Chapter 41 – Road to Frontier City Akela
Chapter 41
Road to Frontier City Akela
Date: Day 28 of Harvestmoon. 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Morning came for Elise and Hyoren.
The night passed in peaceful silence. The fire burned low. The moons crossed the sky. The stars wheeled overhead. And then—gradually—darkness gave way to light.
The autumn morning wind was chill. It carried the crispness of the season. The bite of cold that would only grow deeper in the coming weeks. Morning dew was visible on the grass. Tiny droplets of water. Glistening like scattered diamonds. Catching the first light.
The first light of Sol and Luna grazed their faces. The dual suns—golden and silver—rising above the horizon. Their rays slanting across the waystop. Touching closed eyelids.
Elise woke first.
She sat up. Her disheveled silver hair rustling in the calm morning wind. Falling across her face. Tangled from sleep. She rubbed her sleepy eyes with the heels of her hands. And moaned. A soft sound. Protest against the waking world. Reluctance to leave the comfort of sleep.
"Mmm..."
Her movement woke Hyoren next.
When her body weight suddenly disappeared from his chest, he stirred. The warmth that had been there all night—gone. The presence that had anchored him—removed. He woke from slumber. Consciousness returning slowly. Groggily. He sat up and looked to his side.
Elise was already awake. Sitting. Rubbing her eyes.
"Elise... good morning..."
His voice was rough with sleep.
Elise turned around. Moaning again. Not quite ready to face the day.
"Mmm... Morn... ing... Hyoren..."
Her words were muffled. Half-formed. Barely audible.
Both of them stood. Rising from the makeshift bed. The grass and leaves crinkling beneath them. Cold seeped through their clothes. The morning was not kind. They stretched. Limbs extending. Muscles protesting. Joints popping. The stiffness of sleep slowly working itself out.
They exited their barrier. Passing through the invisible wall. Then walked toward the water magic tools pillar in the middle of the waystop. The stone structure stood silent.
Both washed their faces at the faucet. The water was cold. Shockingly so. It jolted them awake. Cleared the fog of sleep. The water flowed from the magic tool—endless.
Elise combed her hair with her hands. Working through the tangles with her fingers. Trying to fix it. Restore order to chaos. She then tied it in a ponytail as usual. The familiar gesture. The routine of readiness. Her sleepiness almost gone. Washed away by cold water and purpose.
Hyoren also did the same. Fixing his black hair. Running fingers through the strands. Gathering it at the back. Tying it with leather strips.
"The morning air and water is cold..."
He observed and acknowledged the discomfort.
Elise nodded. Her face still dripping. Droplets falling from her chin.
"Yeah."
She agreed. Her voice clearer now. More awake.
"It will be harsh traveling without proper magic tools for heating soon..."
Her gaze landed on the west. On their destination. The road stretched before them.
"Maybe we should buy them at Akela later."
A plan. A necessity. The autumn would only grow colder. The winter approached. Survival required preparation.
As they finished their morning wash, the merchant caravan was already packed and ready to depart. The wagons stood in formation. The animals hitched. The drivers in position. The convoy started departing. Wheels turning. Hooves striking the ground. The sounds of travel filling the morning air.
Jigor and his party also walked beside the caravan. Ready to move.
Denis and Cathy walked past them. Denis nodded at them—a silent greeting. Professional. Cathy waved at them. Her energy already present. Despite the early hour.
"See you soon, you two!"
She said it energetically. Her voice carrying across the waystop. Cheerful. Unaffected by the cold or the early hour.
Jigor and Vani walked next. The dwarf's short legs moving quickly. The priest's white vestment catching the morning light.
Jigor spoke. His voice gruff. But warm.
"We won't meet for a while. The info about the Goblin King…"
He pointed at Elise—his expression serious.
"You should report it quickly to the guild, Elise."
Elise nodded.
"I will."
The promise was made. The duty accepted.
Jigor turned to Hyoren. Offering another handshake. His broad hand extended.
"And you, Hyoren."
His eyes were serious. Sincere.
"Please take care of this Lonely Ranger. Don't let her become lonely again, okay?"
