Girl, Mule, and Wagon

"Thanks again for taking on such an abrupt request!"

The walls of Melior disappear after a single turn down the winding road. All we can see now are rows upon rows of trees on either side, perfect for an ambush by beasts.

"I have business in Norwin, so it works out for us both."

"What kind of work are you headed there for?"

The girl continues looking straight ahead with her hands leisurely holding the reins. She's facing away, but her voice projects perfectly fine.

"Coordinating friendly relations between Melior and Norwin. I'll be working with your knights for a few days to that end."

"That sounds nice! It definitely would help us out having allies from such a large nation. How long have you been a knight?"

Both the prince and I didn't see her as much of a merchant at first glance, but her ability to engage in basic small talk is not unlike one of that trade. I feel as if I just walked into an office offering me insurance. Every sentence is perfectly organised to soften us up enough to eventually slip in a sales pitch.

"I've been training for as long as I can remember. However, I moved to the capital only a few days ago."

"That's quite impressive! You can't be that much older than me, but you're already an ambassador between nations!"

My mind immediately wants to make a correction to that statement, but I cannot. I was so accustomed to seeing my face in the mirror that I had neglected to remember that my body is far younger than my mind. Sure I feel lighter than I did in my mid-thirties, but that could have been due to the magic of this world. When you grow old, you forget how your body felt in its early twenties.

We're met with a nice shaded patch of road as I continue with the flow of conversation.

"You call me impressive, yet here you are conducting foreign trade all on your own."

"It was definitely stressful at first, but I can't really say that I'm alone."

Rays of sunlight peek through a canopy of leaves, shining on Bailey's smiling face. I can only see parts of her profile, but that expression isn't entirely one of joy.

"The folks at home help me prepare for each shipment and Mr. Odart manages the sales. All I need to do is steer the wagon. In a way, I really don't do much…"

"Hmph!"

A loud snort joins the turning head of our brown mule. The wagon jostles slightly from its exaggerated motions.

"Of course I have you to thank as well, Apricot! I would truly be useless without you!"

Her voice is soothing even when flustered. Listening to her speak doesn't wear on my ears at all, and this light chit chat is much more relaxing than being constantly formal with knights and aristocrats. Between the rocking of the wagon and her soft laughter, I just may fall asleep if I'm not careful.

"I've been meaning to ask…"

With the road straightening out, Bailey turns back. She looks in my direction, but is almost looking past me.

"Who is this little one?"

A pair of ears twitch beneath the black cloak. While the motion isn't obvious, it would be a problem if her extra features stood out more than this.

"Peo's the kid of an acquaintance of mine. After he passed, I started taking care of her."

My words are filled with half truths, but that doesn't cause Peo to stir beside me. Neither of us truly believe that her uncle and I were enemies bound by hatred. The situation that brought us together was simply full of unfortunate coincidences.

"That's kind of nice."

Our driver does not seem to react in disbelief. However, the next thing she says causes that feeling to well up within Peo and me.

"You have good relations with the beastfolk, Mr. Clark."

If she weren't facing us, I just might have pulled my gun and aimed at the back of her head. Since I have no immediate intention to kill her and my identity is meant to remain secret, my hand can only writhe in place. The beast girl beside me doesn't seem any better off, her tail swinging wildly from beneath the black fabric.

One silent deep breath returns me to a condition where I may continue our conversation calmly.

"Quite perceptive you are."

"Not really. I didn't realise at first…"

Bailey is back to looking forward. Instead of focusing on the road as I anticipated, she watches the long brown tail sway back and forth.

"Beast children always growl at Apricot when they first meet. Something about their instincts."

"That would explain it. Does that mean Norwin lacks conflict with its beast populations?"

"Of course. After all…"

We're all struck by a sudden flash of light. After becoming accustomed to the light shade of the forest trail, the wide open plains take us by surprise. The sun has properly pulled itself into the overhead blue and offers us a clear view of mountains towering in the far distance. Somewhere within those towering peaks is an entire nation.

"Human, beast, wild animal. All of us are at the mercy of the mountain. At some point, we all just decided that working together would give us better lives."

The young girl joins us in admiring the view ahead. For us foreigners, this place is a marvel perfect for a canvas. For someone like Bailey, these mountains are likely a symbol of both life and death. No matter how inhabitable it may appear, people find a way to carve out a life for themselves.

Down here at the coast, life is far too easy. Conflict tends to fester among the struggling, but it seems to show itself even among those without struggle. Humans simply cannot help finding reasons to fight.

"That kind of peace certainly sounds efficient."

"Does Melior not share territory with beastfolk tribes of its own?"

Her question is innocent. Nobody would blame her for asking, yet that doesn't stop one individual from feeling the pain of her scars.

"You could say that Melior and beastfolk have the worst possible relationship."

Beside me, Peo grows smaller in her seat. If she weren't leaning against my shoulder, I would have feared that she may disappear altogether. She doesn't cry out or even so much as growl. There are no tears, but I feel as if I can feel them within my mind as I watch her curl up.

"That's too bad. Beastfolk are interesting when you get to know them."

Bailey still gazes ahead with an expression that cannot possibly be falsified. I don't have any emotional attachment to much of Peo's tribe. But seeing this girl's sympathy for the beasts who lost their lives, it doesn't make me feel bad.

"I agree."

The beast at my side hugs her knees with barely any of her face left visible. We don't share any words. Instead, I simply reach over and pull the black hood from over Peo's head.

"!?"

Finally, I get to see her sandy hair fly with the pleasant breeze. The pointed ears she has to hide within city walls are given a chance to breathe in the clean air of green pastures. Peo's shining green eyes are opened wide when the sun is at last given a chance to show the world her face.

"For someone who always complains about how uncomfortable that hood is, you certainly kept it on for a while."

"C…"

She stares up at me as I lean back against the wooden bench, my gaze busy taking in the strange new sights. I've already seen what she looks like, but somebody else hasn't."

"Mr. Clark? Ah—!"

Bailey immediately locks onto Peo. She almost looks as if she's ready to leap from the driver's seat to bring the young beast into her arms. Thankfully, she does not.

"She's so cute! May I take her home with me!?"

"You already are."

"Wait, you're right! I'm favoured by fortune today!"

Unsure of what to do under such passionate attention, Peo pulls her silver scarf up. To receive this kind of response from a human is something that she could never have imagined. It must not bother her too much as her thick tail sways rhythmically through the gap in our wagon.

"This isn't so bad."

"…Mhm."

Peo unfurls herself and starts taking in the scenery with me. Between Bailey's ecstatic humming and Peo's calm demeanor, the entire atmosphere surrounding our meandering wagon seems to have brightened up.