Chapter 162 – Journal Entry 12: To Sardis

It was my last day in Soren. Elena has already packed her things and called out the carriage that they will use to travel to the City of Sardis. In there lies a boat that will lead them to Fernery Island. The boat is steam powered so it should be no problem for the boat to traverse the accursed sea.

Elena was standing alongside Grom. As expected of her, she was making Grom carry her luggage. To Grom who only have a cloak, and a fur coat. Carrying a two wooden box worth of luggage was simple for Grom. At the moment, when I look at Grom, he didn’t seem to have any care in the world. He was more listless than ever, and his red eyes were more vacant as he stands up near the carriage.

“Uncle!”

Elena shouted as she sees Grom standing listlessly on the road. Grom turned his vacant red eyes at Elena, kneeling on one knee, Grom patted Elena’s head, which made Elena stomp her foot on the ground complaining at the way she is being petted.

“Uncle Grom your hand hurts!”

“...”

Grom stopped patting Elena. He stood up listlessly and brought the boxes of luggage into the carriage. The carriage was more of an automobile, that of 20’s. Although the carriage is run by steam, it had a quite a core in the back. Elena, who saw my confused face, explained that is the Golem's core. Apparently, the golem system is quite versatile, naturally, it would be used to make machines that this place could use. For example, even though the carriage is run by ‘steam’. The steam is produced by the Golem's core, allowing the engine that is on the automobile to function. Unlike, uh, somehow the world where I was, where I can hazily remember a wheel that is used to steer automobiles, but this carriage in front of me apparently doesn’t need steering as the bracelet on Elena can control the carriage out of her will. This would allow her to just sit on the carriage without bothering to control it.

This also works conveniently because she would be able to use the turret on the carriage to defend. Apparently, the road to Sardis is quite tough. Warp Gates are just littered on the side of the roads, and beast that Elena describes as meat and fur sewed together or outright abominations. Elena doesn’t seem that scared, probably just used to the monsters that are all over the place.

“Good Morning Miss Elena.”

A voice came behind my back. I looked at the source only to see Miss Leona standing with her cloak on. She has this beaming smile on her face, and there was only a female elven on her side today.

“Good Morning.”

I greeted Miss Leona. Elena greeted her too as the two started talking. Miss Leona will be going to Fernery Island to establish relations with the Mistress of Fernery Island. She came into this land with two reasons. To greet the Gann King, and establish a partnership with the golem production mistress that has enough influence to stop anyone from subverting the Island of Fernery.

“How are you doing Sir Grom, are you fine?”

Miss Leona greeted Grom who was standing in the carriage. Grom nodded his head at Leone before going back to be being listless as ever. After that, Miss Leona just backed off and started talking to her elven friend that seems to only have an interest in talking to Leona. I heard that the Elven aren’t that friendly with others so I guess this is why. Though Miss Leona seems different from the other, I wonder why?

...

The Carriage line was supposed to leave before noon. But there was a change in the plan when Elena received a parcel from someone who was from the Argos Company. Due to this setback, the departure time was moved to at three o’clock in the afternoon.

Due to that I just went out of the carriage to eat and drink again in the usual places. I bought two pieces of meat, as usual, then went and buy some fizzy juice on the shop. While eating, I saw the teenage girl that was with her grandma.

“You!”

“Who?”

“You!”

“Ah, you mean me?”

“No one is here other than you!”

“Pardon me, your name was Nell right?”

“Now you are responding!”

“I am trying my best here.”

She stomped her foot, she put her hands on her waist before folding her arms under her supple breast. She looked at me angrily, though I just kept the blank look on my face, waiting for this young woman to berate me.

“This is your fault!”

“My fault, I don’t remember anything other than staring at you once.”

“Exactly, because of you that I have to practice three times harder! Do you know how much my grandma trains? It is hell!”

“Not really, I don’t even know you two, how would I know that you suffered in a training that seems like useful to me.”

“Gah, it is useful but do you know how good it is just to sit back and relax once for a while!”

“I agree with that, though why are you complaining right in my face, is something I could not understand. I am merely a man, drinking his fizzy juice, yet here you are, faulting me for what I haven’t done.”

“Ah, whatever.”

She gave up and sat on the bench. She looked up to the sky and then gave a sigh before asking.

“By the way, what was your name? I didn’t get it yesterday.”

“And why should I tell you, Miss Nell?”

“Oh how about the fact that you are using my NAME to address me at the moment, even though I don’t know you, should it be fair if know your name too?”

“True, I would rather know my name too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing, my name is.”

I said my borrowed name. The young woman sitting on the bench with me opens her eyes for the moment widely, before going back with her usual lazy expression.

“I see, well it’s your fault.”

“Whatever...”

I didn’t even want to talk about this anymore. I was going to leave this city soon, so might as well take the blame. Surprisingly, she got bored of on blaming me and went to buy some fizzy juice for herself. After that, she just drank alongside me and which then ends up with her saying goodbye, telling me that I should treat her some next time as an apology.

Good thing that I was leaving. So I don’t have to worry about that. After drinking my soda, and eating for awhile. I went back to the carriage to prepare to head to the city of Sardis.