In the spacious office of Lenor, a tense atmosphere hung heavy. The large oak table was covered with maps, notes, and scrolls. Along the walls, bookshelves lined with ancient tomes stood like silent sentinels. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting a soft glow on the serious faces gathered around.
Lenor sat at the head of the table, intently studying a map of the roads leading to the Kingdom of the Dwarves. Elgot stood beside him, pouring wine into goblets, the expression on his face suggesting he had already devised some cunning plan. Kano surveyed the scene with interest, while Naira, arms crossed over her chest, looked openly displeased.
—"We need to leave the city discreetly," Lenor said, tapping his finger on the map. "If the enemies learn of your departure, they may set an ambush."
—"Fine, but why do I have to hide in a cart like some weak lamb?" Naira's voice rang with irritation. "I'm a great warrior, not a smuggler!"
Elgot smiled and took a sip of his wine.
—"The road is dangerous, Naira. If the enemies think only a few common companions are traveling with a merchant, they won't know what we're truly capable of. It gives us the advantage."
—"Hiding like a rat in the sewers..." grumbled the orc.
Kano, who had remained silent up until then, finally spoke up:
—"It's only for a few days. After that, we'll break free and show them who we really are. Besides," he winked, "it's a unique chance to test our survival skills in tight quarters."
Lianel placed a hand on Naira's shoulder.
—"This is the best option. If they find out we're traveling with the merchant, they'll definitely send someone after us. We won't have the element of surprise."
Naira sighed heavily, her face contorting with thought. Finally, she muttered:
—"Fine. But if any of you so much as whisper 'Naira, move over' or 'Naira, you're heavy,' I'll personally shake you out of the cart."
Elgot clapped his hands.
—"Good! Then it's settled. Rudgard, you know what to do?"
The dwarf, who had been silently watching the conversation, set his cup of ale down and grinned slyly.
—"Tomorrow morning, there will be a very interesting announcement at the guild about transporting a valuable cargo to the Kingdom of the Dwarves. And that's when our adventure begins."
The next morning, the adventurers' guild was as noisy as ever. The smell of freshly brewed ale mixed with the scent of roasted meat, and loud voices rang out from every corner. Among the wall of announcements, cluttered with task papers, a new notice hung: "Escort needed for transporting valuable cargo to the Kingdom of the Dwarves. High payment. Dangerous road."
Kano and Elgot calmly approached the board, scanning the notices. Elgot smiled slyly when he saw the notice written by Rudgard himself.
—"Everything's going according to plan," he muttered quietly.
However, before they could claim the task, another group approached the board — four burly swordsmen in heavy armor. They studied the paper with interest, and one of them, a tall man with a thick beard, reached out to tear it down.
—"Seems like this job's for us," he said, turning to his companions.
Kano and Elgot exchanged a quick glance. The plan might fail. Elgot immediately sprang into action.
—"Oh, you lads are brave to take on this task!" he said loudly, making sure everyone around could hear. "The road to the Kingdom of the Dwarves is horrifically dangerous. You know about those giant monsters lurking in the cliffs, right? Last month, one caravan never returned..."
The swordsmen glanced at each other warily, and the bearded man scowled.
—"Monsters? Well, we can handle them."
Elgot squinted and assumed a thoughtful expression.
—"Oh, sure... if you don't run into her."
—"Her?" one of the swordsmen asked.
Elgot gave a meaningful look to Kano, then turned back to the warriors.
—"Haven't you heard about the eight-headed hydra?" he whispered with feigned horror. "They say it kills anyone who dares pass through its territory. No adventurer has ever come back alive. And it's smart... knows how to set traps and wait."
—"Eight-headed?!" one of the warriors rasped. "How... how do you even fight something like that?!"
Elgot leaned in closer, lowering his voice as if becoming serious:
—"You don't. If you're lucky, you might escape. If..." He paused for a moment, then added, "If it doesn't sense your fear. Because it senses fear."
One of the swordsmen nervously glanced around.
— "That's an S-rank... That's suicide!" — he whispered, gripping the hilt of his sword. — "They'll tear us apart! We're guaranteed to die!"
— "Correct," Elgot nodded thoughtfully. — "That's why even I'm afraid of it. But you're brave adventurers, this is within your abilities! Though… maybe not all of you will survive."
Panic spread through the group of swordsmen. They exchanged stunned glances. One began muttering rapidly:
— "S-rank… no one survives… this is impossible…"
The bearded man, who had just a second ago confidently reached for the notice, jerked his hand back.
