- You sly fox! You got me again!
Monadias tossed his cards on the table. Each had a different weapon on it. Handeron, with a smile peeking above his deck, looked over at his disappointed face.
- Hah, easy stuff...
- Shut up, loser.
- Oh, you call me that when I just won?
- Yes, and I am tired now, piss off.
- Okay, okay...
As he said that, the carriage bounced, and Handeron hit his head lightly.
- Karma.
- Chill out dude, it's just a game.
Monadias didn't respond to that. Handeron took away the cards, and put them in a shelf, where they sat before. There were some other shelves, near the carriage's roof. Some had books, other board games and such. He then peeked outside the window. The carriage was going very fast, for a carriage at least. It was comparable to a train, even a little faster, but still, the comfort in a train is on a different level compared to that.
They were staying inside the carriage. It wasn't big, but it wasn't small, either. They sat on opposite sides, in the middle there was a table. It was all like a ball, that would fit six people at best, at least it could still be comfortable with that amount. It had a small window in the cellar, if they opened it, they could contact the usher.
They have been travelling for around seven hours now. It was quite a while, but considering they are near the middle of their journey, there was still a long way to reach Caipitil.
- Are we there yet?
- No.
Monadias was bored to the bone. It was because of this that he agreed to play with Handeron. Now, he not only was bored, but also a little mad, that he didn't beat him at least once. In the real world, he was destroying him in video games. They didn't really play any cards or board games, but Handeron was better at chess, so he thought that it may have been a reason that he defeated him. As he was thinking about it some more, the upper window opened, and a voice could be heard.
- We will be having a stop in the next village for about two hours, so you have free time to eat, walk your legs and maybe sightsee. If you are late, I won't drive away, but please be on time.
- Okay, thank you.
They soon arrived at a small village, and the carriage slowed down a lot. It stopped near a stud, where the horses that pulled the carriage could be fed. The usher knocked twice on the door, and soon Handeron and Monadias emerged.
Their gazes met a rular view. The vilage was quite lively, kids playing, people buying goods at stalls. Handeron didn't really have a closer look at the carriage from the outside before, but as he saw it now it looked like a giant garlic. There was nothing that could speed it up, or anything like that. He then approached the usher. He was an older man, a black whip in his hand.
- Um, excuse me, I just wanted to ask, how is it possible that we were riding this fast with just two horses?
- Have you not heard about the Royal Usher Sercices? We have a special tradition that we keep for over a thousand years, in the duty of assisting the king.
He then whipped air once. It quickly gathered some of the eyes of the villagespeople. The whip then started glowing blue, which indicated it's working. The ushers outfit also changed a bit, from pure black, it had blue dots over it. Upon closer look, they looked like horses traces.
- Horses that get one whip get a grip on themselves and their minds focus on only one thing, riding fast and safe! They can sure travel fast and long with it, hehe!
- Oh, so it's like that, thank you.
- No problem, kiddo! Remember to not be late, because they sure will be tired if I have to speed them up more...
- Yeah, sure, of course.
Handeron then looked over at Monadias, who was already having fun, looking over at various products in this streets shops. He sure asked a lot, about the village and everybody there.
- Whoa. Can I try it?
- Um... yeah, sure...
Monadias took a bite of a very good looking bread. It seems like it was delicious, considering he bought two loafs, and gave the seller a tip. He instantly went up to Handeron.
- Have a bite, it's freaking amazing!
Handeron ripped out a piece, and as he put it in his mouth, he sure knew why Monadias was so moved by it. It had a great aroma, and it was very crispy. It didn't taste like the one in the city. It was probably due to the sheer love of baking. Or, it was just a weapons doing, but neither of fhem wanted to think that way.
- Damn, it's good.
- Come, we will see if there is more delicious stuff here.
***
- Come on, Cuimin! A small trip, in and out. Not longer than 2 hours!
- Donall, you know I have to help my parents at home?
- Please? I need one of those goblin horns! We will both take our weapons, and it will be just like a casual day!
- Ugh, okay, but you will be buying me stuff for the next week!
- That's a high price... but okay! Tomorrow after school.
