"Do you think he is right?" asked Elliot. His hands were fidgeting with the straps of the saddle and he looked at Anevay.272Please respect copyright.PENANAymrQzIHVTW
"I do not know," shrugged Anevay. "He may be right, but he could be very off."272Please respect copyright.PENANAmyKdJYygWt
"I think he may just be trying to exploit your status as a princess," replied Anevay's friend, "and he may just be too scared."272Please respect copyright.PENANAgjvq6s46AW
"Jarco never fears," mumbled the princess while she mounted Ordo. The stallion snorted and shook his head.272Please respect copyright.PENANAXIsRFXPIf1
"You shall be returning soon?" asked the King, who patted Ordo. He remembered he had gifted this gorgeous, black stallion to his beloved daughter for her twelfth birthday about four years ago, even if she didn't speak with him at that point.272Please respect copyright.PENANAP8hAzy8NUa
"We need to inform Aris about this twist of events," nodded the princess.272Please respect copyright.PENANAhZCsHHssiq
"We will return," smiled Elliot. "We will see you soon."272Please respect copyright.PENANA7Jn1GZnjCC
The King greeted them and watched as the two youngsters galloped and disappeared out of view. The stronghold returned to its normal routines again, but that was soon to be interrupted anyhow.272Please respect copyright.PENANA0zFUqxy5fz
Maybe the two royals drove their horses to the maximum, but they did return to Hilltop in a short day. Out of breath, their horses gladly visited the nearby pond and went to take a rest there. It wasn't too far away from the house, so they never had to worry.272Please respect copyright.PENANABv2sqCYic4
"Mother!" shouted Elliot. He swung open the front door and expected Aris to just be cooking a nice cake or be asleep in front of the fireplace, but he was harshly welcomed by a large orc talking to Aris.272Please respect copyright.PENANAAUYAxxromK
"Oh, Elliot," she simply said. "Meet Ghordo."272Please respect copyright.PENANAS8Tlx6LwOB
"Nice to meet you, Ghordo," mumbled Elliot confused. Ane entered the room too, and she was also a bit confused by what she was witnessing. The orc and the elf were just talking like two old friends who were catching up on all the rumours.272Please respect copyright.PENANAshLVGctQ0b
"You two!" exclaimed Ghordo. His voice was bellowing and it had very much gravel to it. His dark, leathery skin was covered by armour that merely was put around his bottoms and around his thick, strong arms. He had long, dirty hair that covered his back. The only weaponry he carried with him was a cleaver, stuck in his belt, and he also had a quiver and a large, steel bow. This was no one else but the ancient, legendary Ghordo, master of his race, the best at his job. The orc Ghordo has been living in peace with everyone, even the horned creatures, and because of his century-long life, he had experienced the first outbreak of devils.272Please respect copyright.PENANAmh1Lbi3VOA
"Sir Ghordo," mumbled Anevay.272Please respect copyright.PENANAjOhfSBNtwh
"I need to talk to these children, Aris," said Ghordo. His spiky teeth weren't that attractive, but they spat out the southern accent well. The stretched vowels, the pronounced r's, the flat tones, it all pointed to the south.272Please respect copyright.PENANArjwtAPZKp8
"My son is but a young man and Anevay is a princess, she is needed here," refused Aris.272Please respect copyright.PENANA5VwlqcJCxP
"Your son is no human, he's vital to this quest. The princess can summon all the lost warriors we need thanks to her excellent necromancy," countered the orc as he turned to the children. "Come talk with me outside. Your mother doesn't need to hear any of this."272Please respect copyright.PENANAsPKfmoDTxQ
