The dawn mist still clung to the earth when the carriage rolled out of the gates of the Azure Crest Garrison. The world was pale and quiet, the grass still glistening with dew as the sun's first light crept over the horizon. The horses snorted softly, their hooves striking rhythmically against the dirt road, and the garrison's banners fluttered in the morning wind, fading into the distance behind them.
Klein leaned against the window of the carriage, cheek pressed to the cool glass. Outside, the landscape unfurled in long, gentle waves—emerald hills, patches of wildflowers, and thin lines of mist winding through the trees. It was a world that felt alive, pulsing faintly with mana, as if the very air whispered.
Across from him sat Lucien, composed as ever. The commander's armor was replaced with a more formal navy coat lined with silver trim, but even without his armor, Lucien exuded quiet strength. His posture was perfect, his gaze fixed on the rolling scenery outside, but there was something distant in it—something heavy.
Klein watched him for a while, pretending not to. There was something almost regal about Lucien's stillness, but beneath it, Klein sensed the tension of a man who carried too much and said too little.
'He's thinking about something,' Klein mused, watching Lucien's expression from the corner of his eye. 'Probably something serious. He always looks like he's got the weight of the whole kingdom sitting on his shoulders.'
'He probably does,' Paros murmured lazily from the recesses of Klein's mind. 'Commanders in these worlds always do. Protect the realm, serve the crown, hide their trauma behind a sharp jawline.'
'You're mocking him again,' Klein thought.
'Not at all. Just an observation. You humans do love your brooding heroes.'
Klein smirked faintly but didn't reply. His eyes drifted back to Lucien, who seemed lost in thought. Every now and then, the man's gloved fingers would tap lightly against his knee—small, rhythmic movements that betrayed some unspoken worry.
Klein's curiosity itched at him. He wanted to ask. But just as he opened his mouth, Lucien's gaze turned to him.
The commander's eyes, usually sharp and unreadable, softened for a moment. Then he reached over and placed a broad hand gently atop Klein's head, his calloused palm warm against Klein's hair. It was a simple gesture—brief, steady—but it carried more reassurance than words ever could.
"You'll be alright, Klein," Lucien said quietly, his voice low but firm. "No matter what comes."
Klein blinked, surprised by the sudden affection. "...Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
Lucien chuckled faintly. "Nothing ominous. Just—sometimes, the road ahead can be uncertain. You're still young. You'll see things that might unsettle you. But you'll be fine."
For a second, Klein didn't know what to say. The commander's words were kind, but there was something else beneath them—something like a farewell, though the destination was only a few days away.
Lucien turned his gaze back to the window. "You remind me of someone," he said after a pause. "Someone I once trained. He had the same spark in his eyes. The same habit of asking too many questions."
"Let me guess," Klein said, grinning. "He became a great warrior, didn't he?"
Lucien smiled softly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "He tried."
That silence that followed wasn't heavy, but it wasn't light either. Klein looked out the window again, watching as the world rolled by—fields stretching endlessly, flocks of white birds scattering into the sky, and streams glinting like ribbons of silver under the morning sun.
The rhythm of the wheels on the road lulled the air into a kind of peace. Klein's thoughts wandered.
'He's hiding something,' he thought quietly.
'Of course he is,' Paros replied. 'Everyone powerful hides something. Secrets are the currency of people who live long enough to regret things.'
'That's… oddly profound.'
'I have my moments.'
Klein leaned his head against the window, watching a small herd of deer dart into the forest as the carriage passed. "Still," he whispered under his breath, "this place really is beautiful."
It wasn't just the scenery—it was the vibrancy of it all. The light here shimmered differently. The trees didn't just grow; they breathed. Even the breeze seemed to hum faintly, carrying whispers of magic through the leaves. It was the kind of beauty that made him forget, just for a while, that he was an outsider in this world.
Hours passed like that—quietly, gently. Occasionally, the carriage would jostle over a bump in the road, and Lucien would mutter to the driver to take it slower. Sometimes, they'd stop to let the horses rest, and Klein would step outside to stretch his legs.
He'd look around and see rolling hills stretch endlessly into the horizon. Here and there, farmers waved as they passed, and children shouted greetings, their laughter echoing faintly. There was a kind of charm to it all—humble, alive, unfiltered.
Back inside the carriage, Klein plucked a grape from a small fruit basket and tossed it into his mouth. "So," he said casually, "what's the capital like? Ostina, right?"