- Got it...
***
Handeron and Monadias were walking side by side, Monadias eating his bread piece by piece, and Handeron looking around, causally. As they were walking, before the door of a rather big house, a woman was talking with an older man.
- Chief, is there any information from the Sheriff?
- Still nothing. I'm sorry.
The woman fell on her knees, and her sobbing could be heard. The chief gave her a hug, and soon, she was slowly leaving his doorstep. Monadias was looking at the unfolding scene, he saw that the woman was in an horrible state. She was barely walking, and her hair was a huge mess.
As she was slowly walking away, Monadias without much hestiation, approached her.
- Excuse me, hello?
- What do you want, brat?
She was in pain, but she didn't want to show it.
- If you are one of Cuimin's friends, he isn't back. Oh, my little boy... Where are you?
She fell into a deep sadness. Monadias then ripped a piece of his already half eaten bread, and gave her.
- Have a bite.
- I don't want it.... Ever since he is missing, I didn't eat a thing.
- That's why you should have some! Come on... Am I not asking nicely?
- You are starting to piss me off kid. What do you want more from a regretful mother?
- Well, if you don't want to, then don't eat it. I'm a traveller. I suppose your son went missing?
- It's not something you should worry about, traveler.
- I have a proposition. I will go look for him, if you tell me some more information. In exchange, you will eat some of this bread. Deal?
- I already seeked help from many people... Even the village's Sheriff didn't find them, and he is 50% potential! What might a random traveler help with?
Monadias smiled at that response. He then showed her a card. A card of a high ranker. As she saw it, she gasped. She looked him in his eyes.
- You... You will go look for him?
- Yeah, eat some and it's done!
He then ate a small piece of it. She was a little suspicious of the whole deal, hesitation filling her.
- And how much will it cost me? I don't thnik I am able to pay you up...
- Hey hey, I told you. If you eat some, the deal is up.
She then thought a little. Her hand then slowly extended towards Monadias. He gave her a quite big piece of it, and she put it in her mouth. Tears started falling from her eyes, as this bread was probably the best one in her whole life. She then said.
- He is missing for two days now. He was seen leaving to the forest on the west. Sheriff went there, looked through it all, but he was nowhere to be seen.
- Great. Thank you!
Monadias then gave her the rest of the bread he had, and apprached Handeron.
- So, where should we look?
- I'm going to go to the Sheriff, you clear the woods again.
- Good. I will be waiting for you fifteen minutes from now on at the village's entrance.
Monadias the flew out of the place. Handeron then, after asking a few villagers where can he meet the Sheriff, went to his office.
It was a small building, the windows had bars instead of regular wooden trapdoors, where cells were located, and as he entered, he saw a man doing some paperwork.
- Excuse me, are you by any chance a the village's Sheriff?
- Yeah, what do you want, kid?
- Can you tell me, what do you know about the missing kid?
- That's confidential.
- I am here to look for them, and I need more information.
The Sheriff looked at him suspiciosuly. He then stood up from his desk, and walked up to a counter on his left. He was quite tall, actually, nearly matching Handeron. He had black hair, a small moustache, a manly beard, and was quite fit. He then took a small axe from the counter, and approached Handeron.
- And what, you think I will tell you? A random kid? You will probably go and look for them, and get killed yourself.
- Can I prove to you that I am not a random kid, and that I can probably find them?
- I don't care. I checked that woods day and night, because I knew them. Nothing there...
- So there are more missing than just one?
- Yeah? You don't know? It's a hot topic in the village.
- I'm a traveller making a stop here. Quite strong at that. I met a lady that was talking to the mayor, she is probably a mother of one of them. Me and my friend decided to help.
- And you both are what, 30%? That's not enough for a job like this.
- He has a high rank. And I am not much weaker than him.
The Sheriff seemed intrigued by that response. Then, colors of his outfit began to change into a shade of brown, like mud.
- Well, if you can take a hit from me, I will tell you everything.
- Go on.