Aris remained in confuse. She remembered when people still respected her status as an honoured elf, but when she threw that away to become a happy mother, she should've expected it. She still had the gorgeous looks of the elves, but her power weakened.272Please respect copyright.PENANA73LbYgg9lc
"I think you've all heard 'bout the recent –"272Please respect copyright.PENANAA0hGu34nrE
"Yeah, the core of the earth has been opened," nodded Anevay. "What is going on?"272Please respect copyright.PENANAOIcYtSwk6a
"Well, princess. Four people the oracle has chosen, and two of them are you. You can skip the trip to the oracle, but I think it's necessary if you'd like to find out more about the entire event. Find those two other comrades, and head to the –"272Please respect copyright.PENANADb49I3gXSa
"How are we supposed to find them?" interrupted Elliot.272Please respect copyright.PENANA0fy2kgw8N7
"Stop interrupting me, children," snarled Ghordo.272Please respect copyright.PENANAlJwQ0tR6IT
"Sorry." Elliot looked down, feeling even smaller than he already did next to a very tall orc.272Please respect copyright.PENANAHh90CbvrZV
"Head to Iccarslot and talk with Korlos," continued the orc.272Please respect copyright.PENANATDXWFhU1uq
"Korlos? As in Korlos the troll of wisdom and age?" frowned Anevay.272Please respect copyright.PENANAWbjstrKZLv
"Correct, princess. He can explain the road to the oracle."272Please respect copyright.PENANAzYzTlKnoUb
"A friend promised us to help us already," said Anevay, thinking about Jarco.272Please respect copyright.PENANA4naTD4TQHk
"He can join you on this trip. However, children, don't forget that you'll meet many more people on your way. Be careful as to whom to trust. Not everyone is as kind to the rescuers of earth as I am," the orc answered very mysteriously. "I will leave now. I'll see you in Iccarslot, hopefully." The orc stepped away without further ado and just disappeared out of sight as he walked down the hills. At that point, the horses returned, as if Ghordo had sent them to force the 'children' on their quest. The sun was slowly setting, signing the coming of the night.272Please respect copyright.PENANAYnKDdWP30X
Elliot headed inside the house to talk with Aris, who now was indeed baking cake.272Please respect copyright.PENANARydGlHAJUK
"I heard everything," she said. "It is fine. Go and be a hero, son. Be safe."272Please respect copyright.PENANAO1z5xNOS20
Elliot received a kiss on his forehead. He wondered if she was just trying to stay strong or whether she was completely apathetic, but he just proceeded to go upstairs. Anevay locked the front door after she had put the horses in the stable and greeted Aris kindly. Also she kind of questioned why Aris was so surprisingly cold about the situation, but little did they know that Aris herself was still a very important pawn in this entire historic tale. She never told her children that she fought together with Ghordo, Korlos and Rok, a very infamous dwarf, protecting the Northern and Southern Bay. She never told them about her past, or about her husband. The time wasn't ripe yet, and Aris wondered if it'd ever even be.272Please respect copyright.PENANA12mpNssZZe
Ane hopped on Elliot's bed while he lazily leaned over the windowsill, feeling the fresh night breeze caressing his face. The lampions that had been lit up swiftly drove off to another mountain while spreading a smooth wave of light wherever they came. Both of the two children glared outside the window, their eyes following lampions slowly. The night had come quicker than usual, but maybe that was their imagination.
