“Just thinking about how far we’ve come feels really odd, doesn’t it?” I said as I gazed at the fork in the road. Up until now the full caravan had been on the same route, but we were splitting here. It was decided that we would take a break here to say our goodbyes before parting ways, as well as to check up on our supplies. We weren’t even in the forest yet, although we would be there soon.

Elm draped his arm over my shoulders and joined me in observing the paths. Both of us had been seated on the dirt as the other members of the caravan talked with each other and said their goodbyes.

There’s really nothing assuring the other that this won’t be the last time they see them.

It was a depressing thought, but death had been constantly hanging over our heads the entire time. I’d nearly died on multiple occasions, as had Elm and everyone else in the caravan. When that constant fear of death would end, I had no idea. Living in Corith truly was a contradiction. You were living on the edge of a place known for its deadliness, yet it was also one of the least dangerous places to live. At least, before Arlin decided to invade.

“It’s pretty impressive. Didn’t really think I’d be alive at this point, in all fairness. I’d be dead if you hadn’t figured out healing.” Elm remarked. “I think you’ll be fine. You’ve got good people around you… something I didn’t have.”

“Huh. I thought Arlin was good about those types of things.”

Elm scoffed at my apparently naive response. “It ain’t that simple. Arlin, we just did it because it was war. Sure, people specialized in skills, but they were loyal to something much bigger. That was something you had to build. I tried, and I’m sure I had a few people like Mell or… well there’s not really anybody like Ruby, but that doesn’t matter. The main thing is that the people who are working with you are doing so because of you and what you believe in. Loyalty to an Emperor doesn’t mean jack shit.”

The Emperor…

“You’ve met the Emperor of Arlin, right?”

I could see Elm smile as he nodded.

“Yeah, I sure did. Two of them. The Third and Fourth. Only met the third one once, but I talked with the fourth a couple times. They were some odd people. Third was… well I wouldn’t call him the sharpest. He could give a good speech every once in a while but there’s no way he could write one himself. He seemed pretty dependent on all his advisors from what I heard. He got executed for treason thanks to the shit that went down in Uril. Took a while, but the court finally grew some balls and decided to remove him. The fourth, the current one… I’d say he’s ambitious. Had some big ideas and was pretty reckless with how he pushed them. I respected him at the time, since he wanted to help out his people. He definitely loved Arlin, that’s for sure. Last time I met him, I was pretty sure he was younger than Alex.”

“The person running Arlin is that young?” I exclaimed in shock. I always thought the Emperor would be around Elm’s age, or at least as old as Galen.

“North, you’re not really in a position to talk about people being young.”

Fair.

“Do you still respect them?”

Elm placed his hand on his chin, having to think over the question. The fact that he was willing to answer questions like this showed just how much our relationship had changed in such a short period of time.

“A bit. He’s got good goals, and is struggling against the pieces of shit called the court, but he doesn’t have anything really holding him back personally. He’d murder thousands if it made the lives of people in Arlin better. Hell, he’s the reason I was sent to the camps in the first place. Without him, I’d be dead. But the fact that he allows for the mines to exist for the sake of Arlin… that’s something I can never forgive. The way he used my creation is a sin that I don’t think he has the ability to recognize. Even if he does, I don’t think it gives him any pause.”

It was weird, thinking of my mentor’s connections with the people at the top. The idea of this older gentleman with salt and pepper hair meeting the leader of Arlin was surreal.

Will I have to fight him?

I’d basically declared war on all of Arlin, and he was the leader of Arlin. He was so distant and hard to envision that calling him my enemy felt wrong.

“He’s not worth thinking about right now. You’ve got a lot more problems.” He patted me on the shoulder. “And I’ve got to worry about Karla.”

Both of us glanced at Karla, happily talking with Ruby and Mell. Ruby had grown somewhat attached to the girl even when we knew it wouldn’t last. From the second I had walked out of the camp, I was determined to return the girl back to her home. Lucky for us, her home was on the route to the western camp. The only thing I could do at this point was hope that her family was still alive. It was a dark thought, but the Empire didn’t have many qualms about killing families.

“It’s funny. People keep wondering if I’m your kid, but I’d say that Karla looks a lot more like you.” It was an easy connection, as both of them had dark black hair. She even had a similar nose if you squint hard enough.

Galen did say that he fucked around a lot, although Elm had emphasized that he hadn’t done it in Corith. Does make me wonder…

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“I see that look on your face. I don’t know if I’ve got any offspring running around out there, but I really fucking hope not. Arlin isn’t opposed to punishing the children of those that they deem to be criminals.” Elm sighed before taking a swig of the canteen hanging at his hip. “I don’t need anything else hanging on my conscience.”

“Yeah, because I’m already giving you enough of a headache ruining your life’s work, right?”

We both laughed.

“I think it’s best we should get on the move. Looks like everyone else has said their goodbyes.”

