The carriage ambled along the dirt path, the rhythmic clatter of wheels blending with the occasional chirping of birds. From the small window of the carriage, Souta and Elena could see the majestic expanse of the Celestial Spine mountain range to the west. Its jagged peaks stretched so high into the heavens that their tops were shrouded in snow, glinting like silver in the midday sun. The range spanned the horizon, so lengthy and towering that it truly resembled a giant's spine—one that might belong to some slumbering behemoth beneath the Human Continent.
"Wow," Souta breathed, his nose practically glued to the window. "Look at that! Someday, I'm going to climb those mountains and explore them myself!" His voice carried the kind of awe only a child could muster, wide-eyed and brimming with ambition.
Elena glanced at him, tilting her head in amusement. "What do you mean, 'yourself'? Am I not coming with you?"
Souta leaned back, smirking like a cat that just got into the cream. "Oh, of course not. You'd just slow me down."
Elena froze for a moment, blinking at him in disbelief, before narrowing her eyes dangerously. "Excuse me? Who was the one crying like a baby when we saw one tiny spider back in the village?"
"That spider was huge! It had eight legs and looked at me funny!" Souta shot back, throwing up his hands defensively.
"It was the size of a coin," Elena deadpanned, crossing her arms.
"Exactly! Huge!"
Elena sighed dramatically, pinching the bridge of her nose as if dealing with a troublesome child. "So you think you can survive the Celestial Spine all by yourself when you can't even handle a spider?"
"I'll be fine!" Souta said, puffing out his chest. "I'm practically invincible."
"Invincible?" Elena raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Was that before or after you screamed and tripped over your own feet when that squirrel jumped out of the bushes?"
"That squirrel was rabid!" Souta protested.
"It was chewing on a nut," Elena countered, her lips twitching as she tried to hold back a laugh.
Souta crossed his arms, pouting like a scolded child. "Fine, you can come. But only if you promise not to whine when I have to carry you halfway up the mountain."
Elena's jaw dropped. "Carry me?!"
"Yeah," Souta said, his smirk returning. "We both know you'd get tired before we even hit the first incline. I saw you huffing and puffing after running to the bakery last week."
Elena's face turned a brilliant shade of red, a mix of embarrassment and indignation. "That's because I was carrying your pastries, you lazy lump!"
Souta waved a hand dismissively. "Details, details."
Elena opened her mouth to retort but paused, her eyes narrowing as a wicked smile spread across her face. "You know what? Fine. I'll climb that mountain with you. And when we reach the top, I'll accidentally push you off the summit. How's that for teamwork?"
Their bickering soon gave way to laughter, filling the small carriage and spilling out into the quiet forest around them. The earlier tension between them melted away, replaced by the easy camaraderie they always seemed to find.
Souta finally held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, you win. You can come. But only if we're both stronger and ready to take on the world!"
"And how do you plan to take on the world?" Elena asked, leaning in, her eyebrow raised.
"Not as heroes or warriors," Souta said with a grin. "Just as regular adventurers and... uh... what's the word... civilians!"
Elena tilted her head, considering it for a moment before her face lit up. "Really? You promise?"
"Promise," Souta said, sticking out his pinky.
Elena hooked her pinky with his, her smile wide and unguarded. "Okay, then! Where are we going first?"
"We'll see it all!" Souta said, his eyes shining with excitement. "The mountains, the forests, the deserts, and even those weird places where people eat food that's still moving!"
"Ew!" Elena wrinkled her nose, laughing. "I'm skipping that part of the trip!"
"Come on, it's part of the experience!" Souta said, wagging a finger at her. "We'll bond over wiggly octopus legs and slithery eel noodles!"
"Nope," Elena said firmly, shaking her head. "I'll stick to bread and stew, thank you very much."
"You're no fun," Souta teased, sticking his tongue out at her.
"And you're ridiculous," Elena shot back, rolling her eyes. "But I guess someone has to keep you out of trouble on these adventures of yours."
The two of them grinned at each other, the playful banter making the long journey ahead feel a little less daunting.
Their conversation was interrupted by the driver clearing his throat in an exaggerated manner, loud enough to rival a bard announcing royalty. "Excuse me, young ones, but if you'll kindly direct your eyeballs to the left, you'll see something worth writing home about."
