Chereads / World of dreams and nightmares / Chapter 6 - On the Road to the City

Chapter 6 - On the Road to the City

A few days later, Alaric and his father, Gregory, prepared to leave for the city.

Alaric slung a small satchel over his shoulder and walked to his mother, Isolde, to say goodbye. He hugged her tightly while Isolde returned the hug with a soft but worried expression.

"Listen, Alaric," Isolde said, her voice calm but firm, "stay close to your father. Don't wander off on your own. Do you understand?"

Alaric looked up at her and smiled, trying to ease her concern. "Alright, Mom. I understand," he said with a nod.

Outside the house, Gregory's voice called out loudly. "Alaric! Hurry up, we're leaving!"

Alaric and Isolde stepped out of the house, where Gregory was busy fastening the saddle on their horse and securing their belongings. He looked up and walked over to them. After gazing at Isolde for a moment, he pulled her into a firm embrace. Isolde whispered something into his ear, and Gregory's expression turned serious.

Then, Gregory crouched in front of Alaric and effortlessly lifted him onto the horse. "Hold on tight," Gregory said with a grin.

As the horse began to trot slowly, Alaric waved to his mother. "Bye, Mom! I'll see you soon!" he called out cheerfully.

Isolde waved back, a faint smile on her lips. "Stay safe!" she said before retreating inside the house.

The horse carried them through the village, passing under a gate with the words "Blue Fields Village" carved into it. Once outside the village, Gregory urged the horse into a faster pace. The wind rushed past Alaric's face, making him laugh softly in delight.

"Dad, how much longer until we reach the city?" Alaric asked, his voice filled with excitement.

Gregory kept his eyes on the road ahead as he shouted back over the wind. "If we keep going at this pace, we'll get there by sunset!"

Their journey took them through shaded woods and past sparkling rivers. They stopped a few times to rest under the canopy of large trees, enjoying the simple meals Isolde had packed for them.

By the time the sun began to set, they arrived at a towering gate. Above it, the words "Vellis City" were etched into a stone arch.

Gregory dismounted the horse and helped Alaric down. Holding his son's hand, he carried their bags in the other. The streets were bustling with life, filled with laughter, merchants shouting their wares, and street performances.

"Are you nervous, Alaric?" Gregory asked, glancing at him with a warm smile.

Alaric, who had never left his village before, nodded hesitantly. "It's so busy… is there a festival, Dad?"

Gregory chuckled softly. "No, son. The city is always like this."

As they passed a candy shop, Gregory stopped and bought Alaric a piece of taffy. Alaric's eyes lit up as he slowly tasted it.

"It's so soft and sweet!" he exclaimed joyfully.

Gregory smiled, happy to see his son enjoying a new experience.

They continued walking until they reached an inn with a sign that read "Firefly Inn." Gregory opened the door, letting Alaric step inside first. The interior was filled with the comforting aroma of spices, and a few patrons were quietly enjoying their meals.

Gregory walked to the reception desk and rang the bell a few times. A large man with a thick beard emerged from the back, looking annoyed at first.

"Who's in such a hurry to—oh! It's you, Gregory!" the man's face broke into a wide grin.

Gregory grinned back. "It's been a while, John!" He clapped the man on the shoulder and pointed to Alaric. "This is my son, Alaric. Handsome, isn't he? Just like his father!"

John crouched down in front of Alaric, ruffling the boy's hair. "Nice to meet you, kid. Twelve years old, huh? You're polite—not like your dad used to be. He was a troublemaker!"

"Hey!" Gregory protested. "That's ancient history, and it wasn't entirely my fault!"

Their conversation was filled with laughter, while Alaric watched his father with admiration. This was the first time he'd seen Gregory in such a relaxed and playful mood.

After booking a room and ordering dinner, Gregory took Alaric to one of the tables. John emerged from the kitchen with two plates of roasted chicken that smelled heavenly.

"Eat up. This one's on me," John said, placing the plates on the table.

Once they had finished dinner, Gregory led Alaric to their room on the second floor.

"Alaric, brush your teeth and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, we're going to the Sacred Temple to check your aptitude," Gregory said, gently patting his son's head.

Alaric nodded excitedly. After getting ready, he lay in bed, imagining the possibilities for tomorrow. "Will I become a swordsman? Or maybe a mage?" he wondered before slowly drifting off to sleep.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Gregory and John sat together, sharing a bottle of wine.

"Are you sure you want to test your son's aptitude tomorrow?" John asked, his tone serious.

Gregory sighed, staring into his glass. "I'm sure. No matter the outcome even if he inherits my talent or Isolde talent, or even if he inherits both,I'll make sure he doesn't go through what Isolde and I did."

John gave him a small smile. "Let's hope you're right, my friend. We'll see what tomorrow brings."

They raised their glasses, letting the night pass in warm conversation and shared memories.