Elise's pointed ears turned red. The blush spreading rapidly. She tried to cover it with her hair. Pulling strands across her ears. But the silver locks were not thick enough. The red showed through.
Hyoren shook Jigor's hand. The grip was strong. Firm. A warrior's clasp.
"That was my intention, Jigor."
He spoke clearly. Without hesitation.
"I will protect her. So no goblins or other threats can harm her anymore."
The words came from his heart. A vow made before witness.
Jigor grinned. His teeth showing through his beard. Satisfaction on his face. He slapped Hyoren's shoulder. Hard. A comradely blow. Approval made physical.
"That's what a man should do!"
He laughed.
"I like you, lad!"
Vani smiled beside Jigor. Her eyes warm. Amused. She looked at Hyoren. Then at Elise. Then back at Hyoren.
"That's what Jigor said too when he proposed to me."
Her voice was soft. Gentle. But the words carried.
"You two have something in common."
It was Jigor's turn to be red. The blush spread beneath his beard. Visible even through the thick hair. His ears pink. His neck flushing.
The other three chuckled. The sound carried on the morning breeze. The teasing of friends.
"Vani! Don't say unnecessary things!"
He sighed. Exasperated. Embarrassed. His wife had a way of undermining his dignity. But he couldn't stay angry. Not really.
He turned to the two travelers. His expression settling.
"Okay. This is goodbye for now."
He raised his hand. A wave. A farewell.
"See you soon, you two!"
Elise and Hyoren spoke at the same time. Their voices overlapping. United in farewell.
"Goodbye Jigor. Vani. See you soon!"
Vani bowed her head a bit. A graceful gesture. A priest's blessing. And she and Jigor started walking. Following the caravan. Their duty calling them away.
But as Jigor passed Elise, he stopped a bit. He leaned close. And mumbled something to Elise's ears. Something low. Something Hyoren didn't hear. Words meant only for her.
"This Lonely Ranger is actually so bold, huh?"
The whisper was teasing. Knowing.
"After 10 years of being alone, now you're going to hug him tightly like that in public? Everyone saw that last night."
He then laughed. The sound booming across the waystop.
"Gyahahahahaha!"
He then ran to catch up to Vani. His short legs pumping. His beard bouncing. While waving his hands back at them. Not looking back. Not stopping.
"Jigor... You... You!!!!!"
Elise couldn't form comprehensible words. Her voice was strangled. Choked with embarrassment. Her face was fully red. Not only her pointed ears. Her entire face had flushed crimson. She was huffing. Steam practically rising from her head.
Jigor and Vani hopped into the last wagon. Settling in for the journey. Waving to them. Seeming not to care about Elise's embarrassment. Or perhaps—enjoying it.
Hyoren put his hand on Elise's shoulder. Trying to calm her down. Feeling the tension in her muscles. The heat radiating from her skin.
"Elise. What happened? What did Jigor say?"
His voice was concerned. Confused. He had missed the whispered words. Had seen only the reaction.
Her red face turned around. She couldn't face Hyoren. Her eyes darted away. Anywhere but him.
"Nothing important. Nothing."
Her words came fast. Rushed. Defensive.
"Forget about it."
She then bolted toward camp. Leaving Hyoren speechless. Her feet moved quickly. Almost running. Fleeing from the conversation. From the embarrassment. From whatever Jigor had said.
Hyoren stood there. His hand still extended. Empty. The space where her shoulder had been.
"Well..."
He lowered his hand slowly.
"If she wants to tell me, she will... later... I guess..."
He shrugged. There was no use pushing. No use chasing. She would tell him when she was ready. Or not. Either way—he would wait.
He followed Elise to the camp. His steps slower. Giving her space. Giving her time.
***
Elise packed their camp to hide her embarrassment.
Her hands moved quickly. Anything to avoid looking at Hyoren. Anything to keep her face hidden. Her ears were still pink. The flush extended down her neck.
Knowing this, Hyoren helped her in silence.
Elise packed the four square Ward Stones. Each one she touched briefly. The protective barrier around their camp flickered. She tucked the stones into her bag. Secure. Ready for the next camp.
