“Nice to meet you. I am Zach O’Brien, the commander of Pier Knights, who will be in charge of escorting.”
Zach was a knight with an impressive brown beard. He was wearing light armor and had a muscular build.
Behind him stood the Pier Knights, who were in charge of this escort.
“Before we set off, let me give you a brief overview of our upcoming journey.”
It would take a long time to travel from Haiss to Apton. Since the distance wasn’t short, explaining the safety matters and nature of routes was necessary.
“Since this journey includes distinguished guests, safety will be top priority, even if that means wasting more time.”
Except for Count Welton, the entire family was heading to Apton.
For Pier Knights, the Welton family was their master. And they were the top priority.
In addition, Ricky and Anna were now prominent figures of the Pyro church.
Lars was a classified guest, yet he said that he wanted to help. Thus, he was currently going to be a member of the escort squad.
Zach continued.
“Were going to leave Haiss and make a route around the big cities. We will arrive at Apton via Blanky, Nessman and Phil. We have sent the letters to the lords of the mentioned cities so that you will have a comfortable stay.”
“And what about when we aren’t near cities?”
“That’s a good question, young master.”
Zach looked at Jamie and smiled.
“We will make sure to get you into a town and avoid camping as much as possible.”
Avoiding camping on long journeys was impossible.
“It might be inconvenient to sleep outside, but you don’t have to worry about it as we are well prepared for it too.”
Zach was a knight who had the skills of a ranger.
He knew well how to make the outdoors experience comfortable.
Count Welton must have taken that into account when he added Zach.
“Any questions?”
“I think that is all.”
At Sears’ response, Zach nodded.
“Thank you. Then, we will leave soon.”
‘Pyro.’
Jamie remembered his conversation with Pyro.
The one being currently isolated among the 12 Gods. When he arrives at Apton, what would she say?
‘I’ll know once I go there.’
Diablo was going to talk with a God.
His thoughts were complicated.
Jamie lifted his short legs to get into the wagon, when his body was suddenly lifted.
“Uh?”
“Ah.”
Looking back, he saw Count Welton smile as he sat him down.
And then stroked his emerald hair.
“All ready?”
Count Welton stopped stroking and asked Sears.
“All done.”
“You will be through a lot.”
“The one being through a lot will be commander Zach.”
“Be safe.”
“Don’t be too upset because I am gone.”
The Count and Sears kissed.
Ricky’s face turned red at the sudden kiss. Anna tilted her head, wondering what was happening.
On the other hand, Jamie was bored as he saw it every day.
Sarah was sleeping.
After the kiss, the Count looked at Jamie.
“Jamie. You have to take good care of your mother and younger sister.”
“Yes, father.”
“Come here.”
“… yes.”
Jamie, unable to refuse, approached him keeping his expression as stable as he could.
The Count lightly kissed Jamie’s forehead and pinched his cheek.
‘Damn it.’
A moment back, his mother, and now his father.
Still, the Count’s level of affection was nothing compared to Sears.
“My daughter sleeps well.”
He kissed Sarah and took a step back.
“Go safe. See you again when we have the chance.”
“T-thank you. Anna, greetings.”
“Ah. Yes, thank you.”
Jamie wasn’t sure what they were thankful for, but Anna bowed in the direction of the Count.
The Count smiled and told Zach.
“You can move.”
“Yes, Count. I will make sure to bring them back safely.”
“Please.”
“Then, start moving!”
At Zach’s signal, the Welton carriage headed for Apton.
‘Finally, heading to Apton.’
Jamie looked at the mansion as they moved away.
And the scenery of Haiss.
Jamie reclined on the chair, imagining the future.
Clink!
The wagon shook.
Sarah, who was sleeping in Sears’ arms, opened her eyes and started rubbing them.
“Awake?”
Sears asked.
Little Sarah nodded and yawned.
She looked at her brother, who was looking out the window. She realized then that they weren’t home.
Sarah corrected her uncomfortable posture, sat down, and looked ahead.
“…?”
“Ah-hello?”
The first person she saw, smiled awkwardly and waved.
Sara frowned and hugged her mother.
When she made a displeased expression openly, Ricky turned pale.
“Sarah. You shouldn’t act like that.”
“No?”
“When someone greets you?”
“I should greet them back.”
“Right.”
Sears spoke kindly, and Sarah looked back at Ricky.
Ricky, who looked gloomy, smiled and greeted her again.
“Hi.”
“… hello.”
She greeted him back, but her face showed that she didn’t like Ricky, and she kept hugging her mother.
Still, Ricky felt better as she greeted him.
Jamie was taken aback by Ricky’s expression.
“You should greet sister Anna too.”
“Sister?”
“Anna. You say first.”
“Yes.”
Anna, who quietly listened to it, turned towards Sarah with the help of Ricky.
“Hello. I am Anna. Nice to meet you.”
“Sister.”
Sarah’s expression turned subtle at Anna’s greeting.
It was different from when she saw Ricky.
