It's better to win Cassian over to my side, Eric thought as he gazed out the carriage window.
If I can't eliminate him, I might as well make him mine.
For days, he had been testing the waters, probing how far he could go. Testing limits. Observing reactions.
For now, it's best to minimize risks.
Besides, he had ensured Cassian suspected nothing about him. The boy looked at him with eyes full of admiration and gratitude.
Perfect.
Currently, Cassian and the Second Prince were seated in an elegant carriage, rolling along a paved road that wound through the countryside.
They hadn't delayed their departure. The prince was ready even before meeting Cassian, with all necessary equipment loaded and men mobilized.
Having Cassian along is an advantage, Eric thought.
He could see Cassian's true worth with his own eyes if the situation demanded it.
They had three hundred men with them. The Order of the White Swans, an elite group of knights in Eric's service. They rode in tight formation around the carriage, their white armor gleaming under the sun.
The silence in the carriage was heavy.
Eric endured it for a few minutes before suddenly speaking.
"Alright, let me explain what our mission is about."
Cassian, who had been looking out the window, turned to him.
"I already know. Kill monsters."
Eric laughed, shaking his head.
"It's not just that. It's a bit more complicated than it seems."
He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees.
"Not long ago, orc ambassadors came to ask the kingdom for help with a certain problem."
Cassian tilted his head, intrigued.
"Orcs?"
"Yes. Apparently, a particularly strange ogre has taken control of several orc clans by force and caused quite a bit of trouble in the local regions."
Eric waved a hand vaguely.
"Normally, the kingdom wouldn't have intervened. Orc business is orc business. But this damned ogre didn't stay in orc lands. It started attacking and plundering our borders."
His expression darkened.
"Those bastards penetrated deep, too. Entire villages were destroyed. Families vanished."
Cassian listened intently.
"Apparently, adventurers have been overwhelmed lately, and the guild lacks the manpower to handle this new problem. Hence why I'm getting involved."
"What's the guild?" Cassian asked innocently.
Eric blinked, surprised.
"You don't know what the Adventurers' Guild is?"
Cassian shook his head.
"The Adventurers' Guild is the organization that manages all the kingdom's adventurers. It assigns quests, records their feats, pays them, and settles disputes. Without the guild, they'd just be mercenaries with no rights or recognition."
"Sounds fun," Cassian said with a smile.
Eric laughed again.
"Fun? Maybe. Dangerous, definitely."
Outside the carriage, the knights of the Order of the White Swans rode in formation.
"The kingdom has never been in better shape," said one, a man in his thirties with a red beard.
Another snorted.
"Speak for yourself. People are dying horribly all over the place."
"Yeah, but look at us!" The first knight gestured to his armor. "Brand-new weapons and armor. And not just any equipment. Magical equipment."
Murmurs of approval rippled among the other knights.
"Literally the holy grail, even if not all of it's equal," added a third.
"Apparently, it's thanks to Cassian," said a younger knight.
The conversation naturally shifted to the boy in the carriage.
"I saw him before he got into the carriage," said an older knight. "It felt like he stepped out of a painting. Just glancing at him was like my eyes were cleansed."
"I heard he's become famous across nearly the entire kingdom these past few months," said another. "They call him the Wishmaker."
"Some are even willing to pay the royal family a fortune for access to him."
"But the royal family keeps Cassian to themselves. And for good reason."
A particularly knowledgeable knight leaned toward the others, lowering his voice.
"Apparently, thanks to his powers, he filled an entire room with gold, precious gems, and all sorts of rare items. That's let the kingdom line its pockets."
Several knights exclaimed, amazed and fascinated.
"An entire room?!"
"That's what I heard."
Inside the carriage, Cassian had closed his eyes.
"You should sleep," Eric had advised. "The journey will be long."
Cassian wasn't one to enjoy sleeping. He considered it a waste of time.
But the carriage rocked like a lullaby. Besides, Cassian had neglected sleep the past few days.
Slowly, his consciousness slipped into The Shoreless Sea.
Cassian didn't dream when he slept.
Instead, he spent his time in The Shoreless Sea.
And what could be said about The Shoreless Sea?
Before Cassian stretched an ocean beyond his field of vision. The water reflected no light, a deep, unfathomable black. Apocalyptic waves rose proudly, tall as mountains, frozen in perpetual motion.
The ocean was constantly swept by endless storms. The sky was always gray and cloudy, streaked with silent lightning.
Cassian sat on the ocean.
For miles around him, the ocean was calm. Perfectly flat. Like black glass.
The ocean was solid beneath him, as if it refused to let him sink.
Before Cassian, a watery silhouette tried to entertain him with silly tricks. It juggled orbs of water, did somersaults, and shapeshifted into different forms.
But Cassian was tired of being here.
He wanted to go outside.
I'm bored.
He counted the seconds to pass the time.
This is why I hate sleeping. I really don't get why other people like it.
He stood to take a short walk, leaving the discouraged watery silhouette behind.
He walked on the solid ocean.
The waves avoided him. Even the most massive ones curved around him, refusing to crash nearby.
He didn't even get splashed by a drop of water.
The rain didn't touch him, the droplets dissolving before reaching him.
He was alone in this infinite, dark world.
How much longer?
In the carriage, the prince watched the sleeping Cassian.
He looked so vulnerable now. So small. So peaceful.
A thought crossed Eric's mind.
I could eliminate him now. Here. Right now.
His hand slowly moved toward the dagger hidden at his belt.
But suddenly, a sense of hidden danger washed over him.
A chill ran down his spine. His instincts screamed.
Danger. Danger. DANGER.
He didn't know why, but he felt that if he tried anything, he might die.
Besides, killing Cassian now would make him the prime suspect. The king would have him executed without hesitation.
No. Not now.
He restrained himself, crossing his arms and leaning against the window to watch the scenery.
It's an idea for another time.