Both Souta and Elena scrambled to the opposite window, nearly bumping heads in their haste. What met their eyes was nothing short of breathtaking. A sprawling forest stretched out as far as the horizon, its greenery so lush it looked as though it had been painted by a particularly enthusiastic artist. The towering trees stood like ancient guardians, their trunks so thick and gnarled they resembled living sculptures. Their branches wove together in an intricate canopy, casting dappled shadows over the forest floor.
"That there is the Verdale Woods," the driver announced, his tone dripping with the kind of authority that only comes from having told this story a hundred times before. "It's enchanted, you know. Home to all sorts of good beasts and magical creatures. Adventurers flock here for its treasures—rare herbs, magical trinkets, enchanted artifacts. You find the right item, and you're set for life. Or at least until you blow all your money on taverns and bad decisions."
"Wow," Elena whispered, pressing her face against the glass. Her wide eyes sparkled as if she'd already found one of those treasures. "That sounds like a dream!"
"Or a trap," Souta added, his face equally glued to the window. "Rare treasure usually means rare danger. What if we run into an enchanted squirrel with anger issues?"
The driver chuckled. "Fair point, lad. The creatures here are mostly peaceful, though. Friendly, even. Well, as friendly as a ten-foot deer with glowing antlers can be. There are even villages hidden within the woods, protecting relics and keeping its magical history alive. It's a special place."
"That's amazing," Elena said, practically bouncing in her seat. "Imagine living in a magical forest! It'd be like waking up in a storybook every day."
"Yeah, except the storybook might eat you," Souta quipped, though his grin betrayed his fascination. "Still, I'm definitely going there someday."
"You won't leave me behind for that, will you?" Elena asked, her tone suddenly sharp as she shot him a glare.
Souta leaned back, crossing his arms with a mock-serious expression. "Of course not. I'll need someone to carry all the loot."
Elena's glare deepened, but before she could launch into a retort that likely involved a lecture and some hair-pulling, the driver interrupted with a sly smile. "Well, no need to wait too long, young master. You'll be going there today."
Both of them froze, their heads snapping toward the driver. "What?!" they yelled in unison, their voices loud enough to scare a flock of invisible birds.
"That's right," the driver said, flicking the reins as if to emphasize his point. "We're taking the Verdale Woods route. It's the long way, but it's the safe way to the capital."
"Wait, hold on," Souta said, waving his arms around as if trying to physically catch the explanation. "Why are we taking the long way again? What's wrong with the short route?"
"You're not listening at all, Souta, do you?" Elena sighed.
The driver's face darkened like a storm cloud rolling over a sunny day. "The short route, Sunstone Pass, is crawling with monsters. Not your average goblin or troll, either. These are corrupted monsters."
"Corrupted?" Elena repeated, her voice quivering like a novice bard hitting a high note. "What does that mean?"
The driver let out a weary sigh, as if recounting the tale drained a piece of his soul each time. "Sunstone Pass always had its share of monsters—nothing the average adventurer couldn't handle. But two years ago, something changed. The creatures there started showing signs of dark magic—unnatural strength, glowing red eyes, aggression like you wouldn't believe. They're not just dangerous; they're a walking nightmare."
Souta blinked. "Glowing red eyes? Aggressive behavior? So… like Elena in the morning?"
Elena smacked him on the shoulder, her face turning redder than a ripe tomato. "I do not have glowing red eyes!"
"Not the point, kids," the driver said, cutting through their banter. "The kingdom's warriors and adventurers have been trying to root out the corruption, but it's slow work. The monsters are too strong, and the dark magic is too potent. Nobody knows what's causing it, but some say it's the work of a dark sorcerer. Others think it's an ancient curse. Either way, it's a problem for grown-ups with swords and magic, not two kids with big dreams."
The carriage fell silent for a moment. Even Souta, who usually had a witty comeback for everything, seemed at a loss. The weight of the driver's words hung in the air like a heavy fog.
But the driver, sensing the mood shift, clapped his hands together loudly. "Alright, enough doom and gloom! Look ahead—we're entering the Verdale Woods!"
As if on cue, the forest seemed to come alive around them. The road was swallowed by towering oaks, their massive branches forming a natural archway that filtered sunlight into soft, golden beams. The air turned cool and crisp, carrying the faint scents of moss, wildflowers, and something faintly magical that neither of them could quite place.