With the wind in their hair, Ane and Elliot rapidly galloped over numerous hills, across long, silver rivers who decorated the fields like ribbons. Trees reached up to the clear skies, not a speck of cloud covering the canvas. Perfectly painted villages quickly found themselves behind the children as they drove, challenging their horses' limits, as well as their own.272Please respect copyright.PENANAWCrR6AD1uI
"Ghordo talked to you?" asked Jarco.272Please respect copyright.PENANAYyexNFDOBj
Ane and Elliot stood in front of Jarco's room, apologetically staring at his feet.272Please respect copyright.PENANAv9H1S4GuNQ
"What did he say?" asked the young professor.272Please respect copyright.PENANAWKi3zgs3XJ
Ane glared at Elliot for a split second and then turned to Jarco. "He told us to find Korlos. He could help us reach the oracle, who would give us further instructions. He said that you could help us."272Please respect copyright.PENANAyEYLRqBe7F
"He did not exactly say that," replied Elliot, "but we were counting on you."272Please respect copyright.PENANAAwsd0JYhz3
"I do not know if I really want to visit Iccarslot," said Jarco. He looked down to the children, as he was taller than both of them.272Please respect copyright.PENANAYilHZ300oi
"Jarco, we need aid on this journey," pleaded the princess. "Iccarslot their citizens are not so welcoming to us."272Please respect copyright.PENANA3qcRtD5dPf
"That is exactly why I do not want to join this journey," sighed Jarco. He seemed to consider it for another second or so, but he then just shook his head. "I have been through enough. I hope that everything I taught you both will help you on your way." He returned into his room and shut the door, leaving behind a very devastated Anevay and Elliot.272Please respect copyright.PENANA45188ijT4O
The youngsters shared an upset look and then just proceeded to the spiral staircase. They discussed how they weren't sure if they were actually going to make it to Iccarslot safely. Once on solid grounds, the youngsters just went to the royal stables, where they had left their horses. Ane hadn't greeted her father yet, and she also wasn't planning on doing so. Her mood was inevitably killed by the brutal rejection of Jarco. She shouldn't be too surprised either; it wasn't like they ever got along like true allies anyway.272Please respect copyright.PENANAPADm7PlfPY
The friends mounted their horses slowly and once comfortably on the saddles, they gave each other a comforting nod and then went on to the south. It was definitely bound to be a majestic trip.
With a groan, he saw how she tossed away the bread shoved in her hands by her boyfriend who had just brutally broken up with her up. Bethil walked towards it, his paws moving like a slender animal.272Please respect copyright.PENANASV1A2kufSj
"Hey, shoo!" hissed the girl. Bethil grabbed the bread between his teeth and when he turned his snout, he saw how she stood up, about to chase him. He wanted to yelp, but that wasn't quite an animal instinct, so he let his paws drag him to the town. Nobody really was too keen on a tiger, so they quickly snapped out of the way, yapping at him angrily. The girl was still chasing him me. She sure had nerve for some mortal girl. The market booths were pushed back, causing them to fall over, by the salespeople who exploited their business. Curses and filthy words were thrown directly at Bethil's grinning face, holding a loaf of bread.272Please respect copyright.PENANA2otE49rvu0
Enjoying the run, Bethil grinned as he clutched onto the bread, running off between the angered crowd, interrupting their morning walk. After a long while – this chase was longer than usual; she was more perseverant than he had imagined her to be – he managed to turn into a street and get rid of her. Why would anyone throw away precious bread and then complain somebody else stole it? What selfishness. Bethil watched as the girl angrily continued to run straight past the alley. In the midst of a moment, the tiger had grown into a man with a long, thin tail and pointy, furry ears. He took his eyepatch from his pocket to cover his wounded eye.272Please respect copyright.PENANAZbAlBmI0fc
"Good morning, Bethil."272Please respect copyright.PENANAt9qXHmklIf
Bethil turned around and saw the King with some local knight. He greeted them and turned his back to the main street, now fully facing the pair.272Please respect copyright.PENANASCJQ40Lp4Z
"How's things?" Bethil asked somewhat uninterested.272Please respect copyright.PENANAIPFt2TYExJ