Hyoren put their makeshift bed outside the waystop. He gathered the grass and leaves they had used. Scattered them back into the surrounding area. Returning the ground to its natural state. Erasing the evidence of their presence. A good traveler left no trace. A good survivor left no trail.
He then doused the campfire with water. The flames hissed. Smoke rose in thin wisps. Carrying the last of the fire's warmth into the morning air. He dismantled the fire pit. Scattering the charred wood. Burying the ashes. Covering the burnt earth with fresh soil.
The waystop was already clean. Only a small soot patch on the ground indicated there had been a campfire before.
Elise sat on the ground. Her packing was done. Her hands had no more tasks. She rummaged through the supplies they had bought last night. Field rations. Healing potions. The necessities of travel. She took one for herself. And gave another to Hyoren.
"Here."
Her voice was quiet. Still a bit rough. Still avoiding eye contact.
"Let's eat quickly, then we depart."
Hyoren nodded. Taking the ration. Understanding her need for space.
"Okay."
They ate in silence. The morning was quiet. The waystop was empty. The merchant caravan had already departed.
Elise's eyes wandered around. Scanning the horizon. Watching the road. Studying the sky. Anywhere but Hyoren. She focused on everything except him. The embarrassment still lingered. The heat still touched her cheeks. Whatever Jigor had whispered still echoed in her mind.
Knowing this, Hyoren respected her. Instead, he turned his thoughts elsewhere. Trying to imagine how Akela City would look.
He pictured a medieval city from the history books and fantasy stories he had always read. Tall stone walls. Impenetrable. Huge gates secured with iron.Ramparts lined with guards. A castle looming over the settlement. The home of the baron.
The inside would be dirty. Without proper drainage or sanitary systems. Sewage running through open channels. Dumps and trash scattered in the streets. Bad hygiene. Hard to secure clean water. Disease lurking in every corner. The smell of unwashed bodies and animal waste. The reality of medieval urban life.
That was what he expected. That was what his knowledge suggested.
But then his eyes landed on the King's Highway. The marvel of magic engineering stretched before him. Better than many modern roads he had known. Compact earth that rivaled asphalt. Designed for drainage.
And then at the waystop center. Where the water magic tools stood. Clean water. Available to all. Maintained by knights.
He shook his head slowly.
He needed to stop assuming things. Elise would get exasperated again. She had already corrected him so many times. His preconceptions kept proving wrong. His expectations kept falling short.
If they managed to build roads that rivaled modern ones. If they provided access to clean water at every waystop. Then their cities should be at least clean and properly built. Logic demanded it. Evidence supported it. He needed to trust the evidence. Not his assumptions.
They finally finished eating. Both drank from their water skins. The cool liquid washing down the dry rations.
Elise's face was already back to normal. The flush had faded. Her composure had returned. Only her pointed ears retained a shade of pink. The last evidence of her embarrassment.
She stood. Brushing off her clothes. Ready to move. Ready to travel.
"Let's go, Hyoren."
Her voice was steady. Normal. The Elise he knew had returned.
"We have another waystop before we reach Akela. So we'll camp again tonight. And tomorrow, we'll arrive."
Hyoren stood next to her. Stretching slightly. The morning stiffness had worked itself out. His body was ready. His mind was focused.
"Okay, Elise. Let's go."
Elise slung her bow. Checking it out of habit. She counted her dwindling arrows in the quiver. She sighed a bit. But she moved on quickly. There was no use dwelling on what she couldn't change. She picked up her bag. The supplies she had bought secured inside.
Hyoren checked his makeshift steel dagger. The blade was still sharp. Still serviceable. And four cinder-maw daggers secured in his belt. He slung his leather belt. Adjusting the weight. Getting comfortable with the load.
Both of them started walking. Steps falling into rhythm. Side by side. Leaving their first waystop behind.
***
The first part of their journey went well.
They walked side by side on the slow-moving lanes. The section of the road reserved for travelers on foot or slow wagon. The King's Highway stretched before them.
Elise's embarrassment had already faded after they walked a bit. The excitement of finally arriving at a town made her relaxed. She started humming and whistling a melody again. The same tune from before.