Lucien glanced at him with a faint smile. "You'll see soon enough. It's… grand, but not always kind. There's power, beauty, corruption, and brilliance—all mixed together. The kind of place where dreams are made and destroyed in the same breath."
"Sounds like fun," Klein said dryly.
Lucien chuckled. "Depends on what kind of fun you're looking for."
Klein leaned back, resting his arms behind his head. "You're not exactly selling it as a vacation spot, Commander."
"Because it's not," Lucien said, his tone growing thoughtful again. "Ostina is where kings are made. And where pawns are broken."
That line lingered in the air long after it was spoken.
Klein didn't press further. He turned his gaze to the horizon again, watching the sky slowly shift from gold to a deeper blue. Birds circled overhead, and the scent of pine drifted faintly through the open window.
'He talks like a man who's seen too much,' Paros said softly.
'He probably has,' Klein thought. 'I wonder what he's hiding under all that calm.'
'Maybe you'll find out sooner than you think.'
Klein smirked faintly at that. "You always talk like you know something I don't."
'That's because I do.'
Klein snorted softly. "You're insufferable sometimes."
'Only sometimes?'
He shook his head, smiling despite himself. The carriage continued along the dirt road, wheels crunching softly over the path as trees gave way to rolling fields dotted with windmills. A pair of merchants passed by on horseback, bowing respectfully to Lucien as they recognized the silver insignia embroidered on his coat.
Lucien nodded in return, his expression distant again.
The day stretched on, the sky shifting from morning blue to the golden hue of afternoon. The heat was soft, gentle, like a comforting hand. Every now and then, Klein would doze lightly, the rocking of the carriage lulling him halfway to sleep, only to wake when the wheels hit a rough patch.
At one point, he caught Lucien staring at a small locket in his hand—a piece of metal shaped like a star, faintly glowing. The commander turned it over between his fingers, his gaze far away.
Klein pretended not to notice, but the image stayed with him.
When evening came, they stopped near a brook to rest. The air was cool now, scented faintly with wet earth and grass. Lucien stood near the water, washing his hands, while Klein sat on a fallen log, skipping small stones across the surface.
He counted softly, watching the ripples fade. "One, two… three—ah, that one sank."
Lucien chuckled from behind him. "You have too much energy for someone who's been sitting all day."
Klein grinned. "I'm adaptable."
Lucien shook his head. "Rest. We still have a day's journey ahead."
Klein nodded and lay back, staring up at the twilight sky. Stars were beginning to appear, faint and trembling, scattered like shards of light.
It was quiet. Peaceful.
'This world's not so bad,' he thought. 'A little strange, sure. But… it feels alive.'
Paros's voice came softer than usual. 'And it hasn't even begun to show you its wonders—or its dangers.'
Klein sighed, his eyelids growing heavier. 'Yeah, I figured as much.'
Lucien's voice drifted through the dusk. "Sleep, Klein. You'll need your strength."
Klein's last thought before drifting off was how strange it felt to have someone say that to him—not as a command, but as concern.
****
When he woke, it was morning again. The carriage rolled through the final stretch of the journey, and the landscape began to change. The open plains gave way to cobblestone roads, and the air grew thick with distant noise—voices, wheels, movement.
And then, through the light haze of dawn, he saw it.
Ostina.
The capital city of Avalor rose like a crown from the earth, surrounded by towering white walls and shimmering spires that glinted in the morning sun. Bridges arched over glittering canals, banners fluttered from towers, and the sound of bells echoed faintly from somewhere within the city's heart.
Klein leaned forward, awe flickering in his eyes. "So this is Ostina…"
Lucien's expression was unreadable as he gazed at the city. "Welcome to the heart of Avalor," he said quietly.
The carriage rolled on toward the gate, the sound of soldiers and merchants blending into a distant hum. Klein's mind buzzed with curiosity, wonder—and a strange anticipation he couldn't quite explain.
And then, just as the carriage passed beneath the towering archway into the capital, a faint glow shimmered before his eyes.
[System Initialization: 85%…]
Klein's breath caught for a moment, the familiar flicker of blue text fading as quickly as it appeared.
He sat back slowly, a small, knowing smile curling his lips.
'Guess things are about to get interesting again.'
'Oh, you have no idea,' Paros replied.
The city gates closed behind them with a soft, echoing clang.
And with that, their journey into the heart of Avalor truly began.