A week passed by swiftly as several crates of clothes, furniture, and cooking utensils were filled to the brim stacked outside the small wooden house Albert once called home. It was early in the morning as the Shawling family was busy making preparations. Today was the day they were beginning their long journey.
The entire family wore clothes suitable for long distances, mainly boots as well as a vest and loose fitting pants for ease of movement. Even his mother who normally enjoyed wearing dresses put them away for something more appropriate.
The journey would take upwards of two weeks by horse-drawn carriage, perhaps more considering the amount of luggage they were hauling. Needless to say, it was dangerous traveling such a long distance. Throughout the forest, open fields, and mountains, the surroundings would be packed with monsters, bandits, and potentially hard to traverse terrain.
Which is why Lael arranged for the help of his former adventurer party as well as some guards from the main Shawling estate. Currently, they most likely arrived at the trading post already.
"Are we done packing everything? If so, go get your mother. Let's not keep our escorts waiting for too long."
After finishing up packing the last book, Albert then went on to notify his mother of their soon departure.
***
As Albert approached the familiar Shawling Trading Post with his parents, a young woman in her mid-twenties stepped forward, her presence exuding a blend of confidence and readiness. Her black hair was cropped in a tomboyish cut, a practical choice for someone who carried a bow slung across her back and an iron dagger secured to her right thigh–a true hunter in every sense.
"This must be your son, Lael?" her voice held a hint of curiosity as she appraised Albert with a keen eye.
Lael nodded proudly. "Yes, this is Albert. Go ahead and introduce yourself."
Deciding a simple greeting should suffice, he drew a breath and straightened his back.
"It's a pleasure to meet everyone. I've heard wonderful things about the Shawling estate from my father, and we're grateful for your guidance and protection on this journey."
Beside the hunter stood two others, both adults in similar uniforms adorned with the emblem of the Shawling estate embroidered on their sleeves. The first was a late middle-aged man, his demeanor carrying the grace of an elegant butler. Though streaks of white peppered his black hair, his posture and the simple longsword at his waist hinted at a life full of experience.
The second was a young woman with dark hair tied back in a practical ponytail that reached just above her waist. Despite her petite stature, there was an undeniable air of authority about her, reminiscent of elite soldiers Albert had crossed in his previous life. She equipped both a longsword as well as a shortsword, both slung on her waist.
"It seems he's been well educated in etiquette, Lael," the man remarked with a nod of approval. "The house master will surely be pleased with his newest grandson."
Lael's chest puffed up with paternal pride. "Of course he is, he's my son after all."
"It's been over four years, Lael," this time the petite lady spoke.
Albert watched as his father awkwardly averted his eyes.
"Eve…"
What was the relationship between those two? As he was about to open his mouth to ask, his mother interjected, "We should get going soon, no? We should start our trip while the sun is still bright."
"The madam is right. We have plenty of time to catch up during our travels. After all, we'll be in each other's company for at least a couple weeks, if not more."
With a nod from Lael and a glance exchanged between the escort party, it was decided. After finishing loading the last crate onto their carriages, the horses stamped impatiently, ready to set forth on the road ahead.
The wheels creaked into motion, the rhythm of their journey beginning to unfurl. Albert cast one last look at the town he once called home, a mixture of excitement and anticipation growing within him.
Finally, their journey began!
***
An hour in, Albert learned the names of the other two party members accompanying them. The hunter's name was Cleo, she had partied up with his father when he first set out as an adventurer.
"Hey Al, I can call you that right?" Cleo leaned in, "Did you know the first time your father encountered a pack of goblins he pissed himself?"
"Cleo language!" Alise's gaze was shooting daggers at the hunter sitting from across the carriage.
"Ah, my apologies, Albert I meant your father…relieved himself the first time he ran into a pack of goblins. Alise, is that better?"
Albert could've sworn he saw steam come out of his mother, meanwhile Chris, the seasoned adventurer, sat at the front of the carriage, his shoulders shaking as he suppressed a laugh.
"Cleo, I thought we agreed to never bring that up again!" Lael's voice was embarrassed as he glared at Cleo.
The hunter stuck out her tongue at Lael, "I had to tell your son some stories about how brave and courageous his father was, right? I've had to bail you out so many times and this is the thanks I get?"
"Well what about all the times I bailed you out then? Don't think I've forgotten about that time you were crying for help after your bow string snapped! You would've been eaten by those Shadow Wolves alive without me!"
"Well, what about that time…"
"I saved you from those golems, remember…"
It appeared like his father and Cleo got along just fine.
Ignoring the two, Albert stuck his head out from the back of the carriage.
A vast sea of grass stretched out before him, the carriages trundling steadily along a loosely paved road that cut through the verdant expanse. To the left, a gentle stream meandered alongside the road, its water glistening in the sunlight as it snaked into the horizon. On the right, clusters of trees dotted the landscape, breaking the monotony of the grassy fields.
Albert's gaze was drawn further ahead, where a majestic mountain range loomed in the distance like a slumbering giant.
'The Lacie Mountains.' They were closer to his hometown than he thought. Although getting to the mountain base might take a few more days at their current pace.
The other carriage ahead of theirs was guided by Eve. It held all the essential supplies for their journey–rations, tents, rope, and other survival tools. Meanwhile, the carriage Albert sat in with his family and companions was laden with their personal belongings, carefully packed and stacked.
The journey to Everton, a trip that would usually take two weeks from his hometown, was now prolonged due to the additional weight of the supplies and luggage.
