Chapter 5 Part 2: Ambush

Crossing the border had been a quiet procedure. The silence from every child as they were shuffled across was unnerving.

“Alright everyone, let’s move out!” Amalie said once the last knight and chosen had crossed.

Jun and Mei returned to the carriage, their unease intensified by the alert guards. Mei grumbled about her interrupted sleep as they entered and Jun ignored her complaints as the caravan began to move. A knock on the door startled them from their stupor. He pushed back the curtain to see Amalie, grinning away like she always did.

“Letting you know that we will be reaching Port Alinta in a few days,” she said, barging in. Jun corrected himself. This was her carriage they were riding in. It took him a moment to digest what she said.

“Alinta…” Jun grappled with all the discussions Amalie had subjected them to.

“Hey, isn’t the name of the guy who rules over Nauthire?”

“A title is more accurate,” Amalie smirked. Mei had been won over too easily. “But the port was named Alinta before Nauthire became a nation.” She raised an eyebrow as she looked to him. Jun rolled his eyes. Yes, he liked learning about things like this. But her direct observation left an unsavory flavor in his mouth.

“It’s supposed to be reserved to those who have seen the face of the Silver Flame, but the church over there bestows the title to the ruler when a true Alinta isn’t present. But enough said.

I came to let you know that since this company is so large, it’ll take a few days to load everyone onto the ships. We’ll have you guys wait till near the end before loading your things on board.”

“Didn’t we just cross the border?” Mei spoke up.

“I’ll have to get you a map sometime…” Amalie’s enthusiasm was infectious. “The border is pretty close to the port. We’ll have you guys camp outside the city while you wait your turn.”

“Outside the city?” Mei asked. Jun wanted to stop this. She was being led along so well. He cast Amalie a glare which sobered up Mei.

“Hey now, I know you’re curious,” Amalie teased. “It’s pretty simple. Trying to find lodging for everyone would be a nightmare. And, it’s not like we have a bad relationship with Alinta, but the merchants tend to get a bit eager when we show up.”

Mei looked on confused. Jun sighed. It was one of the things she would come to learn about had she gotten older on earth.

“Price gouging,” he muttered. Mei’s eyes grew wide.

The two girls continued on with their chat till it died down. Jun watched as Amalie hesitated, her eyes hoping for them to say something. She rose and started to excuse herself.

“Oh, Amalie? Why are the guards so tense?” Mei asked, looking outside. Amalie paused and then closed the carriage door. Her smile that she gave made Jun shiver.

“So you noticed…”

“Before the border,” Jun added. Amalie’s fists formed—a sign she disliked whatever she was going to say.

“Not everyone is keen about the Chosen. While many support our endeavors, others see you guys as potential threats. If someone becomes a Silver Alinta, for example, they could shape entire nations. The easiest way to prevent that is to attack you all before you can properly defend yourselves.”

Mei harrumphed while she sat beside Jun. Amalie chuckled at her reaction.

“Of course, you two are more like an exception. You grew up in a home with an exceptional teacher, but that is not true for most of these chosen.” Eyes drifted outward as they looked at knights handing out food. Seeing their malnourished faces light up in delight before settling on the ground had broken Mei. Jun was more aware of it, but remained strong.

Amalie sighed, her smile shifting in pain. Then steely eyes met theirs.

“We also received a warning.” She sat back, folding her arms. “A few days ago, when we passed through the last city, we received an anonymous letter. It claimed that the chosen needed to suffer for their crimes and the folly of their progenitors.”

“A threat,” Jun reiterated. Amalie nodded.

“I trust you two to take care of yourselves, which is why I am giving you this warning. That said, I won’t have the guards or knights help you in a crisis. Well, at least not initially. So keep your wits about.”

Jun frowned.

“So you were going to leave without informing us of something so crucial?”

“Ha! If you hadn’t said anything, it meant you were oblivious and needed more protection. Honestly I’m proud of you two. Your training and diligence is better than most your age. Wish I had been more like you when I was young.”

Jun remained silent as she excused herself. He groaned once she was safely out of earshot.

“Hey old man, that’s high praise. Shouldn’t we be proud, excited?”

“No. It means that we are going to have to fend for ourselves.”

“But… that’s what we have been doing.”

“This is still a foreign world. The dangers could be something we have no clue about. I mean look at the pack animals. Do they look like horses?” he asked. He had been trying to ignore it, but those beasts were nothing like the animals back on earth. He wouldn’t describe them as so alien that they had six legs and antenna—just feathers and scales. If anything they resembled some gryphon without wings.

If even the tamable animals looked like this, he didn’t want to image where their food came from or if there were magical beasts that could be called monsters. Humans were already scary enough to deal with. Not to mention that this world was archaic. If any beasts hunted like wolves or had the strength of bears, they’d be in danger.

Mei grew still. Her eyes averted and he shook his head. He had his suspicions, but it was likely she had already encountered a monster, back when she used to go out and play ‘ninja’.

