Twilight Initiator, Zed, Son of Shadows, Shadow
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 3, Day 25
Outside the city of Valenwood, to the north of the Imperial Territory
I feel uncomfortable, it sways too much, and it's too tall. My child's body was so small in front of the tremendous horse I am riding… its beautiful black color shined, its hair so smooth and soft to the touch. Right now, this could be considered my personal horse… a gift from the noble lord, very considerate of him… in fact, it's an incredible gift. It will save me many troubles regarding long-distance travel. This world is generally too large; it is about ten times bigger than Earth.
Distances can stretch thousands of kilometers to reach another neighboring city, each one too far apart. I was very lucky that the Shadowy Forest was very close to the city of Valenwood.
Stopping my gaze at the beautiful horse, I look around. I am relatively alone; the guards are about 7 meters away from my position, watching me cautiously, not that it matters to me. Each of them was traveling in a circular formation… while in the center is the noble lord… a form of defense… to be honest, so far, I haven't had the opportunity to see any of the monsters that inhabit this world, and I am curious about that.
The pair of suns were high in the sky, one red and the other a medium yellow... one bigger than the other, just as the smaller one covered the larger one, and this one had the shape of a half-moon.
We were in a semi-open field... further ahead there is a huge forest, we are at the other end of what was the Shadowy Forest, the city of Valenwood has four gates, each pointing in the cardinal directions, the Shadowy Forest is to the north, we were riding south, according to the noble lord, the journey will take about 5 more days, even though the horses go at 70 kilometers per hour… that is why it is too difficult for me to stay upright, I had never ridden a horse before.
The cart carrying the bastards was about 30 meters away…
-They think I'm already dead.
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Twilight Initiator, Zed, Son of Shadows, Shadow
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 3, Day 26
Forest of Enchantments, to the north of the Imperial Territory
-That is too bright.
-It's not edible.
-But it looks very delicious.
-Shut up and die.
A large mushroom was in the center of our path, with bright colored spots, from which a kind of substance of the colors of the spots was oozing out. The smell it emitted was very tempting... it made my mouth water. But it was clearly poisonous, every plant, animal, or generally amphibian with bright skin signals danger and death, and in this world, it seemed to be the same case.
The mushroom, which was over 1 meter tall, started moving. Two pairs of legs came out of the ground… and it ran away.
That was unexpected… I didn't expect that at all. Wasn't it supposed to not escape? What it should do is somehow release a poisonous smoke and kill us all? I guess I overthought it, the mushroom ran hurriedly, swinging its head from side to side until it disappeared from sight…
-L-Let's continue...
There was a man who was a bit older than the other soldiers… he had light black hair and green eyes… his expression was a bit complicated to read, he was as stunned as all of us.
This man was the captain of the squad and from what I could see, the right-hand man of the noble lord, and this same man was the one who had the sword at my neck that night... Nors, that was his name, according to what I heard he is a master, then the noble lord is just a bit stronger than him.
Leaving aside the strange mushroom, we continued our way, from this point we have not encountered anything similar.
Forest of Enchantments, that was the name of this forest, it was night, there were too many glowing spots floating around, like fireflies that illuminated small parts of the forest. The contrast was beautiful, each of them a different color, they were not dangerous, in fact, they were of great help for vision, as at night is when most disappearances happen...
Sitting looking at the small fire I made, I was roasting my own food… they gave me food too, though my portion of meat is a bit smaller than the others', but it is much better than eating bread and a glass of water… without a doubt.
-Boy… what are you?
I felt it for a while… I knew he was coming to this place.
-I am Zed, an orphan and a commoner.
I am literally that…
The noble lord sat next to me and we both stared at the small fire, the smell of roasted meat was delightful… It's not an uncomfortable moment, in fact, it was the opposite, it was comfortable for some reason. The noble lord doesn't seem to be afraid anymore, but he is still cautious with me, I can feel about 3 soldiers hiding behind the trees, are they waiting for me to do something against their lord? I wouldn't do something so stupid, it wouldn't benefit me at all to kill him. He is a noble, without a doubt he has connections in the city, besides there are many people, many witnesses, I would be digging my own grave.
-Will you really be able to get the plant?
That's what he asked, I stopped looking at the meat and looked into his eyes, tired eyes, he hasn't been able to sleep, huh… he worries a lot about his daughter, I am curious to know what she is like, for a man like him to be in such a state, she must be very important to him. He is a father.
-Yes, but I need the help of your men. You know, like those lunatics in the carriage.
-A shield?
-Yes, while they die, I will go after the flower.
It's too simple, much easier for me, of course, that was not a viable plan for now, I didn't know what the monster was like, there was no data, nor did I know exactly where the plant was, but in such a dark place a bright red plant should stand out a lot.
-How do I know you won't deceive me?
So that's it… you don't trust me, well that's fine.
-I have no parents, I have no one, I have no money, I don't want to die in the streets, I have to go to a certain place after all, and the easiest way to make money was this. There is no benefit for me in stealing the flower, what do I do then? Sell it? To whom? The only city nearby is Valenwood, you are a noble of that city, you will have connections, ears everywhere, there is no benefit for me in that, only death and that's not what I want right now.