"Great," shrugged the King.272Please respect copyright.PENANAZw4Gni8bAf
The young lad with a furry tail faintly greeted them off and continued walking his way back to his shelter. As a shapeshifter, it's always hard to be accepted. His parents taught him to always take it as well as possible. He was sure he took his father's positivity but he also took a grand portion of his mother's cynicism. Bethil finished the loaf of bread before he even opened the door of his house in the outskirts of Kinslot.272Please respect copyright.PENANAbv3HdBCxoQ
"Welcome home," said his mother. She was peeling potatoes in the light of the sun that shone through the flat surface of the window in front of her. Her hair was tucked behind her long, pointy ears. It was hard to understand how an elf from Iccarslot even got into Kinslot and married a shapeshifter. Luckily it wasn't a necromancer – who knew which results that'd give.272Please respect copyright.PENANAC8pXxcGmkB
"How was your day, mother?" asked Bethil politely and sat down. His hair was still messy and his mother always scolded him on it, but he couldn't care for shallow factors like hair on top of your head – as an animal, you can't comb or brush your hair every so often either. He grabbed an apple from the fruits basket and awaited his mother's answer.272Please respect copyright.PENANA2GrHQQI7qC
"It was great," she said eventually. "Your father and I managed to smuggle in some metal that we'll eventually forge into swords in the basement."272Please respect copyright.PENANAn5p9YWARSm
Bethil took a bite from the surprisingly juicy apple. The basement was like some underground forge. It was extremely warm in there and the liquid metal would seep through weird, rock moulds. Bethil never fully understood what exactly his father did or how it worked and he wasn't a fan of it either, so he decided to just let it rest. His parents made Bethil swear he'd never betray them or tell anybody they were secretly metalworkers.272Please respect copyright.PENANAdQ1mP4546m
"Nice," Bethil said lazily. He stared outside the window and quickly finished his apple. "I'm going to the market again today. Well, another one than the one I crashed."272Please respect copyright.PENANAhP5FUX18YK
"You crashed a market again? And for what?"272Please respect copyright.PENANAVvrhed0Ztx
"A loaf of bread I ate," chuckled Bethil.272Please respect copyright.PENANA3lGn9fXkhu
"Go to school, child," replied his mother whilst she shook his head. "And don't skip anymore."272Please respect copyright.PENANAOGfCOmFNpz
"I don't want to go to the academy anymore. I can continue your business with smiths craft in the future. I don't need a diploma," cried Bethil.272Please respect copyright.PENANASfbYowFQMp
"Bethil," said his mother sternly, "go to school."272Please respect copyright.PENANAnZCErXtkxm
The young shapeshifter groaned in refusal, but he strolled to his bedroom to throw on his fancy uniform anyway. He looked in the long, vertical mirror with a wooden frame that his father had crafted. The chic, shiny, white uniform definitely didn't fit his personality. The golden, slick tie matched the small, subtle details on the uniform, but Bethil wished that he could just take all the gold out of the uniform and craft it into solid gold bars.272Please respect copyright.PENANAsTbinHsuVY
He took his leather satchel and greeted off his mother. The road to the school was long, boring and every day the same. The grand buildings weren't fun to see anymore and he tired from watching the same scenery days on end. The stronghold of Kinslot was very close to the academy, and every now and then Bethil would climb up the highest tower of his academy to try to peek into the stronghold. He remembered his last encounter with the princess a very long while ago, and he saw her leaving in a hurry with some strange person.272Please respect copyright.PENANAuU3YemLRxq
"You are late again," snarled the professor of Bethil's class when the student entered the large classroom. About thirty pairs of eyes glared at Bethil and he wished he had just stayed at home and escaped these leftover six hours of education. "You would think that after sixteen years of your bitter life you would at least be on time for once."272Please respect copyright.PENANALcYdDUiVNs
"Bitter life?" scowled Bethil. He had never heard this professor be so salty towards one of his students. Bethil never really cared for anyone's scolding anyway, but he was offended nonetheless.272Please respect copyright.PENANAojKjeX4lSF
