We were moving steadily on the morrow of the fifth day. I hadn't slept since we left that small city we took a pit stop at because of the bother on my mind, and this abnormality ofine was being noticed, see.
"Are you sure everything is all right?" Father asked. "I haven't seen you this worked up since... " I looked at his face and immediately knew what he meant by these words.
"Please don't bring that up. I have enough on my mind as it is." I said, rather quietly.
"Ah, so you do have something bothering you." His voice contained a victory, as though he had just won a bet where he had to make me admit I had problems.
"Don't worry about my problems. You should be thinking about how to present your present to the First Princess." I said.
"Stubborn little brat."
"Leave him be, Father." Leanna: my sister, said. "If he doesn't want to talk, you can't really force him. When he's had enough to think about, I guarantee he'll come running back home to you like he always does."
I gave a fierce side glance at her and turned my face back again, ignoring her words. Seeing this, she raised her brows in surprise.
"Oh, don't tell me my little brother is now capable of acting mature, eh?" She teased. "Tell me, how old were you again? Oh, that's right. Twelve."
"Leanna. Be quiet." Father cautioned.
"Father, it's just a little... "
"Quiet! Something is wrong." His face carried an extreme seriousness this time around as he scolded her sternly. A certain feeling loomed over me that caused my face to darken. I gulped down saliva and turned to face my father, trying to stutter two words.
"He's... He's here." I finally managed to say.
"Who's here?" Father asked.
"The worry that was on my mind." I said. "Father, how well can you do against a Wyvern?"
"What? What's gotten into you today, son?"
"I need to know, is it possible for you to kill a Wyvern?"
"Um, with the right help, yes. But what is with the questions?" Both Father's and Leanna's faces revealed confused expressions as this conversation ensued, though they managed to remain as calm as needed.
"Alright, that means we have a chance." I said. "Father, get ready to do battle with a Wyvern."
The carriage suddenly came to a stop as soon as I concluded this talk. Father quickly unmounted the carriage, whilst warning us both in an extremely strict manner to not take a single step out, no matter what, unless he asked us to.
I waited a bit in the carriage, before I got impatient and pushed the carriage door, planning to go out. A tender hand suddenly grabbed me by the wrist.
"Where do you think you're going?" Leanna asked. "Father said to wait in the carriage. You cannot go out."
"Actually, as it turns out, I can go out, and I will." I said, looking at her with a dangerous, vicious gaze that seemed to penetrate into her very soul. "Now, let me go."
"No. Father said to stay in the carriage. As the elder of us two, I currently hold the most authority over you, so you will do as I say."
"Yeah, right." I brushed off her hand with ease and barrelled through to the outside of the carriage. I feared that my nightmare would be a reality as soon as I came out.
'I must face my fears! I must fight the... Wyvern? Those are not Wyverns. Did we stop because of bandits?' As I questioned myself in my head, I felt a little happy. Although I also felt a little stupid for all that talk and yet nothing, there was still a faint joy that emanated from me as I saw there was no Wyvern out front.
According to what I remembered from that day, we were not attacked by bandits today. Seeing as it was different this time around, it was only right to assume that this wasn't the only thing that had changed due to my... metamorphosis.
Whether or not I was a tad stupid for saying gibberish today, a jolly feeling still filled up my heart, warming it to its fullest. I had narrowly avoided my family's extinction. Now, we just had to get through the day without any sign of Wyverns whatsoever. Do this and all would be well for my lot; thus all would be well with me.
"Jason, didn't I tell you to keep to the carriage? Do you want to get yourself killed?!" Father scolded. He had seen me whilst I was drowning myself in thoughts, and had promptly walked up to me.
"Sorry, Father. I was worried that... "
"As you can see, Jason. There are no Wyverns around here. Now, you will answer to me as soon as we get to tha Capital. I asked you to not disobey me and you strictly went directly against my orders." He was fuming, it was as though I could literally see the smoke emitting from his body as he stood there, rambling on and on about how disrespectful I had been and all that.
I didn't mind, though. As long as he was able to punish me when we got to the Capital, that meant he would get to the Capital; and fine too. Thus, he would survive this ordeal.
I smiled at his furious face. "I have been disobedient. When we get to the Capital, please punish me." I hung my head as I said this to convey my regret, except I wasn't regretful of a single thing. If anything, I was thankful things had turned out this way.
"Jason, I don't know what is going on with you. I mean, you can tell me anything, you know that, right?"
"Yes, Father." I replied.
"Good. Now, get in there and be safe." He said, as he patted my back. "Fret not, there will be no Wyvern attack today so we will certainly not have to fight against one, not today at least." He was about to turn and get back to dealing with the bandits when I held his hand.
"Father, I think... it might be a bit too soon to judge if or if not we are to battle a Wyvern." I said. My face was extremely dark and gloomy as I looked above Father's head and into the distant sky, where a gargantuan maroon coloured figure approached the skies above us with a frightening speed that tore the air itself.
I knew at this moment, that I had rejoiced way too soon.