***
As the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue over the landscape, Eve brought her carriage to a gentle stop, signaling for Chris to follow suit behind her. The horses neighed softly, their breath visible in the cooling evening air.
Eve hopped off the carriage with a graceful fluidity, her voice carrying through the tranquil surroundings. "Let's set up camp here," she suggested, her gaze sweeping over the area. "It's nice and flat, and there's plenty of firewood nearby."
Cleo chimed in eagerly. "And don't forget the stream right next to us! Perfect for cooking and washing up."
Albert couldn't help but nod in agreement as he stepped down from the carriage, taking in their surroundings. Indeed, it was an ideal spot for a campsite. The ground was level and free from obstructions, offering a clear area for them to pitch their tents and lay out their bedrolls.
Throughout their journey, the stream had followed them, mirroring their progress as it wound its way alongside the road. However, until now, they hadn't found a suitable spot with enough open space amidst the tall grasses. The trees, though not too far off, were just distant enough to make gathering firewood a chore.
Albert doubted they would find somewhere more suitable than their current location before nightfall.
"Then it's settled. Let's set up camp here." Lael agreed.
The group then set to work. Lael and Chris worked on erecting the tents while Cleo secured the perimeter. Eve set off to gather firewood as Alise began making preparations to cook a warm meal.
There wasn't much for Albert to do as the experience of the party shined, as everything was set up after a mere twenty minutes or so.
***
The group sat down around the crackling fire as Alise poured her son a hot bowl of soup simmering gently filling the air with a rich meaty aroma.
"Careful, it's hot." She reminded him.
Albert cradled his bowl of soup gingerly as he slowly gently brought a spoonful of hot broth to his lips.
'Delicious!'
When was the last time he had been able to enjoy a meal like this out in the wilderness? Memories of cold rations hastily consumed in the midst of battle came to mind. Albert was no stranger to sleeping under the stars, often forced to do so during his time on the frontlines. But to leisurely sit around a crackling fire, surrounded by friends and family to enjoy a freshly cooked meal…it was a luxury he had almost forgotten.
As he was savoring each spoonful of soup, the adults began their discussion on their next course of action. Normally if he was of similar age, he would also participate however it felt nice to leave all the planning to others.
His father began, "How long will our supplies last?"
Chris rubbed his chin thoughtfully before replying, "A little over a week, give or take. I reckon we should restock at Berxley."
"Berxley?" Lael's voice carried a note of reminiscence. "It has been a while since we've visited that port town."
Eve's expression soured at the mention of Berxley, her nose wrinkling in disgust.
"I'd much rather not, but I suppose we have no choice. Large towns aside from the capital aren't exactly the most pleasant places to be."
Lael laughed, "You've always had a sensitive nose, Eve."
It took a moment for Albert to fully grasp the implications of their conversation. Living in a small town for his entire life, he had never considered the nuances of larger cities. In this world of advanced magical development, what about their conventional infrastructure?
Cities were still as if they were in their medieval ages! Did they have a proper waste collection system? What about proper sewage? Where did people dispose of their trash?
Suddenly Albert was a lot less enthusiastic about traveling to Berxley.
"Besides, we'll only be there to restock. One day tops and we'll leave." Lael promised.
Cleo who had been silent all this time finally spoke, "I hate to be the one to bring this up, but there's actually something I need at Berxley. If I find it within a day, great, but if not we might have to stay for a few more days."
Lael looked at her incredulously. "What could you possibly get at Berxley that you couldn't get at Everton? They're both trading hubs, but one is certainly more pleasant to be in than the other."
"Well…" Cleo scratched the back of her head, "There may or may not have been rumors of a unique relic on sale…"
'A unique relic!'
They were treasures from the very depths of dungeons, granting the user a crest more powerful than your average run of the mill relic. Adventures risked their lives to obtain one in hopes it could change their life for the better.
If it was on sale, it must've meant the adventurer who had acquired it had compatibility issues of some sort.
"Lael, we have to at least try to obtain it!" Cleo's eyes sparkled with greed.
Albert's father sighed at his former party member's antics.
"You do realize a unique relic is on a completely different level compared to a single-use relic right? A simple single use relic, although rare, is relatively cheap to buy! Ten gold would be enough to obtain one. A unique relic on the other hand could go for thousands of gold!"
Chris interrupted, "Even if we do somehow obtain it, there's the issue of compatibility. We could spend our time and resources on something we wouldn't be able to use."
"Besides, my wife is pregnant. It would be better if we got to Everton just that little bit quicker."
After a moment of silence, Cleo relented. "I forgot that Alise was pregnant. You're right, although it's a shame, we are here to protect your family. I got too caught up in the fact of the appearance of a unique relic on the market."
Eve showed a rare smile, "You were always the type to obsess over something whenever we went dungeon diving."
"I'm not as bad as I was back then." Cleo defended herself.
Aside from the group's idle chatter, there wasn't much else to do. Albert hadn't forgotten about his side goal. He still needed to obtain a Ravenroot when they finally reached the base of the Lacie Mountains. Although it would take a few days to cross through the mountains, those few days were the only small time interval he had to secure his objective.
"Mom, I'm going to sleep." Albert announced, yawning as he stood up from his seat.
"Okay sweetie, sweet dreams." He heard his mother say from behind him.
After climbing into the tent, Albert collapsed, his eyelids heavy. After a full day of traveling, he was ready to hit the sack.