The Traveler [Part 3]

“That was a good fight, lad. Well done.” Kroft alighted the carriage. She scurried over to the young man and patted his shoulder. Gunter and Welma both jumped off the roof and approached him as well. “Are you alright, sir traveler?” Welma asked, looking at him from head to toe. Gunther walked past her and slung an arm around the young man's shoulders. “That was amazing, lad.” He said, shaking him slightly. Then he offered. “Wanna join our party?” “No.”But the young man immediately decline brought his arms off him. Gunther backed away and turned to the beast with his brows knitted together. “Man… If I knew you’d be this strong I wouldn't have said those words back then. Now I look stupid.” Gunther said without turning his eyes to the young man. “I appreciated the thought though.” The young man left those words before he walked away. “Fufufu.” “What are you laughing at? You did it too.” Gunther said flatly towards the snickering Welma. “But man, to think a beast like urzyk lived here. This is my first time seeing such monster.” “This is my first time seeing a monster this big either.” Rhodis approached the monster to have a good look. Then a young girl scurried beside and gazed with sparkling eyes. “Wah…! a large monsters!” “What a strong monster. Thank the goddess it didn’t harm us.” The wife, accompanied by Mili, followed a step behind her daughter. Her face tensed up with her hand curled on her chest. “We’re so fortunate sir traveler is here with us—“ Mili cut her short and looked for the person in question. Kroft turned his head and noticed the young man already halfway to the carriage. “I’ll leave them to you, Gunther.” He said, running after him, which persuaded Welma to follow as well. “Wait up!” ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── Welma and Crofts followed two steps behind him. The path was riddled with dents, along with the crushed grass from the stomp of the urzyk. The wind carried the stench of the blood of the direwolves spreading across the path. Adventurers left their spoils out of fear for the urzyk. The beast would’ve probably had a hearty feast if he wasn’t around. “If the adventurers left their spoil is it open for the taking.” The young man wondered. “Maybe, honestly..I don’t know,” Kroft answered, scratching the back of his head. “But some adventurers turned them in to the guild and split the money if those guys are still around. If not, sometimes it goes to their relatives. But more often, it’s finders keepers.” “I see… you should get the pelt and sold them to different stores to avoid tracking. Or perhaps Mr. Rhodis would like to buy it from you guys?” “Oh that’s a nice a idea, lad.” Kroft grinned with eyes narrowed in wicked light like a mastermind from a crime show. Welma can’t help but scratch her cheeks with wryly smile at her leader. There’s no need to feel guilty. After all, they got it from adventurer that leave their client behind. As they reached the toppled carriage, the young man crouched down and assessed the door. It was locked from the outside. For ordinary people, it seemed just a simple padlock. But not in his eyes. This was packed with sealing magic. He got up again and backed away a little. Welma and Gunther stepped back and send puzzle look at him. “What is it.” Kroft asked. “This isn’t a passenger carriage. It’s more like a prison. The walls are covered by strengthening runes.” “Now that you mention, there wasn’t a visible damage right after it was hurled.” The young man approached the door once more and held the padlock. The metal clinked, and the shank popped open. He opened the door unceremoniously. What greeted them was a small creature. A white rabbit? Its limbs were tied, and its mouth was gagged. But the clothes and accessories it wore told them it was not something to dismiss as an animal. Welma covered her mouth and muttered in shock. “A rabbitfolk.” “How in the world…” Kroft was lost for words. Both were perplexed. They probably have a lot of questions running in their heads, especially how this person end up here in this horrid state. “Those probably are slaver traders disguised as adventurers. Or perhaps a genuine adventurers with a sideline job of slave trading.“ The young man offered a guess. “Those horrible people. We’ll make sure this will reach on their guild.” Welma grunted with disgust towards the adventurers. From the looks of it, it must have been through a lot, from its messy clothes and bruises to its face. Its sentient eyes, though swollen probably from being hit, were filled with rage. If this creature was untied, it would no doubt pounce at them. But the young man crouched down nonetheless and faced the rabbitfolk. “Be careful lad.” Kroft advised. The young man reached his hand towards the creature. The rabbitfolk struggled, perhaps in fear of what this person was about to do. Thus, the young man stopped for a moment. “I’m going to remove the gag and help you, so don’t do anything that’ll hurt me or these guys. If you understand that, blink twice.” The young man said, devoid of any emotion. The rabbitfolk gazed at his mask, probably probing his intent. It might be hesitant to agree after the suffering it endures in the hands of humans. But the young waited patiently until the creature surrendered. It blinked twice. Perhaps it realized it doesn't really have any choice; otherwise it will be bound in its shackle for much longer. With its permission, the young man safely removed it’s gagged he then produced a knife through the portal and cut open its shackle imbued with restraining magic. The rabbitfolk slowly got up without removing his gaze from the young man. “Come.” He said as he stood up and walked away. Kroft and Welma backed away a little to provide space to the wary creature. The rabbit folk raised its head to shield its eyes from the light. The passing breeze rustled its unkempt fur and clothes. Its eyes moved from the people nearby to the corpses of the wolves. But its eyes lingered on the giant corpse of urzyk. “Here. For your wounds.” The rabbitfolk turned and caught a vial of healing potion tossed from the young man. The rabbitfolk stared at it suspiciously, then back to the young man with a wary gaze. The young man