Chapter 34: Separation

The carriage erupted in an inconsistent tremble—continuous in rattling my stomach. Just as I figured it would. Thankfully, at least my head was still rested and secured against something that wasn’t the wooden seats. With Eru and I being the only passengers on our side, I decided to keep my head on Eru’s lap and was now also able to stretch my legs across the vacant space on our left. Rather improper seating etiquette, sure, but that was the least of my worries. I remained held a hostage by my loitering nausea and the seemingly rapid and phantom hammering against my skull.

I just wish that was the only issue here, since now, we have this one too...

“Ghaaaaaaaaaaaaa....zzzz...”

The roar of her reverberating snore shook the eardrums of everyone inside, as if it were at odds against and vying toward who could be more irksome—the wobbling carriage or the snorting source. The red-haired woman laid freely, sleeping on the opposite side now. The man near her, still holding that awkward expression on his face, seemingly implied with that smile that he couldn't do much about it either. Yet, it wasn’t as if he actually even attempted to deal with it at all in the first place.

So, that apology in advance was for this? Ah. I’m definitely not going to be able to get any rest with all of this noise and movement mixing together. If only I could pull out a sleep-oriented spell from thin air or something...

A muffled groan escaped me as I then shifted my head from my sideways view, to a now awe-inspiring display of the roof of the carriage. In changing my perspective, I then noticed Eru was staring intently across from us in a rather questioning gaze as her head was tilted at a slant.

Looks like someone is obviously trying to figure something out. Wonder what is gnawing at her this time? Well, it’s none of my business—or actually—I can’t even stomach a care right now...

Pushing the thought aside, I could only begin to make another attempt toward resting for what felt like the tenth time already. And the moment I placed my arm over my eyes, a man’s voice spoke over the growls from the red-head.

“Well, since we’ll be traveling along this route for the next few hours, maybe we should break the ice between us by introducing each other? My name is Lukos, and this woman here is Astrid. My traveling partner. We’re both Adventurers who are currently taking jobs together in Nefra.”

To our surprise, the man who referred to himself as Lukos, was the first to speak up through the grating exhales that flowed freely out of that certain someone who he introduced as Astrid. I had decided to let Eru speak for the both of us as I feigned sleep, yet she had remained silent as well. Taking a slight peak from under my arm, I then caught a glimpse just in time to see her transformative expression—from one in thought to a sudden realization—a familiar one at that.

“Oh! That’s right! Now I remember! You both were on the north road near Druhwood around over a week ago, weren’t you?”
“Over a week ago...?”
“Mhm! I remember seeing two people, sitting at the road side with...barrels, was it? There was a lot going on that day, so it had slipped my mind until now.”
“That day, huh? I’ve been all over the place thanks to this one here in the past week, so I had forgotten all about that as well. But now that I think about it, I do remember a group passing by us. So, you were part of that group?”
“Yes, alongside my grandfather and a few others. Oh, my name is Eru. This sickly one here is Albel. We’re also traveling to Nefra together from Druhwood.”

Hey? Sickly? Did you really have to introduce me as someone that’s sickly?! He might end up thinking that this is just my natural state, you know! What a horrible first impression.

“I see, so you’re both originally from Druhwood? I actually wanted to visit there when her and I were further south and nearby, but...”

Lukos then went on to explain Astrid’s apparently newfound obsession with Firspur and how, each and every time he attempted to head back to Nefra together with her, she’d randomly disappear for the day. Leading him into situations where he was confronted by monsters off-road, dealing with bandits, and so forth. Astrid would then insist on heading back to Firspur during the night before, where she’d drink herself into a whole other mess by morning.

Geez. Loud AND a handful. This guy has a lot on his plate, huh? I wouldn’t be able to travel at all with someone like that. At least Eru and I are pretty reserved. I think she’d agree with me too.

“Mhm. I totally understand where you’re coming from! It’s stressful looking after someone that is constantly getting involved in irregular situations. It’s quite bad for the heart, isn’t it?”

Hold on now. Eru? I didn’t go seeking out those “irregular situations” on my own! If anything, I’m the victim here, one that is continuously getting forced into confrontations I never asked for...

“Indeed, it is. If only she’d understand that herself. Yet, she acts as if it’s nothing that’s worth caring for. Seems like you’ve had your fair share of troubling encounters as well, Miss Eru.”
“Same to you, Mr. Lukos. We both have had it tough, haven’t we?”
“That we have.”

Are they bonding off of dealing with us like we’re some extra baggage?! Ugh. You know what? That’s fine and all, but... Just please refrain from grouping me together with that idling engine over there at least...

Their chat continued on, about this and that, seemingly topics that I could barely even focus on with how much my stomach was churning. Eru then prompted a question in regard to the job they took that led them to Firspur in the first place. Their words were, slowly but surely, going into one ear and out the next for me.

