Luke meticulously packed the last of his belongings into the custom-made shoulder bag, ensuring everything had its place. The bag wasn't overly large, just big enough to carry the essentials without weighing him down. He had gone over the packing list multiple times, knowing that each item had to serve a purpose on his journey. Extra clothes, a small knife, some dried food, a water flask, and a few other necessities—all packed with precision.
He had heard all the suggestions: travel by carriage, take an animal to carry your load, ensure you have a way to rest. But Luke had argued against them. He didn't know the first thing about caring for an animal, and the thought of manoeuvring a carriage through unfamiliar terrain felt more like a burden than a benefit. Ideally, he would have loved to hitchhike, to find a group of travellers or merchants heading in his direction. But, as had been said multiple times, the merchants had cancelled their travel.