sighed as he looked away. Cautiously, it opened the vial. She took a smell before it gulped down the contents. Its eyes blinked wide open, and it slowly reached its hand to its face. Perhaps the medicine worked more perfectly than she expected, as it repeatedly touched its eyes where the swelling and black marks were no longer visible —as well as bruises on its face seemed to return to their natural color. It then looked at its stretched arms to its feet. The rabbitfolk slowly joined her trembling hand and lowered its head to the young man. “Thank… you. Savior.” A feminine voice shook as tears dropped to the ground. Her shoulder trembled and forced her head lower as if to hide its face. The young man reached for the breast pocket. “Don’t mind it.” He handed her the handkerchief with his face turned away, where he noticed the two adventurers smiling warmly at him. The rabbitfolk picked the handkerchief and scrubbed it on its face. The young man continued, “More importantly, what’s your name?” “I’m Sanera. I’m from…” Sanera trailed off. Her eyes, free of tears, lowered, swiveling left and right. Her tightly gripped hands trembled. “It’s alright… You don’t have to tell if you don’t want to.” The young man reassured her. She truly had been through a lot, losing her will to open up. She will need time to sort her mind. The young man turned to Kroft and Welma and handed them a healing potion. “Use this for the horse, we can use them.” “Right. Those warhorses are expensive too.” Kroft got the potions and tended to the horses together with Welma. “There’s probably a lot of going through your mind, but you cannot stay here. Our carriage is headed to Lefora, if you want, we can drop you off to your desired stop.” “Lefora… That’s the city before the vilpora forest!” The young man nodded. “I will go with you!” Sanera said with eagerness in her eyes. ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── The path was arduous as the people claimed, yet the monsters posed little challenge against their combined strength. Especially Sanera; her strength was overwhelming despite her small size. It was hard to imagine how the adventurers managed to catch her. As days passed, everyone shared their tales around campfires and on the road. And little by little, these strangers forged their bonds to be companions. But every meeting comes to an end. A week later, the party had reached the fork road where it split into three paths. Vines crawled over the road signs, but text was still visible, carved into the rotten planks. On the right side, going south was Leaflay Town; in the middle was the road to another village called Wellstone; and the last path was the continuation of the straight road to the west, was the Lefora Town. Incidentally, they’re all going in the same direction, but the circumstances compelled them to travel apart. “Once again, thank you for the help, everyone. Especially to you, Savior. I never forget this kindness.” Sanera joined his hands together and bowed towards the young man. His mask was undone, so she finally saw her savior’s face. Compared to before, she seemed a little more radiant. Behind her was a large bag. At first, they worried the supplies’ weight might crush her. But after she demonstrated her strength, their concerns were unfounded. Initially, they offered her a horse to carry her stuff, but she declined, saying she didn’t know how to ride a horse nor how to take care of it. So the young man was the only one who grabbed the extra horse. “If you continued this path, you’ll eventually reach the Vilpora. I don’t think we need to be concern about your safety since you live there. But please be careful on the way there.” Kroft said, standing beside Rhodis. A little behind them were Gunther, Welma, Mili, and the mother hugging her daughter, who seemed on the verge of crying. “Yeah. Good speed to you. And to and eveyone,” Sanera bowed again, then turned to the young man. “Godspeed to you too, Savior.” “Godspeed to you as well, Sanera. Take care in the way.” “Oh, right before I forgot.”My Rhodis reached into his breast and produced a pouch. “It’s not much, but take this.” From the sound of metallic clinks, the young man already knew what was inside. “Mr. Rhodis…” “Please. It woudn’t sit right with me if don’t reward you for saving our lives. Besides you still need to replenish your supplies right.” “I’ll gratefully accept.” The young man nodded and took the pouch. In consideration for the arduous trip of the lone rabbitfolk, he and Mr Rhodis gave some of their supplies to Sanera. Thus the young man had to veer toward the village for the time being. Mr. Rhodis turned and climbed back to the driver’s seat. “Come, let’s get back inside.” The mother ushered daughtered and retreated in the carriage. Welma easily reached the roof in a single jump. Gunther followed later. “Well then, we’re off to Leaflay for a moment. If fate permits, we may see each other again in Lefora.” Rhodis nodded before whipping the reins. The horses stirred, and the carriage turned to the south, heading to Leaflay town. “So long, lad!” “So long.” The young man said to Kroft. “Good bye sir Xen! To you too Sanera.” “Farewell lad! Sanera.” “Sanera! I’ll miss you!” The Welma and Gunther waved their hands from atop the carriage, and the little girl brought her body out of the window to wave. Not wanting to be left out, Sanera shouted her goodbye and waved her hands in the air. “Farewell Chichi, everyone, until we meet again!” The young man placed his foot in the stirrup and placed himself above the horse. “Farewell,” he said as he tipped his hat. Sarena joined her hands together one last time before she hopped in a blinding speed, dashing in the unbeaten path into the depths of the forest. Seeing the retreating figures of people they once shared a time with, the young man ushered his horse to begin its step towards his next destination. They met each other through an unwelcome incident, but the bonds they formed were no less genuine for the short time they shared. Beyond this road, more encounters were waiting. “Wellstone village, huh, I hope it’s a nice place.” His words were carried by the wind as he gazed at the clear morning sky, hoping for a nice day ahead.