[Narrator, perspective]
Miriel told the girl to get on the cart with them. At no point did she refuse to disobey her, nor did she even try to fight or escape from her. After half an hour spent trying to free the wheels stuck in the ground, and with Don offering to repair them, he had come to terms with the fact that he was left without his abilities and that he couldn't do anything to recover them. His face, still downcast, tried to show calmness by lifting his head, always facing problems, as his Master had taught him.
With a new mark on his face, a rather long scar beginning to define his appearance, he asked Miriel about the girl:
"Will she come with us?"
The girl, who never tried to escape or argue with the new decision Miriel had imposed on her, seemed accustomed to this kind of treatment toward her small self. And seeing how those thieves treated her, Miriel drifted away into her bright blue eyes and bit her nails, reflecting on the true future her lady was preparing for her in the place she planned to take her. But above all, she couldn't stop looking at her, remembering and seeing herself in her when she was just a child and had to go through hell, also being abandoned by her parents, even though the circumstances and paths were completely different.
She remained thoughtful for quite a while until, three hours later, as they crossed a beautiful bridge decorated with street lamps, they saw boats passing under the bridge and children playing with balls. Only a few commoners, likely users of vegetation, mingled with very few merchants, artisans, knights, and even the beautiful uniforms of the Order of the Third Division patrolling the streets before entering this town. And it was then that Don and Miriel leaned out upon hearing all those normal noises that anyone experiences when approaching a small, active town full of people. Then they realized they had already arrived at their desired destination.
Riverside Dusk by Lu'u Teruise
While the beautiful melody from Gregory's cheap flute created a melancholy that danced on the waves of the wind, creating a calm and cozy atmosphere for traveling in silence.
When he poked his head out, Don, for the first time in hours, perhaps days, did not look in amazement at that girl wearing the distinctive military uniform of the knights of the Third Division. Her attire included a white jacket with orange details, adorned with golden epaulettes on the shoulders and golden buttons on the front. She wore a black sash with a buckle and a belt crossed over her chest. Her skirt matched the white and orange tones of her uniform, with an asymmetrical design that left her legs partially visible. She completed the uniform with tall white boots with buckles and white gloves. On her head, she wore a white cap with a golden emblem, highlighting the dominance and the symbol of Varnok on her cap and chest, not forgetting an orange band that complemented her elegant and authoritative appearance. Her long brown hair fell loosely down her back, while she was accompanied by a handsome knight, her blond companion.
The handkerchief waving in the strong wind with the symbol of the War Squires Battalion of the Third Division stood out. Then, the old coachman looked around, seeing the crossroads approaching little by little just in front of those buildings scattered across the vast landscape of crops, before continuing straight on his way to sell his herbs, which he carried in boxes behind him, along with additional human and non-human cargo.
The brave horse that accompanied us throughout this journey advanced through the dust and undergrowth as if the very earth were shouting at it to give up. It pulled the cart with every muscle tensed, the reins rubbing its sweaty neck, its legs slipping in the dry mud of a path forgotten by maps. The wheels creaked as if sharing the effort. They crossed hills, skirted rivers, and endured the scorching sun on the leather of the cargo until the sun began to set. Each step was a battle, each jolt an order not to yield. And finally, after one last hill where the wind fell silent and only the rhythm of its hooves remained, the horse stopped. It stood still, panting heavily, its chest rising with pride and fatigue after hours and hours of galloping through the dangerous and uncertain paths of the new Glimmetropolis. Its eyes, tired but steady, did not ask for rest… only respect.
Then, it raised its front legs and neighed toward the sky.
Once.
Again.
And a third time, like a roar of victory from the heart of a beast that refused to be defeated. Then, the rain came, under the red light of the sun hiding to give way to its nocturnal enemy, the blue light of the moon.
And its eyes turned back to look at its passengers. Likewise, with total neutrality, the grumpy, ill-tempered, and stubborn old man began:
"We've arrived at our destination, ladies and gentlemen. My journey will end at the Riverside fort of the Dusk. If any of you wish to go as far as the border, the next town, then take the main road to the left," said the driver, as indicated by the traveler's post stuck in the middle of the crossroads.
Quickly, Gregory stood up and said sheepishly:
"Well, guys, it's been a pleasure that you let me sing my melancholies and travel with you," jumping off the cart with force, clumsily dirtying his boots and continuing while tossing a silver coin to the driver, something that didn't please him at all, but for some reason, he didn't even think to complain.
"I've never had or seen such curious fans and guides so her… (a jealous one stung him) …passionate," he shouted and corrected himself forcefully, and continued without stopping smiling nervously as the distance between him and our travelers became more and more noticeable. "So passionate! That's it… passionate like you, comrades. See you soon, Don! I hope you solve your little problem," he left with a long, friendly smile, raising his hand and waving it energetically in farewell.
