The Teddy Bear's Journey Begins

Philia and Ansel were busy loading up the horses they would take. As it is funded by the royal family itself, the horses were of excellent pedigree and age. They were given magical bags to store any heavier objects...but the one bag that mattered the most was an ordinary leather bag meant to carry Benny out of sight. As for why he wasn't put into the magical bags...well...Let's just say the first attempt didn't end very well.

"It's dark! I don't like this! It's scary ! Let me out! Please let me out!"

"I'm amazed..." Ansel looked at the cloth bag as it is wiggling about. "So that's what it looks like when a living thing could be put inside..."

"I'm more amazed that it can actually scream in there..." Philia opened the bag and she reached it. She released a mildly startled scream when something wrapped around her wrist. "It's unnerving having something alive move and grab you..."

"Wuuu...!" Benny is using its hands to cover its button eyes...it is clear it is crying, but no tears fell. "Wuuu...! Wuuuu! You're all mean bullies...!"

"Yes, yes, we won't put you back in the magic bag..."

"It'd be safer for it to go into the magic bag. It has safety features to ensure it won't get stolen..."

"No!" Benny shook its entire body and head. "I don't want to go inside of the bag again! It's dark and scary!"

"But it's a magic bag! It's magic!"

"I don't care about magic! It's scary! You go in there if you want to go in there!"

"A living person can't go inside of the bag."

"I don't like you! Why would you put me in there then?!"

"You're not actually alive!"

"Waaaaaaahhhhhh!"

Benny had run off and went to Elizabeth's room...and went to hide underneath her bed. Everyone from the handmaidens to the queen dowager herself was surprised...and it took almost an entire afternoon to coax it out. Philia was forced to apologize for being mean to Benny...which she didn't understand as Benny is just a doll.

"Benny is a sensitive child. It knows nothing about the world and will depend on both you and Ansel." Benny is sitting on Elizabeth's lap, its back to Philia. Elizabeth gently patted Benny's head. "You cannot think of Benny as a mere object."

"That would be difficult, your majesty."

"..."

"Still, if it is your orders...I will treat Benny as I would a human child."

"I suppose that is all I can ask of you."

Philia had commissioned a leatherworker to craft something suitable for a cat, ensuring it is both comfortable and has enough space. Why a cat? It is simply to avoid explaining that it is for a talking magical teddy bear.

"This is farewell, Benny. I hope you can find Marie."

"I know I'll find Marie!" Benny held the flap of the bag over its head with both hands. "Then, we'll come back here! We can all have a tea party together!"

"..." Elizabeth smiled at Benny, the crinkles in the corner of her green eyes showed just how happy she is. "Then I'll prepare my best tea for when you come visit me."

"Yes!"

"Please excuse me, Benny. Keep your head down until Ansel and Philia says it's alright for you to look outside."

"Don't close it too much, I don't like it when it's dark."

"I won't...I know how scary the darkness can be. When Philia lets you out...you'll get to see the same scenery Marie once saw...long ago."

Benny wanted to ask what Elizabeth meant by such a thing, but she gently pressed its head down...closing the bag. Benny shuffled to sit sideways in the bag, stretching out its lopsided legs. Benny got bored and began trying to pop its head out of the side of the bag, only to have its face shoved back in by Philia.

"Not yet."

"I wanna see!"

"Not yet."

"I wanna sit with Ansel instead! He's nicer than you are!"

"Pfff!"

"Shut it, Ansel! We're not in the palace anymore so don't make me get off my horse to kick your squire as-ow!"

"No cursing."

"You just...!"

"Minor lighting spell. I had to learn it to teach Benny what lightning is."

"That's how you spend a week of us preparing for this journey?!"

"I was told to accompany Benny...very often."

"Good thing I wasn't you then..."

"By the way, I need to talk to you a bit about something."

"About?"

"Just wait until night."

"Why not now?"

"Just listen to me, would you?!"

Philia and Ansel spent the entire way out of the city arguing...making a spectacle of themselves. Philia was so engrossed with arguing with Ansel that she didn't notice Benny managed to pop its head out of the other side of the bag. A little girl noticed Benny and giggled, waving at it. Benny wanted to wave back, but its head is too big and the gap of the bag prevented it from letting more of its body out.

"The Squire Ansel Licht and Knight Philia...S-Solaris?!"

"...If that is all, I would like to leave."

"Y-Yes! Right away! However, if may be so bold to ask-"

"None of your business!" Philia's stare is enough to scare the guard into submission. "If someone takes the side gates with a royal seal approval, it usually means you keep your mouth shut and not tell anyone!"

