I turned back, and looked at the empty road ahead of us.
I'll ask her about it later.
I could see the end of the forest left of us in the far distance, having remembered that it was one of the places Mim told me about.
We're almost at the final crossroad, I just continued straight after taking the most southern road.
After a while I had finally reached the end of the forest.
It revealed another town bordering it—one similar to Lusd.
I would have loved to take a stop. I turned my head back, with the crossroad coming in sight.
There were two turns I could take, so I took the southwestern one—leading to the frontier.
I was whistling softly, unable to hear anybody speak.
How long has it been...
It had been silent for a long time already, with occasional snores or words that left Mim's mouth.
"Hmm..."
The roads were getting more level the further we moved away from Kage.
It's getting less tiring, and I can finally see ahead of me again.
The sun had started to drown away behind the forest, but the roads were lit up past the crossroad.
"Mim! Wake up, we're at the frontier." The walls had started to come in sight—announced by the torches that brightened the sky.
"Good morning, big brother-hh—" She stretched as she woke up.
"It's evening... so wake up, otherwise you won't be able to sleep later," I said, pointing at the sky we left behind.
"And I was wondering, are you ill or something—you're more tired than normal after all."
"N-no, uh... I just get tired, even when I do nothing... as if my body is always using energy."
"Please, let me know if something is wrong, okay?"
"Nothing is wrong! Don't worry so much~"
"I can't help it..." I said, scratching the back of my head.
"But why did you wake up? Did you miss me already?"
"No... yes, but look—the frontier that's why." I pointed my finger at the massive wall ahead of us.
"So I need you to help me talk."
She dropped herself onto the space next to me.
"So... I'm just needed since you can't hear people!? At least wake up because you feel alone!"
"But... you look so peaceful when you sleep—I didn't want to disturb you... sorry..."
"Hihi, I'm just joking!" Even in the darkness the hole in her teeth could be seen as she smiled.
"But wake me up next time! I want to talk more with you, big brother..." She hung her head slightly, lips pursed.
"Okay, okay. I promise to wake you up the next time you sleep—if that's what you want."
"Thank you~!" She said as she hugged me.
Would we be allowed to leave the city at this time? Karl was right about reaching Antoria at midnight...
As we reached the gates, both of us looked up, unable to see the end of the walls that towered over us.
"Good evening guards."
"Good evening..." The guard on our left greeted us back, while narrowing his eyes,
"Are the two of you travelling alone?" He raised an eyebrow beneath the helmet he wore.
"Yes, we are. We wish to go to Antoria." I said, handing him the note.
"So, you're here for an inn?"
"Yes, we need to get supplies for the inn our adoptive father runs." I smiled at the guard, feeling the eyes of Mim burn a hole in my back.
"Okay, but do you know what is going on in Antoria right now?"
"The tournament?" I raised my eyebrow as well.
"Yes, so we wouldn't recommend you to go there until after a week has passed."
"But it shouldn't be a problem, right? I'm capable of defending myself if it comes down to it." I twisted my body enough for the guard to see my sword.
"It's just a warning, but it's still permissible to go."
Phew... The thoughts of this ending our journey flashed by.
"Thank you very much for your worries, but it will be alright." I said, lowering my head as I brought my hand to my heart.
"I'm just doing my job, I wish you safe travels." He lowered his head back.
Pulled forward by the horse, we passed by the gate—finally entering our first city.
Mim sat next to me in silence, wearing a tense face that spoke a thousand words.
What will it look like, will it be similar to Lusd—just bigger?
As the lights reached our eyes, my questions had gotten answered.
It was something beyond our imagination, even the lights we saw from Kage were nothing compared to it.
But it was still a different light than that of Hanserath.
The streets were bright enough to seem like it was still daytime, with the noise I heard feeding that illusion.
Crowds filled the road that reached every corner in the city—with multiple roads as big as the one we arrived on.
"Can we please look around~?" She looked at me with big eyes that glistened as the light reflected on them.
"Uh... no... sorry, we need to reach Antoria—it will be as amazing, don't you think?!" My head bent down as I realized it.
I want to look around...
"Really~?"
I looked away from her eyes, and said,
"We need to reach it by tonight you know..."
