Chapter 30: Path of Adventure!

"You are not a bad fighter, who trained you?" Aeneas talked to Naomi while holding one of the thieves in hand. They both had single-handedly taken back the cart in no time, also they had captured the thieves. Their coordination was so good that one might have thought that they've been fighting together for a while. After tying up the thieves, they were handed to the local guards whom Catherine had called in a while ago. "Actually my mother taught me the swordsmanship," Naomi replied while putting her sword away. "She was the best swordsman in our kingdom, people would often call her 'White Rose' for her sword was rapier known as 'Rose'. They say she was the fiercest one, still confused about how she ended up loving father." She seemed quite glad about remembering it. Hearing this, Vivian couldn't help but ask, "What happened to your mum?" She wasn't a cold-hearted person who could overlook someone's pain. She didn't trust her much yet, but she didn't completely believe her. "A certain demon cursed her, with an eternal illness. It happened a while ago. I and my brother were sent to borders over some dispute with the local tribes. We were sent as negotiators. But a soldier came a few days earlier searching us, he informed us what happened. He said, a demon came from nowhere and demanded father a ritual to be performed, a forbidden one. It was to open a crack between planes, big enough for that demon's body to enter. My mother didn't wait for him and denied it right away. To set an example he cursed my mother with eternal illness and before she could act, she had fallen sick. He demanded my father to do so in return for her life and unimaginable wealth. His greed took over him and made him perform the ritual. My brother also sided with him. I tried to stop them but they locked me up, I somehow managed to run." Hearing her story they all sank into thinking. That explained why Etherblade ended up on enemy sides, but it was kind of frustrating that the king gave in to his greed so easily, his wife's life now sounded just an excuse to him. 'To be able to think so low', Theodore let out a sigh. Looking over what she said he finally seemed to get it, daughter of white rose. It was obvious that he didn't have to ask about the name 'White Rose'. Her looks spoke for herself. If not for her unwavering expressions, she had snow-white hairs and crimson red eyes. Her delicate figure surely didn't comprehend with the strength her paladin class was carrying. After giving a good look at her, Theodore couldn't hide a hint of blush, she was surely beautiful and had a strong charisma. 'Half-Vampire', he thought to himself. Looking at him blush Vivian gave an obvious angry look, "Ahem! Where are we headed then?" She asked in a loud tone making him startled. "To the Dungeon of course, but that'll take around 2 days. Today we'll stay in some safe place." Nuae replied while driving the cart.

After a while, they arrived at the top of one of the hills, from where they were able to look at the town in the distance. It was evening and thus had a beautiful view of the sunset. "We can stay here for tonight!" Saying this he jumped from the cart. "Hey! The town is down there! Why did you stop here?" Vivian questioned as she stepped down from the cart as well. "There is a huge bounty on me for a lot of stuff I committed in my life, and not to mention, she's a runaway princess. There'll be all sorts of people waiting for us there, it's a big town and we don't want any unwanted attention!." His reply was stingy for her. "You didn't tell us about it earlier!" She complained looking at him and then turned towards Aeneas who was eating something in a corner. Feeling her glance he felt a chill, sweating he replied, "Look, we should stay low-key for this. You have any issues with us staying together." Hearing this, she almost exploded on him. "We should stop here, it'll be good for us all." Theodore intervened in their discussion. "And we don't have any issue living this way, after all, we are all warriors in a way too right Vivian?" Catherine joined in while holding Sylph. "Fine! I had no issues with living like this anyway. But let me make it clear, that guy stays in the cart at any cost." She replied pointing towards Aeneas. "Agreed!" Both Catherine and Naomi replied. "Hya! It's not fair! Why only me? And what if something happens?" Aeneas cried out looking at them only to receive a glare. "It's for something to not happen. Do you agree or want to get tied up again?" Vivian replied with a cold look. Before he could reply, Catherine took out a chair from her storage portal, at the same time Naomi borrowed a rope from Theodore who along with Nuae were preparing the tents. "Hya! Why do you have it? And how come Naomi is helping you." Hearing this she replied, "What I've heard is enough for me to help them." She replied while holding the rope with smug expressions. Looking at this scenario, it looked like all three girls were dominating an Ace like a gang of girls ganging up on some kid. In a flash, they tied him up and turned to Theodore, "Sorry for that. We'll need a rope, here take this. Can we help somehow?" Catherine asked him to which he tried pointing towards tied up Aeneas who was being blackmailed by Sylph as she held his bag of berries, with a blank expression. "Good timing, here tie this up," Nuae replied instead of Theodore. After a few minutes of joined efforts, two tents were set up, Theodore along with Vivian went to look around for something to eat. As there was still some time for sunset, they were expecting some good hunt. While they were looking for food, Catherine went to get firewood and sent Naomi to collect some water from a nearby spring. Sylph was keeping an eye on Aeneas and Nuae was preparing a spot for a bonfire as well as some basics for cooking if the hunt was to go unsuccessful.

In about 30 minutes, everyone was back in the tents. Luckily, the hunting team was able to hunt down a wild boar, along with a few edible mushrooms. It'd turn into a good feast, Catherine did collect a ton of firewood, enough for them to burn through the whole night. Naomi was looking at Theodore with her curious eyes, as he skillfully prepared the boar to be cooked. "You are different than what I had imagined." She finally said looking at him curiously. "I thought you'd be a very Prince type and less normal." She added to which he replied with an awkward expression, "Yeah, I hear that a lot from people. I was never like this, but she helped me breakthrough my shell." He answered looking at Vivian who was helping Catherine in preparing soup. "I learned a lot from her about this world, and am still learning. After my mom passed away, she'd been taking care of me." He added while getting back to his preparations. "You are quite lucky." She said looking at him with envy. "Why do you say so?" He asked curiously to which she replied while letting out a sigh, "After my mom fell sick, our father kind of abandoned us. I lost my brother the way he was, turning him into something else. I've been searching for such care ever since." Her eyes were sad when she said so he couldn't help it, he clearly saw her pain. Moving a step closer he grabbed her shivering hands and said looking in her eyes, "Sure you've been through a lot, but rest assured as we are all here. Look around, they may not be the most powerful people, but they are the best I could ever ask. And with us around, you don't need to wander around anymore. We will help you." As he said so, she felt a ray of hope in them. At a glance, Catherine and Vivian were having fun making soup, Nuae was carrying out his beer from the cart looking at Aeneas, laughing, who was tied up and was being tortured for mere berries by a wind spirit. The whole environment was happy, everyone had a calm and happy expression. "Damn, I'm so jealous I could jump in to join them. But it's not time yet, right Serena?" Eleanor looked up in the sky and spoke to herself after giving a glance at them.

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