"So, where are you from?" We have been traveling on the road to a nearby city named 'Quartsel'. And if you're wondering about our route, then do I have a surprise for you. The city we are headed to is 'Latnos'. An independent mercantile city situated between 4 different countries including the Hi-empire, which is the one we are in now. To get there we must travel through 3 other cities, which would look something like this:
Starting town -3 days-> City of Quartsel -2 days-> City of Hirenon -3 days-> City of Bednom -4 days-> Latnos
12 days travel total and that's the bare minimum amount of time it would take under normal conditions. And here is what it would look like if we had gone with my route and headed towards Kortal.
Starting Town -5 days-> Kortal
5 days. Less than half the time needed to Latnos and much less time for unscrupulous assassins and hitmen to make their move. Honestly, it wouldn't be so bad if I had someone to talk with to pass the time, but…
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just making small talk."
This prickly little lady has been so defensive about every little thing I ask, and the rest of the time she is either insulting me or ignoring me.
"You wouldn't know of it."
"You never know. It might surprise you, but I've traveled all over this continent. Surely, I would at least know the country."
"I'm not from this continent."
"Oh, then where ar-"
"Shut up, and keep your head down."
"That's rather- *Clang*"
At that moment Nox threw something back at me barely missing my head. I could feel a trickle of blood run down my cheek as I saw a kunai stabbed into the flooring of the cheap carriage, shortly after Nox gestured for the horse to go faster, but instead.
*Boom*
Another projectile came flying at us. This time it was a ball of fire, and it was aimed at the sickly horse. Killing our main mode of transportation.
"Crap this isn't good!"
"YOU THINK!? I TOLD YOU WE SHOULD HAVE GONE EAST!"
"No that's not what I-"
*Boom*
While we were talking, another fireball came flying at us, but:
"What's not good is that the horse was a rental. I'm supposed to deliver it to some guy over in Quartsel."
When the fireball hit, an earth barrier erupted around the carriage and blocked the fireball.
"Wha-… We've got bigger problems than our horse exploding. That barrier isn't going to hold them out for long."
"You only say that because you're not the one who needs to replace it."
While we were arguing the barrier started crumbling around us. However, after 2 days of insults and silent frustration something in me just snapped.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!"
"What's that. Speak up playboy."
"I'LL SPEAK UP ALLRIGHT, YOU STINGY LITTLE GIRL! YOUR GREEDY, BUT REFUSE TO PAY FOR MORE THEN THE BARE MINIMUM NEEDED TO SURVIVE, DESPITE HAVING MORE THAN ENOUGH TO LIVE IN LUXURY! YOU INSULT ME EVERY CHANCE YOU GET, AS IF I'M AN UNCULTURED BARBERIAN, YET YOUR MOUTH IS FOULER THAN ANY MAN I'VE EVER MET!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING 'LITTLE' YOU OVERGROWN PUNK."
"AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO COMMEN SENSE! HERE WE ARE, BEING ATTACKED BY DANGEROUS ENEMIES! BUT INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT SURVIVING, YOUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS HOW TO PAY FOR SOME STUPID DEAD HORSE! DO YOU NOT VALUE YOUR OWN LIFE!"
"IF YOU'RE SO UPSET THEN YOU HANDLE OUR TRAVEL EXPENSES THEN! OH, THAT'S RIGHT! YOU'RE BROKE! IF YOU GOT SOME COMPLAINTS THEN TAKE IT UP WITH SOMEONE WHO CARES!"
"OH, THAT IS IT!"
At that moment my mind went blank and before I knew it, we were wrestling in the dirt as the barrier had completely crumbled around us. I heard some loud noises in the background, but the only thing I could focus on was teaching this little shit who was in charge.
…
Turning back the clock by a few minutes.
"Crap, the silver hair deflected my attack"
"How? Wasn't that a light-based artifact? No mortal should be able to react in time to deflect that."
"Well, then I'm up."
"No, don't!"
"What was that, oh shit!"