Hyoren walked beside her. The melody that came from Elise was truly music for him. Not just sound. Not just noise. But something more. Something that spoke of peace. Her voice wove through the morning air. A song without words. A melody without lyrics. But beautiful nonetheless.
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
The Silver Oak trees seemed to have been planted periodically. Deliberate. Spaced at regular intervals along the roadside. They seemed to act as windbreaks. Shielding travelers from harsh gusts. Protecting the road from erosion. And a natural fence for the King's Highway. Marking the boundary between road and wilderness.
The road was busy. More than Hyoren had expected. More than the day before. Merchant caravans. Baron Akela's Knight Patrol. Solo travelers. Farmers with their wagons pulled by strong-leg donkeys.
The fast one passed them. Or they overtaking the slower wagons. Or they saw them coming from the Akela direction. Travelers heading toward either Harvengald or Yughur.
When the now small golden Sol, and much bigger silver Luna, rested on their zenith—their highest point in the sky—they arrived at a crossroad.
The King's Highway still stretched west. Continuing toward Akela. But two smaller roads branched off. One to the left. One to the right. Side paths. Lesser routes. Connecting to places beyond the main thoroughfare.
There was a pillar in the middle of the crossroad. It glowed slightly. A soft light emanating from within. Magic. Guiding travelers even in darkness. And there were four signs which indicated direction jutting from the pillar.
"Huh. Intersection?"
Hyoren stopped. Surprised. He hadn't expected this. Hadn't thought about the complexity of the road network.
Elise looked to the left and right. Taking in the branching paths.
"Why are you surprised?"
She teased gently. Her voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"That's normal, Hyoren. There are villages there and there."
She gestured vaguely. Indicating the surrounding land.
"Baron Akela's territory is not only the city of Akela."
Realization dawned over Hyoren. Of course. A territory was more than its capital. More than its main city. There were villages. Farms. Communities. All under the same rule. All connected by the roads.
"Right. Of course. Haha."
He laughed at his own ignorance. His own limited thinking.
He stopped. Then looked at the signs. Reading the names. Memorizing the directions.
North - Brown Granary Village.
East - Harvengald City, Yughur City
South - Mossback Village
West - Akela City
Hyoren walked again. Catching up with Elise.
"So. Is Brown Granary Village a farming village, Elise?"
He asked. Curiosity driving him. The name suggested it. But he wanted to confirm.
"They produce wheat?"
Elise smiled beside him, pleased by his question.
"The name is self-explanatory."
She teased gently. But not unkind.
"And yes. It's one of the farms that feed this region."
She explained. Her voice taking on a teaching tone.
"Wheat. Barley. Other grains. The village produces them in quantity. Enough to supply Akela and the surrounding settlements."
Hyoren nodded. Filing the information away. The economy of the region was becoming clearer. The infrastructure. The systems that kept people fed. That kept cities alive.
He thought about the other village. The one to the south. The name lingered in his mind.
"What about the other one?"
He asked.
"Why is it called Mossback Village? Is it related to Mossback Squirrels?"
He paused. A thought forming. A suspicion.
"Is the village overrun with those critters or something?"
Elise tilted her head. Then faced Hyoren. Her expression curious. Puzzled by his question.
"Well. It is indeed related to Mossback Squirrels."
She confirmed.
"It's a village which raises them. Mossback Squirrel Farm."
She said the name simply. As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"That village is the main source of meat for Akela. Other than monster meat adventurers bring back."
Hyoren stopped in his tracks. Frozen. His feet ceased moving. His body went still.
"Mossback Squirrel Farm?"
His voice was strangled. Disbelieving.
"A Monster Farm? What?"
He remembered the horror. Being chased by dozens of those critters after he gathered Moss-berry on his second week of being thrown into this world. The terror of fleeing through the underbrush. The panic of hearing their chattering behind him. The horror of how relentless they were despite being weak. The multiple scratches and bite marks still decorating some parts of his body. Scars. Evidence of his encounter with the supposedly harmless creatures.
It made him shiver when remembering it.
Elise stopped too. She turned around. Confused by his reaction. His sudden halt.
"Elise."
His voice was serious. Urgent.
