Episode 31: Caravan of an entire town

The entire town spent a sleepless night preparing everything to leave. They packed all that they valued, and left what they could afford to leave behind. The peaceful, even joyous town Taro learned to love was now a gathering of murmurs and sad faces

The townsfolk gathered at the town square, they were divided into groups and assigned adventurers, guards, and priests to escort them. Everyone who could fight also carried weapons and whatever equipment they had

Taro, Shizuka, Nagye, Sidra, and Ari were assigned on the same team since they proved great coordination in the forest quest report. They were assigned to protect the first convoy along with the guild secretary, the trio of “professionals”, another priest, and 2 other guards

Taro and the team wore the same equipment they used for their forest journey. People eyed at them, measuring how safe the team could keep them, and felt reassured at how comfortable they looked in their gear, a subtle demonstration of competency

Shizuka: So it's really happening huh?, we really have to go. At least we’re all together

Sidra: sad that our second adventure together has to be an escape from certain death, may the goddess guide us

Ari: I'm glad they put us together. It puts me at ease, I feel at my best with you guys. At first I was a little annoyed that my father put me to protect the first group, the one furthest away from the danger, but after reflecting on the fact that the heroes were defeated, I realize just how naive I was; to think I could fight the Horde

Nagye: so we’re the ones to reach the capital first?, t-that’s a relief

Taro: (I don't feel ready at all. Did I slack off too much?, should I have trained more? or harder?, I learned and did everything I could, yet, I still feel so small)

a hard pat to the back returned him to reality

Ari: Taro, we’re on the safest group, we’ll be alright

Taro: (did I really look that worried?) yez, I just uhh, think, not tough, for Horde

Nagye: (I promised myself I would do my best!) you are strong!. y-you have increased your mana so much ever since I t-taught you. even if you’re not strong like the heroes, a-at least you’re still alive, and still getting stronger, o-one day you’ll surpass them, m-maybe

Sidra: no enemy is invincible, there’s always a way, working together, I’m sure the goddess will help us find a way

Shizuka: you’re all talking like we’re gonna fight the Horde, we’re on the safest group, we won't even have to fight, just a little walk to the capital, I wonder what kind of food they have there hehe

Ari: good idea, let’s go eat something nice when we arrive there, though I don’t know what could it be, I’ve never been there before

Nagye: I’ve just gone a few time with my parents, I really d-didn’t go outside my room, it was just doctors visits

Sidra: I do know the capital, but I don’t know how much things have changed, it's been a long time

Shizuka: woah! I knew you were quite the “ohoho” refined type of girl

Sidra: in fact, I was born in the capital, “ohohoho”

Everyone was surprised about the revelation, and at the same time, not surprised. Her presence, demeanor, and pale blonde hair always gave a faint aura of nobility

guild secretary: if it isn’t my best forager team, so you were assigned to the laziest team huh?. cheer up, we’ll get to the capital in no time, it’s around 3 days of traveling, but nonstop, so get ready heh!

Ari: nonstop?

Shizuka: We'll have to walk while asleep? hehe

guild secretary ha-ha! that would be great, we’ll move on carts towed by our finest busels, and by those, I mean: we are the busels that will be pulling those things, because real busels are expensive hah!

Sidra: some people tow the carts while others rest, and they take turns. I remember traveling like that when I was transferred to this town

guild secretary: exactly. anyway, get ready, you’ll be guarding during the day, when it's easier, the others will be on guard at night, when all the big baddies come out. But don't let your guard down, remember the protocols. We'll be ready to march soon, wait for the signal

The break of dawn was approaching, it had been a full night of preparation. Entire families with their belongings, even little domestic and farm animals were lined up and ready for the journey. A horn was blown, followed by the ringing of bells from all the groups, that was the signal. The entire town mobilized towards the capital

Taro, Nagye, and Shizuka were placed to cover the rear, Ari, Sidra, and the guild secretary were to the front, the other adventurers rested on one of the carts with half of the people, the other half towed the carts. The formation was efficient and strategic.

Shizuka: haaa I'm so nervous, even though I shouldn't, if any monster appears, I’ll just blast it with my new techniques!. as long as they don’t attack by surprise…

Nagye: Perhaps I should fly my bird?, that way we’ll s-see any ambush coming

Shizuka: wonderful idea, ohohoho!, may it be done

Sidra heard that from across the caravan

Sidra: You're a little imp Shizuka!

Shizuka: hehehehe!

Nagye: I’ll check for threats and I-if I see something, you blast them

Shizuka: Sounds like a plan, count on me!

