MYSTIC MAGE
CHAPTER 7: TO BERLIN
In the deep hours of that same night, a lone carriage drawn by a single horse moved down a road bordered by the dense, silent forest. It was a passage of endless trees, swallowing the faint light of the moon.
The carriage driver was wide awake, his focus a steel thread pulled taut by the urgency of his late-night delivery. He was a veteran of these nocturnal runs, needing to complete his circuit before the sun could fully rise.
He was an old man, weathered and rugged, wearing a dusty cowboy hat, a faded shirt, and brown trousers. He wasn't even wearing shoes. Aided by the faint moonlight, he spotted a figure walking along the path ahead. The old man knew, with the certainty of a man who had seen too much, that this person wouldn't make it through the night on foot.
Too many things lurked in the shadows. Despite his haste, the old carriage driver didn't hesitate. Less than a minute after passing the stranger, he pulled sharply on the reins.
NEEEEEEEHHHHH!
The horse jerked, grinding to a halt.
The driver climbed down, turning to the purple-haired stranger who had initially ignored him and kept walking.
"Need a ride?" he called out.
The stranger finally turned, his face shadowed. "How much?"
"No price," the old man said, shaking his head. "A young lad like you shouldn't be out here alone. There are monsters lurking." He was oblivious that the person he spoke to was himself regarded as a monster.
The stranger was silent, weighing the offer.
"Where are you headed?" the stranger asked.
"Berlin Capital," the old man replied.
"Okay," the stranger said simply, as if any destination would do. He was a wanderer, famous precisely because he never stayed put long enough to be tracked.
He opened the carriage door.
"I just hope it won't be too cramped for you," the old man remarked.
The stranger climbed in, finding the space almost entirely consumed by stacked boxes. A sudden, familiar scent hit his nose—the rich, earthy smell of herbs and healing potions. It was a pharmacy's sweet-yet-pungent combination, and he didn't mind it. It was manageable, even if cramped. He took a moment to expertly re-stack the boxes, ensuring they wouldn't fall and break. Then, he shut the door with a solid thud.
The old man returned to the front, took the reins, and with a single flap, urged the horse forward.
Inside, the adventurer sighed, his face dull with exhaustion. He took a deep breath, preparing to sleep. But before succumbing to the fatigue, he whispered a private mantra.
"In every darkness, there is always light."
Finally, he allowed himself to fall asleep.
Right behind a tree the carriage had passed, a cloaked person sat on the ground, legs crossed in a posture of meditation. Then, the mind of the cloaked stranger suddenly withdrew, returning to its original body.
Far from that road, in a tower of a distant kingdom's castle, a beautiful blonde-haired woman named Lady Mirane sat on a large velvet couch beside a crackling fireplace. Her familiar, a furry white cat, purred in her lap as she stroked it gently. Facing her was her personal guard, Lisa, a young woman of similar age with luxurious white hair. Lisa was seated on the floor, also cross-legged and wearing a nightgown, her eyes closed in a deep trance.
Lisa's eyes snapped open as her consciousness returned. Lady Mirane leaned forward, excitement radiating from her.
"Lady Mirane, I found him," Lisa said.
Mirane shot up with a gasp of excitement. The sudden motion startled her familiar. The adorable white kitty, Merki, leaped from her lap and landed on all fours.
"Sorry, Merki," Mirane apologized.
"Meeoowwww," the cat complained, then stalked off, clearly annoyed, to find a more peaceful spot for a nap.
"I think she's mad," Lisa commented, referring to the cat.
"Come on, Lisa, tell me where he is!" Mirane urged. She had always wanted to meet him.
"He's on his way to Berlin," Lisa replied.
"Then follow him," Mirane commanded.
"He's in a carriage. There's no way my double will be able to catch up in time," Lisa said.
Mirane let out a dramatic sigh.
"If we can't get him to come to us, then we go to Berlin to get him!" She was truly excited now.
Lisa, the guard, remained silent for a beat. She was still confused. Why was the warrior princess so determined and willing to chase after a "lowly adventurer"? Though she'd witnessed his skills through her double and was impressed, it still didn't make sense. The Princess could summon powerful Magic Knights and Exorcists from every kingdom with a word to the King—so why choose this specific adventurer?
"Saddle up, Lisa, we're going to Berlin," Mirane said, yanking Lisa from her thoughts.
"What if we get there and he's already gone?" Lisa asked, playing devil's advocate.
"That's a good question," Mirane conceded, then smirked.
"Good thing I have an uncle there. Don't worry, he won't be going anywhere."
"In the meantime, call off your double. We leave right now," Mirane insisted.
"Wait, now?" Lisa asked, surprised.
"Yes, now. Get to packing!" Mirane said.
A sudden wave of sleepiness washed over Lisa. "YAWN. I need a nap," she mumbled.
Mirane quickly hauled her up from the ground. "You will nap in the carriage! Go!"
As Lisa turned to leave, Mirane gave her a playful slap on the rear.
"14 years of working with her, and I still don't understand her at all, or how her mind works,"
Lisa muttered to herself as she made her way to her room. Still, she decided to look on the bright side of this confusing mission.
"At least it'll feel like a vacation."