Humanity's Hero Of Despair

Over the past couple of weeks, the rhythmic swaying of the carriage has become a familiar sensation.

The initial excitement and tension of our journey has settled into a steady routine, broken only by the occasional surprise. Our nightly routine involves finding a new village or town to rest in, with accommodations varying from cozy and inviting inns to basic shelters.

We encounter a few foolish bandits who believe a royal carriage is a simple target. Zephyr handles most of them with his great combat efficiency, his wind magic a blur of precision and force. I step in when he needs help, and Quillen offers tactical advice. Only a few times does Quillen use his water magic to deflect bandit attacks. He prefers not fighting the enemy directly.

With the afternoon sun overhead, Muedar still seems so far away. The scenery changes drastically as we move farther from Tarondar's core, with rolling fields giving way to rugged terrain and dense forests. Our latest stop is in Edgeville, a quiet village nestled at the base of a wooded hill.

The village has a lively atmosphere, its streets lined with merchants selling wares and children darting between stalls. We stay at the town's most popular inn that night, which is welcome because it gives us a good night's sleep. The innkeeper is kind enough to give us the most luxurious rooms, and the food is hearty enough to cheer us up.

While the carriage is being readied for the last part of our trip, I stand nearby, lost in thought.

"I hope everyone is doing okay back home," I say, breaking the silence.

Zephyr is leaning against a tree as he watches Quillen and our coachman ready the carriage for our final leg of the trip to Muedar. He turns to look at me.

"Same. Ivy is probably hanging out at the Garden of Watersia right about now. Estes is probably in the library. Matteo is probably trying to spar with somebody right about now, and Leena is most likely trying to stop him."

We both laugh at the thought.

Our laughter can't disguise the fact we miss our friends, though.

"Ivy and Estes are probably fine on their own. I don't know about Leena and Matteo though," I say in response to Zephyr, with a smile on my face.

Zephyr chuckles as he hears my remark. He then jokes back with, "Leena's specialty is causing trouble."

"Zephyr. Nico," Quillen calls out to us as he slaps the side of the carriage lightly. Once he has our attention, he gently pulls out a map of Tarondar. He looks at us with a soft gaze.

"We will be back before long. Your friends will be alright. According to this map, we are only a few hours away from the town of Muedar. We will make it there in the evening. The sooner we complete our task, the sooner we can get back to what matters most."

We both nod toward Quillen.

Zephyr agrees with Quillen's statement but points out an important remark that I agree with slightly. Quillen is a good guy, and we can tell he cares for others. He seems a bit robotic or too formal in personality, though. It might be because of his formal upbringing as a star diplomat.

"You have been with us for a couple of weeks now, Quillen. You can speak casually to us, you know. Even if we are all three nobles and we all hold important positions, it doesn't mean we can't speak normally to each other. Ya know we are all second-years and around the same age."

Quillen's expression cracks briefly into a slight smile before becoming serious again. He seems too stoic. Quillen's response back seems to hide behind a layer of his true self from the looks of it.

"I understand Zephyr. My opinion of myself is that I have become a lot more casual since I am referring to you both by your first names and not with your titles. Regarding speaking more casually, I will do my best to do that."

Zephyr sighs and shakes his head as Quillen puts away the map. Quillen then makes one last remark before walking toward the Inn.

"The carriage is ready for us to disembark at any time. Let us regain our energy through one last hearty meal before we hit the road."

With that, we follow Quillen to the Inn for one last meal. As we approach the Inn, the innkeeper spots us and guide us directly to the best table. The common room is bustling with activity as the villagers of Edgeville enjoy their lunch on a cool, sunny day. It is nice eating here since not too many people recognize us.

Sure, the innkeeper for sure knows who we are in terms of being nobles.

However, Edgeville is pretty remote in terms of places within the Tarondar Kingdom, so it is a pleasant change from the recognition within Stonelight constantly. Zephyr orders lots of meats and Quillen mostly eats vegetables. I, on the other hand, just eat a light sandwich.

We finish our hearty lunch and thank the innkeeper for the hospitality over the past twenty-four hours. Quillen even gives the guy a hefty tip. Maybe he isn't so robotic after all. We stroll toward the carriage, our stomachs full of food. Maybe we should've waited before eating. At least we won't be hungry for a while.

"How was your food, Quillen?" I ask him as we near the carriage.

"It was mighty delicious! I had never had food from a rural village before, so it was an enjoyable experience to change things up. I hope though Zephyr will be alright from eating all of that beef stew," he says to me as we both glance at Zephyr, who is clutching his stomach in slight pain.

"I am glad you enjoyed it. It was very good. I agree with that heavily. Let's hope things are not that bad in Muedar. We could use some peace and quiet before investigating deeply into the city," I reply as the three of us get into the carriage.

Quillen agrees with me, and Zephyr nods slowly as he drifts into a nap. The coachman tugs at the reins, and both of the horses spring into action again after a nice rest. The sound of the galloping horses is strangely calming to me as we travel in that familiar rhythm again.

I hope that whatever lies ahead is clear and simple. If it is, then all three of us will be able to get home sooner than later. Heck, I miss our friends so much that I don't care if I have to be a teacher's assistant anymore.

Though what comes next complicates things.