A thirty-minute walk had finally ended. Now, with the Main Passageway before them, Daizen Shizaki, Alexandriya Aya, and their new partner, Sencho Neo, had entered a Timberwolf carriage. Therefore, with the two large wolves pulling at the front, the journey to the Northern Province Royal Guild of Aldranza had begun.
Shizaki took most of the first two hours so far looking outside and admiring the landscape, while Aya and Neo conversed a bit with Sasurasaki Kiyotai, the carriage-rider who held the reins.
Shizaki had only ventured out far as to the Underworld, but that was only for an extremely important mission, one which he would like to erase from memory. As for travelling in general, he only went as far as Sekoto Forest, during that day when the whole incident where his fate and the ones he loved were introduced to him.
As he watched the forest and a part of its burnt aftermath, he couldn't help but feel unease as it tied to the vision provided to him, but then he remembered the man who had his back, cheering him on at home. He couldn't turn back now.
He exhaled nervously as his head slightly poked out of the carriage window.
"Go big or…die, along with all of the people you hold dear to your heart. No pressure."
Going around the entire forest's circumference all the way back to the starting point without stopping would take about two days. Therefore, going around only half which allowed them to get past the should take them until late in the night, but it would be best to rest up first. In that case, they should leave into new territory by the next morning after resting up.
***
Six hours had passed and the trio were all fast asleep in the carriage, when Kiyotai, the carriage-rider, stopped the carriage to take in new passengers.
"Any passengers from Tisha Village heading to Pandora City? There are three vacant seats left for the long route!"
"...It's close enough to where we want to go. Room for two-oh, one more person is coming this way, it seems."
Shizaki and Aya were groggily alert to the new noise, and although it was a bit hard to tell at first, the masked Sencho Neo was seemingly awake as well.
The back door opened and three people entered.
"Hey, hey, hey! How are you guys? Sorry for barging in here, haha!"
The first to speak was a young woman with beautiful scarlet red hair and orange-red eyes. Her bottom eyelashes were dressed in a glamorous black and her disposition immediately made it seem that she was a gleeful person.
She looked around and kept her smile, and soon, her gaze reached a seating spot next to Shizaki.
"Free space!"
"W-Whoa-!?"
She slumped right next to him and landed with a 'thump' on the seat. She got close to Shizaki-a little too close- and grinned from ear to ear.
The name's Kamazaki! Nice to meet ya, partner!"
"'Partner'…nice…to meet you…"
"Hmm? Um…you're a bit red, aren't you…'?"
"You're scaring him, Kamazaki."
Another arrival had lectured her, a young man with black hair. His smirk was a sly one and his hands were buried in his pockets as he entered and sat next to her.
Peeking back at him, the girl named Kamazaki pouted.
"As if…"
The boy glanced at Shizaki and made a surprisingly friendly wave towards him. Shizaki was only able to let out a mere "...Hi" in return.
Yet another one entered the carriage, but this one had come alone, apparently not with Kamazaki and the black-haired boy.
Another boy who seemed just slightly younger arrived. His short but spiky ears had a huge distinctive appearance, making the group recognize the race of the person. His green eyes shone as a slight blush appeared on his cheeks and he quickly pulled his hoodie over his head, quickly covering his ears.
"U-Um…pardon me…um…hello everyone."
He spoke silently, and sat opposite the other two newcomers, at the edge, away from everyone. A bit of silence also followed, but soon…
"...Huh? Why did the mood just change like that?."
"Hey now, Kamazaki…"
"...Just observing, Yukikama."
Kamazaki, resting her hand on her chin, evaded her companion's reprimanding glare.
After the last person got in, there were now about six passengers in the carriage, four boys and two girls. And one happy carriage rider, now that the vacancy had been filled.
And so the journey continued.
"Cool mask, bro."
"Hm?"
Yukikama, with a interested smile, had just noticed Neo's figure in the carriage after taking a glance at everyone, and complimented his mask, and a joyous Kamazaki, being the upbeat girl that she was, almost bounced towards him in curiosity
"Woah, woah, woah, it's so cool isn't it!? That's amaaazing! Where'd you get it!?"
"A pretty long while ago. Anyway, where are you guys headed?"
Both Yukikama and Kamazaki exchanged smiles, and the former began to explain.
"Well-"
"We're heading to the Royal Guild!! Crazy, right!?"
"Hey, you cut me off."
Kamazaki made a peace sign and beamed with a mischievous grin, while her compatriot sighed in disbelief.
"The Royal Guild as well…?"
"You better believe it! I'm gonna ace that Selection and then blitz through alllll those missions! I can't wait to get started and earn those rewards!"
Kamazaki raised her fist in the air with the utmost confidence, while continuing to display a smile as big as ever. Shizaki and Aya could only think the same thought.