Elm took his time getting up and I slowly followed suit until we stood across from each other. We were at the center of the fork, myself on the east and him on the west. It was a straight shot from our location to the camp, while his route would be a winding road full of weird stops. I was finally separating from the man who had given me the information I needed to survive. Without him, none of the caravan would have been standing here.

A childish part of me screamed that it was bad to separate. That I should keep Elm with me instead of splitting. I knew that part was wrong. Even though he had gotten me this far, I couldn’t rely on him forever. It was my rebellion, and my war. I couldn’t just hope that he would save me at every turn.

“Well, I guess this is it. Stay safe kid, and make sure it hurts for them.” Elm exclaimed with a rare smile. The entire caravan was watching us now.

Time to ruin my reputation, I guess.

I took in a deep breath and hugged onto the man, wrapping my arms around his back. It took him by surprise, but he slowly gave into it and patted me on the back.

“Don’t die on me, old man.” I softly whispered with my face in his chest. I was glad I wasn’t crying this time, even though I really wanted to.

“I’ll try. Now get moving. You’ve got a camp to burn.”

We separated, and I began to walk over to the two carts we had selected and prepared for our journey. It was time to go.

***

Elina watched as the two embraced, and felt torn. North and Elm had a unique bond.

Elm was an old soldier, and a refined one at that. Elina had good hearing and had gotten the general story behind his position in the camps. Major Grayson was a name she’d heard before back in Irebor on several occasions, and always with either distaste or respect. Meeting the man in person and seeing his conviction and knowledge, Elina fell towards the latter. His past had surely stopped him from taking charge for the majority of the journey, but it was clear that his skills had far from diminished. The stories of his magic often described him as being able to tear down entire castles just with his attunement. While this was obviously not the case, his skill made it understandable how one could jump to such a conclusion.

And then there was North. She had followed him out of respect, but now was following him out of duty. An Irebor warrior who deserted was as good as dead, and she didn’t want to face the punishment of taking such a sinful action. No, she refused to be like him.

That pathetic swordsman. His skill with a blade was true, but honor lost is not something that can be gained just by sucking up to someone empathetic. Death would have been a good fate for him, but she knew that was impossible at the moment. The best she could hope for was for the man to die in battle. It was an honorable death that he had no rightful claim to, but it would at least put her mind at peace.

For now, she was free from that deserter and that coward Corithian. It was not as though she wished any ill will upon them, but it put a significant weight off of her shoulders. She smiled, knowing that the combat she desired would soon be at hand. It would be glorious.

Elm began to make his way over to her and yelled to start moving down their road. He moved beside her, and she matched his pace.

“You look a lot happier than most.” Elm commented as they began to watch the other caravan disappear. “Don’t tell me you’re hoping that deserter dies.”

She shook her head, causing her steel colored locks to swirl in the breeze.

“A deserter deserves to die by Ireborian hands. Even if his death is foretold, it should be one at the hands of a true soldier or in the sacrifice of another. I believe he plans on doing the latter one for North.” Elina admitted. Self sacrifice was a virtue that Irebor always extolled onto its soldiers, and she believed that Wanderer held onto that belief as well.

“Great. Another person with a death wish.” He bemoaned.

Are you sure you’re in any position to say that?

“Why did you choose to take a leadership role finally? I thought you had moved on from that, Major.”

Elm glared at her, clearly unhappy that she had called him by the title he had chosen to leave behind. He eventually managed to calm himself and take a deep breath before answering.

“My past is something I don’t enjoy returning to, no matter how much it tries to drag me back to it. But… I guess I realized that it was best to do it now. We’re too deep for me to start holding everyone back.” His shoulders slumped slightly.

Elina took a deep breath, feeling the cold air. Irebor’s grassy savannas were never like this, so she only truly got to experience winters after she was put into the camps.

“Just hope the camp’s reinforcements aren’t too heavy.” Elm said, biting his lip.

As long as the fight is glorious, I couldn’t care how defended they are.

Taking a look at her jubilant face, Elm groaned. “Oh for fucks sake. Could you at least try not to look happy about that?”

“I already said I chose to follow you for a reason, right?”

The duo walked in silence for a bit, listening to the swaying trees. Something inside of her told them they were getting closer to the true forest of Corith.

“Do you expect him to do well?” She unabashedly asked, breaking the silence.

“You Ireborians really don’t do subtlety, do you? And I’m praying that he’ll be fine, but you can never know. He’s surrounded by good people, and that eases my mind a bit. Plus, we’ve got our own shit to worry about.”

That was something she could agree on. They were about to be walking for a while through the most dangerous forest on the continent. Where most would be absolutely terrified, Elina couldn’t help but feel extremely giddy. The images of battle on the roads and the horrors of forest only filled her with excitement. She was to be drenched in Arlinian blood as she torched them to a crisp. The only thing that was holding her back was Elm, and he was experienced enough to understand how to use such a warrior as her.

What lay out in front of her on the road was a dream, and nobody was going to hold her back from living it.