A few hours later, the next morning, we were on the road again, riding on Rodeo and Feliz's backs.
Because the snow had thinned, melting under the sun, it was easier to move around.
Just like yesterday, we went deeper into the forest, our vigilance up, while trying to spot some kind of house on the horizon.
"I do not think we will have the time to find it before our departure this afternoon…"
"Maybe. It's okay. We already did our best."
"Did you have nothing else? Like some clues?"
"No."
"Okay…"
Stopping the conversation, I continued to look around.
We were riding through the woods, advancing at a normal pace.
We were surrounded by trees and bushes of all sorts, which looked like scenery from a bad dream.
They were long and dark and nearly without leaves. Moreover, the branches were thin and weirdly shaped.
Behind us, on the ground, remained the traces of our trails, following us on our way.
If anybody wanted to find us, before another snowfall, it would be quite easy to do so.
Just like that, we continued to move forward, without a word.
Sylvester was calm, concentrating on his task.
'He isn't like I imagined him to be…'
Before I met the male leads, I thought they would all be psychos obsessed with Mainu, not caring about anyone or anything else.
Just like the usual character designs of dark 18-rated novels.
Yet surprisingly enough, he wasn't the big bad wolf I portrayed him to be.
But to be honest, I knew nothing of them.
Their overall background was all I remembered and even that, I had somehow forgotten as time passed.
I never thought of writing somewhere the knowledge I got from my previous world, as I didn't want to take a part of their world.
I only let the normal course of things happen and soon enough, I forgot most of the things I knew.
My plan, from the beginning, was to escape the hellish place I lived in and survive the original's fate. Nothing else.
Surely, it would make it easier for me if they weren't what I thought them to be. This way, I could ensure I wouldn't die before I could take Ricardo with me when I was of age.
'That is my only goal.'
"Stop, look over there."
Sylvester, with a halt, stopped his horse in a hand movement as he gripped his rope, before turning his head toward me.
"There is a fire over there. Let's see what's there."
"Okay."
Galloping faster, we immediately took off.
"Oh, I think it's there. Right ahead!"
Yelling to let myself be heard, the sound of the hooves hitting the ground masking my voice, I told Sylvester what I saw.
"It seems to be a chimney's smoke."
"You are right. We will go see that closer, ready?"
Just as we said, we went looking at what it was. And what we found didn't disappoint us.
In a farther place into the forest, a few kilometers from the hut, stood a huge house, or more particularly—in this case— a mansion as big as a castle.
It looked ancient but still entertained its old magnificent structures, standing tall and proud in the middle of the Northern Territory.
It was surrounded by huge dark, fancy and prickly fences.
"Found it. Perfect." I uttered as I admired the beauty of what I would call a palace, in my terms.
But for born nobles like Sylvester, it was only another rat's hole. Where the vermin liked to entertain themselves, thinking it was grandiosity.
The man didn't like impressed, barely observing it before turning away, ready to go.
"Shouldn't we go inside to check?" I asked, puzzled by his behavior.
"No, it's no use. Not this time. More equipped and adequate people will go take a look. Our job is done."
The man began to gallop away, his back disappearing into the sight.
"Come on." He yelled, "Our train will depart in a few hours."
Looking at the mansion one last time, I replied before I took my leave too.
"I am coming."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A few hours after our expedition, we went back to Sulvalis village, where our next carriage to the train awaited us.
My bag in one hand, and my other hand in Sylvester's hand—as per the etiquette—I got into the carriage.
Before taking departure, I had changed into more formal and noble-like clothes, dressing myself with a beautiful brown gown, which still was quite modest.
Once we arrived, Sylvester would go his way to prepare his report to the principal, the oral one, before going to another meeting. As for me, I had to go home to give the Annerula to my brother.
Initially, I had planned to go another day, once I had time—after my exams—but finally, I chose to do it the early as possible.
This way, it would be done.
I was really happy to see my brother after weeks of not seeing him.
Unfortunately for me, blessings went in pair with misfortunes and I also had to see my siblings and my father.
Which is why I let go of my disguise as a commoner, choosing to wear something a bit more
…fit.
As time passed and the scenery changed, I became more and more sleepy.
'Traveling is really not for me.'
I discovered during our "expedition" that each time, on the way as on the way back, I was most of the time either asleep or trying to not fall asleep.
And with a man who was so silent and didn't have the art of conversation, it was hard to not be bored.
That was something that distinguished Sylvester from Mainu. If Mainu was someone as eccentric as he was good with words—having evolved in that environment of political stratagems— Sylvester, him, was tamer and didn't feel the need to even try to entertain anyone.
It may have been because, after the death of his father, he became the direct heir and never required anyone's support. By himself, on the grounds of his huge heritage, family history, and power, he could practically move the sky and the earth.
Which made him the perfect male lead.
'I wonder how Mainu managed to seduce such a man?'
I observed him, admiring the wonders of God's power.
Only the presence of a god could explain that I was here, face to face with a perfect character out of an actual novel, while I was, myself, one of those characters.
'Crazy what life can predict…'
I only hoped that god would have the generosity to not end my life at the hands of his lover, Sylvester's lover, our dear and cherished Mainu.
Sighing, I turned my face away, displeased.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"Ah? Oh, no, no. I am quite alright, thank you."
"Alright. We will arrive in a few minutes, do not worry."
The man, after saying so, looked at me up and down before taking off his jacket and handing it to me. "Here, wrap it around yourself, it is quite cold."
"Yes, thank you. The weather is indeed beginning to get colder. "
"Yes, it will be winter soon."
"Talking about winter, have you any plans to go back to your house? I heard that some students preferred to stay at the dormitory."
"No, I stay at the academy each year. There is nothing that needs my presence back at home."
"But don't you want to see your family?"
"I do, but for now, I am concentrating on training. We will meet soon enough."
"Oh… I see. Well, for me, I have to see my brother quite often, or he will cry, that big dummy—hahaha."
"Your twin brother, Ricardo?"
"Yes."
"I heard that he was a genius in battle-manship, another god sent into the Permeson family."
"Oh? I never heard of that. I do supervise him, but as for the rest, his instructor, the count of Braham, has his hands full of him."
"Well, the rumors must be true if he has you as a twin."
"Hahaha, you have a great sense of humor, Sylvester."
Laughing, I tapped gently on his hand, a gesture of appreciation.
The man smiled but didn't reply, staying enigmatic.
During the rest of the journey, or the few "minutes" we had, we continued to talk leisurely about everything and nothing.
Sylvester must have felt my displeasure and thought it was because of his lack of conversation—which wasn't entirely untrue—and has decided to animate the room a bit.
Then, after a long afternoon of traveling, we arrived, as planned, at our destination—the Royal Academy.
As soon as I set foot on the ground, I gave back Sylvester's jacket before saying my goodbyes, hurrying to go to my dormitory to drop off my luggage.
Then, once that was done, I went into the city center to look for a means of transportation, whether it was by carriage or by car.
I was longing to see my dear brother. But I also needed to take a mouthful of potions, those gifted by my dear friend, Aria Derosal, to help nurture back my health.
While my ankle somehow didn't deteriorate despite all the running I did, it still left a painful sore and a bruise.
Moreover, after depleting my mentality's power, I needed to go back into my garden—where I could relieve my mind.