Xavier's head peeked out from the velvet curtains that hung over a pristine wooden carriage's windows. He looked at the path behind them, then at the path ahead. He quickly retracted himself back into the cabin of the carriage and looked at his friends.
Stephan was asleep. Obnoxiously so. His snores filled the air with an ear-bleeding heaviness. Bruce was hunched over with his face in his hands, doing his best to tune out the sounds of the sleeping Stephan. Xavier's eyes were narrow with his eyebrows caving in. He was clearly at the end of his thread with the noise.
Right as Xavier cracked his knuckles and readied his fist, the carriage hopped over a slight bump. Stephan's snores were quickly cut off as he sat up abruptly. He blinked a few times before rubbing his eyes and releasing an extensive yawn.
"Ahhh... That sleep was great! Oh, good morning to you two!" Stephan stretched his arms above his head.
Xavier quickly sat himself down, acting as if he wasn't going to bring the might of ten thousand suns upon Stephan while he was asleep. He cleared his throat and aggressively rubbed his face, "Yeah, good morning, Stephan."
Stephan sat back against the cabin walls and began stretching his legs.
Bruce stood up and peeked through the cabin's back window, "You looked out the side window earlier, right? How's the road ahead look?" He tilted his head slightly after turning to look at Xavier, who returned his gaze.
"Well, there's a small patch of forest up ahead. Or one that looks small from the angle I saw it from. We've been traveling for a few days at this point, so I guess that it's just on the other side of those woods, maybe?"
"Couldn't you check the system map?" Stephan chimed in. He was now standing and stretching his back.
"I was thinking about it during this trip, and... I would rather not rely on the system too much. To me, it feels like it dulls the fun and explorative parts of the journey. I'll use it decently often, of course, but I don't want to rely on it for small things like this."
"Stubborn much..." Stephan finished stretching and finally sat back down to relax.
"At least I didn't almost get blown up by a rabbit..." Xavier crossed his arms and turned to look out the window behind him.
"How was I supposed to know it would fly up like a helicopter using its ears, and then just randomly explode like a time bomb!?"
Bruce was still standing and looking through the cabin's back window, but now one of his hands was covering his face as he tried his best not to break out into maniacal laughter.
━━━
The previous day and night had passed by. The sun was now beating overhead directly in the center of the sky, letting the people of the world know that it was just around noon. Xavier, Stephan, and Bruce hopped out from the cabin of an expensive-looking carriage and onto the dirt road. Ahead of them was a new sight of the new world for them to behold.
A sturdy stone wall, worn by time yet standing firm, encircled much of the settlement, with a pair of iron-reinforced wooden gates standing open to receive travelers. Guards clad in polished yet practical armor were keeping watch, their sharp eyes scanning the influx of merchants, adventurers, and townsfolk going about their day. They had arrived in Mesios.
Beyond the gates, the town was humming with life. Cobbled streets wind through the heart of the town, flanked by half-timbered buildings with tiled roofs, their banners and shop signs swaying gently in the breeze. The scent of fresh bread, sizzling meats, and the earthy aroma of alchemical herbs filled the air, mingling with the occasional whiff of smoke from a distant forge.
Xavier hummed in awe, "This place is nice..."
Stephan let out a whistle while nodding, and Bruce stood in silence.
Xavier turned to face his friends and sighed, "We should get this wood delivered..."
He walked around to the front of the carriage and gestured to the elderly driver to continue into town, "This is our first delivery, so I trust you to get us to the buyer."
The driver gave a nod, which Xavier returned, and then flicked the reins for the lizard-like creatures to continue moving. The trio climbed back into the cabin quickly and sat down to wait once more.
A few minutes later, the carriage came to another halt, and a knocking noise sounded throughout the cabin. The trio exited from the back of the cabin and hopped onto the dirt roads of Mesios.
Now that they were deeper into the town, they got a much better look at the innards of it. In the distance, the town's central plaza marked the intersection of Mesios' main roads, where a weathered yet majestic statue of a warrior with a greatsword stood. Just beyond, a grand yet fortified building loomed over the street. There was a fanciful sign above the doorway labeling the building as the "Bank of Mesios."
They seemed to be in the center of an area where it transitioned between a market and a residential district. Considering the time of day, they weren't too surprised to see how active the commercial area currently was. The street was lively. Traders bargaining for bundles of herbs and pelts, finely crafted weapons and armor, enchanted trinkets, and exotic spices from distant lands. Townsfolk were haggling with merchants while adventurers inspected gear, their weapons slung over their backs or hanging from their belts.
The trio turned back to the carriage and began to help with unloading the elderwood. The man they were delivering to resembled the stereotypical lumberjack. He was no older than 40 with a larger stature. His short, but neat, brown hair was complemented by the noticeable stubble lining his chiseled face.
After the wood was unloaded and neatly stacked by the side of the man's wooden cabin, he handed a jingling bag to Xavier.
"3 platinum crowns and 10 golden suns. It should all be in there." The man's voice was grizzly and confident, but there was a hint of warm kindness to be noticed as well.
Xavier thanked the man and then the driver of the carriage before the trio set out to explore the town of Mesios in full.