Chapter 83: A Good Advice
As the carriage made its way towards the castle, the sky above was shrouded in a thick blanket of grey clouds, casting a sombre mood over the land.
A heavy downpour persisted all night but stopped this morning. However, the darkened sky suggested that rain was imminent again. The carriage’s wooden wheels creaked as they rolled over the damp, black soil, leaving muddy tracks in their wake.
Despite the gloomy weather, the carriage continued its journey, determined to reach its destination. The driver urged the horses forward, their hooves splashing through puddles of muddy water as they made their way towards the castle gates. They have now reached the Grand Duchy of Gerhard.
The carriage rolled up to the entrance of Gerhard’s grand castle, where a group of guards stood at attention. The knight who drove the carriage pulled out his badge, showing it to the guards as proof of his identity.
After a moment of inspection, the guards bowed respectfully, and the gate to the castle’s entrance was lifted, allowing the carriage to proceed into the castle yard.
The castle of Gerhard loomed grandly over them, its walls made of sturdy stone and its turrets reaching for the sky. As the carriage stopped in front of the main building’s grand staircase, the knight and his young teenage companion alighted from the vehicle.
Noah removed his robe and went to the back of the carriage to check on the rear axle. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the axle had been damaged, most likely due to the carriage being driven over rough and uneven terrain. The constant jostling and vibrations had caused the axle to bend, requiring immediate repair.
It was clear to the knight that the second-hand carriage he had purchased from Ardel was poorly maintained, as evidenced by the worn-down parts caused by rough usage.
To make matters worse, the carriage had been driven quite a distance from Constance to Gerhard, putting additional strain on its already overtaxed components.
As Noah inspected the damaged axle, Armel, the young teenager who accompanied him, looked on curiously.
"Is it broken?" he asked with concern.