We passed by a number of rocks similar to the one we ran over before, but they were off to the side of the dirt trail. No one was attacking us…

I sat at the open edge or the carriage with my legs dangling about. “Hey Cerina was that lady really powerful?”

“Of course! I can’t believe you didn’t feel it! Unless Melody you have no fear!” Cerina brought her hands to her mouth.

“I don’t think it’s quite like that Cerina. I think Melody is just insanely strong.” Frey said as he steered the horses.

“Yea yea I know Melody has a unique form of magic that certainly is very strong, but watch!” Cerina scooped me from behind.

“Hey-mmhmmhm”

Cerina placed one hand over my mouth. She used the other hand to turn me to the front of the carriage. I balled both of my hands and playfully struggled about.

“You see! Melody defeated!” Cerina cheerfully smiled.

“….” Frey silence, and his ‘wut’ face was all that was needed for Cerina to start laughing. She released me and held her stomach. I didn’t know what was so funny. I had just been forcibly held. And restricted of my songs, but I didn’t feel anger liker I thought I would. I didn’t feel in danger, but rather a sense of joy.

“Well What if I do this!”

♪I Sing to Bind this laughing Idiot in-♪ My song was interrupted by a lighting fast swirl of chestnuts and silver.

“I caught a Melody again!” Cerina held me from behind. Her Silver armor was cutting into me a little.

“See Frey, Melody isn’t a threat once you know a little bit about her.” She tickled me in her embrace.

“mmhh! Haahwawha” my laughter erupted.

“Also she can’t sing if she’s laughing to much!” Cerina’s fingers moved faster as she started laughing as well. Cerina I’ll get you!

I shifted all my weight backwards and tumbled on top of her. We both breathed heavily from laughing too much.

-------------------------------------------

“Hey it looks like that’s the end of the Deadwood!” Cerina spotted in the distance. The ominous trees seemed to end up ahead. What was beyond was a big metal fence.

“What’s that Frey!” I pointed at the gigantic metal wall that stretched for about 3 miles.

“That Melody, is Forinch. It’s the midpoint between Cervana and Aperian. It’s apparently the place where the ruler of the city summoned the famed hero. And that hero is a real genius. I was told he could build things that can rival magic.”

“So There’s Advanced Tech here too! That’s sounds fun let’s go!” I Pointed towards the big steel wall again. While being a Celestial I’ve heard about technological advanced planets. But for both worlds to have both. This sounds interesting!

Both fools had confused looks on their faces. I just smiled at them.

“There is a problem though. Forinch is extremely weary of outsiders. It is said to have many tools that could do non-human things like magic, but without the cost. It’s no wonder other nations would want to know their secrets. So far no one hasn’t been able to take them over or find out their secrets. I’m very curious about it. But realistically I don’t think we are going to get in.” Frey’s face gradually grew glum.

“So how are we going to pass!’ Cerina started dangling her legs next to Frey.

“Well Forinch is built over a canyon. We can just go around it. We’d have to go through the canyon. It’d be more dangerous, but there really isn’t another option. Frey’s tone held a hint of sadness.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“No I wanna see! Frey Just say you are Aperia-Whatever royalty!” I stammered. I started to shake his shoulders from behind.

“Stop that Melody! Your agitating the horses!” Frey gave the reigns to Cerina, and pulled my arms around his chest and held them. Awww He’s got me! I struggled for a bit.

“Melody I don’t think being Ex-Royalty means anything to them. I think that would be more of a reason to keep me out.” Frey let go of my arms.

“Ouch” I stumbled backwards to the carriage.

“So who do they let in Frey?” Cerina questioned.

“I’m not sure… We can always try though.” Frey shrugged his shoulders.

A couple minutes later we reached the huge metal wall.

“…” Cerina sharply turned her head to the back of the carriage.

“Cerina are you ok?” Frey stopped the carriage.

“uhhh Yea… I got the feeling like someone was watching us.” Cerina scanned that dead forest behind us. Once the sceptic Cerina couldn’t find anyone she directed her attention to the guard in front of us.