— "We've changed our minds!" — he exclaimed sharply. — "The money isn't worth that kind of risk!"
They quickly vanished into the crowd, and Elgot, satisfied, turned to Kano.
— "We'll take the job," he said, winking. — "Register it."
Kano, still shocked by Elgot's performance, whispered quietly:
— "You're an incorrigible liar..."
Elgot merely smiled mysteriously.
The next morning, two large carts loaded with weapons and goods were waiting by the gates of Drachenfest. The group gathered in a quiet corner nearby to finalize the last details before departure. Rudgard stood by the first cart, carefully checking the cargo, while Kano and Elgot discussed the route.
Naira stood off to the side, arms crossed over her chest, staring at the wooden sides of the cart with visible distaste. She remained silent, but her tense expression spoke louder than words. Lianel and Selina sat nearby, watching her with a certain understanding.
— "So, we'll take the second cart," Elgot concluded, rubbing his hands together. — "The girls will hide inside, and Kano and I will escort from the outside. Simple, effective, and no risks."
— "No risks?" — Naira finally exploded. — "Do you even realize what you're asking of me? Hide like some thief in a stinking cart, between crates of weapons?! I'm a warrior! I should be leading, not cowering like a rat!"
Kano felt the argument could drag on forever, so he decided to intervene.
— "Naira, it's not because we doubt you. It's just the best way to avoid unwanted attention. If someone's tracking us, they shouldn't know who's really leaving the city."
— "It's strategy, not humiliation," added Lianel, calmly looking at the orc. — "If you're out in the open, everyone will know a strong warrior is traveling with the caravan. This way, we can move unexpectedly."
Naira sighed heavily, muttering something under her breath.
— "Fine, fine, but if anyone so much as says 'move over,' 'you're taking up too much space,' or 'be careful,' I'll throw them out of the cart."
Elgot, who had been lifting his cup of ale, hid a smile behind a sip and nodded with feigned seriousness.
— "So it's settled! Everyone to your places!"
The girls climbed into the cart, Naira grudgingly settled between the crates, while Lianel and Selina made themselves more comfortable. The cart received a few jabs from the irritated orc, but overall, she had resigned herself to the situation.
Rudgard signaled, and the caravan slowly began to move. Ahead lay a long road filled with dangers, surprises, and perhaps a few comical moments.
The caravan made its way slowly to the main gates of Drachenfest. The sun had not yet risen high, but it was already warming the stone walls of the city. A few guards stood by the entrance, lazily discussing the latest news, but upon noticing the approach of the carts, they straightened up and took their positions.
Inside the second cart, tension hung in the air, but not because of danger. The girls tried to make themselves comfortable among the crates of weapons, but the space was critically cramped.
— "Naira, you're crushing my foot!" — Lianel hissed, irritated.
— "It's not my fault there's less space here than in a dwarf's pantry!" — the orc snapped back.
— "Careful! Your elbow's in my chest!" — Selina groaned, trying to adjust her position.
— "Ha! You think it's easier for me? I've been feeling someone's hand pressing against my ribs for an hour!" — Naira grumbled, shifting restlessly.
— "AAA, it's you?! I thought it was a wooden board!" — Lianel exclaimed.
— "Ha, very funny!" — Naira bristled. — "How the hell did I end up in this? I'm a proud warrior, not some smuggler hiding between crates! Gods, give me strength to survive this..."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her irritation, and finally decided that sitting on the bench was an absolutely hopeless option. Sighing, she carefully slid down to her knees between the crates.
— "Oh… this is much better…" — Selina whispered with relief.
— "Finally, I can breathe…" — added Lianel.
Naira gave them a skeptical glance.
— "Oh, please! I'm down here like some damned servant..."
At that moment, the curtain between the driver and the cart parted, and Kano cautiously peered inside.
— "Hide, we're approaching the gates!" — he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The girls immediately fell silent and covered themselves with a large piece of cloth. The caravan rolled forward quietly, and outside, a check began.
Rudgard, as any good merchant would, stepped forward confidently, approaching the guards and handing them his papers.
— "Rudgard Bronzeclad, bringing goods to the Kingdom of the Dwarves. Here's the manifest."
One of the guards took the papers, quickly scanning the list. Judging by the look on his face, he wasn't exactly thrilled.
