Aurelius soared across the grasslands astride the Elven horse. They had been traveling for about three days since leaving the capital and were making good time. According to the headmaster, they would reach their first rest stop, the city of Chrace, in about a day.
The journey had been relatively uneventful so far, with the group primarily encountering natural obstacles like winding paths and steep hills.
Contrary to his initial reservations, Aurelius had quickly adapted to riding the Elven horse, finding their smooth gait surprisingly comfortable.
As if on queue, Valen yelled out, breaking the silence of the group.
“No wonder, the Elven cavalry have been infamous for their inability to sire children! It’s been only three days and my crotch area already feels numb,” Valen yelled out, readjusting his seat upon the horse.
Aurelius couldn't help but chuckle at Valen's complaint. "Just give it some time."
Valen shot him a disgruntled look but didn't push the issue further.
Despite the group Aurelius was riding with, he had been very much alone with his own thoughts throughout the journey. For the most part, Aurelius had been rethinking his words and the events that had gone on in his council meeting.
In a way, Aurelius knew that he had been played by the High Priest.
He had been thrust into a dangerous mission far sooner than he had anticipated, and it seemed that the High Priest had strategically placed him in a position where refusal would be seen as negligence or cowardice. Aurelius had sensed the manipulation behind the proposition, and yet, he couldn't deny the urgency of the situation. It was a proposition that he simply could not refuse, not without the potential deaths of thousands.
It made Aurelius take a moment to reflect for a second. When he had first been selected as a Chosen, Aurelius might not have cared for the thousands of deaths his actions had indirectly or directly caused.
However, in the short time since he had been thrust into this role, Aurelius had gained a new perspective. The weight of his decisions was heavier than ever before, and he couldn't ignore the impact his actions could have on the world around him.
Yet, at the same time, Aurelius’ revelation about the world he was in — no, the game — gave him pause.
In the end, did it really matter?
From what Aurelius pieced together from Augustus, the world he had thought he somewhat knew was simply a battle royale created by the universe to control the number of gods. If that was the case, did any of the lives of the High Elven citizens really matter? Were the High Elves ever truly alive or were they just pawns in a large game? Was he truly alive?
Aurelius stopped himself before he continued to dig deep into that existential rabbit hole. There were a lot of questions Aurelius still had unanswered from Augustus. However, one thing was clear. As Aurelius looked at Valen, a friend who, despite the relatively short time they had known each other, Aurelius had come to share memories with and rely on, Aurelius realized that, ultimately, perhaps the answer to those questions didn’t really matter. No matter whether or not Valen was merely a pawn in a larger universal game, Aurelius was sure that he would do everything in his power to protect himself and others he cared about. In more than one way, the bonds Aurelius had formed were real to him. And that was enough.
As they continued their journey, Aurelius found his mind wandering to the city of Alerial. He had never been there before, or any major city outside the capital. He wondered what Alerial would be like. How different would it be from the capital? What kind of people would he meet there? These thoughts offered a welcome distraction from the weight he was shouldering.
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As they rode on, the landscape began to change. The grasslands gave way to dense forests, the sunlight filtering through the leaves above. The air grew cooler, and the sound of rustling leaves reached his ears. Aurelius took in the natural beauty around him, the serenity of the forest offering a stark contrast to the chaos of their mission.
The headmaster led them along a well-trodden path, his knowledge of the terrain evident in the way he navigated through the forest. Instructor Donovan rode close to Aurelius, his presence a silent reassurance. Despite the man's gruff exterior, Aurelius had come to respect his dedication to duty and the way he carried himself. Donovan's actions spoke louder than his words, and that was something Aurelius admired.
Valen, on the other hand, seemed to be completely in his element, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in the forest. He occasionally peppered the headmaster with questions about various plants, animals, and the history of the region. His excitement was infectious, and it brought a certain levity to their journey.
After a few more hours of riding, the headmaster signaled for them to stop. They had reached a small clearing beside a gently flowing stream. It was a perfect spot to rest for the night and a chance to replenish their supplies.
Aurelius dismounted from his horse, stretching his legs and taking a deep breath of the fresh forest air. Valen practically leaped off his horse, his eyes scanning the area with curiosity.
"Let's set up a perimeter and make sure we're not in any immediate danger. Aurelius, Valen, please help gather firewood and fetch water from the stream."
Instructor Donovan immediately went to work, setting up a perimeter and securing the area. A fire was started, and tents were pitched. Meanwhile, Aurelius grabbed an empty water flask from his spatial storage, a trick the group was used to by now, and headed toward the stream with Valen in tow.
As they filled their flasks with water, Valen glanced at Aurelius with a thoughtful expression.
"You seem pretty deep in thought," Valen said, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Is it about the mission or something else?"
Aurelius glanced at Valen and then out at the stream, a faint smile touching his lips. "Just reflecting on the journey so far and the decisions I've made."
Valen nodded in understanding, leaning against a nearby tree. "It's a lot to take in, isn't it? For me it is, I don’t know about you since you're the Chosen and everything — I still am having a hard time believing that. But, I mean, one moment I’m an academy student, and the next I’m embroiled in this epic quest to save a city with my roommate who I thought was normal."
Aurelius chuckled softly, finding Valen's perspective oddly refreshing. "You make it sound like something out of a bard's tale."
Valen shrugged, his expression turning more serious. "Well, isn't that kind of what it is? We're here, riding through the heart of a forest, on a mission to save a city from the clutches of some guy who sounds evil. Sounds pretty epic to me."
Aurelius looked at Valen for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "You know, you have an interesting way of looking at things, Valen. I know people have said it before, but your enthusiasm really is contagious."
Valen grinned, his eyes lighting up. "I've always been a dreamer, I guess. Reading all those books about heroic quests and legendary adventures, it's hard not to get caught up in the idea of it all."
Aurelius nodded, understanding where Valen was coming from. "Well, I think you might be onto something. Maybe viewing this as an epic quest can help us face the challenges ahead with a different perspective."
As they finished filling their flasks with water, Aurelius and Valen made their way back to the clearing. The headmaster and Instructor Donovan had set up a perimeter, their expressions focused and alert.
"We're clear for now," Instructor Donovan reported, his gaze lingering on the dense forest around them. "But we should remain vigilant."
Aurelius nodded, taking a seat within their makeshift perimeter. Valen and the headmaster did so as well, preparing to make a campfire.
Given the pause, Aurelius decided to voice one of the thoughts surfacing through his head.
“Headmaster? What do you know of Alerial and the army that is supposedly preparing to head towards it?”
The headmaster paused in his task, his expression growing somber. "I don’t know too much about the city of Alerial specifically. All I know is that it is, or maybe was, a significant trade city because it was positioned at the convergence of several important trade routes in the north.”
He sighed, his gaze distant as if he were recalling memories. "As for the army, I don’t have much news besides the fact that we know there is some buildup of force within the recently captured city of Silverhaven. I am going to receive the latest reports and news once we hit the city of Chrace, however."
Aurelius absorbed the information, his mind racing as he visualized the scene.
As they settled around the campfire, their discussion shifted to more practical matters — plans for reaching Chrace, strategies for dealing with potential threats, and considerations for when they arrived in Alerial.