"Just sit down and pay attention, Bethil," spat the professor as he harshly guided Bethil to his seat in the back of the class. Instead of letting himself be ordered around like some puppet, Bethil showed force against the professor's acts and he made his way out of the classroom before he even sat down. The professor followed him outside for a brief moment, but he gave up hopes. Maybe it was just Bethil's temper lately, but he was sick and tired of following everyone's rules at the time. He was too adventurous and outspoken for this world.272Please respect copyright.PENANAavqj8i8cPb
His bright, blue eyes searched the best possible way to get away from the academy as quick as possible and his feet led him outside quickly. People on the streets would glare at his young, handsome face, wondering why he wasn't at school. He never grasped the concept of school anyway. He couldn't go home either – his mother would probably punish him for a week. Bethil simply walked to one of the nearby plazas and remained here for a solid while, perceiving all the incentives of a busy town. The talking, the chirping birds, the carriages that drove over cobblestone paths. He rumbled through his satchel and found a pouch which had some golden coins. He wondered where he found this, but then he remembered that he probably stole it one time.272Please respect copyright.PENANASrgIIDHNl5
Bethil guided himself through the markets and eventually stopped at a booth which sold outfits and uniforms. His eyes fell on a perfect outfit for him. A pay and a search for a private spot later, Bethil dropped his school uniform on an empty bench. Someone'd pick it up later, wouldn't they?272Please respect copyright.PENANAlecHPvJZyM
Brown trousers covered Bethil's muscled legs. The ends of the new-bought trousers were tucked inside the new boots with long, leathery laces. His torso was protected by a purple, hooded shirt on top of a tight, brown top with long sleeves. The hooded shirt's sleeves were short, so showed the brown sleeves underneath. A complicated corset hung over his shoulders and reached down to his pelvis. Nobody would recognise him this way. Bethil fastened the belts of the corset and he carried on with his journey. He threw the hood over his head and covered his messy, brown hair this way. The pouch with coins was hidden in the deep pockets of his trousers. It all matched perfectly with his eyepatch, too.272Please respect copyright.PENANApThY4rn4Oy
Bethil avoided the busy crowds and continued his way to the entrance of the city. In his mind, he sketched an entire plan as to where to go, and when to go where. He wasn't sure if he was going to run away from his parents, but he definitely just wanted to get out there.272Please respect copyright.PENANAcR6qCtL7ef
He swiftly made his way out of the city. Before he could smell the fresh scent of the rural landscape, the salt of the lifeless lakes and the sweetness of lakes with koi, he was yelled at by an unknown voice. The voices shooed him away and Bethil instinctively turned around and saw two galloping horses running to him. In the midst of his thoughts, he spun upwards, smoothly making his transformation into a tiny hummingbird. Feathers still fluttered around when he landed behind the horses in his normal form.272Please respect copyright.PENANANo5ivdQY18
"Are you mad?" yelled the male person on the beige horse.272Please respect copyright.PENANARhuuHNunio
"I'm not the one running towards a random pedestrian with a horse," scowled Bethil.272Please respect copyright.PENANAq8PLGUWFKW
"You should have heard us coming," said the female voice.272Please respect copyright.PENANAYrmihB2NGK
"In the midst of the crowd's rumble? Sorry, woman, I don't share your majestically good ears," sighed Bethil cynically as he scanned the woman. And it struck him like someone smacked a book full of rules of mannerism right in his face.272Please respect copyright.PENANAZNKSUJ0or5
"Princess Anevay," he stumbled.272Please respect copyright.PENANAXklyiO14hE
"Nice to meet you too," replied Anevay calmly. She dismounted her horse and Elliot frowned as to why she was descending. "I am princess Anevay, as you obviously knew."272Please respect copyright.PENANATVqKIpOplz
Bethil didn't bother to apologise. He swallowed any form of apology and just glared at her. He just awkwardly clutched onto his pouch in his trousers' pockets. Somehow he wasn't that excited to witness the princess. All his hopes that had risen over the months were just not finished like he had expected. He found Anevay gorgeous, mind you. Her silver hair, luscious curves and grey eyes couldn't be withstood by any villager in the entire world, but it didn't really seem to do Bethil anything.272Please respect copyright.PENANAqZpayGHbou