"I hope to see you again, Gregory, and that you tell me more about your travels. Good luck with the registration!" shouted Don, and turned to look at Miriel, trying to tell her to also make a gesture to say goodbye. But she paid him no attention, as if Don didn't exist.
"Miriel also says goodbye!" shouted Don without her permission.
"Bye!" replied Gregory, although what he said was barely audible as he continued walking backward, and in the end, he just turned around and walked to the next town to take a boat and travel to the kingdom of Montesis, as he had indicated hours before his departure.
He turned a second time and asked Miriel:
"How long will it take him to reach his destination on foot?"
"Who, that guy?"
"Why are you like this?"
"Seeing the pace he's walking, if he plans to reach the Duskfort stronghold of Valdric, it will take him 17 to 18 and a half hours to arrive."
"And for me, how much did Mister Snuch pay you?"
"He paid me for a 5-day and 21-hour journey."
"And how many coins is that?"
"6 gold coins. And you're lucky I haven't reached the expert level yet; I'd be charging you more."
"So I only have one day and 21 hours left…" he said with a hidden, nervous smile. "This trip lasted longer than I can afford; I'll have to earn money somehow to pay you for your services. I don't think, with your character, you'd do it for free for all the good times we've had… heh, heh… right?"
"As soon as you stop paying me, I'll leave you to your fate and look for another more interesting traveler to journey with. Defending a kid wasn't part of the deal."
"More interesting? I understand… well, I'll pay you," replied Don sadly.
"I hope the 85 gold coins I have can complete the journey, because if not, I wouldn't know how to make money in this world. My master never told me how to make money, although he said that knowledge was also a currency… I don't know much, but I hope it serves me… and… I don't even have my pyrokinesis and geokinesis abilities… What should I do? I don't want to disappoint my master. Maybe I should try harder?" Don spoke to himself, entering a circle of doubts that turned into a prison with inmates instilling insecurities he had never had before.
Then, his face already looked tired, and his hands rough from the combat he had and the work he put into fixing the old man's cart. A new kind look with a background of sadness had sealed his new appearance, that of a calm, somewhat energetic boy. A whole moment of reflection when the old man began to demand the money they owed him for the trip. Then, since Don didn't have change to give him a silver coin, he gave him a gold coin, thinking it would be more than enough for the trip, but it wasn't.
"You owe me 6 more coins, young man," commented the old man.
"What? 6 silver coins?"
"Gold coins! You owe me six gold coins, young man!" the old man growled loudly.
"How do I owe you 7 gold coins if right in front of me Gregory paid you with a silver coin and we took the same trip?"
"…It's… he made an advance payment, and you didn't. He's a regular customer," lied the old man, because in reality, he was afraid of him.
And Don, already quite tired, no longer dared to contradict the old man and simply accepted, replying that "at least give me a discount," something that can't be missing when talking about such a nice kid. And the old man ended up accepting only because he fixed the wheel of his cart for free, but only by deducting one gold coin, justifying that he must pay for the girl, for Miriel, for his head, and for the problems he caused along the way, since the damage to his cart was his fault and that of his companions. Said the shameless old man. But he still accepted and paid without objection.
The costs of this trip had left his pocket with 79 gold coins, something worrying considering that at first he didn't want to spend so much, knowing that the most important metals for the world to function began to run scarce, raising the prices of absolutely all materials, well, only on this side of the world, speaking of the kingdom of Montesis and its dominion over the vast terrain of the island of the new Glimmetropolis, part of the kingdom of Montesis III, alive to this day.
And it was then that they arrived in front of the gate. Miriel commented to the air that this time there were more guards than usual, and only somewhat important knights were seen, referring to the orange uniforms, and she knew that at least there were tensions, perhaps problems.
When the old man arrived in front of the guards, they made him stop the vehicle to check the cargo. There were 4 guards watching the entrance; one of them was a young lady with glasses who exuded firmness and authority. Her sharp eyes recognized Miriel, who was on board sitting in front of the girl who accompanied them. Although the old man indicated that he only carried medicinal herbs, she didn't trust anything at all just by seeing Miriel on board, as if the two of them already had some conflicting past. Then, Miriel began:
"What a surprise to see the subcaptain of the war squires here. The bullies in the sewer of your perimeter in the metropolis are gone."
"Nice to see you too… Miriel," she mentioned, completely devoid of affectionate emotions in her words, and continued dryly. "Everyone get off the vehicle."
Don, innocently, commented:
"Ma'am, we're just traveling to buy mystical alloy, that's all."
Upon saying this, the subcaptain frowned dryly and repeated with greater coldness each word, which went beyond a warning and directly became a threat, placing the palm of her hand on the loop of her sword:
"Get off the vehicle."