A few days went by uneventfully, and finally, the anticipated day for the journey to Trevault arrived. Mikhail waited giddily in the stables, his stomach churning from excitement.
Originally, he had planned to visit the city capital before making his way down to the Kingdom of Lestria for sightseeing. Then, he would cross the borders over to the Agrestian Empire.
Although that particular nation was hostile and constantly at war, there were multiple scenic areas that did not fail to entice visitors from neighbouring nations. For example, there was the vast savanna where some people live alongside the wildlife there.
There was also the largest waterfall located somewhere within the nation. Due to the harsh weather, it's not often visible nor highly sought after. People who claimed to find it easily got accused of experiencing a desert mirage or something of the like until most recently, an acclaimed reporter had sketched an image of it and published his repo
"How did you even manage to make it to Enoch if you easily got motion sickness?" William sighed as he glanced over at Mikhail who was sitting beside him on a nearby log.The quartet had to make a quick stop as Mikhail had been nauseous throughout the journey so far. They were currently situated roughly four towns away from the capital. Any further and he would most likely have fallen off his horse."I... ugh... j-just a second..." Mikhail swiftly got up and rushed towards a tree a little further from where he had been sitting, the contents of his quick breakfast before departing Enoch spewing out like a waterfall.William looked disgusted at Mikhail, turning away before staring at the sandwich in his hand. His stomach began to feel queasy after the image of Mikhail throwing up flashed through his mind.He hesitated to take a bite before settling to keep it for later. The other men however, had been chattering away and munching on their packed meals that W
The sun shone brightly, yet the dense foliage provided a natural canopy to filter most of the light that met the forest bed. Mikhail groans as he slowly pushes himself up.He glances around, touching the fine tree. It's slender bark made him puzzled by such a strange tree that he did not notice someone closing in behind him."Who are you?""Hieek!" Mikhail gasped, stumbling and falling onto his back as the light temporarily blinded him of the person's face.The person lowered themselves, the light whiff of flower catching his attention. Mikhail sits up instantaneously, his hand catching the person's wrist as he took a deep breath before raising his gaze.Amethyst eyes and light brown hair. He quickly loosens his grip as tears slips down his cheeks. His hands begun to shake as he hesitantly reaches to touch her face."M-mother...""... Mikhail." Diane sighed as her hand touched his cheek.Diane looked rather different from
"Mm... sorry about your cheek. Do you have any herbs I could pick through to use as an ointment?" Mikhail peeks at the wound he caused on Arthur's cheek as he fiddled through his pockets, searching for his clean handkerchief."Hmm? It's fine. I can just--" before Arthur could finish his sentence, the door flap of the tent was brutally pushed aside a burly man entered through.Upon seeing the two, he freezes and slowly excused himself. Mikhail blinks blankly, slowly processing what happened before shifting his focus back to Arthur."Ah, found it... I'll dampen the cloth a little first. Just stay put." Mikhail patted Arthur's shoulder as he smiled in reply."Okay, it will hurt a little. Luckily I found the ointment William gave me. I thought I forgot to pack it." Mikhail laughed as he dabs lightly on the wound.Arthur shuts his eyes, his expression void of pain until Mikhail presse
William awakens from his slumber, the faint light which filtered past the spindly branches of the tree dancing on his cheek. He gets up and rubs at his eyes before taking a brief look around him.It was now down to him and his lone aide. The fight after his separation with Mikhail had been exhausting and they had only barely managed to retreat because of the sudden surge of sandstorm that occurs in that part of the nation regardless of seasons.William stretches his limbs and surveyed his surroundings as he brings Urdin down with him to search for some water. By now, they had managed to distance themselves from the canyon and their pursuers but water has been scarce."... Mikhail should be fine. I've trained him enough to handle himself... And he has the other men with hi--- huh...?" William squinted his eyes as he spotted a figure in the distance.An enemy...?William patted Urdin's forehead as he slowly approached the figure. The figure see
"I'm back." Arthur slips into the seat beside Juniper as she instantaneously goes silent and hugs his arm.Mikhail stares at the two in silence as he pours the last of the tea into his tea cup. It felt like ages since Arthur had left and all Juniper did was sing his praises."D-did the both of you get to know one another better?" Arthur gives Mikhail furtive glances which inquired whether Mikhail was in any way interested in his sister.Truth be told... any idea or feeling of wanting to get to know her disappeared the minute she showed such sky high adoration for him. But it was hard to put into words seeing how hopeful he looked."In a way." Mikhail said as he takes a sip out of his cup.He flinches from the teary eyed look on Arthur's face, only to shift his focus on finishing his cup of tea. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Juniper fondly caressing his arms and felt like he was watching something he shouldn't."Commander. I have
Mikhail awakens in the midst of the bamboo grove as he sits up in a startle. He touches his head, patting his body as he knits his brows.The last thing he recalled was getting hit on the back of his neck before passing out. He glances around, slowly getting up as he brushes the dirt off his clothes.The view of bamboos had grow rather familiar in the few times he arrived at said place, but he had never once heard of a place ever having such strange looking trees and warm weather throughout the seasons.Mikhail walks through the maze of greenery as he tries to locate his mother. If it was a dream, he always manages to find her with just a few steps. However, it has gotten to the point where he could hardly tell whether he was dreaming or wide awake.The fine line that separated him from reality and dream had long felt non-existent ever since he followed after the writings on the map that he was certain was a play on his mind. He had also begun looki
"... The... Gods?" Arthur glanced at Mikhail with a look of disbelief as Mikhail felt the hesitant smile on his face start to falter.Arthur then burst into laughter as he holds onto his stomach for dear life. Mikhail frowns in response, lowering his disappointed expression to his hands which he suddenly realised were cuffed."What?! You... you chained me up? Why?" Mikhail gasped and shifted his anxious eyes at Arthur who was busy wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes that were a by-product of Mikhail's words."Because of what you said. It could be anyone's guess that you were grasping at straws, begging us to save William. But for you to make a wild guess that we had hidden messengers... it would be implying we don't trust our own men." Arthur tugs on the chain, jerking Mikhail's attention towards him before donning a serious expression."I wasn't grasping at straws. I saw it myself.""That's impossible. We didn't find any communicati
"Your Highness! I have an urgent report that beseeches your attention!" a messenger rushes before Lilith, lowering his head as he holds forward a scroll to prove of his task."Let me hear it." Lilith swivels around to face the man, turning away from the window as she sits herself down by her desk."There is a foreign enemy consisting of a large troop by our Eastern borders. Reports have claimed that their attire are not known to resemble any of the Agrestians, Trevaulties or Lestrian garments."Lilith straightens herself as she taps her fingers impatiently. She opens the lone jewellery box that rests atop her desk, the only object that didn't match her otherwise packed desk of paperwork.She stares at the innocent stone sitting in the box, void of any colour before shutting the box almost as quickly as she had opened it. She ponders something before shifting her gaze to the messenger who had been furtively glancing at her."I've received the