Noah and his companions followed Delia to the southern gate where two carriages awaited them. The first was large and utilitarian while the other was small and ornate. Neither had horses, only empty harnesses where the work animals would typically be. Delia instructed his friends to sit in the first carriage while she led him to the other. He had opted to leave his furs behind as they did little in the way of protection and reeked of travel, instead donning his elven-fashioned attire in addition to his weapons and pack. Delia had made no protest to the sight, seeming to have expected the action. They stored their excess gear in a storage compartment at the back of the vehicle and climbed into the cabin. The interior was made from beautifully carved wood and had two cushioned benches facing each other. As he sat down in the rear-facing bench he noticed just how small the carriage was. While it was plenty tall for him to sit comfortably, the benches would sit only one adult on either side and it would be nearly impossible to keep their legs from touching. As Delia settled into her seat, his concerns were proven accurate. Before anything exceedingly awkward could occur, he opted to make the first move angling both of the legs to the side so that hers could occupy the other. This seems like quite the flawed design, he thought as her knee pressed against his.
Despite the swirl of boyish anxiety that was Noah, Delia only smiled sweetly at him as she got comfortable. She wore a long purple dress, this one more lavender than the previous violet. To Noah she looked like a princess from one of the movies he grew up watching, the dress aided by her composure. Her light hair was done up in a complicated knot with a single silver pin keeping it in place. He wasn’t sure if it was her beauty, her proximity, or the subtle smell of her perfume that sent his heart racing, but once it started he was afraid it wouldn’t slow down. He still didn’t know what it was about this woman that enchanted him, but whenever she was around he couldn’t turn his attention away from her. There was a tickle in the back of his mind, a whisper just beyond his reach but it all but disappeared when Delia began to speak.
“Noah, where’d you go?” She asked. Noah blinked, rubbing the back of his head.
“Ah, sorry about that. I was just lost in my own mind. I was wondering about this carriage’s design though. It seems…”
“Small?” She suggested. He nodded.
“It was intentional. This one was made so that lovers could enjoy each other’s company on the road.” She said. Noah’s jaw dropped and a bead of sweat dripped down his back. Definitely not slowing down.
“I see.” He responded tentatively. She giggled but let the moment stretch on, no doubt enjoying his discomfort.
“I’m only teasing of course. Not about the design—that was intentional, but we are only using this carriage because of your attendants. We couldn’t exactly have a private conversation with others around, could we?” She said. Noah nodded, figuring that the explanation made sense. Soon the carriage started moving and Noah turned to see what manner of beasts they had secured. To his horror, in the place of horses, were two humans. He watched them for a minute, his frown growing as he did. They at least seemed to pull the wagon with relative ease, meaning they had leveled their physical stats significantly. The pair even seemed to be laughing as they pulled the carriage, sharing a conversation that he couldn’t make out. His initial repulsion eased and he eventually turned away from the two men. His companion had stayed quiet as he took in the sight, allowing him to process it for himself. She made no explanations and he realized that made sense, there was no reason to explain why two people were doing their job. He sighed. There was a pit of tension in his stomach but he couldn’t place it. I’m too used to danger around every corner. An adrenaline junkie. He chuckled to himself and Delia tilted her head in question.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“What’s so funny?” She asked.
“Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about how this world has messed with my brain. It’s hard to stop looking for enemies, even away from the battlefield. On my homeworld, this was an observed phenomenon for veterans returning from battle, I guess it only makes sense that the same would be happening to me. If you knew half of what I’ve dealt with…” Noah shook his head, missing the twitch of Delia’s lip as he spoke.
“That’s beside the point. I was just laughing at myself, for making a big deal out of nothing,” he explained.
“That seems completely reasonable, Noah. You are being hard on yourself.” She said, lightly squeezing his forearm. Noah smiled at her and rubbed his neck.
“Thanks, Delia, I appreciate it.”
“Not at all. Though now you’ve got me interested in your stories, I just have to hear!” She replied. Noah was all too happy for a listening ear and began recounting his tale to the charming elven woman. The hours seemed to fly by as they laughed and bantered together. The carriages never stopped as they went and Noah found himself more and more impressed with the two that were pulling them along. He wondered how much they were making for their efforts, and figured that it must be a decent sum considering the lighthearted expressions that were ever present on their faces. Delia eventually withdrew some food for them to share and he couldn’t help but wonder if his friends had anything to eat in their ride. It wasn’t as if any of them were strangers to hunger, but it felt wrong to eat if they didn’t have something as well. When he had asked Delia she confirmed that of course they were served a meal as it would be an affront to not extend such basic hospitality.
Well into the afternoon there was a sudden jolt followed by shouting. Noah immediately jumped from his seat and practically flew from the carriage. One of the two men had collapsed to the ground but there was no sign of an enemy. Noah scanned the woods for whatever beast had attacked them. He extended his domain, wanting to catch the creature before it could strike again. His search came up empty though. He made his way over to the collapsed man and inspected him for injury. The other one was sitting on the ground next to him, looking frightened but uninjured.
“What happened?” Noah asked. He saw no visible injuries on the man, but it was clear that he had lost consciousness and was covered in sweat. Noah pressed his hand to the man’s head and felt it sweltering. Sickness? That was strange, he hadn’t expected something so mundane as sickness to affect a leveled human. He turned his attention to the other man and noticed that he was panting heavily but somehow maintained an odd smile on his face. Noah experienced a nauseating twist of reality as his domain worked to convey a different story to his brain. His eyes saw a smiling, healthy, human catching his breath. His domain, however, showed a gaunt shell of a man in his place. The smile and brightness in his eyes were replaced by a visage of despair and pain. The man on the ground was even worse off, and it became evident that his legs had given out along with his mind.
Noah’s heart turned icy as he recognized the deception. His senses stretched to the now approaching Delia who had come to check on things as well. The enchanting illusion of her remained in his eyes but beneath that facade, he saw a calculating and cautious gaze that studied him for signs of compromise. Thinking quickly, he forced a more pleasant expression to his face.
“Delia, something seems to be wrong with one of the men. I didn't see any sign of attack but he’s fallen unconscious.” He explained. She grimaced beneath her mask but appeared concerned on the outside.
“Oh my, I wonder what could have done that to him.” She said, stepping up to the three of them. He noticed the conscious one stiffen as she approached. Noah held back the protective rage that threatened to expose him and stepped aside to let her through. He could see the wrathful expression of scorn as she stared down at the human, she looked like she wanted to kick him and finish the job. He of course wasn’t about to let that happen.
“Delia, how much longer until we reach the capital?” He asked. She looked up and scanned the area before sighing.
“No more that an hour at the same pace, though it doesn’t look like that will be possible now.” She said regretfully. Noah nodded.
“Actually, after the cramped ride, I am feeling ready to stretch my legs. I will pull us the rest of the way and we can place the fallen man with my attendants.” He stated. She looked ready to protest but came up short.
“As you wish, your grace.”
Red or Blue?