"Those critters. They were so relentless. They attack anyone who disturbs their Moss-berry!"
He gestured wildly. Showing some of scar on his arms.
"How can such creatures be domesticated and... Farmed?"
The idea seemed impossible. Contradictory. The creatures he had encountered were aggressive. Territorial. Dangerous in their numbers. How could anyone farm them? How could anyone raise them like livestock?
Elise smiled. It seemed the horror of being chased by dozens of Mossback Squirrels had clouded his judgment. Had affected his reasoning. Had blinded him to the obvious.
"Exactly."
She said. Her voice calm. Reasonable.
"They will attack anyone who disturbs their Moss-berry."
She repeated his own words back to him. Turning them to him. Trying to convey the meaning.
Seeing the confusion on his face, she chuckled. A soft sound.
"Hyoren. Usually you are smart and can deduce with a simple explanation."
She observed.
"It seems your trauma over Mossback Squirrel is real, huh. Fufufu."
Her laughter was gentle. Not mocking. But amused.
Elise put both her arms on her hips.
"They will attack anyone who disturbs their Moss-berry. What does this mean, Hyoren?"
She posed the question. Leading him to the answer.
"If we don't disturb the berry, they won't do anything. And farmers can safely take them away to be butchered."
Realization finally hit Hyoren. The obvious answer. The simple truth that had been hidden by his trauma.
"Aaahhhh..."
The sound escaped him. Long. Drawn out. The noise of understanding.
"Right... right... is it that simple, huh."
He shook his head. Marveling at his own blindness.
"Right... don't do anything to the berry. They don't even care when their friends are getting killed."
The memory returned. Not of being chased. But of fighting them. Of killing them. The squirrels had kept coming. But only because he had disturbed their berry bushes. If he had left the berries alone, they were harmless. Won’t even care when he killed their friend in front of their eyes.
"Farmers can take the adult ones easily. And leave the rest to reproduce."
He worked through the logic. The simple. Elegant logic.
"It's indeed like an animal farm."
Elise smiled. Finally he understood. She turned around and started walking again. Her steps resuming. Her pace steady.
Hyoren—not wanting to be left behind—caught up with her. And walked beside her. Matching her stride. Falling into rhythm.
At the same time, a covered wagon walked through the road from Mossback Village. Coming from the south. Heading toward the main highway. Inside, Hyoren could see multiple Mossback Squirrels in cages. The creatures chittered. Moving restlessly. Their glowing blue moss-covered backs visible through the gaps. The wagon turned and went toward Akela direction. Passing them. The driver nodded in greeting.
Hyoren watched them with awe.
"I see. I see. They are like chickens of this world... livestock."
The comparison was apt. Simple creatures. Easy to raise. A source of meat.
Elise added more explanation beside him.
"It's easy to create a Mossback Squirrel farm. You just need to plant a field of moss-berry bushes. And then they will proliferate."
She gestured. Trying to paint a cage.
"Just need to cage around the place so they won't escape. Though they never actually escape."
She added. A note of irony in her voice.
"A field of moss-berry is like heaven for those squirrels. It's easy and cheap to maintain. As the farmers don't really need to do anything."
The simplicity of it. The elegance. Plant the berries. The squirrels come. Enclose them. They stay. Harvest the adults. Leave the young. The cycle continues.
Elise grinned. A mischievous expression crossing her face. An idea forming. A tease building.
"Maybe if adventurer work is not suited for you, Hyoren..."
She suggested. Her voice light. Playful.
"Or you want to retire early."
She looked at him sideways. Her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"You can become a Mossback Squirrel Farmer."
She winked at him. The gesture exaggerated.
"Because you are so experienced handling dozens of them. Fufufufu."
Her laughter bubbled up. Finding joy in his past misfortune. But not cruelly. As a friend finding humor in shared experience.
Hyoren was embarrassed. His face flushed. The memory of his panicked flight. His desperate escape. His terror at being chased by small furry creatures. It was not his proudest moment.
"Please give me a break, Elise!"
He protested. His voice rising slightly. Defensive.
"The thought of being surrounded by them already gives me chills on my back!"