“They likely won’t let the wildlife harm us.” His gaze softened. “But even you learned about history back on earth. Human danger presents more variables.”

“As if we weren’t used to it now,” Mei huffed. He offered a ‘sorry’. He couldn’t prevent all the attacks from the Matriarch, but he had tried to shelter her from it. He had his childhood, and it was good. He just wished she could have had a longer one.

The silence grew till Mei left. Jun closed his eyes and meditated. Sleep would come eventually, but meditation was like a prayer and he wanted to explore his healing-like abilities before sleeping.

The following days were stressful. Jun remained close to Mei in case something occurred.

They arrived at Port Alinta with barely a squabble. Mei leaned out of the carriage door, her soulless eyes catching sight of the things he couldn’t see. Her deep breaths ushered in the salty air. Jun watched through parted curtains. Buildings rose on either side—tucked inside a thick wall. Nothing rose higher than four stories, but in this world, it was still impressive.

Alabaster white marble with silver veins decorated the most impressive buildings. Anything else was made with a grey, white-washed wood. It was a real hotpot of cultures, even the people’s clothes were made to impress, instead of survive. In the distance, an ornate temple rose. Sprawling serpents and silver gilded flames decorated it, reminding him of Oranalas. In another direction, the buildings reminded him of Rome and Egypt.

However, as they drew closer to the port, the buildings gained cohesion. The location resembled english style architecture—eighteenth century, butted end to end. The few alleys were dark and foreboding.

It suddenly opened to an open air market. People stayed back, waiting for their turn to sneak around the carriages. The air stirred and Jun breathed in the scent. Produce, fish, salt. It was so foreign to his land-locked past. Mei shivered and dived back inside.

“It’s too bright,” she lamented. “People here are like looking at the sun.” Her description startled him and he took another look outside. Mei hadn’t even described Amalie like that. Were they in danger?

As if an answer, the silver flame tickled his right ear.

‘Danger. Look out. Get out!’ He stiffened and then grabbed Mei’s hand, shoving the carriage door open.

As they jumped, a loud explosion reverberated nearby. Daggers appeared in her hands. With his sword in his left, they gathered information. Mei grunted, squinting against the heat. Jun offered a prayer, muttering under his breath—eyes darting. Two assailants charged at them—gantlets flashing. They came in fast. Jun backed off while Mei moved out. Neither wanted to strike the other by accident. His mind rapidly processed information—the distance of his attacker, the buildings around them, where he was being driven to. He stopped before backing into a wall. The attacker flashed a snide grin, glaring at him like cornered prey. Jun waited, shifting his sword to protect the openings in his stance.

The attacker charged. Jun brought the sword low, raising the hilt. The attack blocked, he shifted to the right—feeling his wrist give under the weight. A second hand would have been nice right now. Dancing to the side, he avoided another attack before pulling the sword around. A crunch, an air-full gasp—the attack had struck true. The assailant toppled while Jun flicked the blade. He jerked at the sound of a shout—eyes finding Mei who finished her opponent from behind.

He forced a smile. Her speed was incredible. Noticing his stares, she bounded over. seeing the scratches and rips in her clothes, he cast his gaze about.

After making sure the chaos was moving away from them, he came close—right hand gripped at the wrist, and placed it on her shoulder. Channeling the prayer he had accumulated, her checked her veins. Poison. Not deadly, just paralyzing. She had fought under this? He forced it to burn up and then multiplied her cells, closing off the wounds. The blood stopped and she shrugged, checking her mobility.

“Heh, thanks old man.”

Jun ignored her remark. Their gazes turned to the larger battlefield. A light burned the sky, blinding him. When he could see again he spotted Amalie on top of the roofs. White balls of light appeared around her, shooting away and chasing down her targets. The knights charged.

When a knight approached them, Jun eased his guard. The fight was over, lasting close to a minute, but still enough to get blood pounding. Pain poured from his left wrist and he circulated the prayer, mending torn muscles.

The carriage had crumbled in that attack. Their bags were among the rubble. While a few men helped them gather their things, Amalie approached. Her eyes flicked to the two deceased, discarded on the side, before a proud smile greeted them.

“I heard you took care of your attackers. Well done.”

Jun remained silent. He didn’t want to think of the feeling as his blade entered his opponent. He understood it was them or him, but he didn’t like it. Amalie’s smile softened seeing their expressions.

“Could you… turn it off?” Mei grumbled. Jun realized she was squinting. Amalie seemed confused as he sensed the heat radiate from her, far more intense than what she had exuded in the carriage.

“Your prayers. It’s too bright for her,” Jun supplied as Amalie looked to him. He stood in between the two and Amalie smirked.

“Wait, she can see prayer? What about-“

Jun cut her off, shaking his head in answer. Amalie’s brows knitted before her fingers pinched the bridge of her nose. The heat dissipated and Mei sighed in relief.

“You two have a lot of explaining to do,” Amalie huffed. Her imposing stance left no room to argue.