Chapter 111: On the Way Home
The carriage moved at a steady pace, shaking slightly with every bump in the road.
And to make things worse, they were pretty cramped.
Neros was fast asleep, sitting on one of the horse food crates. Arms crossed, head tilted, completely oblivious to the rest of the group.
Dorian sat in a corner, absentmindedly playing with his staff, spinning it between his fingers with a dull expression.
"...hm..."
He sighed.
"...not even a proper farewell..."
Max glanced at him.
"They kissed your hands ten minutes ago."
Dorian frowned.
"It’s not the same."
Varis, up front, said nothing. But his silence hurt just as much.
In the middle of the carriage sat Moonlight, looking at Abby curiously.
"...hey..."
Abby looked at her.
"...yeah? What is it?"
Moon tilted her head.
"...I wanted to ask you something... what does it feel like to be a princess?"
Max and Sophie turned their heads at the same time.
"...huh?"
Moon continued calmly.
"...and knowing your dad has such a big kingdom..."
She frowned.
"...why didn’t you ever tell us that?"
Max brought a hand to his face.
"...Moon..."
He looked at her.
"...what did we say about that topic?"
Moon blinked.
"...oh, right."
She lowered her head a bit.
"...sorry..."
Abby let out a small laugh.
"...don’t worry about it."
She smiled.
"...I figured you’d ask that at some point."
Moon lifted her head again, recovering quickly.
"...then..."
She leaned forward.
"...what were your days like before we rescued you?"
Max and Sophie reacted instantly.
"—NOPE."
They covered her mouth. Literally.
Sophie grabbed one arm.
Max grabbed the other.
"...that’s enough."
"...no more questions."
Moon struggled.
"...mmff—!"
Abby looked at them, a bit surprised and overwhelmed.
But still...
She smiled.
"...really, it’s fine. Don’t worry."
She adjusted slightly.
"...I don’t mind."
She looked at Moon.
"...she’s just a curious kid."
Sophie slowly let go.
"...’curious kid’ is an understatement..."
She sighed.
"...with the body she has, she looks more like a teenager than a child."
Abby nodded.
"That’s true."
She observed her.
"She’s growing really fast."
Moon froze. Blinked. Then smiled proudly, as if she’d been complimented. She crossed her arms.
"...yep."
She nodded.
"...that’s what happens when a girl eats well and trains."
Max laughed.
Sophie too.
Abby covered her mouth, amused.
Moon gave a thumbs-up.
"I know, I’m awesome."
The three of them laughed.
And the carriage kept moving.
Filled with laughter.
And small conversations.
On the way home.
***
The laughter slowly faded.
The steady rocking of the carriage... the warmth... the accumulated exhaustion...
Everything began to take its toll.
Moonlight was the first to nod off.
Sophie yawned.
Abby leaned her head against the wooden wall.
Even Dorian stopped spinning his staff.
The silence became heavy... and comfortable.
Until—
—CRRRRK!
The carriage stopped abruptly, and everyone jolted, bumping into the walls and ceiling.
"...what now...?" Sophie muttered, half asleep.
Varis clicked his tongue from the front.
"...a damn log."
A dull thud echoed from something blocking the road.
"...big one."
He sighed.
"...can someone come help me move this?"
A wave of annoyed murmurs spread through the carriage. No one wanted to move.
Absolutely no one.
Max stretched lazily.
"...I’m going... I’m going..."
He got up as best he could, stepping over legs and arms.
He glanced at Neros, still asleep and snoring. Completely unaware.
"...leave him, I’ll handle it."
He stepped out of the carriage.
Varis looked at him with relief.
"...thanks, lad."
Max raised a hand.
"...no problem."
He stood in front of the log.
Big and heavy.
"...let’s see..."
He activated his necklace. Five skeleton knights emerged from the ground.
"...move it, please."
The skeletons stepped forward.
And then—
—TCHK!
Arrows.
Blades.
Shadows moving among the trees.
The skeletons were attacked instantly.
"...there they are."
Max sighed.
"...figured as much."
He smiled slightly.
"Perfect."
He pulled out his hammer.
"...this ambush is perfect to test this."
His cloak stirred, and violet mist began pouring out of it—the one he copied from Lamia. Thick. It covered the road. The carriage. Everything.
"...okay..."
Max threw his hammer.
It spun in the air.
And—
THUD. THUD. CRACK.
Impacts.
Bodies.
Groans.
Max couldn’t see anything, but he could hear everything.
"Looks like it works."
He summoned five more skeletons. They surrounded him, blocking the enemies’ clumsy attacks.
From the carriage—
"Go, dad!" Moon shouted.
"...finish them!"
Varis grunted.
"...I’m sick of ambushes..."
Max laughed.
"...Moon—"
He scratched his head.
"...clear the smoke, I don’t know how to turn this off."
Pause.
"...not very intuitive."
"...okay."
A gust of magical wind blew the mist away.
The scene became clear.
Max stood atop the log, hammer in hand.
Around him lay goblins and elves.
Some unconscious. Others groaning.
Only one remained standing.
A goblin, holding a dagger. Trembling.
Max looked straight at him.
"...well?"
The goblin stepped back.
Max tilted his head.
"...weapons are meant to be used."
Pause.
"...otherwise it’s dangerous to carry them."
The goblin swallowed hard.
"...th-this can’t be..."
His voice shook.
"...we tried to ambush the group that defeated the slime boss..."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"...yeah."
He shrugged.
"...that’s us."
At that moment, Abby, Sophie, and Dorian stepped out of the carriage.
"...wow..." Sophie muttered.
The goblin started backing away, not looking behind him.
And—
THUNK.
He bumped into something. Armor. A hand grabbed his shirt and lifted him off the ground.
It was Neros. Yawning.
"...you woke me up for this?"
He looked at the goblin.
"...seriously?"
The goblin saw him. His eyes widened.
And he fainted.
Neros dropped him. He hit the ground like a sack.
Max laughed.
"...hey..."
He pointed at the log.
"...give me a hand with that?"
Neros sighed. Walked over. Kicked it.
The log flew off the road.
Max whistled.
"...thanks."
Neros was already turning away.
"...yeah, yeah..."
He yawned.
"...I’m going back to sleep."
Everyone returned to the carriage, settling in again.
Varis took the reins.
"...that was..."
Moon leaned toward Max.
"...amazing!"
Varis nodded.
"...yeah."
Max smiled and leaned back as best he could.
"...thanks..."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"...I’m slowly getting used to..."
Pause.
"...this world and its dangers."
The carriage started moving again.
And the journey home continued.