The morning sun was rciless.
Even the air shimred above the dirt road as the caravan trudged onward through the endless plains.
The horizon was nothing but gold and glare.
Knights clanked in full plate armor as sweat stread down their burning necks.
Refugees shuffled behind the carriages.
The n walked while won, children, and the elderly rested inside.
Wheels creaked, horses snorted... stuff you’d expect.
Then sowhere up ahead, soone groaned—
"By the gods, it’s boiling!"
A knight yanked at his collar and hopelessly fanned himself with his gauntlet.
"Quit whining..."
A rugged adventurer shot back as he walked with a grin and a bare chest.
"It ain’t even that hot."
"That’s because you’re half-naked!"
"And you’re just jealous I can be."
"Jealous!? As if you could survive one hit from a troll without armor, you fool!"
The argunt began to snowball.
Knights started shouting about discipline and duty.
Adventurers yelled back about freedom and strength.
Soone brought up sword skill, soone else ntioned pay differences.
Before long, it was a full-blown debate.
"Knights are just fancy babysitters!"
"At least we bathe!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY—!?"
The chaos escalated—until a shrill, pained voice broke apart everything.
"CAN YOU ALL SHUT UP!?" (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞
Everyone froze.
Aldura slowly rode her horse with one hand pressed against her forehead.
Her hair was a ss, and her eyes looked half-dead.
The elegant smile she usually wore was replaced by that look of pure hangover regret.
"My head feels like it’s being hamred by a group of wicked dwarves... gods above, why did I drink so much last night...?"
"Master, uhm..."
Eurvaine had been riding quietly beside her.
"Why didn’t you use a potion?"
She quietly adjusted her oversized glasses.
Aldura squinted at her.
"Because I— wait..."
She blinked with a loud groan.
"I already used them all..."
Eurvaine frowned.
"I told you not to drink on the way here. You needed those potions for ergencies."
Aldura puffed her cheeks like a child.
"I don’t need a lecture, dear. And let’s REALLY be honest this journey would’ve been much easier if rlin didn’t ban teleportation magic."
At the front, Nero tilted his head.
"Wait... banned teleportation?"
He trotted forward, reins clicking.
"Why would she—?"
"Can you not talk so loud..." (⇀‸↼‶)
rlin’s voice was small but deadly.
She rode with her head hung low and a wrinkly frown on her face so intense that even her beauty couldn’t hide the fact she looked like a grumpy old man.
Her voice cracked.
"I have a headache... please... shut up..."
Nero sighed.
"Right." (￢_￢)
He raised his voice to the front.
"Captain Ardan! Can we stop for a second?"
The rattled knight captain turned his head.
"We need to reach Larian Town before dusk."
"It’ll only be a second!"
Ardan groaned, but he gave a hand signal.
"HALT!"
The line of travelers slowed to a stop.
Wheels creaked to a standstill.
The knights muttered among themselves, confused.
rlin blinked. (O.O)
"What are you doing?"
Before she could finish──CHOP!
"OW—!"
Her head jerked forward as Nero’s hand landed cleanly on her crown.
Gasps erupted all around.
"Did he just—!?"
"He hit the Great Mage!?"
"Sweet heavens, the boy has a death wish."
"Maybe he’s tired of living."
"No, no—he’s braver than us."
"More like suicidal!"
rlin winced as she rubbed her head furiously.
This little shit, she thought... ｡ﾟ･ (>﹏⁄ ▽ ⁄
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