It was a beautiful day. The sound of Emberflyers, a bird-type monster, on the air made the perfect soundtrack for the forest. Together with the rustling of the leaves, it created the perfect atmosphere for a break. A few hours had passed since we left the Royal City of Astax. Soleil and I were just getting a bit of rest on the nearest forest after making our way here. Following Harlow’s request of only checking the bag when we get off the vicinity of the city, we decided to make haste into the forest, killing wolves and Clawks. The exp was welcoming. To me at least. At this point, I was simply letting Soleil kill them while I simply tried to increase my mana pool. I had to raise my level. Especially since she was getting way out of my reach.

The bag that Harlow gave me is something rare and priceless. I read about this type of item when I was in the castle but I had no idea that they were real. The sum it up, the bag can have a registered number of owners. Harlow made me and her the legitimate owners and we can store everything we want there as long as we have mana. When the person carrying it has no more mana, everything in the bag simply bursts out and everything that’s in there is lost forever. The bag has some special capability that makes everything inside as microscopic as possible and you can take what you want from it from your HUD. You just got to choose and take it out. It’s an excellent item and it’s going to be really helpful. And until the day I come back here, I need to get money or something else so I can repay, even if it’s a bit. I have no idea why she gave me this but one thing is for sure, I can’t lose this no matter what. I got to give it back.

While checking what was in the bag, I manage to remove everything that was meant for us to wear. Every order for the clothing we made and she even altered my boots. She placed 2 crystals on each boot. It had some instructions attached but Harlow’s handwriting is, being nice, unreadable. An amazing thing about this bag is that it was really useful for helping me to grow my mana since instead of making some sort of mana skin, I could just pour it into the bag and it would serve as training at this point.

With the map that I had, I tried to make a decent route in my head so we can have some maneuverability when it comes to breaks and rest spots. The last thing I need is me to collapse or Soleil to get hurt. It would take us at least 12 days to get to the Royal City of Asparia where I was planning on letting Soleil go. I was hoping that gathering materials to sell and get some gems along the way, would be enough to ask for a custom weapon. I was thinking and actually made a couple of sketches of what I want. And according to Soleil, there was nothing like it in this world so I got to thank the RPGs I played because of my weapon of choice. Now I just need to know if it’s something doable. Someone in that city must be skilled or crazy enough to pull that off. I hope. Or I have no idea how I should even fight because I’m not good with swords, not good with knives, I’m awful at hand-to-hand combat and I only practiced my kicks. But I can’t kick my way around on this world. It’s inconceivable.

It would take almost a month just to get near the border of Asparia. It’s gonna be a long way so we need to make haste. It’s not like we have a schedule to keep but I wanna sort Soleil out as soon as possible. Even if she is wanted by the guild, I don’t think she would be chased in Asparia. If anything, I may as well use my pseudo-authority as a hero to let her be free there. Even if I’m a criminal. Argh, it’s too much of a pain.

“Let’s take a break on the cave. Let’s have something to eat before we move on. I need to take a proper look at the map anyway.”

With a nod, Soleil agrees. We already have our meal routines planned. We figure a spot and while I gather wood, she grabs water. And we are going to need plenty for this, especially since we don’t have any means to travel and on foot is the only way for us to really go anywhere. If that bitch of a queen actually gave me some decent sum before throwing me out, I would’ve bought a carriage and an earth dragon. Hell, I would even buy a monster egg. That way I could train it to fight if the push comes to shove. Not like I can teach anything how to fight when I’m this much of a mess myself but it’s worth a shot.

There is really no point in rambling about this. Eye on the ball. I’m going to get through this. Fuck the princess, fuck the queen, fuck this country. Fuck this world. Let it all burn. My mind races to a single person every time I think about the trial.

The wood is crackling as the smoke fills the cave. Soleil, being the elf that she is, feels at home in the forest so it was no surprise that when she got to the cave, she brought a couple of Clawks for our lunch. It’s not like I’m gonna eat any of it anyway.

“Miss Harlow said that I was allowed to smack you once if you refused to eat.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are excused.”

I’m dumbfounded. Am I being too lenient? Let’s give the slave mark a little adjustment.

“AHH”

“Am I excused now?” I got to admit that saying this with a smile on my face is making me look like a villain but I think I’m starting to develop a bit of self-love because I’ve been feeling the need to always have a snarky comment to give.

“I’M SORRY, I’M SORRY.”

That’s better. Just because I’m letting you go doesn’t mean you get to do as you please. We aren’t friends. I’m grateful but you are still to be of use for the time being. What’s with me getting involved with troublesome women lately? First, I end up buying an elf that is on the guild’s blacklist, now I have a tailor that tries to kill me but then gives me free stuff and worries about my health. They are behaving like her.

With the Clawk flesh in my mouth, all my thoughts are of her. What happened? One day you are the same old you, the next you don’t even contest what was happening. Who’s the real you? Do you love me? Do you hate me? Is any of this for real? Did you get tired? Why can’t I have a simple answer?

“Yurem?”

“Hm?”

“I have been calling you for the past 5 minutes. Is everything okay?”

“Oh. Sorry. Was just thinking. Let’s….”

RUMBLE

Oh, great. From a sunny day, there’s a thunderstorm now. That’s just great.

“Aff, just what we needed. Cover yourself up. We are moving.”

“Do you have a death wish, perhaps?”

“Meaning?”

“Thunderstorms here are quite dangerous. Not the storm itself but the monsters that leave the dungeon located around these parts.”

“What do you mean?”

“Very well. Lend me your ear. Around these parts is 1 of the 7 dungeons. Each dungeon has 100 floors. Only 1 party was able to conquer all of the dungeons and it was centuries ago according to the tales. The variety of monsters down there is enormous and so is the dungeon itself. It’s said that the dungeon is alive. Nowadays, few parties try to conquer them. The risk is too big for any kind of reward that there is down there.”

“But what’s down there exactly?”

“No one alive knows. There are rumors but they change like the seasons.”

“That actually sounds interesting.”

I wonder what’s down there. I mean, it’s a dungeon. But a dungeon being alive? Strong monsters? I wonder if it has ores. Could make some quick money with it. I am tempted but who am I kidding. There’s nothing I can do. At least for now.

“So, please Yurem, let’s cover the entrance to the cave for our own safety.”

“Fine.”

In any normal situation, I would let this go and say that she was overreacting but she is looking frightened. And she lived here all her life, she knows more about this than me so I need to take her word for it. My life is at stake as well, I’m not an idiot to kill myself in a way that it’s avoidable.

With several logs held by rope covering the entrance to the cave, the dim light of the fire is the only thing we see. And with the wood crackling and the sound of rain falling and thunders echoing on the cave, we let time flew past us.