— "There's an awful lot of weapons in this load. Are you heading to war?" — he squinted suspiciously.
Rudgard didn't flinch.
— "Order for the forges. Dwarves love their quality, you know how it is."
The guard hesitated, while his partner peeked inside one of the carts. It was dark inside, and nothing was visible against the backdrop of crates.
At that moment, when everything seemed to be going well, someone inside the cart shifted, knocking a bag. Naira, inhaling dust, couldn't hold back and...
— "ACHOO!!!"
The sneeze rang out like thunder on a clear day. The horses flinched, and the guards' faces froze in surprise. One of them instantly reached for his sword.
— "What was that?!" — he called out.
Elgot, standing nearby, immediately took control of the situation. Laughing loudly, he spread his arms.
— "Ha-ha-ha! What, scared? It's just my little joke to lighten your mood!" — he snapped his fingers, and a small spark appeared in the air, bursting with a light pop.
The guards exchanged tense glances, but one of them chuckled.
— "Oh, these mages… What cowards, and they're supposed to be guards!" — his companion elbowed him in the side.
— "Go on, get moving, while we're still feeling generous, you jokers, damn it!" — grumbled one of the guards.
The caravan continued on its way. Inside the cart, the girls held their breath. Only when the city was far behind did Naira whisper:
— "What the hell did I get myself into…?"
Kano held back a laugh, and Elgot only smiled mysteriously. The road was still long.
The caravan moved along a narrow forest path, leaving the city behind. The road was bumpy, and each jolt of the cart caused the girls in the cramped space to squeeze closer together.
Inside the second cart, once the city was behind them, the girls finally managed to relax a little. They pushed the crates to the sides, creating more space. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Naira sprawled out fully on the cart floor, her arms behind her head.
— "If it's going to be like this, I'm fine with it," — she said contentedly.
She wasn't bothering anyone now, it was much more comfortable, and Lianel and Selina, who had seated themselves on the benches on either side of her head, were able to settle in more comfortably. The cramped space wasn't as unbearable anymore.
— "Now this is better," — Lianel sighed, rubbing her shoulders.
— "Finally, some space," — agreed Selina.
Meanwhile, outside, on the second cart, Kano and Elgot rode side by side, keeping a close eye on the road. Ahead, in the driver's seat of the first cart, Rudgard sat, focused on guiding the horses.
Elgot, as always, looked relaxed and carefree, while Kano scanned the surroundings carefully.
— "Do you really think someone might be following us?" — Kano asked, narrowing his eyes.
Elgot sighed.
— "My friend, there's always someone watching. The key is not to let them know that you know." — He smiled, tossing a coin into the air and deftly catching it.
Rudgard snorted without taking his eyes off the road.
— "If I got a silver coin every time you started philosophizing, I'd already have my own castle."
— "Who knows, maybe I'm saving up for one!" — Elgot winked.
The road ahead became narrower. The forest around them seemed darker, and the atmosphere shifted. Kano felt a slight unease, his instincts telling him that something unexpected awaited them ahead.
— "Stay alert," — he murmured quietly.
Elgot stopped smiling, his gaze turning serious.
The caravan continued moving, fleeing from the safety of the city's walls into the unknown.
The caravan traveled for many days, stopping only for brief lunches and overnight stays. Everyone kept to their own business, each person experiencing the journey in their own way.
Someone constantly teased everyone, finding something in every moment that could become a joke. His carefree laughter could be heard almost every night by the campfire, easing the tension that sometimes built between the travelers.
Someone else, focused and attentive, told terrifying stories about the monsters hiding deep in the forests, about ancient battles that changed the course of history. His voice made the fire seem brighter, and the shadows around the camp grew longer and more threatening.
One spent most of his time in thought. He pondered the power of magic, how to become a better swordsman, and whether he would ever be able to control his own strength. Sometimes he trained, growing stronger with each passing day, perfecting every movement.
Another simply enjoyed the journey. After such a long time, it finally felt like he was heading toward real adventure. His soul craved challenges, tests, moments that would make his heart race. Each day on the road brought new sensations, ones he cherished deeply.
And someone… someone was mourning. He couldn't silence the pain in his heart, the pain of loss that still pressed against his chest. He often remained silent, gazing at the stars or sitting quietly by the fire, hands close to the flames, as if searching for answers in its glow.
They had all lost something in the past, but now they had something important. Together, they were heading toward a grand goal, unsure of what lay ahead, but certain that this journey would change them forever.