Point of View: Kaori Tanaka
It was snowing. The vast plains around me were covered in pure white, and in the distance, a frozen waterfall stood like an ice sculpture. I was standing on a frozen lake, surrounded by towering pine trees whose heavy branches held thick layers of snow. The biting cold turned my breath into small clouds of vapor. As I walked, I wondered where exactly I was.
The captain... the soldiers... where were they? Was that thing that attacked us still alive? My head swirled with questions as the snow drained me, making me feel even colder. My steps were heavy, and I felt exhausted. I walked for what seemed like long hours, and the world around me grew darker with each passing moment.
"Girl, it's time to wake up for breakfast. You need to regain your strength." A familiar voice pierced through the environment—the voice of Lorian Vellorn. I felt my body being shaken by someone as the cold disappeared. Then, I opened my eyes. The long-haired redhead was touching my shoulder; I was inside the carriage.
"Who gave you permission to touch me?" I asked, trying to sound furious, but it was a futile attempt—I was exhausted. A pressing worry filled my mind. I lifted myself up onto my elbows. "Where is Captain Gregor?"
"You wake up, and the first person on your mind is an old man?" Lorian replied with a sarcastic tone. I had no patience for this right now. I opened my mouth to argue, but he continued: "I sent him to the capital. Given the state you left him in, I thought it best to keep you here, far away from him."
The state I left him in? What had I done? It wasn’t my fault—those fools in this kingdom dragged me into this. It was Captain Gregor himself who took me on that stupid hunt. It wasn’t my fault—I tried to save them. I looked at Lorian, my eyes wet with tears.
"You’ve been unconscious for almost three days. We’ll be in Drakenville soon." He covered his mouth, pretending to cough. I wiped my tears away. This noble didn’t care about me, and now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. "Here, take this. Sugar is good for the heart." Lorian pulled out a bowl of biscuits and extended it toward me.
I looked out the carriage window. Green plains with scattered trees stretched across the landscape. The remaining soldiers rode alongside us on their horses, which, according to Lorian, were a type of smaller dragon. There were so few soldiers left... What were they thinking about me now? I felt guilty.
"Don’t worry, you did what was necessary, even if the spell you used wasn’t the most appropriate. If you had done nothing, the situation would have been worse." Lorian seemed to read through my emotions. I didn’t want to talk to him about this. "Would you like some tea?" The question caught me off guard. Where would he get tea inside a carriage?
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
"No, thank you." Lorian took a deep breath. I tried to be polite. "How long until we reach Drakenville?" My body ached from lying down for nearly three days in a carriage.
"Maybe an hour." Our conversation ended there. We spent the rest of the journey in silence. The redhead had a concerned expression. I wondered if his thoughts were about me.
The awkward silence was interrupted after almost an hour. We were surrounded by a plant with bluish-green leaves and a golden spike. My jaw dropped at the mesmerizing sight. Lorian, noticing my surprised expression, put away the mirror he was holding inside a black coat with red details that covered his wine-colored shirt. "This plant is called Auracel. We use it to make flour. It’s very nutritious, grows quickly, and is resistant to the cold. Judging by your surprised face, I imagine it doesn’t exist in your world."
"It's so beautiful... It looks like wheat, but so much more magical." I couldn’t pretend to be annoyed or angry with Lorian. The landscape around me had completely captivated me.
Simple stone walls surrounded the city, relatively low, reaching up to my shoulders. The houses were made of wood with red-tiled roofs. The road had the same reddish hue. In the fields outside the walls, various farmhouses and stables were scattered. Through the gaps in the structures, I could see the dragon-horses feeding.
"As beautiful as the fields are, this city makes more money trading horses than Auracel." Lorian continued, as if he were a tour guide. "I’m glad this city has lifted your spirits. The bread here is wonderful. I'll take you on a quick tour of the city after I handle things at the noble's mansion."
In the city center, a massive plaza bustled with people shouting prices. At one of the stalls, a farmer was selling sacks of Auracel, while on the other side of the carriage window, a woman offered freshly baked golden-colored bread.
The carriage continued toward an imposing residence, set apart from the rest. "That’s the residence of Marquis Aldric Thorne. Behave yourself, please—I don’t have a noble title to smooth over any problems."
"I thought you were rich..." I let the comment hang in the air. A silly smile formed on Lorian’s face.
"I am. And I’m also the son of a count, but that doesn’t give me a title," he replied, laughing. "Most of my wealth comes from the merchant guild I manage. I took a different path from politics. Even if you don’t believe me, I don’t care about power or things like that."
"Then what exactly do you care about?" If he didn’t want power, what was his motivation? A man who always acted suspiciously, hiding behind a mask of lies.
"I want a Calyndor where everyone can smile." The superficial answers returned, and I felt disappointed—we had been making such good progress. "Someday, you’ll be able to understand me, Kaori. You just need time."
"I hope I never do." The carriage stopped. Lorian looked tired. He smiled again and stood up, opening the carriage door and stepping out. The redhead extended his hand for me to follow.