A Regrettable Decision Was Made

Able’s family never got along with him well, a deal with a supplier fell through a few weeks ago, and now he had to deal with a girl.

When he set out on his lonesome and told his father he would make magic happen with or without his support, he never thought he could feel so embarrassed by those words. Accident by accident, the very business he planned to grow was crumbling beneath his fingertips. Why did the nail in the coffin have to happen with the cutest girl imaginable?

Able's grandfather told him twice. That sometimes while the soul flutters, the head hasn't made up its mind yet.

Those words bounced around in Able's head since that very morning. Now that the sun had set, his soul and head’s battle for dominance had a clear, sudden victor.

“To think… I picked up someone so dangerous… hck-”

“Flee,” his mind would say. “Isn’t she breathtaking?!” His soul responded back. Able stood in stunned silence, his hands clenched around a leather bag. A gentle noise- a tinkle, came from the bag, as the heavy coins inside trembled from his shaking fingers.

He could not afford to stay here. Regardless of the situation, the rain and terrible weather told him so.

With a sharp inhale he got up to his feet. His cheek throbbed, but it was a dull noise that his pounding heart seemed to effectively drown out.

His boots were too old, and did little to keep at bay the water that seeped through them, getting his socks uncomfortably wet. Mud caked him from the torso down. An attempt to sprint was made, which resulted in Able sliding across the mud and he nearly tripped over himself.

With a heave of his arms, he tossed the bag of coins into the back of his wagon. The poorly tied ribbon unfoiled, and all the coins scattered throughout the wooden floorboards. If a coin or two fell onto the road below, Able would think nothing of it.

A sound similar to a sonic boom crackled, the floor trembling, and the result was a cascade of flame that arched into the sky. While it made Able’s heart sink, it was still a little ways away. He could spot the light through the underbrush and trees where someone’s encampment was situated. It lit up the night temporarily, and he could see the collapsed forms of various guardsmen littering the road.

“How could you be so reckless?!” Able paused momentarily to stare at the guardsmen, one hand against the bed of his wagon to support him. His mind called out to him, chastising him for his stupid choices. “She was so sweet though! How could I resist?” His soul blasted back, an attempt to defend his stupid actions.

The crackle of light silenced the crickets, as if the forest that encompassed the road was surprised by what Able had brought to ransack it’s surroundings. The forest had treated Able well at this point, the roads safe enough for him to curl up and sleep on his own without much worry. In a few moments, it had become clear to both the forest and Able alike that there are far too many dangers that could ruin all semblance of safety.

A singular black horse, huffed and smacked one front hoof repeatedly through the mud. Able’s chest wrenched as he slid into his seat up in the front of the wagon. For his horse to remain calm enough not to leave him behind, Able was eternally grateful.

“Go… go! I’m on!” Hands on the reins, Able blurted out to his horse. Clearly he wasn’t required to speak, as once Able’s boots smacked the wood, the horse let out its own version of a cry, legs pounding as they broke into a trod, into a run, into a sprint. Forced to drag the wagon along, the horse did its best to run from a noise it couldn’t quite understand.

Able corrected the grey cap on his head before it slid off. The rain that splattered against it made it heavy against his scalp. If it wasn’t for the rain, it would have flown off moments ago. His chest refused to stop the excessive flow of blood through his body. His mind refused to acknowledge the coins that slid across the wagon, bouncing from the sheer force of the horse’s sprint.

The crackle of light came again, accompanied by panicked yells. Swift bolts- three of them, shot diagonally upward. Whoever was facing off against that singular person was completely overwhelmed. Just minutes earlier, Able thought the guards post was overstocked with people on standby. They weren’t enough.

“Why was I so reckless-!”

Sputtering words, Able gripped the reins tighter. He refused to turn on the singular lamp that jangled from his wagon, as if his ex-traveling companion would be able to spot them from their expanding distance.

Never again, would Able do something ‘considerate’ towards some cute girl he just met. He would always second guess them.

“No wonder mother always said meet a farm gi-”

“Haaah, what about your mother? Look at you go~! Very clever, getting the wagon out of harm's way so we can’t be followed…!”

Able’s breath caught in his throat, his head whirled behind him towards the top of his wagon’s bed. Slender legs dangled from a risky perch, hands loosely gripped the edge of the bed to keep balance. With a face mask covering the girl’s mouth, Able watched her eyes. A squint from her cheeks signified a delighted smile had stretched across her face.

“I knew a merchant was a good idea! Hey– you dropped these though,” She held up a pale hand, in between were various golden coins that presumably dropped from the wagon.

Letting out an involuntary cough, Able could not tear his eyes away from the girl.

“Look at her, she’s so adorable!”

“What have I done?”

Whether Able liked it or not, he was now an accomplice to a very dangerous person, and branded a traitor to Aetheris.