In an attempt to kill target here by designated 'Playus Boyus'(By Nox and Shadow 3), Shadow 4 threw a magic kunai that turns into light particles and travels a certain distance before slowing down and restructuring itself. However, Nox had pulled out a throwing needle and accurately deflected the weapon the moment it manifested itself, inches from target Playus Boyus. Plan B incase Shadow 4 failed was to use Shadow 2's Fire based technique to launch an explosive fireball at the carriage to kill or injure them while preventing them from escaping. However, Shadow 1 distracted Shadow 2 in the last second causing him to misfire and hit the horse instead.
"Why did you do that? I could have gotten them if you didn't distract me."
"We need to retreat now."
"What!?"
"She deflected Shadow 4's attack and I'm pretty sure she knows our location. Call it a gut feeling, but I don't think she is just a mortal woman."
"Screw that, I'm not waiting any longer." Shadow 2 said, as he fired another fireball. But before it could hit the target a magic circle appeared below the carriage, and a barrier made of dirt enveloped the carriage blocking the attack.
"Oh, that's something you don't see every day."
"See, I told you she wasn't ordinary."
"Yeah, but you still overreacted. If that first shot hit, they would be dead right now. I mean, she's just a mage."
Not long after, the trio of assassins came out of their hiding spot and destroyed the barrier. The barrier wasn't particularly strong so a fireball or two was enough to make it crumble, and what greeted them was.
"OH, THAT IS IT!"
Two teenagers wrestling in the dirt like a couple of preschoolers.
"EH…? 1 are you sure this is the guy?"
"Of course it is, I think?"
"I always thought the 'Dark Lord' seemed a bit more dignified or awe inspiring, but this…"
In that moment all three of them were wondering if perhaps they had gotten the wrong guy.
"Whatever. Let's just kill him and call it a day. I'm sick of living outdoors and dressing like a bum." Shadow 2 said, as his arm lit up in flames when he went in for the kill, but before he struck.
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
A stray elbow from Nox caved in his nose, causing him to fall on his ass with a nosebleed.
"Nice going there 2. You really showed them who's boss." Shadow 1 replied as Shadow 4 was trying to hold in his laughter.
"YOU SHUT UP... AND STOP LAUGHING 4!"
Those words sent Shadow 4 over the edge as he started laughing out loud, sending shivers of shame and rage down Shadow 2's spine.
"OK, THAT IS IT! No more messing around." Shadow 2 said as he started sending more fire balls their way, but…
"Huh,… Why can't I hit them?"
"Nice going there 2. Keep at it. We totally believe in you." Shadow 1 said in a sarcastic tone while Shadow 4 started laughing harder.
"Seriously guys, something is wrong here. I'm not doing this on purpose."
"Suuure, you're not." Shadow 1 continued.
What was happening from their perspective was that Shadow 2 would throw a fireball, then at the last moment he would turn its trajectory slightly so that it would barely pass by the two preschoolers rolling in the dirt. But what Shadow 1 and 4 didn't know was that this wasn't some elaborate prank by Shadow 2, but rather someone who interfered with his technique at the last moment to make him miss his target.
"Ok, enough playing around. If you won't kill them. Then I will." Shadow 1 said as he stepped up to attack, but before he could even try the two of them rolled up in front of him and the dark lord accidentally kicked him between the legs, knocking him out cold.
"Hahaholy crap. Are *giggle* you alright 1?" Shadow 4 said as he tried to hold in his laughter.
"Ouch. A kick in the nuts from the Dark Lords got to hurt like hell."
"Anyways, stop fooling around 2, and just end it so we can get out of here."
"I've been telling you. I can't."
"Fine then." Shadow 4 said as he walked up to the pair on the ground, deftly dodging their friendly fire.
"Ok, funs over you two break it up." He said as he prepared his dagger, aiming to stab one of them in the back. At that, the two of them paused to look at him with bloodshot eyes. The dark lord was sitting on top of Nox while tugging on her silver hair. Meanwhile, Nox was grabbing the sides of his mouth and stretching out his cheeks. And both of them yelled back.
"STAY OUT OF THIS YOU PLEBEAN (Dark Lord)/FUCK FACE (Nox)"
And they both punched him in the face. The force of the blows sent him flying back into the forest and through several trees, with two darkening circles around his eyes.
