We moved toward the Zero Ice region. The carriage was moving with complete smoothness and an eerie silence. As we approached the edge of the forest, someone was tracking us.
"Is that you, little hero? Here your journey ends. That was all," the man who fired a lightning arrow at the carriage announced. The arrow descended, shattering the carriage cover, struck the driver, pierced the horse, and the carriage stopped. The man walked to the carriage and saw that the arrow had hit the driver. Then he smiled.
"If you knew we were chasing you, little hero—" Four other people dropped down from the trees. "I applaud your idea: to be the driver and try to trick us. But unfortunately, look at yourself—you're covered in blood. What is that? A doll that looks like him?"
"How is that possible? It didn't escape our eyes even for a second—how?" From among the trees, in a fraction of a second, a blade tied to a rope pierced the neck of the one speaking, then was pulled back and vanished among the trees again, producing a faint gleam each time its owner moved.
"What was that? Did you see it?"
They edged backward. "Good, Sir Knight—shall we move?"
"Come on," Andria heard a faint voice and then stopped.
"Hey old man, shall I talk to you while we walk?"
"No, I don't want to talk to you now."
"What's wrong?"
"Someone is following us."
"Someone is following us?"
"There's no time—we don't know why they're following us. Can you read his thoughts?"
"No. I can't read his thoughts if I don't see the person."
"Then there's no other option: you two hide in the carriage and you'll fall to the ground, while I drive. But I need a place full of dense-branch trees. If we head north we'll find it."
"Good, then let's go."
"He's changing direction—he knows we're chasing him. It seems the fun of the hunt will increase." While Andria was driving the carriage when he found a suitable spot he slowed down. When he felt power gathering in one place, he took out a doll made in his likeness that the merchant had made using his power, got down from the carriage, and let the horse go because he knew the way—where was he going?—and he dismounted.
Back to the present: "So you knew about us? But how?"
"I heard your footsteps because I possess a sixth sense."
"I can't tell them that when I was in my original world I didn't sleep—I trained myself to have the body asleep and the heart awake and my senses alert, out of fear of the police or the gangs that chase me. So how did you sense the lightning?"
"You don't possess any power that lets you sense mana. That's easy—you don't have to sense it, you absorb it. True, we only absorb something almost nonexistent, but if we focus on the positive thing, it's sensing the remaining mana and who was collecting it. Yes, that's why you sensed it."
"Congratulations on what you did—this is an achievement for you. But unfortunately, by revealing yourself now you are inevitably dead. We'll see who will die." Someone attacked him, but in a second something sharp pierced his skull. "Is this what you use—fundo? Interesting. Not just a fundo, it also has a wind stone. I think I underestimated you more than I should have. Now the second round begins—come on, come at me." Andria attacked them using the fundo. The fight intensified until he killed them, except their leader. "Good, now you two can go out."
"Finally—we almost died. What if you two were inside the carriage—how didn't you die?"
"Simply because you targeted the surface and the front of the carriage, while we were farther away, thanks to my daughter who sensed the direction of the arrow."
"Leave that—we want to know who sent that person after us. Let me read his thoughts to know."
"Yes, that's a good idea."
"Better than any idea that comes out of your skull."
"Why are you like this? You almost killed us with your schemes."
"I'm sorry."
"Your apology is unacceptable. What's wrong with this little one?"
"It's okay—my daughter is always like that. Will you calm down?"
"Nothing."
"What do you mean by 'nothing'? About the person who sent them?"
"He was hired in a tavern and agreed because he had money with him."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. He accepted the mission because he wanted the money."
"How much did you get?"
"Three hundred silver coins."
"Three—gold pieces?"
"Give them to me."
"Here, I think I'll take them myself—ah, here they are. Consider them a tax for sparing your life."
"Haha, I can't believe I haven't changed when it comes to loving money. Who's the fool who does this?"
"Ahem—what about us? Our carriage is damaged and the horse—we need compensation."
"Thanks to me you're still alive—on my account, the carriage and the goods were damaged."
"How much is the price?"
"Two hundred and fifty silver coins."
"You're joking with me."
"No, why not make it two hundred and finish the matter?" The little girl raised her eyebrow. "Keep fifty coins with me."
"No, you have nothing left."
"Hey, this is my money."
"No, that's my money. We will use it to bring food to those who live in the Zero region."
"How will fifty coins feed a whole village? Tell me, because we will put the two hundred and fifty with them. True, the food will be less, but it will at least fill them a little, and especially the Ice Captain—don't worry, they certainly are not waiting for you to feed them. Of course, the Ice Knights bring food, but extra is better."
"You are really kind."
"Of course I am too—unlike some. Do you mean me and no one else?"
"So how will we set off without a carriage?"
"We'll walk. There's a village nearby, about three kilometers from here. Can you walk that distance?"
"I'm not old like you."
"What, I'm eighteen—still in the prime of my youth. Won't your feet get tired?"
"Yes, then am I old or my daughter— I also can't walk all that distance."
"Don't worry, father—I have a solution. Look at that paper the deputy Ice Captain gave you."
"Yes, we will send it and walk until it arrives."
"That's a good idea, but how will it arrive? It's just a piece of paper."
"Of course, an idiot like you didn't understand. Even if I explained it you wouldn't get it, so I'll show you practically: first, we press with mana so that the paper transforms into the shape we want, then there is a mark on it that carries power to its bearer. After that, we lift the shape and it will take care of the rest. Understood?"
"No, you idiot—no, you're the idiot. I have no magic, so you fail and are stupid."
Andria sat beside a tree, lamenting himself, but someone was watching from a distance. "So you failed your trap?"
"What do you say? It hasn't started yet. Those mercenaries were only at level one; they're nothing compared to what I wanted. I wanted them to go toward the forest and then the mountain—they will find a special surprise there. Let me guess—other people?"
"No—silver ice monsters. They don't eat only evil; they even eat each other when needed and are very aggressive. But there's a more refreshing part—I'll leave it to you. When Andria arrives, be ready—I'll make you taste terror."