The guard could only fumble out some words until his superior came to save him. He is quick to apologize to Philia for his subordinate's rudeness. Benny was watching all this with its head poked out...until Philia realized this. She quickly ran to her horse, shoving Benny back in. She quickly glared at the two guards who pretended not to see. To them, it is as if she is embarrassed that she is still carrying a doll on her journey at her age.

"Ansel, we're leaving! Get on your horse!"

"Ow! Don't kick me!"

"Shut up and get up there!"

"Don't bully Ansel!"

"Quiet!"

Philia kicked Ansel in the butt again before smoothly getting onto her own horse. it would be later on that the two guards realized that they heard a child's voice, but there was no child around at the time. They brushed it off...not wanting to risk getting on Philia's bad side.

"I wanna see!"

"Yes, yes, you can come out now.

Philia had to relent and allow Benny to sit in front of her on top of its bag. To keep it steady, Philia made sure to rest her arms on top of the bag, effectively caging Benny...and also to quickly grab at it should it attempt to jump down...again.

"It's so...shiny..."

Benny stared at the rows of wheat that is shining in the morning sun. The endless rows of gold swayed gently in the wind.  In the distance, some of the wheat had been cut down and all you could see from this distance are tiny dots moving about. It's an incredibly peaceful scene, calming the heart and easing the mind.

"Philia, what is that?"

"The wheat fields?"

"What is it?"

"Wheat is a type of grain. It's always grounded up to make a lot of dishes. The cookies you seem to like so much are made from it."

"So it's an amazing thing you eat?!"

"I suppose it is amazing."

"Woooaaaahh..."

Philia calmly answered any questions Benny had, her gaze shifting around for any signs of danger. Ansel trailed a bit behind Philia's horse, listening to her speak. Benny stopped asking questions...watching as the sun began to set...making the gold shine even more beautifully.

"Granny Elizabeth said that Marie saw this too...when she left."

"It isn't a very good time to be leaving on a journey." Philia stared out at the wheat fields. "It is mid-autumn. It is a terrible time to be on the road."

"W-Will we get to meet your granny quickly?! What if we miss her birthday?"

"Who cares about that old ha-ow! Stop shooting lightning magic at me!"

"Minds your manners around Benny."

"As I was saying...winter doesn't kick in for another two months. It is a terrible time to be on the road because other animals would be preparing for the winter."

"Oh."

"...You don't understand, do you?"

"Hmmm...Nope!"

"Didn't think so. Basically, there are dangerous animals amongst those who go to sleep in the winter. They eat humans."

"Eat...humans..."

"Tha-ow!"

"Don't tell it that!"

"Stop shocking me!"

"Then don't scare Benny."

"Ugh, you're the worst!"

"You're the worst!"

The two horses could only snort as the two teenagers began bickering as they managed to get into a town. Benny had to be put back into its bag while they got a room at the inn. Philia got her own room and she let Benny out, letting him walk around the room curiously.

"Don't go under the bed."

"I'm not mad so I won't."

"...So you'll do it when throwing a tantrum, good to know..."

"Are we going downstairs to eat?"

"I'm going downstairs to eat with Ansel. You are staying in here."

"Eeeeehhh?!"

"We're still too close to the capital. Just wait another week or two."

"Okay...It's almost bedtime anyways so tuck me in please!"

"Why do I have to do that?!" Philia was both mortified and mildly disturbed. "Just go to bed on your own!"

"Granny Elizabeth did it for me!"

"Her majesty did...? Fine..."

"Yay!"

"Wait, that's my bed."

"We're sharing!"

"No, why do I have to..."

"You won't?"

"...Fine, I guess if it keeps you quiet at night..."

"Bedtime story please!"

"You want to be tucked in and given a bedtime story."

"Marie always gave me one!"

"I'm really starting to wonder how old Marie was when she first got you..."

Benny had Philia tuck it in, making sure the blanket is under its arms and not over them. Benny also made Philia lay next to it as she had to tell it a bedtime story. Benny stared up at Philia, noticing how her hair resembled the color of the golden wheat swaying in the sunlight. It is so pretty that it made Benny want to reach up to touch it.

"I'm really not good at this sort of thing..." Noticing Benny isn't talking or asking for more, she assumed it was satisfied. That's when she heard a knock at the door. "Yes?"

"It's me, Ansel. Let me in."

"Yeah, yeah...geez, you're so bossy even though you're younger than me."

"..." Ansel peered into Philia's room, staring at Benny. "Looks like Benny is asleep."

"How can you tell?"

"...Her majesty informed me of-"

Whatever the words Ansel spoke to Philia, it not only confused her...but made her stare at Benny lying still on the bed.

"Did you know? The wheat fields are a pretty golden color. It's as gold as Philia's hair! Is it true that you started your journey seeing the same thing as me?"