Handeron stood there, and as the Sheriff leaned against his desk, he threw his axe, with it's blade turned against Handeron, to not accidentally kill him. As the axe flew, it reached Handeron's chest. He was pushed by it a little, but it wasn't that big of a deal. The axe then fell on the floor.
- Not bad, kid.
It then was sucked into it, like the floor was a liquid, and it emerged below the Sheriff, and flew right into his arm.
The Sheriff smirked a little. He out down his axe and leaned against the desk.
- But some monsters can hit harder than that... You sure want to go to the woods?
Handeron didn't react to that. Instead, he straigthened up, and his armor appeared. The Sheriff raised his eyebrow at, laughed, and began talking about his investigation.
***
Monadias was flying through the forest. It was quite peaceful, actually.
Hey, how about you use these eyes of yours?
[I don't know how to turn them on. I did it earlier accidentally.]
Oh, I never told you? You just, like, loosen up, and feel the wind around you... and then you focus it in your eyes... or something like that.
[Like this?]
His movements changed. He looked like he was a flag, curving, hovering through the sky. He then stopped, and instantly tensed up.
Nice! Now, just say the words.
Eye's of the all-seeing.
His view changed. It was like he now saw every detail there was, from ants walking on the ground, to mushrooms on trees. He then saw marks on one of the trees, and some broken branches on the bottom.
[Thanks, Irse. Now, what may that be?]
He followed everything that stood out for him. The track was gone in front of a giant rock. As he came closer, he saw some markings on it, glowing with crimson red color.
[I should come back to Handeron now, but what if I...]
He disassembled some of the markings with his wind.
A magic circle appeared below his feet. He thought for a second.
[There is no coming back now, he will need to find me, adventure can't wait!]
He then disappeared, and left no trace behind.
***
Handeron waited for Monadias at the village's entrance. It was already much more than a small delay, more of a lost cause.
[Hmm... Should I go look for him? I can't fly or anything... It will be a hassle...]
He then sighed loudly, and left the village's entrance.
***
Monadias found himself in a giant cave of some sort. Not only was it long and wide, but also high. It was a lively place, full of different kinds of creatures, such as goblins, orcs and skeletons. Monadias quickly hid himself behind some crates, he was in an unknown territory after all.
[Where even am I? What should I do... What time is it?]
His head was filled with regret and indecision. He didn't think it would be such a huge thing. There were lots of... everything. He could see it all from the highground he was at: stalls, buildings, even a square like in a regular town, but it's townsfolk were monsters. There were deals made between them. Monadias saw a goblin buy some dust from a skeleton mage. He didn't think that these being could communicate, or do something as advanced as trading.
[Aren't monsters usually fighting each other?.. I am so screwed... I think I should just go, and find a way out...]
He sneaked through the cave, hiding behind stalls, doing basic parkour on buildings, that of couse, had some free space above them. As he was peeking through the buildings edge, he started observing the place he was in even further.
[There has to be some kind of a way back out of here...]
He looked around, and saw a small group of goblins being sent out by a goblin-shaman of some sort, in the far distance. The cart, filled with all kinds of weapons, was teleported with them.
[Nice, a something like a way out spotted! Now, how do I approach it?]
He then looked around, looking for a way, that would lead him unnoticed by everybody there. He was clueless, though.
Use your powers, dummy!
[Huh? I have my eyes turned off? I didn't notice.]
If you want to see something, just use your eyes!
[Umm.... and how do I do that without causing any mess?]
If you did it once, you should do it easier now.
Um, well...
A loud sigh could be heard, only by Monadias. After trying a bunch, he activated them, and soon, he knew what he should do.
He saw an easy road to freedom. It was going behind the buildings, and ending on a cart, that was being prepared for travel.
He then quickly dashed, and followed the first road. As he was near the crate that would lead him out, he heard something in his head.
[My mother is probably angry, please, let me comfort her! I didn't want this...]
Monadias knew what that voice was. He heard something similar when he saved that beastwoman.
All he had to do was to make two steps, open the crate, get inside it, and close the lid.
But he didn't do it. He followed the voice echoing in his mind, being louder and louder as he was moving towards a giant round building, comparable to a colloseum.
^^^