Lumien stirred awake, blinking groggily as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The first thing he saw was the back of Azalea's head. She was seated next to him again, but her head was leaning close to his stomach, and her fingers kept gently pressed against his lap, almost like playing a piano.
"Sister, what are you doing?" Lumien asked, his voice still raspy from sleep.
Azalea turned to him with a bright smile. "Good evening! I'm just repaying you for earlier. How is my massage? Your legs don't feel numb or tired anymore, right?"
Lumien hesitated, forcing a neutral expression. My legs aren't numb anymore, that's for sure… but now the middle part feels a little too alive.
In fact, it couldn't be more 'alive' that Lumien worried it might spring up at any moment.
Clearing his throat, he quickly said, "It's fine, really. You don't need to massage my legs anymore."
Without waiting for a response, he gently but firmly pried Azalea's hands away from his thighs.
Azalea clicked her tongue in mock annoyance. "Che, you don't need to be shy around your big sister, you know."
Lumien sighed. "Sister, in a few weeks, I'll be turning ten,"
"Ten? So what? You'll still be my little brother no matter how old you get."
Lumien clenched his jaw, trying to suppress his frustration.
Damn it, she didn't take me seriously at all! She still sees me as a kid. I can't keep letting her treat me like this. Should I try to show her a more mature, masculine side? But how? What would make her start seeing me as a man instead of just her little brother?
I could try being more assertive… but what if she just laughs at me? No, I need something better. Something bold. Something that would leave a deep impression.
As he mulled over his plans, his gaze drifted out the carriage window.
The sky outside was breathtaking. Two moons hung in the heavens, like two giant eyes observing the world. One glowed crimson, its surface appearing stained with blood, while the other shone a cool, calming blue, reminiscent of Neptune.
This world had two moons, and for some reason, Lumien always felt uneasy when he looked at them. Back on Earth, the grey moon had been a source of calm for him, its soft light making the nights feel peaceful. But here, it was different. Every time he stared at the two moons, he felt like he was being watched, like someone's unblinking gaze was fixed on him.
That's why, in his mind, he didn't think of them as moons. To him, they were like giant eyes in the sky, always observing.
I hope nothing happens tonight.
...
As the night deepened, the two moons continued to shine brightly, casting their pale light across the land. But the road ahead seemed to grow darker with every mile. Tall trees lined the path, their shadows stretching over the carriages like dark fingers.
At some point, Lumien and his sister's conversation had stopped. All that could be heard was the steady clatter of hooves against the dirt road and the low creak of the carriage wheels.
Abruptly, Azalea broke the silence with a low, sharp whisper. "Be careful."
Be careful? Be careful of what? Lumien thought alarmingly, his heart skipped a beat.
She said no more, her eyes fixed on the dark forest outside.
He glanced at her and immediately noticed the tension in her posture. Her eyes were focused and alert, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword. Her expression was serious, even grim.
It took him a moment to process the warning. A thought naturally crept into his mind.
An ambush!
Damn it, am I cursed with bad luck or what? Isn't this route supposed to be safe? No, extremely safe?! There hasn't been a single incident of banditry or attacks reported here in years. So why now?
Even as these frantic thoughts filled his head, Lumien's face remained calm. There was no panic, no fear. He had faced death far too many times to let it rattle him now.
He had walked side by side with death too many times in his life to be easily shaken. Since the day he was born, death's shadow had been his constant companion. He had learned to live with it, even to ignore it. The possibility of an ambush didn't scare him in the slightest.
In fact, a small part of him, buried deep but undeniable, felt oddly thrilled. Like, he felt kind of looking forward for the ambush to happen.
Come on, you bandits. Let's see what you've got! Let me show you what it means to face someone with money!
You send one bandit? I'll fight you with two knights. You send two? I'll double that. Let's see who's having the last laugh!
For this trip, Lumien's father had meticulously planned every detail. Along with several carriages filled with gifts for the Duke, he had gotten dozens of his family knights to tag along to ensure the safety of both the family and the valuables. Every precaution had been taken to make the journey as secure as possible.
Several minutes later, Lumien who had been waiting for any potential attack suddenly heard his sister's voice.
"It's gone," she said calmly.
"Huh? What's gone?" Lumien asked, still trying to make sense of her words.
Azalea's posture relaxed as she leaned back against the seat. Her fingers, which had been tightly gripping the hilt of her sword, now rested loosely. With a small sigh, she explained, "The danger. It's gone now."
"What?" Lumien blinked, his excitement instantly replaced by confusion.
The danger is gone? Just like that? What the hell just happened? Where's the epic battle I was mentally preparing for? All that tension for nothing?
For a moment, he was so stunned that his brain completely shut down. When he finally recovered, he asked hastily, "What exactly happened?"
If he didn't know his sister's nature, he might have accused her of lying and thought that everything that just happened was some elaborate prank she'd cooked up.
Azalea shook her head. "I'm not sure of the details. I could sense something dangerous targeting us, but I don't know what it was or where it came from. It could've been a beast, bandits, or something else entirely." She paused, her expression thoughtful. "Whatever it was, it seems to have retreated. Probably after seeing and sizing up our group."
Retreating? The ambusher, surprisingly so timid?
Lumien was struck speechless, though he had to admit Azalea's explanation made sense. What sane group would dare to attack a convoy guarded by dozens of knights? It wouldn't be a battle; it would be a death sentence. Instead of claiming lives, the attackers would be throwing their own away.
He glanced out the window. The carriages continued moving without pause, and the knights riding alongside on horseback showed no signs of alarm. It seemed no one else had noticed anything unusual.
Turning to Azalea, Lumien said, "It seems like nobody noticed anything."
Azalea nodded calmly before explaining. "My affinity lies with Black Magic. It grants me abilities tied to the shadow domain; one of which is Danger Premonition."
"That sounds amazing," Lumien said admiringly.
"It is," Azalea agreed with a nod. "I heard at Liurnia Royal Academy, there's a faction called Shadow Garden. I plan to join them when I enroll that way I can learn more techniques beyond what I already know."
"Shadow Garden?" Lumien raised an eyebrow, his mouth twitching slightly. "What a weird name. Are you sure they're not a group of people with plant affinity instead, and just added 'Shadow' to their name to sound more menacing?"
"Of course not!"
...
When Lumien opened his eyes again, he noticed the darkness of the night had faded, replaced by the soft, slightly chilly glow of the morning light.
Through the carriage window, he could see a set of tall walls in the distance, surrounding the area. Their strong and sturdy appearance stood out against the horizon. Nearby, a few other carriages rolled along, loaded with what seemed to be various goods, adding to the busy atmosphere.
Oddly, the first thought that crossed his mind wasn't about how lively the scene was or how impressive the view looked.
Instead, his thoughts turned to his daily quest.
Ah… I missed yesterday's daily quest. That's one point down the drain.