"Look," began princess Anevay after a somewhat uncomfortable silence. "Have you ever been to Iccarslot?"272Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZlxSfYpY3
"I only know the way to it, but I've never been there," replied Bethil honestly with a little shrug.272Please respect copyright.PENANAgCdVGeh35p
"How come you know the way then?" frowned Anevay suspiciously.272Please respect copyright.PENANAiWpgtEoRag
Bethil stopped himself from spilling information about the many evenings he had spent with his parents in the dim light of the sunset, talking about the adventures of beautiful, magical Iccarslot. He refused to let a world slip out of his mouth, so he made up a silly excuse.272Please respect copyright.PENANAgAeBnNQn7L
"I'm often very bored at home," shrugged the boy lamely. "My parents have a ton of maps lying around, so I study all the roads. Geography's just always been my thing."272Please respect copyright.PENANAbkP1b1Z3B4
"Could you possibly be from Southern Bay?" Elliot asked. "Your accent is very much like it."272Please respect copyright.PENANAyRjcU8MLeU
"My parents are southern. They were both born in Iccarslot," nodded Bethil.272Please respect copyright.PENANAGc7azKfH2U
"What are they?" asked Anevay out of mere interest.272Please respect copyright.PENANAwh8cwwWuoc
"Just like us," replied Bethil cryptically.272Please respect copyright.PENANAdeaonw0Isd
"Lead us the way to Iccarslot, please," asked Anevay.272Please respect copyright.PENANAhB5ktCvNQo
"Ane –"272Please respect copyright.PENANAGnVLThzc7J
"Shush, Elliot. He is our only hope and chance we have. Jarco is not going to help us anytime soon, so we have to count on this lad."272Please respect copyright.PENANANl4SrPfhB2
"How do you know if we can trust him?" exclaimed Elliot. "I am just taking precautions, you know? I do not want a sharp blade thrust against my throat when we turn our backs to him."272Please respect copyright.PENANAzvE0jX1OkV
"This guy has been basically spying on us ever since we could walk," said Anevay. "Harming us would end his o so interesting investigation. Right?" She turned her head to a blushing Bethil.272Please respect copyright.PENANAKU5nEmXSAK
"It was just out of mere interest for what royals did," shrugged Bethil, trying to keep his cool.272Please respect copyright.PENANAVQkeZFr30q
"So will you help us or not?"272Please respect copyright.PENANAfu6CcrnsQi
Bethil hesitated for a moment. He contemplated all the possible cons and pros in his mind, but he quickly wiped away that list and the only thing that replaced were poorly drawn sketches about epic adventures that could possible happen. It'd be the first time for him that he could see the wonderful Iccarslot with his own eyes.272Please respect copyright.PENANACsfOGtAGRf
"Of course," he nodded, convinced by his own desires. "I do not have a horse though."272Please respect copyright.PENANAvxTzlBDA29
"That is fine," shrugged Anevay. "I will get one from the stables. Stay here with Elliot for a while."272Please respect copyright.PENANAdaHFdJT20R
Princess Anevay walked off, swaying her hips – perhaps subconsciously, if she wasn't the seductive type. Bethil took off his hood and awkwardly approached Ordo and after Elliot gave his permission, the shapeshifter caressed the horse's nose.272Please respect copyright.PENANAqPG7VTMCKG
"Do you know how to ride horses?" asked Elliot.272Please respect copyright.PENANAPA66oRjOTh
"Of course," smiled Bethil as he turned to Elliot. When their eyes met, Bethil was sure that Elliot felt strange emotions. None of the boys could deny that one another were gorgeous. It was like they both came straight out of heaven, both beautiful.272Please respect copyright.PENANADxoA6JZogo
Elliot couldn't find proper words to converse with this strange, sudden person. He didn't want to trust him either. Elliot didn't know which connection played between Anevay and Bethil, but Elliot himself refused to accept any type of connection that he could possibly have with this stranger. He wasn't sure why, but he just felt like rebelling against opening his mind for strangers.272Please respect copyright.PENANAvstYQq2ScA
"Do you know the princess or something?" asked Elliot, a bit more impolite than he had intended to sound like.272Please respect copyright.PENANAko00UpQwKD