Nagye: b-but I can’t w-walk with my eyes closed, I need help, like I-in the forest…um, T-Taro?

Shizuka: oh true, you need someone to help you walk, here, hold my hand, but we’ll have to intertwine our fingers though hehehe

Nagye: b-but, if you hold my hand, you m-might not be able to react quickly, that's why I thought that T-Taro would be better, b-but I don’t know…

Shizuka: True, I would need both my hands free to show all my power, well then Taro, it's up to you. Don't forget to intertwine your fingers hehehe

Taro: (what is this situation?!) yez, not fingers!, but yez

Taro extended his hand, and Nagye hesitated for a second before holding it, a moment of awkward silence ensued

Shizuka: don't forget to fly your bird, it's not just about the hand holding

Nagye: ah! yeah, sorry, I’m just a little sleepy

Taro: (is it just me, or is she actually nervous to hold my hand? Why did she ask me for this then?, I may not be confident in my attractiveness, but I'm also not as dense as an anime protagonist… could it be that, she wanted to hold my hand?... uh-oh, I'm getting nervous, don't think about it, don't think about it!. I just have to help her walk, we’re just friends, think of it like if you were holding Goro’s hand… on second thought, perhaps not that, but still!)

The first day was uneventful, the caravans advanced without a hitch. People cooked and ate while on the move. Some were sad, even crying, some others were hopeful, and some were even excited to see the capital.

Nagye detected a few monsters observing from among bushes and trees and Shizuka scared them away with her newest and most precise explosive mana. Taro tried to calm down, but holding hands with Nagye all day was something he could not help but think about all day and into the night, it was something that helped them both forget the tension of the journey.

The sun had set and the caravans shifted, the well-rested took charge of the carts, and those who walked and towed all day were now ready to rest. Taro and the girls were upon a familiar situation, they would have to sleep together again

guild secretary: get on the cart, it's time to sleep little pocs ha-ha!

the team got on a cart, next to other tired people who had already laid down

Taro: (I’ve been wondering about so many of these words, I guess the pocs are those animals sleeping on that cart, they look like a fusion of pig and hippo, and they sleep together, just like Ari had said before, I guess a busel is some sort of beast of burden, like a bull or horse. I feel like I’m getting better at this language) hhrok hhrok, I go sleep hhrok

Ari: What was that? haha

Taro: hhrok hhrok, we sleep, like pocs

Sidra: most amusing, “hhrok hhrok”

Shizuka: hhork hhrok, I’ll sleep here, hehe

Shizuka sat to the right of Taro, Sidra was already to the left, Nagye had to sleep next to Ari like the last arrangements in the forest. They were all tired so they fell asleep easily.

The bells rang in the middle of the night, those who were sleeping jolted awake, ready to fight. Taro and the girls got in formation quickly, but saw no fighting

Ari: what happened? where’s the enemies?

tall priest: the secretary saw something

guild secretary: I’m sure I saw it, it can’t fool my eye, it was a flying creature, trying to pass as invisible with its dark colors against the night sky.

short guy: the bruo…

spear guy: shut up man, don’t jinx it!

guild secretary: It wasn't a bruo, it was something else, someone go report this to the guild master, quickly!

Everyone returned to their positions, but later into the night, the bells rang once more

Ari: huh? Did the old man see something again?

tall priest: enemies! orsos inbound!! orsos inbound!!

a band of aggressive orsos were being picked one by one by the coordinated efforts of the experienced adventurers. The trio of slouch adventurers finally had their time to shine, ganging up on each orso at a time in a display of tactical and technical proficiency.

spear guy: time to show you monsters why we’re called professionals hehehe!

short guy: you know the drill gentlemen!

shield guy: your last mistake was running into us hiohiohio!

Taro was surprised to see such out of shape men jumping and dodging around so effortlessly, strategically attacking the legs, then slaying the orsos who could no longer stand up. some orsos managed to avoid the trio, and met a flurry of sharp projectiles that exploded after penetrating their tough hide

Shizuka: whew, that worked better than I expected, I guess I really am a genius

the 2 other guards engaged another orso, and the guild secretary fought an orso alone. it was a battle of titans, with the secretary rising as the victor

guild secretary: I feel bad for waking everyone up with the bells heheh, but it’s just protocol, don’t blame me, the protocol is important, threat neutralized, we may advance, who must sleep may sleep!

It was a rough night to sleep for Taro and the girls, who not only woke up twice to the bells, but were also trying to sleep in an uncomfortably hard and jumpy cart