The Road to Sinkros

Morning came quietly.

The celebration from the night before had already disappeared.

The streets were littered with scraps of paper, empty bottles, and broken decorations.

Aren, Elise, and Rhys sat around a small table inside the inn.

For once, nobody was in a hurry to leave.

A map was spread across the table.

Aren studied it.

Elise pointed toward the center.

"Sinkros is here."

Rhys leaned over the table.

"That's the capital?"

"Yes."

"Looks far."

"It is."

Aren traced the road with his finger.

"Walking there would take us several days."

"More than several," Elise said. "There are mountains between here and the main road."

Rhys leaned back in his chair.

"Then we don't walk."

Aren looked at him.

"What do you suggest?"

Rhys smiled.

"I know a guy."

Aren stared at him.

"Of course you do."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm already worried."

Rhys ignored him.

"There's a fellow who runs a repair shop near the eastern side of town. He deals with automobiles."

Elise looked interested.

"Automobiles?"

Rhys nodded.

"Steam-powered ones. They're not exactly cheap, but they're much faster than walking."

Aren looked at the map again.

"We'd save days."

"Exactly."

Elise nodded.

"Then we should do it."

Aren looked at Rhys.

"Can your friend actually lend us one?"

Rhys placed a hand against his chest.

"Do you doubt me?"

"Yes."

"That's hurtful."

"Can he?"

Rhys smiled.

"Probably."

"Probably?"

"I'll handle it."

Aren folded the map.

"Fine."

Rhys stood.

"Give me an hour."

"Why an hour?"

"Because I need to convince him."

"With money?"

Rhys grinned.

"With charm."

Aren shook his head.

"That doesn't make me feel better."

Rhys walked toward the door.

"Trust me."

Aren called after him.

"I don't."

Rhys stopped.

"One day."

He pointed at Aren.

"One day you'll learn to appreciate me."

"No."

Rhys left.

Elise watched the door close.

"You really don't trust him."

"I trust him to cause trouble."

"That's not what I meant."

Aren looked at her.

Elise smiled.

"I think you actually like having him around."

Aren looked back at the map.

"He's annoying."

"You didn't deny it."

"I didn't agree either."

Elise laughed softly.

For a moment, the two sat in silence.

It felt different from the silence they had shared during the beginning of their journey.

It wasn't uncomfortable anymore.

Aren folded the map.

"We should figure out where we're stopping along the way."

Elise nodded.

She moved closer.

"There's a town here."

She pointed at the map.

"About two days from Sinkros if we take the eastern road."

Aren nodded.

"Good place to rest."

"And this village is halfway between here and there."

"We can stop for supplies."

Elise smiled.

"We're actually planning this."

Aren looked at her.

"We have to."

"Still."

She looked down at the map.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For taking this seriously."

Aren was quiet.

"I'm not doing it for the prophecy."

"I know."

"I'm going because I want answers."

Elise nodded.

"That's enough."

The door suddenly opened.

Rhys walked in.

He was smiling.

Behind him was a man wearing oil-stained overalls.

"Good news."

Aren looked at him.

"You got the automobile?"

Rhys pointed outside.

"Better."

Aren raised an eyebrow.

"I got us one."

Elise stood.

"How?"

Rhys shrugged.

"I talked."

Aren stared.

"That's it?"

"Mostly."

The mechanic scratched the back of his head.

"He's been talking for the last forty minutes."

Rhys smiled.

"And it worked."

The mechanic sighed.

"He owes me."

Aren looked at Rhys.

"How much?"

"Nothing."

The mechanic raised a finger.

"For now."

Aren narrowed his eyes.

"Rhys."

"It's fine."

"It doesn't sound fine."

Rhys waved him off.

"I've got it handled."

The mechanic handed Rhys a set of keys.

"Bring it back in one piece."

Rhys gave him a confident smile.

"Absolutely."

The mechanic looked at Aren.

"Make sure he doesn't drive."

Aren nodded.

"I wasn't planning on letting him."

"Hey!"

Elise laughed.

They stepped outside.

Parked beside the inn was a strange machine.

It had four large wheels, a dark metal body, exposed pipes running along the sides, and a small brass boiler mounted behind the driver's seat.

Steam hissed softly from a valve.

Rhys walked around it proudly.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Aren stared at the machine.

"It looks like it'll explode."

"That's part of the charm."

Elise walked closer.

"I've never ridden in one before."

"Neither have I," Aren said.

Rhys looked at him.

"Really?"

"No."

Rhys blinked.

"You've ridden one?"

"Once."

"When?"

Aren looked away.

"Long time ago."

Rhys grinned.

"Then you're driving."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I know how dangerous they are."

"Exactly why you should drive."

Aren sighed.

"Fine."

Rhys smiled.

"I knew you'd come around."

Aren climbed into the driver's seat.

Elise sat beside him.

Rhys climbed into the back.

He immediately stretched his legs across the seat.

Aren looked at him through the mirror.

"Move."

"Why?"

"You're taking up the entire seat."

Rhys reluctantly moved.

"You're no fun."

Aren started the engine.

The machine coughed.

Then roared to life.

Steam burst from the pipes.

Elise grabbed the side of her seat.

Rhys laughed.

"This is going to be great!"

Aren looked ahead.

"Hold on."

The automobile lurched forward.

Elise grabbed the side of the seat tighter.

Rhys nearly fell backward.

"Okay!"

He laughed.

"I take it back!"

Aren smirked.

The town slowly disappeared behind them.

The road stretched ahead.

For the first time since their journey began, they weren't simply three people walking in the same direction.

They were traveling together.

Aren at the wheel.

Elise beside him.

Rhys behind them, complaining about the bumps in the road.

And somewhere ahead waited Sinkros.

The capital.

The Society 7.

And answers to questions none of them fully understood yet.

For now, though, the road was quiet.

And for the first time...

Aren didn't mind having company.