Smith proceeded to enter his carriage once more, leaving Folzia sanctuary. Emrys kept looking back for the right time to make his run under the carriage to go along with Smith.
The carriage started to move, and the rocks beneath it shook as the large brown horse moved it. Emrys’ sharp eyes looked back and he dashed it.
Shit! I didn’t expect it to be this fast!
The carriage was moving at large speeds as the golden light started to fade away. Emrys was still behind the carriage, his footsteps being unheard because of how loud the horse’s footsteps were. As they left north the border of Folzia sanctuary, they soon entered the second wealthiest sanctuary, the Gagraoca sanctuary.
The Gagraoca sanctuary was mainly made of the noble family heads, many of the ‘important’ people from the Titlantian empire resided here to control land. Emrys despised the Gagraoca sanctuary, but not as much as the Osnoca sanctuary.
As they ran, Emrys finally caught up to the carriage’s back, he’d grab one of the levers of the carriage and start to make his descent downward.
Emrys’ breath carried a scent of relief, but now came the tough part. Navigating through the bottom of the carriage, it was dangerous to say the least. If he makes a small mistake he could lose one of his body parts and even his life.
The wheels were moving at rapid speeds so Emrys had to carry on the bottom structures of the carriage for the entire ride. If he tries to take a break he could easily get run over by the speedy wheels.
…
It had already been two hours, and Emrys’ hands were starting to get sore. It wasn’t humanly possible to hold on moving metal for so long.
I feel like I’m going to die…
The eventual moving wheels came to a halt, Emrys opened his eyes trying to make out a vision of what he was seeing. He saw the roots of trees as leaves fell from them. It was already nightfall, and he could see outside of a large house.
Where the hell did Smith even come…?
Emrys tried to stay hidden under the carriage until he felt assured that Smith had left him. A large thud could be heard as Smith left his carriage, awaiting a person to take it away.
In a state of panic, Emrys hastily disentangled his hands from the metal, narrowly avoiding the carriage's path as he scrambled out onto the ground. He looked up, his eyes catching the moonlight glinting off the massive estate before him.
The grandeur of the mansion's architecture left Emrys awestruck; it was unlike anything he had ever laid eyes on. Towering above him were the majestic arched windows, each intricately designed with ornate frames that seemed to whisper tales of a bygone era.
As Emrys regained his footing, he brushed off the dirt that now clung to his clothes, taking a moment to survey his surroundings. The mansion was encircled by tall fences, a rare sight in the typically open sanctuaries of Vernalia. The imposing barriers added an aura of exclusivity and mystery to the already impressive estate.
He soon realized that they were still on the premises of Gagraoca sanctuary.
This place, out of all, has fences?
There was one more obstacle Emrys had to pass to see what Smith’s true intentions were.
How do I get in this house now…?
Emrys first observed his surroundings, making sure he wasn’t near anyone. He’d first try to slowly open the door in front of him. it didn’t work since it was locked. If he were to make any noise at this point, he would be doomed.
What do I do now…
Wait!
The person taking the carriage away should be coming soon, and the horse is still here… meaning Smith will come out any second! That's my opening!
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Emrys quickly evades the horse's cries as it awaits to be taken. He quickly runs through the green bushes, now darkened under the trees. His footsteps make subtle crunching sounds, but quiet enough to not be heard. He almost reaches the corner of the mansion, then quickly crouches to stay hidden.
From his theories, he was right. Smith did open the door as a mysterious man came in. However, Emrys was wrong in another part. The man wasn’t a coachman, trying to take the horse. It was a soldier.
More importantly, this soldier was familiar to Emrys. It was none other than the drunken soldier at the diner.
Emrys started to sweat, his black hair, covered beneath a hat wooshed in the wind. He started to breathe heavily, fearing his life may be in danger.
All he could hear were the murmurs coming from them as they talked outside, as the wind got faster he eventually got in.
Because Emrys was scared he forgot to keep the door open to allow him to sneak into the mansion.
You're kidding me!
As Emrys calmed his panic, he noticed that there was another window that allowed him to see Smith and the drunken soldier. He watches them closely as they moved their mouths, but he couldn’t understand anything since he couldn’t hear them. Emrys was frustrated, there was no way to enter or go back home. What could he do?
Think! Think! Think!
Soon, another man started to approach the mansion, he was wearing clothes that seemed very dirty. He didn’t approach the door but instead the horse.
He was a coachman.
If Emrys could properly plan out his movements, he could probably go home. He didn’t want this though. He wanted to find out what kind of magical powers the drunken man was talking about. More importantly, he wanted to find out what Smith was up to.
The coachman started to leave, but as soon as he did Smith quickly approached the door to check if everything was fine. It was Emrys’ chance to enter!
He silently approached the door, trying to evade Smith’s gaze as he looked outside.
“Seems like we’re good to start now,” Smith said as he looked outside.
He went to shut the door, but in a slight second, Emrys used the last bit of stamina he had to slide down to hold the door open just before it closed.
“Shall we head down?” The drunken man said.
“Of course Paul, you can go now and I’ll follow.”
Paul. It was the drunken man’s name.
Oh right! He did tell me his name that time…
As they left the room, Emrys couldn’t see what was happening but he was mesmerized by the sky. The stars gleaming in the moonlight. He smiled.
I have to stop getting distracted!
Emrys stood up, still holding the door, he opened it with a soft demeanor trying to have as little noise as possible. His heart started to pound harder and harder. Sweat dripped from his face as he softly closed the door.
Emrys took in the opulent details of the room, a stark contrast to the modesty of his home in Folzia sanctuary. The sanctuary they were in boasted a wealth and sophistication that was immediately apparent in every aspect of the decor.
The walls were adorned with intricately woven tapestries depicting scenes of grandeur and historical significance. Rich velvet drapes hung from the large windows, their deep crimson hue complementing the dark wood paneling that adorned the walls.
A grand chandelier hung from the ornate ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow that danced off the polished marble floors below. The furniture was elegantly crafted, with plush upholstered chairs and sofas arranged around a marble fireplace, its mantelpiece adorned with delicate figurines and fine china.
In one corner of the room, a grand piano stood proudly, its polished wood gleaming in the soft light. Nearby, a mahogany writing desk was adorned with quill pens, inkwells, and leather-bound books, a testament to the intellectual pursuits of the room's inhabitants.
Emrys couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonderment at the sheer luxury and refinement of the room. It was a world apart from the simplicity of his sanctuary, a place where wealth and privilege were on full display in every exquisite detail.
Damn nobles.
He slowly approached the basement stairs where Smith and Paul were headed to. His sharp brown eyes looked at them as Paul tried to open the eerie basement door.
Emrys’ hands started to shake.
“Let's go in now,” Paul said, smiling. This wasn’t a normal smile, it was a smile with dangerous intent.
As they both entered the basement, Paul would look back once more trying to make sure nobody was there.
Even though he’s a soldier, he's quite a dumb one.
Emrys slowly ventured down to the ominous steps, and he opened a little creak through the doorway. He noticed that the basement was very dull, there was barely anything except a table and some things that he couldn’t identify.
Please… Smith… don’t tell me you're up to something dangerous…
Emrys watched as they got started.