"GET LOST YOU DIRT BAGS" Nox said right before her opponent tried to pin her down.
Shadow 2, seeing the results from shadow 1 and 4, decided to grab his comrades and call it a day, as he headed to the city of Quartsel. Leaving behind two rowdy children tussling in the dirt.
… The next day
The Dark Lord, was grumbling to himself with a black eye, as he staired out the window. If anyone from the previous town saw them now, they wouldn't believe their eyes. As the dirty old carriage they departed on had turned into a super fancy one. Decorated and bejeweled, with works of art depicting some great battle between demons and angels. Anyone who saw it would think an emperor, or the leader of some wealthy religious sect was passing through.
"You could have just pulled this thing out from the start you know."
"What was that. I don't speak loser."
"I said, why didn't you use this carriage in the first place?" I said in an angry tone.
"Because that would draw to much attention. Pluss the horses and driver freak people out."
Unlike with the previous carriage, Nox wasn't the one driving it, nor was it being pulled by a regular horse. Instead the coachman was a slightly transparent skeleton clad in a black robe seemingly woven from a dark mist with an ominously decorated scythe lane at its side.
The identity of the 'Coachman' is that of a death wraith, a high end undead often synonymous with the concept of death, and in some extreme cases is considered to be on par with demigods. Their very presence will cause most men to flee in panic should they not be petrified by the terror it brings first.
Meanwhile, the 'horses' were a pair of quadruped monsters, seemingly stitched together from various creatures. One had the face of a demon, the horns of a goat, the front legs of a dragon, and the hind legs of a very beefy-looking horse. All while sporting three pairs of leathery bat wings. The other one had the face of a beautiful androgynous human, had a glowing halo floating above its head, the front legs of a white tiger, and the hindlegs of a white stallion. Also sporting three pairs of white feathery wings.
These creatures are called chimeras. Creatures born from magical experiments that involve fusing together various creatures. Their strength can vary depending on the material used as well as the process of creating them, but the ones pulling the carriage seemed rather high end as far as chimeras go.
"So what? Do you honestly think anyone would dare approach us with those creatures at the front."
"They have names you know."
"Like hell I'm calling them that. Your naming sense is as terrible as your personality."
After our battle, this crazed maniac opened some strange portal to who knows where and pulled out this fancy carriage driven by some monster that reeks of death, as well as some weird and somewhat imposing looking creatures, that I would love to have myself, strange as they are. One thing became abundantly clear upon her introduction.
"Playboy, meet 'Fluffy', 'Grumpy' and 'Old Man Joe'."
This woman has a terrible naming sense. Shortly after that the two chimeras jumped on her like a pair of hyperactive puppies, vying for her attention. Meanwhile the skeleton bowed politely and showed proper respect, despite what his imposing presence would suggest. That said I couldn't make heads or tails of what he was saying.
".devirra evah ew ,ytsejam ruoY"
"What was that?"
"He said we're there."
Without any decorum Nox kicked open the door like a hoodlum and jumped out. For Pete's sake, can't she act lady like for more than two seconds? That said we arrived relatively fast. We only started traveling again an hour ago, but our journey should have taken one more day at least. Which means if we had gone to Kortal using this carriage we would have needed just 5 hours.
"You coming or what?"
Swallowing my complaints, I decided to be the bigger person and let it go. Definitely not just because this girl beat me up yesterday, and I now realize I stand no chance in my current state if we started fighting again.
"Why the rush? After all you were the one who insisted we take our time." I said as I elegantly walked down the steps of the carriage.
"Wait, where are we?"
".ris doog ym ,lestrauQ foy tic eht edistuo thgir detautis ,'sdooW suoileP' eht ni era eW"
"What?"
"He said, 'the woods outside Quartsel'. Now let's go."
"What about the carriage… wait, where did it go?"
In the brief moment I looked away, the carriage disappeared into thin air, and before I could ask further this boorish woman picked me up and slung me over her shoulders. How she packs so much strength into that tiny frame is beyond me. I spent the remainder of the way there, tied up and gagged because she didn't like me flailing around and complaining as she caried me like a sack of potatoes.