“Look, I know how important getting revenge on this guy is to you. Really, I do. But do you really think you should be neglecting your responsibilities as…uh, you know what I mean?” A boy with curly green hair muttered to his companion, a tall gentleman wearing a hat resembling a turtle shell.
“I do.” The taller man muttered back. “I need to make sure Banjoko’s bloodline is completely dead before I can rest. You’ve seen first-hand what that locket can do; do you really think we should just let that kid run around with it?”
“Keep it down!” The green haired man whispered yet shouted at the same time, glancing around the room frantically to see if anyone had heard. Most of the people there were aristocrats of respectable birth, chatting around the elevated platform at the center of the room as they waited in their seats; they didn’t seem to be too interested in whatever two seemingly ‘low-born’ teenagers had to say. “Of course, I know. I want the Creshuns to die just as badly as you do, Naadi. But you need to grow up already; we have responsibilities. Let the Magic Council take care of it!”
“You want me to entrust this task to those old gasbags?” Naadi snapped back. “You know just as well as I do, they can’t get anything done, and you’d suggest I leave the fate of the Northern Lands in their hands? Araum, are you dense or what?”
“Well-” Ara um wracked his brain trying to think of a smart comeback, and shortly after gave up and sighed. “Guess you’re right there. Still, you’re the only one left eligible to be King; the whole palace is probably in disarray trying to figure out where the hell you are!”
“Worry not. I haven’t just been wandering aimlessly. I’ve been steadily building my reputation all over the lands by doing chivalrous deeds; I’ll come back when the time is right and claim the throne.” Naadi said.
“Hm?” Araum coiled a strand of his curly hair around his finger as he thought. “Wait, what does that have to do with your coronation? Can’t you just return and claim the throne without having to do all of that?”
“In theory, yes. But I’ll have no true power; the Magic Council holds all of the power. When I return, I want to make it clear that just as my father did, I will hold most of the power. And to do that, I have to build the support of the people, so that they’ll back me when I reorganize the Magic Council. And you’ll have to replace your grandfather as the Lord of Aria. '' Naadi explained to Araum, who let out a great sigh. The Magic Council was made up of four lords, each belonging to one of the four elite noble families that owned the various fiefdoms of the Northern Lands. Araum belonged to the Aria Family and was the grandson of the current Lord of Aria, making him next in line to become the new Lord of Aria.
“As ambitious as ever, Naadi. Well, since you’re here I’ll at least accompany you to the Epe Forest!” Araum said, and the two cast their gaze on a dark shadow that had been cast over the platform. The nobles began to rise to their feet in awe as a giant, frog-like structure descended from the sky, falling through the hole in the ceiling of the building, and landing firmly onto the elevated platform. The frog-like structure’s mouth opened up, a staircase falling from its mouth and onto the ground. From within the entrance of the frog’s mouse, the conductor stood, waving at the waiting nobles.
“Good afternoon, everyone! I’ll be the conductor of this Hleapan, and for those of you unfamiliar with riding on Hleapans, I shall give you some brief advice!” The conductor said, clearing his throat. “One, make sure to stay seated at all times during the ride. Two, do not bring any food or beverages with you; although the ride will be mostly stable, accidents can frequently happen. Three, do not try to stick any limbs out of the window. And now with that out of the way, welcome on board!”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Finally, Naadi thought, shoving his way to the start of the line as Araum trailed behind him, apologizing to the disgruntled nobles. I’ve had enough waiting. I’m coming for you, Locket-Bearer. As he walked into the Hleapan’s mouth, he found that the inside of the structure was rather well spacious and well furnished; several portraits of his father, King Naadi I with his signature grimace, hung along the wall. Though, now that he was on his way to finally rid the world of the Orian Locket, his father’s grimace was especially personal as if he were telling his son to not screw this up.
Sitting down on one of the several chairs lined up against the walls, he waited for the last of the nobles to enter the Hleapan, and watched as the conductor, and several other members of the crew walked to the center of the room. Simultaneously, placing their hands on a floating blue orb, the Hleapan began to violently shake and shudder before leaping high into the air just as a frog would, except with far much power. Originally a magical beast, it’d been killed, converted into a transportation device with magic, then mass-reproduced, although Hleapans were still a fairly rare transportation method.
“We should do this more often next time you swing by!” Araum grinned at Naadi, who nodded silently, and plucked a book out from a nearby shelf, flipping it open and reading as the Hleapan hopped up and down the lands towards their destination.
~~~
A couple hours later, they’d still not arrived at their destination. They’d made what seemed like dozens of different stops at all sorts of different locations, picking up more and more nobles. Naadi was starting to seriously question whether he should have just taken a horse to the Epe Forest. “Araum, I thought you said this was the fastest Hleapan in the Northern Lands?”
“It is! I don’t know why it’s so slow today- usually it’s like- whoosh!” Araum gestured grandly with his arms.
“I’ve seen actual frogs move faster than this.” Naadi muttered, and then reached out, catching the wrist of one of the conductors who was walking by. “Hey, you.”
“Hm?” The conductor turned to Naadi, tipping her hat in greeting.
“Why aren’t we at the Epe Forest yet? It’s been two hours and thirteen minutes; one of the conductors told me the ride would take forty-five. minutes.” Naadi explained, letting go of the conductor’s wrist and crossing his arms. He didn’t have time for this.
“Forty-five minutes approximately, good sir.” The conductor grinned down at Nadi unpleasantly. “We will be there soon; we have just one more stop.” The conductor walked off and joined up with the other four conductors, who placed their hands on the floating orb once again, and the Hleapan began to move, leaping into the air.
“Yeesh, she seems nasty!” Araum commented, and Naadi nodded.
“No matter what way you look at it, there’s no way the estimate of time should have been so far off.” Naadi observed, glancing around the crowded room. “And also, why are there so many conductors? Usually, only one is needed to pilot a Hleapan. Something fishy is going on.”
“Right- oh great, do you think these guys are bandits? Would make sense considering all the rich people they’re rounding up in here.” Araum said, and Naadi shook his head. “Then what are they?”
“Your run of the mill bandits wouldn’t be able to pull off something like this; you need to be able to use magic energy to pilot this thing. And moreover, a Hleapan requires a great amount of skill. I’d say this is less likely a robbery…” Naadi said. “And more of a ransom."