Would looking around really be impossible...
All the lights surrounding us were pulling me in, illuminating the stone buildings. Between them walked people—different from those I had known.
Lots of people walked around in armor, while carrying a weapon around their hips.
While others wore similar clothing to that of Lusd, and a few that wore the same layered clothing we did.
So those are nobles... is there something that makes them different?
"We need to stop looking around, and continue..." I said, my back collapsed enough to resemble that of an old man.
"You want to stay as well!" She pointed her finger at my face.
I straightened my back in an instant, and said,
"N-no, I don't. What are you talking about?"
"I'll keep going down the road, if you can't hold it anymore, just close your eyes."
I looked down at the reins I held,
I'd have done the same...
I made sure to slow down—looking at the crowds filling the city—I went at less than half the speed we'd managed in Lusd.
It was almost like we stood still, while taking in everything surrounding us, with the lights almost blinding me.
I had almost missed the other carriages that passed over the center crossroad—connecting the four different gates.
I looked at the opposite gate, with the entire road lit up—just as much as before.
But only the main roads were this bright, the streets that peeked between the buildings were dim—even dimmer than Lusd.
Is the main road that important... is there nothing on the other streets then? I stared down the streets, trying to see anything.
I could see a few people walking on those streets, it looked peaceful—with the people wearing a smile on their faces.
"Why are you smiling?" Mim asked me, after her curiosity had won, making her open her eyes.
"This city is beautiful right?" I faced her with the same smile I held.
"Yes! It's so different from Kage."
"Yes, it really is... makes you forget it all a bit, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it really does... but I feel like I've forgotten something..."
I looked at her in silence, looking at her twiddling her thumbs.
"Maybe you're missing the moldy bread, hahaha."
"Hahaha, yes... maybe..." Her eyes shifted into the far distance—far beyond the gates or anything here.
Sorry... I looked away, at the road we moved on—the one that took us to our destination.
How long have we been here already? This is taking too long... I noticed the darkened sky, with the only light left being the one from the city.
Is it even safe to travel in the darkness... I thought back on what Karl was telling me,
Maybe I should have listened... I have never done it either...
With each thought the wall closed in, until the gate became clear—not disturbed by any light any longer.
"Mim get ready—just to be sure." I was unsure whether the same strategy would work again.
"Okay..." She responded, but with an empty voice—one different from the lively one.
"Good evening guards."
"Good evening..."
"Why are you travelling alone?"
It was already different from before, so I just handed him the note,
"This note should explain it right?"
"Yes, but why is a noble's son like you doing such tasks... and travelling alone?"
"Uh... we're not noble."
"How did you get such expensive clothes?" He tightened his grip on the spear.
"Someone gave it to us."
"Gave? Why would someone do that?"
"I don't know either... he isn't very trustworthy."
"That's not a nice thing to say." A different voice sounded.
"Yes, but it's the tru—" I turned around, realizing whose voice sounded.
"Eden, what are you doing here?!" My eyes slightly trembling as I looked at him.
"I told you that I'll be watching you, did I not?" He shone a grin on me.
"Don't worry guards, I was the one who provided them all of it."
"Who are you to do so?"
"I am ..." Eden said, as he stood face to face with the guard.
I turned towards Mim, but she had already closed her eyes as her head fell on my shoulder.
He brought his hand to the guard's shoulder and whispered something.
As Eden stepped back, I could see the guard trembling—almost dropping the spear he held.
"Sorry, E-eden. I won't bother them anymore." The guard had straightened his back, but kept his head lowered.
Who is this guy...
"Thank you, sir—have a nice evening."
"Wait, are there dangers I need to keep in mind?"
"Of course not. The independent country of Antoria, is clean of all evil." The guard responded with a slight grin on his lifted head as Eden walked back already.
"Thank you very much." I nodded my head and continued.
How was he there at the perfect time... I tensed my face together, but there was nothing that I could think off.
Like the guard said, nothing could be found—on the maintained, and well lit roads.
Sigh... when we finally arrive, I'll dive into bed. I side-eyed the girl who leaned on my shoulder.
I continued down the road in silence,
Until my silence got interrupted.