Ghosts Don't Ask for Directions

Maria smiled under the high sun, long past Limina’s towering walls. King’s Road stretched ahead, cutting through rolling pastures where the scent of damp earth hung in the warm breeze. 

Celeste led the group with energetic strides. Maria swayed her head to the rhythmic, off-key humming bouncing back from the young knight.

It hadn't even been a full day since Maria had gained a new traveling companion, and she felt it was already off to a wonderful start. Kaelan, however, merely let out a low groan as the humming steadily grew louder.

“Hero’s Party! Hero’s Party!” Celeste cheered, matching her words to the clink of her plated greaves.

Kaelan sighed and pulled his hood over his dark, tousled hair. “Farthest thing from a Hero’s Party…” he muttered.

“Wait.” Thomas suddenly stopped, glancing between everyone. A look washed over his face as if a magical light stone had just flickered to life in his mind.

The group paused.

“What is it?” Maria asked.

“A brilliant mage.” Thomas pointed a finger at his own chest before pointing it to the others, one by one. “A knight in shining armor.”

Celeste puffed out her chest. “Why, thank you.”

“A dark-clad assassin.”

“Ex-assassin,” Maria corrected gently, stepping in before Kaelan could even part his lips.

“I don’t recall that ever being decided,” Kaelan said, though Maria barely processed the words.

Thomas continued, “And a Saint.” His pointed finger landed on Maria.

“I don’t recall that being decided,” Maria said, though she almost took the words back when Kaelan shot her a smug look.

“No, think about it—we might actually pull it off.” Thomas’ eyes gleamed. “Imagine it! Every frontier village we pass would treat us like royalty! They'd probably offer us free lodging and a purse of silver coin just for gracing them with our presence!"

Celeste beamed, her eyes sparkling. “So we are a Hero’s Party!”

“No, we’re not,” Kaelan snapped.

Celeste clasped her hands together. Kaelan’s words didn’t even seem to register. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve always dreamed of being a hero.”

Maria gave her a warm smile. “That’s a wonderful dream.”

Kaelan rubbed his temples. “Don’t encourage her.”

“I thought I understood what heroes were like…” Celeste’s voice softened. “My family wasn’t thrilled when I left home with such ideals.”

The wind rustled through the tall grass, filling the silence.

“But then, rumors of your exploits reached my ears. I just had to find this heroic Saint!” Celeste held her gaze on Maria. “Then I met you. And I don’t understand you at all.” She chuckled. “But… I’d really like to.”

Maria’s smile widened. “Then I hope we can grow to become great friends.”

“Of course!”

Maria took the front as the group continued walking down the dirt road.

“Although all we’re really doing is traveling to the Holy Capital,” she explained. “It’s not particularly heroic. Mostly just simple meals, and sore feet. Oh, but if anyone needs help along the way, I’ll certainly try my best!”

Celeste adjusted her pack and jogged to keep pace next to her. “See? That’s heroic!”

“Don’t just ignore all the mundane details she listed before the end!” Kaelan barked.

Thomas shook his head with a smirk. "I give it a week before she decides we're secretly on a mission to save the world.”

Celeste looked back over her shoulder. “Are we not?”

Thomas glanced over at Kaelan. He hid his mouth behind a palm, while Kaelan bit his lip, failing to hide his irritation.

“So, when do we begin?” Celeste asked, smiling at Maria.

“Begin what?”

"The quest, of course!" She gestured to the open horizon. "The Holy Capital is only the first destination of our grand journey, isn't it?"

Thomas glanced at Kaelan once more. Not even his dark hood could hide his twitching eyebrow.

“Don’t,” Kaelan said.

Thomas' attempts to hide a chuckle were failing him. “I’ve yet to say a single word.”

“It’s best you kept it as so.”

"There isn't really a quest, Celeste." Maria softly waved her hand.  "I just need to meet with someone."

“You’ve mentioned it before. The High Inquisitor…”

Maria gave a simple nod. Her expression seemed to have said everything it needed, as Celeste didn’t push ‌the subject.

"I understand completely."

Kaelan raised an eyebrow. “...Do you?”

"Naturally." Celeste folded her arms confidently. "No legendary hero ever reveals the true, world-saving quest in the first chapter."