“So, you took on a request that was for dealing with a monster near Firspur, is that it?”
“Yes, originally it was due to sightings of a Forest Ogre that potentially traveled out of its territory. A few of the locals had caught a glimpse of a large creature moving through the outskirts of the nearby forest and decided to put in a request—just to be cautious.”
“Originally? Was it perhaps something completely different?”
“Well, something like that. The monster’s figure, at times, was definitely similar to that of a Forest Ogre. Yet, when we finally caught an eyeful of it, we realized that it was instead a Cursed Jinn that simply shifted its form to mimic a Forest Ogre. You see...”

Little by little, my focus wandered and shifted more toward my stomach and headache. Until finally, by some miracle, I nodded off into what I thought was just a light sleep mid-way through their discussion.

❖

“Aha! I see, I see. So, these two really are the ⌧ and ⌧ of the First ⌧, huh? Or wait, would you rather I called you the “⌧” instead, hm?”
“...”
“Ahaha! Not a peep! Did you seriously think that a bit of covering would truly deceive any ⌧, ⌧? Only a blithering fool would rely on just ⌧. You see, manipulation and deception are my specialty, ⌧~ Yes, yes. I’m sure plenty of lessers have been fooled with that talent too, but sorry, lass—you can’t fool the ⌧’s [True Discernment]!”

A dream...? No, a vision...?

I couldn’t really understand what was going on, as the quality of whatever sprung within my view was a blurry and fluctuating mess. It felt detached from the scene and remained at a distance behind it all. The vision, though, reminded me of whenever I was looking through Cruubi’s eyes. And the dark hallway seemed as if it were rather familiar too. That same hallway I had walked through numerous times during my stay there.

A vision of Dormou? But how...and of who...?

“Albel...!”

The voice penetrated the depths of my dream, pulling me out from my slumber with force. And as the vision faded quickly, ending without an answer, I struggled to open my eyes as the source of the voice continued.

“Albel! Wake up already. We’ve finally arrived! We’re in Nefra!”
“Hmm...?”

Neither the shaking of the carriage or the irritable growl that was across from us was present now. Instead, a rather poorly restrained giddiness came from her voice. Eru was now standing over me as we had seemingly arrived at Nefra. The back of the carriage was now also opened completely, and the sun shined through slightly, as it was starting its trip of descension toward the horizon—entering early evening. Hours had evidently gone by while I was resting.

“Are you feeling any better now, Albel?”
“Honestly, not in the slightest...”

The sleep practically did nothing other than just kill time. I could still feel the lingering nausea bubble at the pit of my stomach. In hearing this, a slight frown came across Eru’s face.

“That’s unfortunate to hear. It might be better for us to immediately look for lodgings then. But first, let’s exit the carriage for now. Can you move on your own?”
“Yeah, I think so...?”

Yet, I was still assisted by her anyways, as we both exited the carriage. My eyes were immediately greeted by dozens of other carriages near us and a massive wall. It had been a wall I used to see quite often during my days in MO. And it still hadn't changed all too much apparently.

I feel like it has been forever since I’ve been back here...

“Albel, I’m going to talk to the coachman and Mr. Lukos for a second, okay? Don’t move from this spot!”

She quickly hurried off with another order directed at me to remain where I was standing. Yet, my body and stomach were both screaming at me to lay down once more. As if it were pissed that I had risen from my slumber in the first place. I took a glance around, noticing a stationary, doorless and open carriage slightly behind me. It wasn’t too far off from where we repositioned ourselves, and it was a bit closer than the previous carriage we were originally on—thus I decided to take a much-needed seat.

It’s not as if I moved a whole lot... There’s no way she can get mad at me for this, right? I’ll apologize to whomever this cart belongs to after—if I have to—as well...

Sitting down, my body plopped to my side as I now rested my head against the wood. In response, my stomach started to mellow out a bit more once again. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than nothing or standing at least. That is, until the cart then suddenly jerked forward slightly.

“Hm...?”

The distance between our old carriage and the new one I now rested on became larger as the realization of my mistake hit me pretty quickly. We were seemingly heading down the road that ran parallel with the side of the wall. Potentially heading toward the eastern part of Nefra—or maybe even beyond.

Oh no. This definitely poses a bit of a problem...

I couldn’t yell nor move all too much as any movement that mixed with the rattling of the cart was seemingly urging the pit of my stomach to leap through my throat in anger. I could only watch on and hope she would see me, and yet, as that old carriage shrunk into the distance, I simply had to accept my situation for what it was.

Well, I guess she has a reason to get mad at me now. I wasn’t the one that move though! It was the cart—is a worthless excuse if there ever was one. Maybe...no, that wouldn’t work either...

I began mulling over how I would lessen her anger with a valid excuse once we reunited, but for now, we would remain separated in the capital city of Nefra just after our arrival.