"We're off!" Nicolas stood up on the coachman's seat, one fist raised high in the air.
Out of the three travelers, Nicolas was by far the most excited. The idea of being a hero on a grand journey with companions at his side made his heart race—his dreams were finally coming to life.
"Boy, do you not know the right time for theatrics?" Sebastian scolded. "If your hand leaves the barrier, you'll be sent flying."
The ground lizards raced down the forest path, a magical barrier surrounding the carriage and shielding its passengers from the violent winds generated by their incredible speed. Sticking any limb beyond the barrier could result in serious injury.
Nicolas shot Sebastian a look. "Oh, right. You're here too…"
He had hoped—deep down—that the strange butler would take a different route and catch up later.
"—But here I am, disappointing all your hopes and expectations," Sebastian replied with a smug smile.
Nicolas covered his ears. "Stop reading my mind!"
"I didn't need to. Your face said it all. And here I was, concerned for your safety."
"I do appreciate you… in a very loose, vague, noncommittal way. I guess you're... an acquaintance."
Sebastian's eyes lit up. "So you've finally accepted my friendship?"
Nicolas snorted. "Haven't you heard the saying, 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer'?"
"Yes, and I always thought it was an idiotic saying."
"Oh? And why's that?"
With a devilish grin, Sebastian leaned in. "Why keep my enemies close… when I can just kill them?"
Nicolas twitched. "U-Uh… Master?!" He trembled, sliding back into the carriage through the coachman's window, seeking the safety of William's presence.
William, however, was preoccupied. He sifted through their supplies, double-checking everything to ensure it would last until the next village. He'd done trips like this during his merchant days—group deals, long travels, poor planning. They were never fond memories.
—What even is a good memory for me?
"Master!" Nicolas whined. "The devil is saying weird things again!"
William didn't look up. "Just ignore him."
"So cold!"
But William had no time for nonsense.
—To be fair, that butler gets on my nerves too.
Nicolas peeked at what his master was doing. "Whatcha working on?"
"Inventory check. Making sure we've got enough to reach the next village."
Nicolas smiled. "Well, it's good to have someone like you around, Master. One who keeps my stomach full." Nicolas grinned and patted his belly.
"You only eat if you earn it."
"What?!"
"You'll be helping with the gear... and the cooking."
Nicolas pointed at Sebastian. "What about him?"
"He's our bodyguard. Remember?"
"I see…" The boy pouted, but quickly spotted something in the pile. "Wait, you brought the daggers I made? I thought you were just messing with me!"
"If I were messing with you, I would've made you forge a hundred of them. Which would've been a waste of resources."
"Eek! So cold!"
"You never know what we'll face out there," William said, growing serious. "By the way, ever used a sword before?"
Nicolas puffed out his chest and scratched his nose proudly. "Of course I—"
"No, you haven't."
"Grr!"
"What are you growling for? You a wild animal?"
Nicolas clenched his fists.
—How do people tell when I'm lying?
"You scratch your nose when you lie," Sebastian added casually.
Nicolas groaned and covered his nose.
William chuckled. "If you've never used a weapon, just say so. I'll teach you."
"Master…"
Nicolas's eyes softened. He hadn't expected his mentor to think that far ahead.
William handed him one of the daggers. "Start with this. One of your own creations."
Nicolas grimaced. "A dagger? But I want to use a sword."
"Some of the deadliest assassins in the world use daggers."
"I want to be a hero, not an assassin! And how hard can it be to swing a sword?"
"Very hard," William said firmly. "We'll train with one when we stop to eat. For now, use the dagger. It'll be easier to handle—and you'll understand its practicality for future crafting."
"Alright…" Nicolas muttered, inspecting his reflection in the blade with mild disappointment.
"Cheer up," William said, patting his head. "Just like smithing, weapon mastery takes time. You're a fast learner—you'll get there."
Nicolas smiled brightly. "Right!"
"Alright," came Sebastian's voice through the window, "we've reached our first stop."
Nicolas poked his head outside excitedly—only to frown. "Eh? Why did we stop here? It's the middle of nowhere."
William raised a brow. "To eat. Aren't you hungry?"
"Well, yeah… but I thought we'd stop somewhere with a nice view."
They were still a few hours away from Dragon's Mountain, where the Serpent's Path was rumored to lie. Half a day had passed since they'd left William's home, and they had made considerable progress through the massive Lost Forest.
—Good thing we're riding lizards. We wouldn't be this far with horses.
Originally, William had expected to travel by horse, and he'd doubted Sebastian's optimistic timeline. But the ground lizards exceeded expectations. They were faster, more terrain-savvy, and, most importantly, capable of creating a wind-resistant barrier to counter their own speed.
Sebastian tossed the lizards some fruit and gave them a few appreciative pats.
"What were you expecting, boy? You think inns grow out of tree trunks?"
They were still deep within the Lost Forest—the largest woodland in Heratia. It would take several days to cross it, assuming the Serpent's Path wasn't a myth.
"Leave me alone, four-eyes…" Nicolas grumbled under his breath.
"Four-eyes?"
"Eek!"
A dark aura flared around Sebastian. "I see… I wouldn't sleep too soundly tonight if I were you."
William raised a brow. "I wear glasses sometimes. That make me 'four-eyes' too?"
"Not at all, Master! On you, they look cool and refined. On him... they make him look like four-eyes."
"Oh. That makes sense."
"No, it doesn't!" Sebastian snapped. "I don't even need these glasses! They're to rest my eyes."
"Sounds like you need them," William said with a shrug.
Sebastian sighed. "My eyes allow me to track movement far beyond what normal eyes can see. But the strain is intense, so I wear glasses when I'm not using the ability."
"Still sounds like you need them, but that power sounds amazing!"
Sebastian smirked. "I didn't always wear glasses. My lady gifted them to me after I started working with the Reinsfields."
"That's thoughtful of her."
"Indeed," Sebastian turned to Nicolas, "That boy is the reason—hey! Are you even listening?!"
The two men turned toward Nicolas, who had gone quiet. He was trembling, arms wrapped around himself.
"Hey, you alright?" William asked.
"I… I'm fine," Nicolas said, forcing a smile. "Just cold. That's all."
"You sure?"
Just then, the sensation that gripped him vanished as suddenly as it had come. Nicolas looked down at his steady hands, his eyes wide in surprise.
"Yeah. I'm fine now. See?"