NOVEL NEXT Chapter 262: Caravan
They made it to the capital, and after wandering through the bustling streets for a while, they finally came across a caravan preparing to depart for the same city as their destination.
"Why are we bothering with a caravan? We can handle ourselves, one carriage should be enough," Jack muttered, his arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.
"We might be skilled students, Jack, but most of us are only at the Second Circle," Noel countered calmly. "What happens if someone at the Third, Fourth, or even Fifth Circle attacks?"
"Exactly," Riven added, his tone firm. "All of us are from the Golden Set, and we're traveling with the daughter of a Duke. We can't afford to take unnecessary risks."
The caravan was impressive, over five large carriages drawn by sturdy horses, each loaded with goods bound for trade. Merchants barked orders, workers hurriedly secured crates, and guards in leather armor checked their weapons, preparing for the long road ahead.
Riven approached the man in charge, a short, round fellow with a bald head and sharp, beady eyes that darted about suspiciously. For some reason, the man seemed both cautious and eager at the same time.
As the four of them stepped forward, the man sized them up quickly before speaking.
"Hello," he said, rubbing his hands together. "Do you want to join our caravan?"
"Yes," Riven answered without hesitation, his voice steady. "We'd like to join your caravan."
The round man squinted, his beady eyes drifting over their matching uniforms. His brow furrowed. "Royal Academy uniforms," he muttered, almost to himself. Then, louder: "Why would students of the Royal Academy be riding with a public caravan? With your status, you could reach any city on your own. What business do you have here?"
The air grew tense for a moment, but Sophia stepped forward, his tone calm and diplomatic. "We have our personal reasons. Not everything requires the Academy's banner."
Riven nodded firmly, backing her up. "All we need is safe passage. Nothing more."
The man rubbed his chin, still looking doubtful. His eyes flicked between them, as though weighing whether to believe their words. At last, he sighed, extending a plump hand. "Fine. If you can pay, you can ride. But remember, this isn't the Academy. You follow our pace and rules, understood?"
"Understood," Riven replied, placing the coins into his palm.
The man pocketed the payment quickly, his mood brightening. "Good. We depart in two hours' time. Be ready."
With that settled, the group stepped away from the caravan. Noel tugged at the edge of his Academy jacket with a grimace. "We stand out too much like this. Everyone can tell where we're from at a glance."
"Agreed," Riven said. "Let's get a change of clothes before we draw any more attention."
They made their way into the busy heart of the capital, heading toward the rows of shops and markets, the golden crests on their uniforms gleaming under the midday sun.
The four of them stepped into a modest clothing shop tucked between two busy stalls, the faint scent of fabric dye and polished wood filling the air. Racks of cloaks, tunics, and dresses lined the walls, while a tailor worked silently in the back, his needle flashing under the lantern light.
Before Riven could properly look around, Sophia tugged at his sleeve. "Come with me," she said softly, her expression unreadable. She pulled him toward a quieter corner where a line of simple yet elegant dresses hung.
Without warning, she slipped behind a screen, and moments later stepped out in a pale-blue gown that softened her usual stern presence. She turned slightly, letting the fabric sway, her cool eyes flicking toward him as though she wasn't really asking, but still waiting.
Riven blinked, caught off guard, then smiled faintly. "It suits you. You look… beautiful." He managed to say, despite the fact his mind was screaming she was beautiful. If he tried ti say anything more he was sure he would stutter.
Her lips curved, just barely, but it was Riven saw it and it made him smile as well.
Then she disappeared behind the screen again, only to reappear in another dress, this time a soft green that made her seem less like the cold noble everyone knew her to be and more like a girl simply trying on clothes. Again, she glanced at him.
Riven chuckled under his breath. "That one too. It looks good on you."
The process repeated,three, four times, each dress different, each one met with a quiet compliment. With every word, Sophia's guarded expression cracked a little more until a genuine smile touched her face, rare and fleeting, but warm. Riven found himself strangely content just watching her, the usually detached young woman so at ease in this small moment.
Eventually, he picked out a plain set of dark traveling clothes without much thought, while Sophia settled on a dress she seemed satisfied with. Together, they rejoined Noel and Jack, who were already waiting near the counter with their own purchases.
As they left the store, Sophia walked a step behind, her fingers brushing lightly against the hem of her new dress. Riven's simple words echoed in her mind, and though her face remained composed, the faintest blush touched her cheeks.
They arrived back at the caravan, and with just a little bit iveryans hour left, they got into one of the carriages and sat down.
Now that they were in different clothes, no one would know they were from the academy, but it also brought about another issue, some people that joined the caravan looked at them, wondering why some kids were here unsupervised.
A few other people looked at them with some malicious eyes. Riven could see the way some adventurers were looking at them, but he acted like he didn't.
"I think the trouble will come from inside the caravan and not even outside." Noel stated.
"Whatever they do, we'll be ready for it." Jack said.
"Calm down, no one will do anything in a public caravan." Riven said.