The wagon kept moving forward, its wheels rattling in an even rhythm as it traveled across the road.
Martha sat with Derek nestled in her lap. She steadied him every time a rut jolted the wagon. But Derek was busy enjoying the scenery passing by, like Arthur and Daisy. He, too, wanted to lean out slightly while pressing his body against the chassis and enjoy the view like them, but Martha wouldn't let him.
"Wow! Look at that!" Daisy cried, pointing toward the river that flowed beside the road. A big fish had leapt from the water and splashed back in with a quick flip of its tail.
Martha caressed Derek's head gently and said, "Don't lean out too far, Arthur, Daisy. Otherwise, you might fall."
"Yes, Mother," they both replied in unison.
The rest of the journey passed without trouble, but Martha couldn't shake away the memory of the bandit ambush. The thought of what could have happened still lingered heavily in her chest.
Rudeous noticed the look on her face and immediately knew what she was thinking.
"Don't dwell on it," he said quietly. "Life isn't a bed of roses. It's normal to face a few bumps along the way. Just be glad we're safe, and nothing worse happened."
Martha looked at her husband, then gave a soft, polite smile. Slowly, she tried to shake off the tension from her shoulders.
Soon they passed through a mountainous region, followed by a long stretch of open fields on either side. At last, a densely populated area began to rise on the horizon. It looked crowded, packed with countless buildings that stretched as far as the eye could see on both sides.
This was the city, the capital of Arcadia, Solvane. People flocked here from every corner of the kingdom: some in search of work, others for training, and many for trade. Merchants came to sell their goods, and travelers arrived to buy things that could not be found in any other town or village of Arcadia.
After another thirty minutes, they finally reached the city's entrance.
A massive wall enclosed the entire settlement, towering high above the ground. There were three gates—each one on a different side of the city. The one before them was the central gate, a towering double door of iron. It was being guarded by eight heavily armed men.
They looked strong and disciplined. Seven carried blades and spears, while the last one nearest to the gate held a staff. So he was a mage, and the rest were most likely aurans.
The wagon stopped a short distance from the gate. Rudeous stepped down and walked toward the guards.
The man with the staff, who had been standing at the rear, immediately broke into a wide grin the moment he spotted Rudeous. He strode forward. "Where have you been hiding, Rudeous? Being the keeper head of the village, the pressure must be catching up to you, isn't it?"
Before Rudeous could even answer, the man closed the distance and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Rudeous chuckled as he returned the hug. "Not at all. Didn't I tell you before? We were waiting for our new family member. After my third child was born, I thought it better to stay back for Martha's sake… and, of course, for the baby too. That's why I didn't come sooner."
Releasing him, the mage kept his smile and waved warmly toward the wagon. "Martha! How are you?" He, along with Rudeous, walked back to the wagon.
"I'm fine," Martha replied with a smile. "And you, Oliver? And what about Juliana and Sandy too?"
"I'm well, and so are they. But first things first... where is my new little nephew?" Oliver walked closer to Martha, leaning in to peek at Derek. His grin widened. "Ah, there he is. Already handsome at this age, I see."
Then he turned toward Arthur and Daisy, pretending to pout. "What's this? Have you two already forgotten your uncle now that you've got a new baby brother?"
"Of course not, Uncle Oliver!" both children said excitedly.
"How is Sandy? Is she going to take the Hunter Academy test next year?" Daisy asked quickly.
"Ah, she's doing well," Oliver replied with a proud smile. "I've arranged for a hunter to train her, so she'll be ready for the exam next year. And what about you? Have you started training under any veteran healer yet?"
She nodded with a wide grin. Just one glance at her was enough to tell how happy she was.
Oliver was one of Rudeous's old friends, once a comrade in arms. Their families remained close even after those days. His wife's name was Juliana, and their daughter, Sandy, was the same age as Daisy.
Oliver shot Rudeous a knowing look and smirked. "Every time you visit the city, you rush off the very same day. Not this time. Tonight, you're staying, and no excuses. We'll sit, talk, laugh a little, and let the night slip by. Juliana has been nagging me for days, saying she misses you all."
Rudeous opened his mouth to decline, but the thought of the day's ordeal made him pause. They had been through too much already. Perhaps a quiet evening among friends would ease the weight on everyone's shoulders. Arthur and Daisy were still brimming with energy, but Martha… she deserved a moment of peace. "Alright."
"Fantastic. Let's get going." Oliver's face brimmed with joy.
Waving his hand, Rudeous then signaled the coachman. The coachman tightened the reins, and the wagon began to move forward slowly toward the towering gate. Rudeous and Oliver walked side by side until they stood before the line of guards.
Oliver stepped closer, his staff tapping lightly against the stone. "Sean, can you please call for another mage to take my place?" he asked politely. "I'll speak with the guard chief myself and ask for the day off. I have some guests I need to attend to."
The guard smiled and nodded respectfully. "No problem, sir. You go ahead and leave it to me."
Oliver gave a grateful nod, then returned with Rudeous. Both climbed back into the wagon, and together they passed through the iron gates as they were opened.
On the other side, Solvane burst into life. The streets were packed with stalls draped in bright cloth, merchants shouting their prices, and the aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread swirling through the air. Smiths hammered in the distance, sparks flying, while children raced each other through the crowd, their laughter ringing above the chaos.
Arthur and Daisy clung to the edge of the wagon, eyes wide with wonder. Derek too, was absorbed by the lively sights, his small head turning quickly from one spectacle to another. But then, his gaze froze.
Amidst the bustle, a girl, no more than six or seven, slipped through the crowd.
Derek's chest tightened. 'The resemblance, it's undeniable.' His thoughts raced.
'It's her for sure. After passing all the burdens to me, she sure seems carefree, wandering around happily.'
It was her. Vanessa Lamperouge.