Before Kaelan could even say a word, Maria suddenly gasped.

Down a dirt slope on the edge of a plowed field, a scrawny village girl was struggling under the weight of a massive wicker basket. It was piled high with overgrown turnips that looked abnormally dense.

Without a word, Maria immediately wandered off the main road and down the hill.

Celeste rushed after her. “Allow me, Sister!” 

She gripped the wicker handles, planted her boots, and hoisted with all her might. Her armor groaned and her face turned bright red, but the basket didn’t budge an inch. She slumped over it, panting.

Kaelan and Thomas strolled down behind them.

Thomas unloaded his hefty pack full of dragonscales with a thud. “I think I know a thing or two about carrying heavy weight around.”

He placed his silver staff to a side and gripped the handle. After a silent battle, his only success was pulling a muscle in his back.

“Good try.” Maria’s palms glowed over his back, providing him with much-needed relief.

Kaelan rolled his eyes and stepped in next.

He gripped the wicker and threw his weight into a hoist, lifting it three agonizing steps forward before his boots slid in the mud. Celeste held him up, a fall would’ve embarrassed him further.

“Great effort!” Maria gave a little clap, making him subtly blush under his hood.

Thomas poked a massive turnip with his silver staff. “How can a child even budge such a thing?”

The group stared blankly at the scrawny farm girl. The little girl just tilted her head.

Maria chuckled. “Don’t worry. I know just what can help!”

She stepped forward. With a whispered prayer, a faint golden light ringed the basket, completely neutralizing the gravity of the vegetables. 

The little girl’s eyes lit up. She easily hoisted the now weightless basket onto her shoulder and happily skipped away down the dirt path, waving back at them.

Now, the blank stares lingered on Maria as they returned to the road ahead.

According to Celeste, every grand quest began with a few side quests. Maria wasn’t entirely sure about all the hero stuff, but as they walked down King's Road, she was more than happy to have the eager knight along for the journey.

***

It didn’t just rain; the sky seemed determined to wash the group away. Lightning split the dark clouds while a howling gale whipped streaks of water across Maria’s face. Though her focus was on a certain someone, who for the past few days had been far too stubborn.

“I’m just saying, Kaelan,” she shouted over the roaring thunder, holding her veil flat against her head,” we really should have stopped for directions at that last crossing!”

Kaelan’s dark cloak dripped. “We don’t need directions!”

“You say that…” Maria glanced around. Nothing but tall pines surrounded them along a muddy dirt road. “Fine. Then let’s just use my map.” She stopped under the cover of a massive tree, rummaging through her pack.

Kaelan sighed. “Maria, that map will get us even more lost.”

Maria gave a mischievous grin. “So you admit that we are lost!”

“We’re not lost!”

Thomas wrung out the hem of his faded blue coat. "Priceless dragonscale in my bag, and I’m going to die of a common head cold in a muddy ditch," he muttered. "I hate the frontier."

Celeste crouched down next to the thick trunk, shivering. "A-A true knight of House Aurelian does not... d-does not mind a little light precipitation!"

While Maria and Kaelan continued bickering, Thomas said a precise chant.

“Here…” A red magic circle ignited a warm flame that fought back against the chill.

“T-Thank… y-you,” Celeste said through her chattering teeth.

Thomas sighed as Kaelan turned his back on a pouting Maria.

“Why don’t you scout ahead before we have to slog a frozen suit of armor around,” he told Kaelan.

“Fine…” Kaelan pulled his hood over before going off into the rain.

Maria peeked through one eye, arms still crossed. “...Be careful,” she muttered.

“...I will.” He soon disappeared within the downpour.

***

It wasn’t long before Kaelan returned, with word that an inn lay just over the hill.

Through the growing darkness and bending pine trees, the silhouette of an old roadside inn loomed. A faint smoke rose from its chimney.

Hanging from a rusted chain was a weathered wooden sign, barely legible through the storm.

Maria narrowed her eyes reading the words. The Wayside Manner…

The sign clattered in the wind along with rumbles of thunder.

Maria got chills as they approached the weed-infested courtyard. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the storm, or something else. But they had no other choice but to spend the night and hope for the sun to rear its head come morning.