Wow, she's upbeat.
After pulling the bubbly Kamazaki back onto the seat, Yukikama spoke.
"...Sooooo…since we all seem to be going to the same place…guess it's time for introductions huh? I'm Yukikama Kawarasuri. Long name, I know. So, I'm King, just call me King! The people from my town call me by that nickname. I plan to pass the Selection so that I can become the greatest conqueror of dungeons the world has ever seen and obtain riches many would only dream to achieve!"
"Conqueror of…dungeons…ah-"
The one who finally spoke had muttered these words but now realized that he had the eyes of every passenger locked on him once again.
"S-Sorry…um…"
"Nah, it's okay. You…were in both Kamazaki's and my region, huh? Wait, no, that wouldn't make sense...what's your name?"
"I-I'm Satou Yukino…I'm a…half-elf…nice to…meet you…"
Th red and white-haired Yukino thus introduced himself.
On stating a different race other than a human, Kamazaki's orange eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Woaaaahhh, a half-elf!? Like, an offspring of a human and an elf!? Isn't that super rare!?
"Y….yes…"
"Amazing…."
A bit embarrassed, Satou Yukino turned away, blushing, but due to his dark complexion, Kamazaki didn't notice the redness.
"Nice to meet ya, Yukino-kun! Hey, I'll go next, I'll go next!"
The bright young woman jumped up from her seat and had once again gathered the attention of everyone.
"I'm Bella Kamazaki from Tisha Village in the Maldoria Plains region! It's such a pleasure to meet you all! Since we're all heading to the Royal Guild, I wish you all the best of luck~!"
As Kamazaki had seemed to be finished with her introduction, Neo stepped up to the plate, and the introductions started to flow.
"I'm Neo. Sencho Neo if you will. Best of luck to everyone, and I'm looking forward to hopefully teaming up with at least one of you in the days ahead. My goal, umm…I'm just aiming to get stronger through this means of work, I guess."
"Neo, huh? Nice to meet you Neo-kun."
Shizaki glanced at Neo as Yukikama, no, King, greeted him. His aspirations seemed similar to his, although it was obviously at a much lower stakes than his. What should he himself say? Should he mention the vision, what he plans to do to save everyone?
It…probably won't be the best of times to say it, and they probably wouldn't even believe me…
"I'm…Alexandria Aya. I'm simply joining to get stronger myself, but I am also mainly joining the Royal Guild to accompany that guy over there. Nice to meet you all."
Everyone had now turned to Shizaki since Aya had pointed him out as one of the main reasons why she was going. He had thought about what he wanted to say, and now was the time he let it all out.
Why am I so nervous…?
First impressions are everything.
Here goes nothing.
Taking a deep breath, Shizaki showed a confident demeanor and flashed a grin, his thumb pointing to his upbeat face.
"I'm Daizen Shizaki. I'm seventeen years old and from the Sekoto Region. I plan to join the Royal Guild to become the strongest adventurer ever. It's great to meet you all!"
After saying this, he took a scope of the people in the carriage. They all fell silent.
Was that too much…? Maybe I was a bit too loud…maybe my smile was crooked while talking…maybe-"
"...Kyahhh!!"
"K-Kyah…?"
Kamazaki scooted up to Shizaki's face and covered her mouth with her hands, with her eyes sparkling.
Whoa, she's way too close!
He immediately leaned back and forced a smile. King simply laughed before trying to explain her reaction.
"Don't mind her, she loves Sekoto's food. I hear it's amazing there. I really wanna try takoyaki. It's great to meet you, Shizaki-kun. Greatest adventurer, huh? Huge bar to reach, but I respect it. Let's be friends!"
"Uh-s-sure…"
Feeling a bit more relaxed on hearing that, Shizaki's smile loosened up, but Kamazaki still remained starstruck.
"Oh, you have to tell me all about Sekoto, Babyface!"
"H-Huh!? Babyface!? Where'd that come from!?"
It turned out that it wasn't that hard to introduce himself after all.
"Shi…zaki…-kun…"
"...Hmm?"
An unfamiliar voice. He turned to his left and found the half-elf, Satou Yukino, seemingly thinking deeply about something.
However, on meeting his sight, he quickly turned red once again.
"Ah-no-I mean-!…It's…a nice name.."
"Ah…thank you…"
The shy half-elf, Satou Yukino.
The mysterious masked figure, Sencho Neo.
The social butterfly, Bella Kamazaki.
The level-headed one, Yukikama Kawarasuri, or rather, King.
These new people, alongside him and Alexandriya Aya, were ones aiming to enter the Royal Guild.
And maybe, they were all people that were involved with the future vision.
-----------------------------------------
(Chapter 7: Company in the Carriage.)