A transparent emblem floats within my palm while its glow slowly fades, leaving nothing but its glass like surface touching my hands.
"... his emblem is too pure… not an element nor a mark are present. How is that even possible!?" the captain gasped while the crowd grew, seemingly curious of the recent burst of light.
"A mark?"
"A mark is the talent held by the wielder of the emblem. One could identify which path he or she will succeed and excel. The path of swords or magic." she claimed as she observes the emblem. "But your case…"
"I already know." I replied causing confusion for the princess. "This just means I don't have a talent nor path of success."
"N-no, that's not what I'm-"
"It's fine. No need to sugar coat it." Hearing it more and more only sickens me. To be born just to see others fly, that was already what my life is all about. Why did I even got my hopes up for? "Regarding her highness' request. It would be advisable we head out at first light, am I right?"
"Yes, a party will escort you until you reach the end of the forest just as I said awhile ago. They'll return after two days and will camp there for three to await your return but..." the princess voice shattered, looking around the scene of the curious people. "… if you don't return by that date, the party will retreat to help us prepare for the incoming of True Winter and we'd expect that your mission have failed and you've died."
She stated it without even a hint of a joke, only pertaining that it holds too much risk in just trying to retrieve a girl the princess know.
But the meaning of death already escape my thought and my heart already felt dead upon hearing such dreaded journey.
"I get it. So I only have less than five days…" this plot was too different from the novels I have read where main characters have cheat abilities.
Well, who am I even kidding? I'm not even the protagonist itself and might be the end in this quest. "Tell me everything I need to know before I head out"
I spent all night in the princess' quarters along with the captain and some crews, learning what was inside the place I was infiltrating, but all I had discover was it was deadlier than just simple retrieval operation.
Soldiers stronger than a normal civilian loiters in every streets and the curfew set at night only tightens the security even further. Thankfully, an incoming festival set in two days will lessen the security to the ease of incoming guest of foreign countries.
Yet it was still not ensuring the success of the mission.
"... That's all I could tell. You'll be acting as a traveller from the continent of SilverCrest and came for the festival. They won't ask any further as they'll care only for the coins you'll spend on the festival. And remember, she's staying in the inn called Winterspring inn." the princess claimed.
"... noted"
"For now, rest and tomorrow, you'll start your march." she added before gesturing on Felix to where he accompanied me into the barracks they've made.
A makeshift barracks inside one of the abandoned houses and dimly lit by a lamp. The bed were just made of dried grass but it had at least an animal fur as blankets.
None of the soldiers was awake, and those who were didn't stayed long and continued their way or head to bed.
Aside from the random wolf howls and murmurs outside, the peaceful night lulls my consciousness into the dreamworld, and the dream became another endless body of water.
But it was dark like last night, except without the sign of the enormous eye.
I propel upwards, forcing myself to learn how to swim for it was all I could do and in every inches I ascend, the light above starts to glow brighter and the water became clearer. Then I was in the surface, breathing for air as I watched the infinite water stretching into the horizon with no signs of land.
"peculiar…" I tried controlling my own dream, thinking of a happier or at least less stressing environment but the water darkens. It wasn't murky but something underneath was absorbing the light.
From calm waves into a stormy sea, a sudden shift took over. Then something humongous ascended from the depths and covered the sky, making it too dark to see what it was but I knew it was the same monster I saw in my previous dream.
And seconds later, the creature was diving over me.
"Puwaah!" I gasped as I watch the my surrounding. I was back at the barracks with soldiers surprised gazes glancing at me.
"Having a nightmare?" A female soldier was standing on my side, all geared and armed. She had her hair tied in a pony tail and wears a cloak to hide her semi-armored body.
"Something like that… what time is it?"
"Dunno, but good timing you woke up. We'll be leaving soon. Also, here." she grabbed leather vest and a belted metal plate from one of the chest and tossed it into me. "Wear it. It will provide at least some protection."
It was still dark outside but most of the people were already up, helping the princess distribute wooden bowls of some kind of porridge while the soldiers continued patrolling the perimeters.
"No time for breakfast. You can have bread along the way" Felix claimed, arriving with a horse. "You ride?"
"I dunno how."
"Well, it's fine. You can ride with me" the female soldier claimed, dragging a red stallion.
"Amythea, I don't think it's appropriate-"
"What is, Felix?" she glared at him, causing to back down.
"Never mind. Let's just head out before the sun starts rising." Felix claimed then mounted his horse.
Before first light hit, set off from the village riding horses into the woods. It was only a party of three, including myself and here I thought more were coming.
"Are you nervous?" Amythea asked, riding the dark red stallion.
"Of course, he is. It's not like this is just an easy task." Felix replied as he leads in front, surveying the grounds with his blades prepared.
"I'm not talking to you, Felix." she complained.
"I am… I'm afraid of failing this mission. I had never once accomplished a task properly."
"Oh, don't take it to heart too mu-"
"What are you talking, Amythea? This isn't like before where any failure is just punished with more workload or intense practice. His life is at stake, and so as our princess' friend." Felix interrupted and silence had engulfed the party.
The march continued until we passed the forest and as we reached the cliff, the great view of the cold heart city stands almighty with its size, and farther on the north of it was a huge castle!
I couldn't tell whether I was reincarnated in the old times or rather sent into one!? Or been pulled inside a novel!? It was a huge and beautiful structure. The architecture of the castle was amazing and I can't spill a word looking at it in real life and not just in books our professor showed in class.
The city was built within the plains where branching rivers flow, connected to the very castle itself. Walls of great height enclose the whole place and just farther behind the castle, a tall tower exists surrounded by a forest.
I follow the sight of where the rivers stretched, and it disappeared into the surrounding forest, reappearing on the other side where my eyes laid upon a shore just by the east. There a port stands where lots of ships docks and even though the path might look near the city, it would at least take another hour to get there from the city, judging by the landscape of this place.
It was funny for a moment that I thought I might be in a fairy tale but I guess even if I were or not, I don't see myself leaving this place any time soon and probably the escape I only have is through execution in case I fail this mission.
"This is as far as we can take you. You'll have to descend by yourself as we could risk the location of our princess." Felix claimed.
"And also, here." Amythea handed over a pouch of copper coins, along with a trinket of a white spider. "The princess insisted you must not lose it as it may help you in times of need."
"Probably an ancient artifact to summon giant spiders?" I jested.
The two looked at each other in confusion then she replied, "None of us truly knows what it is for but I don't think your interpretation is even accurate. It's not magical"
"Well, that's it for now. We'll return in two days and wait here for three just as the princess had told." Felix stated. "I wish you good luck, outsider."