"But do you know where she is now? The poster says the last time she was seen injured was in the West Forest," Fasar asked. He folded his arms across his chest with a skeptical look.
Kilasafi chuckled softly. "You underestimate me."
"What kind of question is that, Fasar. Of course, he knows. He is her boyfriend!" Rezak exclaimed. He waved his hand in the air with a dramatized gesture.
Rezak then changed his voice to a fake high pitch. "She probably messaged him like 'oh no baby I'm injured help me here. Kyaaa let's become criminals together!'."
"Oh shit you're right, Rezak. You're right," Fasar said while shaking his head slowly. The corner of his lips lifted into a mocking smile.
Kilasafi's jaw hardened slightly. A fine vein showed on his temple.
"F-FUCK YOU."
He exhaled a long breath to calm his emotions. "Yeah yeah whatever."
Kilasafi's face turned serious again. His gaze was sharp staring at the map on the table. "She likely returned to her home after being injured like that. And hmm I'm sure the place is on the mountain where I found her back then."
"How long to get to that mountain, Kilasafi?" asked Claura. She tilted her head slightly, her gold earring glistening in the sunlight from the window.
"Hmm." Kilasafi tapped his chin. His eyes gazed at the ceiling. "From here about seven hours walking."
"Seven hours?! Walking?! Hell no!" Rezak shouted. His eyes bulged in horror. "Listen buddy. I'm already lazy to walk plus seven hours? No no no no!"
Claura sighed heavily. Her shoulders dropped. "Carrying a bag that heavy for seven hours is kinda agh. Plus we might meet monsters."
"Tch," Kilasafi hissed. He stared at them with a sharp gaze. "Hey it's not monster season now. Don't be dramatic. Want to be rich or not? Just walk. It's quite an adventure while seeing nature."
Claura glanced at Rezak who looked reluctant and lazy. Her lover's face was already pale imagining the long journey. After that she looked back at Kilasafi.
"Why not rent a carriage, Kilasafi?"
"No money. Expensive," Kilasafi answered briefly. His voice was flat without emotion.
He looked at Rezak and Fasar alternately. "Want to chip in? 20 gold coins each?"
"Wait let me check my remaining money this month," Fasar said. He reached into the pocket of his dull pants. His hand fumbled inside the fabric.
"Y-yeah I'll check my remaining money too," Rezak said, who was also checking his remaining money. His face grimaced as his fingers only touched the fabric fibers of the pocket.
Claura held Rezak's hand and smiled gently. Her gaze was calming. "No need darling."
"H-huh?" Rezak was confused. His eyebrows furrowed.
Claura looked at Kilasafi with a relaxed gaze. "I'll cover the cost."
Fasar, Rezak, and Kilasafi were shocked. Their eyes widened. Rezak's mouth opened slightly.
"W-what no my love no need to bother n-" Rezak said. He smiled awkwardly while scratching the back of his head.
Instantly Fasar and Kilasafi stared at him sharply. Their gaze seemed to want to swallow Rezak alive.
Rezak fell silent and swallowed his saliva roughly. His Adam's apple moved up and down.
Claura laughed lightly. Her voice was crisp filling the narrow room. She rubbed Rezak's hair gently. "Never mind it's okay darling."
"I'm also lazy to walk and I know you're poor right now."
Rezak flinched slightly hearing the last words. His awkward smile froze. He nodded stiffly.
"Uh yeah."
Kilasafi smiled faintly. Very faintly. "Are you sure? 80 gold coins you know."
"Uhm yeah we can chip in too. No need for all from you," Fasar chimed in. He tried to maintain his pride although his voice sounded doubtful.
"No need. I know you guys are poor too," Claura said with a sincere faint smile on her face.
Thump.
Claura's words seemed to pierce into the deepest souls of Kilasafi and Fasar. The reality of poverty hit them hard without mercy.
"Hm yeah yeah if you insist Yaya," Fasar said. He looked away towards the window, avoiding eye contact.
"Thank you," Kilasafi said softly. He looked down slightly hiding his embarrassment.
"Hmm hmm." Claura nodded in satisfaction.
