Jasper and I prepared as another jolt caused the carriage dance between life and death. I swore the wheels were hitting every possible rock on this cursed mountain.
"At this point, I'd rather be walking," I say as I grip the seat for balance.
Jasper let out a sound, most probably agreeing with me. "I believe today's real challenge by your Father is to make us appreciate the ground more by the time we arrive."
I groaned, leaning my head back. "It's working."
Another jolt. Another lurch.
The carriage tilted slightly before steadying again, and for a second, we both stayed frozen in place, as if moving would be our final mistake.
Then, in perfect union, we both exhaled.
"This is cruel," I whispered.
Jasper nodded wisely. "This is war."
I glanced out the window looking at Millar and Father on their horses, they would sometimes stop to aim at something and then retrieve the said things.
Probably food for the camp.
As I was watching his broad back, he must have sensed me and without turning said, "I hope you two aren't getting too comfortable back there!"
"Not at all!" I called back, voice laced with mock enthusiasm.
Jasper sighed. "If we make it out of this alive, I'm demanding an actual reward."
I huffed, crossing my arms. "Like what?"
Jasper tilted his head as if considering. "A real sword, for one."
I blinked, looking at him. "You're still hung up on that?"
Jasper shrugged. "We're twelve. We can handle it."
"Father's never going to let us carry real swords yet. You should aim for something achievable." I say it blankly, like the 100 times I have explained it before.
Jasper gave me a rare, amused look. "Like surviving this ride?"
"Exactly."
The carriage rattled violently once more, nearly sending us flying.
Jasper sighed. "I take it back. A real sword isn't enough. I want compensation."
I chuckled. "You sound like me."
"And yet, here I am suffering with you."
I hit him on the leg but he just rolls his eyes and gives me an annoyed look.
"Hey, don't roll your eyes at me!" as soon as I finished saying that the carriage gave us another swing of its fury and practically turned us upside down.
One moment I was on my seat and the next I lay on top of Jasper, who had found a spot on the carriage floor just like me.
"Agh..."
"Shit.." Jas tries to sit up but once he realizes I am on top of him, he stops moving.
We don't move and stay like that in silence. I am still shaken up, that even if I try to stand, I would probably find myself face-first on the ground.
The carriage rattles relentlessly and shakes the whole couch with no mercy.
Then, very slowly, Jas exhales and says, "Young Master, would you mind moving?"
"Just a second," I take in a deep breath and wait for the carriage to stabilize.
When it gave me a small interval, I pushed myself up, but just as I did, the carriage hit another dip, sending me crashing right back down.
A deep sigh left Jasper.
"…Are you doing this on purpose?"
I huffed. "Trust me, if I was, you'd know."
"Then kindly get off."
"Trying!"
It took a few more shaky movements before I finally rolled off him, flopping back onto my own seat, breathless.
Jasper groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "This trip is cursed."
I smirked, straightening my clothes. "Still want that sword?"
"Forget the sword," he muttered. "I want my dignity back."
Laughter bubbled up between us, exhaustion mixing with amusement. The ride continued, merciless as ever, but somehow, it didn't seem as unbearable anymore.
Suffering together at its finest.
***
By the time we reached the top, I practically threw myself out of the carriage, kissing the solid ground.
"Finally!" I groaned dramatically. Never in all my years have I felt this kind of urgency and safety for the ground beneath my feet.
God of Hope had always told me that ground or earth is the element with the steadiest of nature and now I believe in it with whole honesty.
Jasper just stretches beside me and doesn't utter a word.
Father dismounds the horse and clapped his hand, saying, "Had a fun ride?"
I just glare at him and say, "Yes, Father." Tuning towards Millard, I say, "Hope you sleep well tonight. There are dangers in the forest at night."
I threaten but he just laughs at it.
I shake my head and walk towards Millard, who is already setting up our tents. Jasper follows me and soon Father also joins.
But when I bypass the tents, I see the view. The sky had thought of star's lighting up like small fireflies, the river flowing down gives a coolness to the eyes.
The forest itself is dense with all hues of green and black.
The blues and greens form the perfect symphony of color and create an ethereal sense of beauty.
I walk further, almost enchanted by it, when suddenly someone grabs my hand and pulls me out.
!!!
I look down and realize that I almost walked off a cliff.
This could have been a bad situation.
"Are you crazy see where you are going?" For the first time, Jasper shouted at me.
For the first time, I say anger in his eyes, directed at me.
I blinked and said, "Sorry."
He sighed and pulled me back to the campsite, only letting go of my hand when he made sure I sat down and was not about to danger myself again.
He helped Millard skin the rabbits and put them on the stove, while Father built up the fire.
When I try to stand up to help, Jasper's sharp gaze tells me to sit down. Millard shakes his head.
While Father looks up and says, "Watch this."
He takes a handful of grass and rubs his fingers together as mana collects around it. Tiny sparks fly and then he places them inside the grass, which light up in flames immediately.
He quickly placed the grass on the piles of twigs and wood, huffing small breaths on it.
Dragon of Electricity.
That's what my father is.
I stare as the fire grows bigger and shines brighter.
Just like his smile.
Here's a fitting ending for this chapter, balancing warmth, reflection, and the bond between Kaan and his father.
I watched the fire flicker, the golden glow casting shifting shadows over Father's face. The flames danced wildly, alive with energy—just like him.
Jasper sat across from me, quietly tending to the food, but his occasional glances in my direction didn't go unnoticed. Even without words, his watchful presence remained the same.
Father caught me staring, and with a small chuckle, he ruffled my hair. "You're thinking too much again, Kaan."
I blinked, startled. "Am I?"
He nodded, settling beside me, his gaze locked onto the fire. "You always do."
The warmth of the flames reached my fingertips, but the weight in my chest hadn't faded.
I wanted to tell him I wasn't thinking too much. That I was simply memorizing this moment—his voice, his laughter, the way the fire reflected in his eyes.
Because I knew that soon this would become a memory.
Jasper came and sat beside me, his presence grounding me. And just like that, I found myself breathing a little easier.
The night stretched before us, full of stories waiting to be told, of embers glowing in the dark, of a family sharing a fleeting moment of peace before the storm.
For now, I would hold onto this.
For now, that was enough.