“Well what brings you folk here” A man in black armor pushed a few buttons on his

arm and a couple of red beams directed themselves across the carriage.

“We-we are just travelers looking for safe passage to Aperian.” Frey answered truthfully. The guard pushed more buttons and the beams started moving in a sweeping motion.

“You don’t appear to have anything out of the ordinary, But I’m sorry we don’t let just travelers enter. You can take the path to the right. It should lead to the canyon. You can make it through there.” The guard started moving back to his post.

“Wait!” I Jumped out from the carriage.

“Hm…” The guard turned back around.

I pointed at Frey. “You see this fellow is a merchant’s son, and this person is an excellent knight.”

I twirled around in front of everybody. “As you can see we are highly capable and of use to For-Pinch”

“Forinch” Frey Nudged me.

“Forinch” I connected my hands and pulled them down, and looked up at the guard with my bottom lip pulled down a bit. Cerina brought her palm to her face.

“Then what are you?” The guard gestured at me. I’m happy you asked!

“I am the magnificent beautiful Melody!” I jumped in the air and raised both of my hands up. Surely you would want to let me in now!

Now both of my idiot fools brought their palms to their faces. Why the facepalm! This will surely get us in.

“So the canyon entrance is over there.” He pointed to his right. WHAT! How Dare he! Frey pulled an angry Melody to the side.

“Hey Melody can’t you use your songs to get us in.”

“My Songs can definitely do something to that guard!” I glared at him. Ahh! He shrugged me off!

“Calm down Melody. Doing harm to him won’t do any good.” Frey massaged my shoulders.

“What else can your songs do?”

“ I can teleport us inside.”

“Teleport! can’t you just get us to Aperian!” Frey said in frustrated whisper.

“I can… but I wanna see this place.” I said weakly pointing my finger at the metal gate. Of course magic is cool and all. But I’ve see that! I want to see something new! Also it’s not like technology has hurt me yet, unlike magic…

“Well… I feel like if you were to teleport in there, we’d probably get kicked out really fast-”

“Hey you two! Move aside we have cargo coming today. Go follow your friend.” The guard pointed to Cerina, who was already steering the carriage towards the canyon entrance.

“Cerina!” Me and Frey ran up to her.

“What! He’s not going to let us in.”

“Ah!” Frey tripped over a rock.

“Pfffft” I held my mouth trying my best to hold in my laughter.

“Here let me help.” I helped him up. His grey cloak got a little dirty. Frey looked at his hands to see small cuts on them.

“Don’t worry your dependable goddess is here!” I exclaimed while pointing at his wounds.

♪ I sing this song to heal the baby wounds of this fool♪

“Did you really have to call me a fool….” Frey slumped over.

“I’m just being honest!” I smiled back at him. He turned away flustered. HA! He still can’t look at me properly, but sometimes he can? I remembered how he was in the Marnor estate. He took command, and wasn’t teasable at all. I guess he can do it when it counts. Hey When did Cerina get so far!

“CERRRINNNAAA WAITTTT!”

“No your to slooow!” She called back.

“Hey I need back up! The cargo is under attack by bandits!” The guard signaled

“Hey you two! You want passage through right? Down the road is a cargo delivery. Hold off the bandits and I’ll see to it that you can pass through.” The guard immediately turned his back to get help.

I signaled Cerina, and told her we could get through.

“But, Melody if the mage is there I’m not sure we could do anything.”

Well I could do many things to ‘even the odds’ but I kind of want to see how things will play out. Ergo always says I should be more of observer, and not an instigator. I tend to do the latter, if observing gets less entertaining. But this is different. I will intervene if any of these fools are in danger. I also want to see what my idiot companions look like when they struggle.

“Come on this might be our only shot!”

“It’s also a lot safer than going the canyon route!” Frey chimed in. For someone who is aware of this mage’s power Frey seems deadest on going to Forinch.

“Alright but if we see that mage we are running away.”

“Yup I’ll teleport us away!” I jumped up and hugged Cerina. Of course you’ll fight a little won’t you Cerina.