The sun shone brightly overhead. The clear blue sky stretched cloudless. A fairly luxurious wooden horse carriage stopped in front of the inn. Its wheels were coated with sturdy iron. Two dashing brown horses snorted softly while stomping their feet.
Kilasafi sat in the coachman's seat. The horse reins were in his grasp. Next to him sat Fasar with a sour face.
Kilasafi urged the horses forward. The carriage wheels began to turn crushing the cobblestone street.
"Why don't you sit in the back?" Kilasafi asked without turning. His eyes focused on the road.
"Agh seeing their lovey-dovey stuff? No thank you man," Fasar shook his head vigorously.
Inside the rear cabin.
Claura leaned on Rezak's shoulder spoiledly. Her eyes closed enjoying the gentle swaying of the carriage. Her arms wrapped around Rezak's arm.
Rezak reflexively rubbed Claura's head. His face flushed happily but there was a hint of guilt in his eyes.
"Thank you and sorry for troubling you again," Rezak said softly.
"Your presence by my side is enough darling," Claura murmured softly. "This is nothing."
"This is nothing."
Their carriage slowed down then stopped.
In front of the high and sturdy city gate, two armored guards crossed their spears. Their faces were covered by iron helmets.
"Purpose?" asked one of the guards with a heavy voice.
Kilasafi smiled faintly. His face was calm.
"Vacation."
He then took a small pouch containing several gold coins from his vest pocket and handed it to the guard. The clinking sound of precious metal was clearly heard.
The guard weighed the pouch for a moment then nodded. Spears were lifted.
"Enjoy your vacation."
Street dust began to fly behind the carriage wheels. The afternoon wind hit Kilasafi and Fasar's faces, fluttering their slightly messy hair.
"Imagine how many criminals escape that way.." Fasar broke the silence between the two of them. His voice was almost swallowed by the sound of horse hooves. He looked back, staring at the shrinking city gate with a cynical gaze.
"Yeah in any world such things must exist...." Kilasafi replied. He shrugged indifferently, his eyes remaining focused staring at the cobblestone road ahead without any burden.
"But well..besides that, that woman Claura...she was willing to throw her life away like that and join us..."
"Yeah.. it seems Rezak did something masterful that she could love him that deeply..." Fasar said. He shook his head slowly with a face full of wonder, then glanced briefly at the cabin curtain behind them.
Fasar was silent for a moment. He looked back at his friend's side profile. "Are you sure about this Kilasafi,"
"Yes," Kilasafi answered briefly.
Fasar was silent. His eyes looked at the vast expanse of green meadow on the side of the road,
"We could die quickly. Our lives won't be peaceful and maybe a normal life will feel like a dream."
"I'm ready for that," Kilasafi answered. He didn't turn even a bit. His gaze was straight and sharp to the horizon, hands holding the reins steadily.
"You don't know how lucky we are to be isekai'd like this Fasar."
"Don't waste it."
Kilasafi took a long breath, inhaling the scent of wet earth and dry grass carried by the wind.
"We have to live life as crazily as possible here. Don't be like on Earth."
Kilasafi smiled faintly. "And what do we live for if our daily life is just hoping to survive hmm?"
Fasar's pupils dilated slightly. Those words seeped into his mind, hitting his logic. He laughed lightly then leaned his back against the wooden backrest of the coachman's seat relaxedly.
"Well you have a point."
The journey continued without many words.
The sun slowly descended from its peak. The bright blue sky slowly changed color.
They passed a winding path between green hills. A clear river flowed on the side of the road reflecting the glittering afternoon sunlight. Large trees stood sturdy in the distance.
Time passed.
The sky was now burning orange and purple. The sun set right behind the large mountains in front of them. The mountain peak became a majestic and mysterious black silhouette, like a sleeping giant.
Kilasafi pulled the reins, directing the horse carriage into a small path towards the dense forest at the foot of the mountain.
The twilight orange light broke through the gaps in the old tree leaves, creating dramatic long shadows on the forest floor. The air temperature dropped drastically. The cold air began to pierce the skin, and thin white vapor began to come out of the horses' breath.
Kilasafi narrowed his eyes, feeling the change in air pressure around him.
"We're almost there... she should be able to feel my presence already."