He shivered dramatically. Exaggerating his reaction. Playing along with her tease.
They walked again. Side by side. The teasing faded. The laughter lingered. The road continued. And they walked on. Together.
***
They arrived at another waystop when the suns descended to the horizon.
Elise looked up at the descending suns. Her eyes tracked their slow fall toward the horizon. Then she turned her gaze toward Akela. To the west. Where the city waited. Where their destination lay.
She calculated the distance. The time. The light remaining. Her expression settled into a decision.
"We should rest here."
She spoke. Her voice carrying the weight of experience.
"Akela should be only three to four hours' walk from this waystop."
She gestured toward the west. Toward the city that was so close.
"But traveling in darkness is still bad—even if this area is safe."
Her voice was firm. The decision made.
"Let's just camp here tonight. And continue our journey tomorrow."
Elise put down her bag on one side of the clearing. The leather pouch landed with a soft thump against the compacted earth. She stretched her shoulders. Rolling them. Working out the stiffness from a day of walking.
Hyoren did the same. Setting his bag beside hers. Feeling the relief of weight leaving his body. The straps had dug into his shoulders.
"Right."
He agreed. His voice tired. But content.
"Our bodies need to rest too after a whole day of walking."
He stretched his arms above his head. Feeling his muscles protest. Then slowly release. The ache was not unpleasant. It was the ache of accomplishment.
"Walking on a paved road gives us less burden. But we still need rest."
The King's Highway had been a blessing. Smooth. No roots to trip over. No mud to slog through. No undergrowth to fight. But even walking on good roads took its toll. Distance was distance. Time was time. The body had limits.
Hyoren scanned the waystop. Taking in the details. Memorizing the layout.
It was exactly the same as the previous one. The only thing that differed was how empty it was. Only the two of them were resting there. No merchants. No travelers. No adventurers.
"This waystop is empty, Elise."
He observed. A statement. But also a question. He looked at her. Curious.
"Why?"
Elise rummaged through her bag. Taking out the four square Ward Stones. She stood. The stones in her hand.
"Because we are close to Akela."
She explained. Her voice matter-of-fact. Educational.
"Only travelers on foot… or those who didn't time their travel well… use this waystop."
She began placing the stones. One at each corner. Forming the boundary of their camp.
"Merchants and wagons can easily reach Akela before nightfall from the previous waystop. So they push through. They don't stop here."
She placed the second stone.
"This waystop is for those who started late. Or those who had delays. Or those like us—traveling on foot. Who need more time."
Hyoren nodded. Understanding settling in. The logic was sound. The system made sense.
"I see. That's understandable..."
He looked around again. The emptiness was not ominous. Just... quiet. Peaceful. A private rest stop for those who needed it.
Elise erected the barrier around their small camp.
Seeing her busy, Hyoren also helped make the camp. He started creating a fire. Gathering dry branches and leaves from the surrounding area. The Silver Oak trees provided ample fuel.
He took out the fire starter magic tool. Activated the magic within. The fire was lit. Warmth began to radiate outward. As the fire was lit, he saw Elise finish creating their makeshift bed.
They sat on the bed as the suns finally vanished. The light faded.
The fire crackled between them.
Elise took their supplies from her bag. Field rations. The same as the night before. She gave him his portion.
"Here."
She handed it to him.
“Thanks Elise.”
Hyoren smiled.
They ate with small chit-chat. The conversation was light. They talked about what they would do in Akela. Excitement colored their words. The prospect of arriving at a city tomorrow. The end of their wilderness journey. The beginning of something new.
After they ate, they prepared for sleep. Their tired bodies demanded rest. The day had been long.
Hyoren lay on the bed. The grass and leaves compressed beneath him. He looked at Elise beside him.
“Good Night Elise…”
Elise snuggled to him. Shifting closer. The same position as the night before. She looked up to him.
“Night Hyoren.”
A soft, contented sigh escaped her. It was not long before Hyoren heard her rhythmic breathing. She was already fast asleep.
Then, unlike before, Hyoren started to get used to it. His body softened against hers. His arm naturally moved to hold her. To pull her closer. To share warmth. And his breathing started to match her.