"No," Bethil replied, "but she is a necromancer, which causes her to also sense a mortal's true soul. I guess she could sense my soul wasn't a bitter, foul black or an empty, selfish grey."272Please respect copyright.PENANAOvc1golU1c
"How can necromancers see a soul their colour?"272Please respect copyright.PENANABVDSY3Gxxt
"Didn't you learn at the academy? Did no one ever tell you?"272Please respect copyright.PENANAe51r9OOGGz
"No."272Please respect copyright.PENANAMGZqViQZks
"I guess not all handsome lads can be intelligent."272Please respect copyright.PENANAEoWSF93MXF
Elliot was flustered yet offended. "Just explain it to me."272Please respect copyright.PENANAXOdbs3mZ2g
"Necromancers have a strong connection with both the dead and alive," answered the young shapeshifter, who was still caressing Ordo's nose. "I don't know if Anevay has ever told you, but I'm quite sure she is colour-blind."272Please respect copyright.PENANACX5uXTgTON
"She is not colour-blind."272Please respect copyright.PENANAn9JT99QLg1
"Then she can see extraordinary colours the normal eye can't perceive."272Please respect copyright.PENANAdqBd8R3gwj
"Stop lying. How did you even know she is a necromancer?"272Please respect copyright.PENANAnbkDmM4v4k
"I guess that spying has really done its job," shrugged Bethil cheekily while he threw a playful grin over his shoulder, directed to an unamused Elliot.272Please respect copyright.PENANA4m0eNhPahZ
"You should not know so much," he sighed, patting Louis' head. "You are too young."272Please respect copyright.PENANAgmCAfRaJtr
"I am as old as your princess."272Please respect copyright.PENANA8wdSElrogp
"Where did you learn that stuff about the necromancers?"272Please respect copyright.PENANADPrIAFMJcf
"My parents tell me a lot of things they don't teach you when you're stuck on chairs all day," replied Bethil.272Please respect copyright.PENANATVv3hbfC8v
For a moment, Elliot was envious. He also wanted to learn majestic things. He wanted to learn about himself, most of all. He didn't know what he was. They'd say that he'd find out when he was of age, but the poor lad was about to turn eighteen, and he still assumed he was nothing but a plain human. Humans didn't exist anymore, and Elliot didn't want to be the first one to live by such a bad title. He wanted to be able to soar through the sky like magical elves, like his mother, or he wanted to be able to master all the tricks of grand wizards who were known for their amazing witchcraft and use of magic. Up till that day, Elliot hadn't met anyone who was that expressive with their powers that he necessarily looked up to them, but he definitely envied Jarco. He had seen him summon armies of spells and he was anything but a weak coward.272Please respect copyright.PENANAGwtoBuakHy
"I have the horse."272Please respect copyright.PENANAssmgeB6jyh
Bethil hopped on the horse immediately. He wondered where it came from, and considering the saddle was made out of the best possible materials, he knew that Anevay had it come from the royal stables. He wanted to ask how the princess got the horse so quickly, but he didn't bother and instead just started the trot along with the two others. While princess Anevay tried to get a hold of the thread in the non-existent conversation, the two boys remained stubborn and refused to speak more than three words at once.272Please respect copyright.PENANAqKelcnmPMn
"You sure make up for cosy company," muttered Ane and she shook her head disappointedly. 272Please respect copyright.PENANAaaXv4GbZzs
"Show us the way, Bethil."272Please respect copyright.PENANAG54r6GG6ej
Bethil nodded and guided his horse to the front of the two others and started navigating himself. A little poem would always help him remember the words.272Please respect copyright.PENANA8c0LaMwsJs
With the poem stuck in his very own head, Bethil led the way and he trotted in northern direction. He dearly hoped that he could bring these two newly found allies to their destination, because the gods would curse him if he wasn't capable of this.272Please respect copyright.PENANALNyhbuarJR
"Thank you, by the way," said Anevay as soon as she started to feel they were leaving some of the cities behind them.272Please respect copyright.PENANACqopU6WY45
Bethil smiled. "Anything for a princess and their best friend."272Please respect copyright.PENANA23dZnwDWtz
A long road was ahead, and boy, if they had known it'd be that adventurous, they would have probably stayed home. 272Please respect copyright.PENANApoBcs8N76E