"Wow," Elena breathed, her jaw practically on the floor.
"This... is... amazing," Souta said, his voice filled with wonder. "It's like stepping into a fairy tale."
The driver smirked, clearly pleased by the awe in his passengers' faces. "Not bad, eh? But don't get too cozy. This road is as twisty as a snake with a bellyache. By the time we're done winding through, you'll feel like you've circled the Sunstone Pass twice. And that's just the appetizer—next stop after this is the Ardent Plains."
Elena groaned dramatically, throwing herself back into her seat like an actress in a tragic play. "Twice? What are we doing, running a marathon in slow motion? At this rate, we will be old by the time we get to the capital. My hair will be gray, Souta!"
Souta leaned forward with a mischievous glint in his eye, chin resting in his hand as if pondering some great mystery. "Gray hair might suit you, Elena. You'd look like one of those mystical sages who spends their days yelling at people for stepping on enchanted grass."
"Oh, please," Elena shot back, narrowing her eyes. "If anyone's going to be a grumpy old sage, it's you. You've already got the attitude."
Before Souta could reply with a particularly biting comeback, something else caught his attention. "Wait, did you say Ardent Plains? What's that supposed to be? Sounds like a place where the grass is always on fire."
The driver barked a laugh, flicking the reins as the horses snorted in amusement, almost as if they, too, found Souta's idea ridiculous. "No flames, young master, no flames. The Ardent Plains are just what they sound like—a whole lotta plains. It's a vast stretch of farmland surrounding the capital, with crops and seeds from every corner of the kingdom. Wheat, barley, corn, you name it. There are even some experimental magic crops out there. The first thing you'll see before entering the capital is a golden sea of crops waving in the wind, like the land itself is welcoming you."
Elena's groan quickly turned into a gasp of delight. "That sounds incredible! I've always wanted to see magic crops! Do they sparkle? Or float? Or maybe grow into weird shapes like—"
"—a talking tomato that tells you how to live your life?" Souta cut in with a snort. "I don't trust crops that grow funny. What if the corn can walk? Or worse—run?"
The driver chuckled again, shaking his head. "Oh, lad, you've got quite the imagination. The magic crops don't sparkle or run—they're just... enhanced. Bigger, stronger, more resilient. Some are even infused with spells to grow faster or taste better."
Souta crossed his arms and gave the driver a skeptical look. "Bigger and stronger, huh? That sounds suspicious. What if the carrots get ideas? Next thing you know, they'll form an army and start demanding equal rights."
Elena burst out laughing, clutching her sides. "You've officially lost it, Souta. Carrot rebellion? Really?"
"I'm just saying," Souta replied, his face dead serious. "You laugh now, but wait until a ten-foot turnip shows up at your door demanding rent. Then we'll see who's laughing."
The driver shook his head, his grin widening. "You two are a riot, I'll give you that. But trust me, the Ardent Plains are peaceful. It's one of the most beautiful places in the kingdom. A perfect final stretch before the grand city."
Elena, her curiosity piqued, leaned forward eagerly. "Do people live there? Or is it just fields and crops as far as the eye can see?"
"Oh, people live there, alright," the driver said. "Farmers, traders, and some scholars who study the magic crops. You might even spot a few food stalls along the way, selling fresh bread or pies made from the very fields you're passing."
"Pies?" Souta's ears perked up. "Okay, now you're talking my language. If we're stopping, I'm getting a pie. Maybe two. Maybe ten."
Elena rolled her eyes. "We're not stopping for you to eat half the kingdom's food supply, Souta."
"Hey," Souta said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just saying, if you can't enjoy the little things in life, like a pie made from magical crops, what's the point?"
The driver laughed again, the sound echoing warmly through the carriage. "Don't worry, lad. We'll make sure you get your pie. But first, we've got to make it through the Verdale Woods. No pie without patience."
As the carriage rumbled deeper into the forest, the playful bickering continued, their voices mingling with the rustling leaves and distant birdsong. Even with all the twists and turns, the promise of magical crops and pies kept their spirits high, their laughter echoing through the enchanted woods. Their journey was far from over, but the adventure was already growing richer—and far more absurd—by the moment.