it is not needed. Follow me boy and watch. It has been a while since I've seen such a sight."
Stepping out of the carriage Trynowin's foot sunk into the ground slightly cracking the earth around it.
I needed a way to destroy that rune or scatter the assailants just in case. I don't trust Trynowin but I will see what he has planned and make a decision on my trust based on what happens.
"Ah my apologies it seems I didn't displace my weight correctly."
That was because of his weight!? He looks super skinny let alone the absence of muscles how is he that heavy. Unless he's not.
"Now who are you and why have you ambushed us? You can remove that foul excuse that you have for bandits clothing?"
"Do you think we're stupid it doesn't matter who we are you will be dead in a second anyways."
"Key"
"milord"
"I need them alive but anything below the torso is free."
"Certainly milord."
Instantly before I could look towards them I saw the unknown assailants torsos fall from their bodies except the leader who was still in one piece.
"Wha- what did you do! Those were my friends Die you bastards!"
My heart rate slowed as he pulled out a device that looked like a remote detonator made from a mana stone. No matter how much mana I pimp into my legs I wouldn't even escape the blast zone in time. I could only watch as he squeezed the trigger and.... nothing happened. heh as expected
"Rule 0 of fighting: Don't disclose your plans to the enemy."
It then hit me. He intentionally dug into the ground with his foot and destroyed part of the rune
"You smart bastard you dug out part of the rune with your magic and you have an overpowered servant. "
"Coming from the insane bastard who has secretly been using mana to take over and break parts of the runes. Even if you only managed a small piece before running out of mana that is a skill those at the peak can barely perform. "
"That I am but what should we do with him?"
"Leave him to me"
Walking closer Trynowin grabbed the assailants face before forcing something down his throat
"What was that! "(assailant)
"Oh just a regular seed."
Roots started to sprout out of the assailants stomach before they crawled down his legs devouring and threading through his skin like a needle. His screams amplified as branches started to emerge from every orifice except from his mouth the leaves were a deep red showing what they had fed on. His eyes popped out of his sockets where they hung like apples and roots took their place. He was rooted into the ground and more tree than person
I didn't think nature could be so brutal and scary and yet so... so beautiful
"please kill me "
"k...I'll..m..e"
"Not until you answer my question "
"I...C..an.t"
More roots grew out his stomach tore open his guts hung out bearing fruits that looked like berries.
Aaaaargh
What about now?
"O..Kay
We.. ar.e t.he K-"
His head suddenly exploded showering me in a mix of blood flesh and seeds along with a few chunks of wood. Trynowin was the same but he mostly hid his body behind me protecting his clothes from the blast.
"It seems that someone doesn't want us to know their identity"
"Indeed boy. We can't do much with a corpse boy, let's get cleaned up before we leave."
"My name's Noir by the way, it's better than you calling me 'boy' all the time"
Those people said that he's an ambassador, probably for the elf race if I can make some form of connection with him I could have an easier time crossing the borders between the elf continent and the human continent.
"Hmm Noir what an unusual name. Pleasure to make your acquaintance Noir." Sticking his hand out for a handshake I readily accepted
"Likewise"
We should make it to the city by nightfall if we push the beasts to their limit. It isn't safe to have a leisurely ride anymore.
"I understand, thank you for the honesty and support."
"Let's get moving then"
It would take us a few days but we managed to reach the city by morning. And oh boy was it beautiful.