That broke Ricky’s heart.
However, it’s indeed easier for young girls to talk to another girl than a boy.
Sarah looked at Anna, raised her cute hand, and said.
“Hello.”
“Huh. Hello.”
The two girls smiled.
Sears looked at the two children lovingly.
“Cheer up!”
“… huh.”
Jamie comforted Ricky, who had gone pale.
It has been two days since they left.
Knights and workers hired for chores and clearing started to prepare the camp.
The camping point that Zach specified was better than other places.
It was less humid, and they didn’t feel uncomfortable sleeping outside.
‘This feeling, it has been a while.’
In the past, camping outside was the daily routine, but it was his first time camping after he was reincarnated, so it felt like his body was being trampled on by feet after a long time.
“I am tired despite sleeping.”
His mother wasn’t in good shape.
What about Sarah?
There were others.
“Good morning!”
“Ugh- good morning.”
Ricky and Anna came out early and greeted Jamie and his family with bright faces.
‘Ah. They were living like this until a few months back.’
Ricky and Anna were the ones who were living on the street.
For them, the camp was like heaven.
“Did you sleep well?”
“We slept like a log. Right, Anna?”
“yes!”
Ricky and Anna responded cheerfully.
Sears liked it, but at the same time, it was heartbreaking. She knew what they must have been through.
“The meal is ready!”
“The breakfast is ready. Let’s go.”
Sears took all the kids to the dining area.
After eating, they were all back in the carriage.
Zach approached them and spoke to Sears.
“It seems like it will rain.”
“Rain?”
The sky was clear.
It didn’t look like it would rain.
But it did, in the eyes of the experts.
“Yes. The dark clouds are approaching. They are called rain clouds. And the wind will blow here, there is a chance that it will get dark.”
“I see.”
“This is the Mayatrey Mountains, the rainy season is strong. And it will start pouring down.”
“We need to slow down.”
“And find a safer route.”
After giving the report, Zach went to order his subordinates.
“We can’t open the windows today.”
“Can’t be helped.”
“I am fine too. On the contrary, I think that it would be nice if it rains.”
“I like the sound of it.”
Every single word from the children reassured Sears.
She nodded as he looked up at the children.
“Right. Traveling on rainy days is also fine.”
----
Zach’s words were correct.
Soon the sky turned dark.
Raindrops began to pour down and then wet the ground.
It was dark, and the carriage fell quiet.
Ricky was watching the raindrops fall from the window, and Anna slept on his shoulders.
Jamie, Sears, and Anna had less sleep, so they fell asleep.
“Everyone looks tired.”
Zach, covered with a raincoat, stayed to the side of the carriage.
Jamie rubbed his eyes and looked to the side.
“How long have I slept?”
“For about two hours.”
“I slept long.”
Sears, Sarah, and Anna were still sleeping.
“You can sleep more.”
“You didn’t sleep?”
“I slept a lot last night.”
He looked bored, but Ricky didn’t seem tired.
‘I am bored too.’
Meditation was the only thing he’d do when he was bored, but Jamie couldn’t do it now.
Jamie leaned on the window and clicked his tongue.
“Are you two bored?”
“I am a little bored.”
“I mean, we are inside the carriage.”
Neither denied.
“Shall I tell you an interesting story?”
“Interesting story?”
Ricky seemed interested.
Jamie wasn’t.
Zach burst out laughing at the different reactions of the boys.
“The story behind this mountain’s name.”
“Oh oh.”
The mountains they were passing were called ‘Mayatrey'.
Zach continued.
“It is said that this place was originally a huge mountain.”
Long ago, there was a huge mountain. One day, two dragons appeared in the peaceful place.
A blue dragon and an evil black dragon. The blue one was Mayatrey.
Mayatrey had a human that it loved.
The two struggled to defeat the black dragon.
The mountain split into several parts in the process, and a valley with ferociously fast currents was formed.
The problem was that the human that Mayatrey loved died in the battle.
Mayatrey grieved. Despite winning the battle, the dragon lost its loved one and fell into a great loss of sense.
After that, the dragon gave up its attachments with the world and hid deep in the mountains to honor the only person it loved.
“After that, it started to rain frequently in the area.”
“Woah!”
“It was a sad love story that was adapted into songs and spread all over the place. People began to call the rain falling on Mayatrey ‘Dragon Rain'.”
“Such a heartbreaking story! I didn’t even feel the time passing.”
“I am glad you enjoyed it.”
Ricky said with twinkling eyes, and Zach smiled contentedly.
Only Jamie seemed bored.
‘I don’t know about dragon love stories.’
It started to rain heavily.
Zach pressed the hood of his raincoat and said.
“It looks like Mayatrey is crying.”
It was then.
Flash!
A dazzling light.
The light that shone brightly dazzled through the window.
And a loud roar.
Grrrr!
A deafening thunder.
Heeing-
The horses reflexively raised their front paws.
The carriage shook violently.
At that moment, Sears pulled her young daughter and son into her arms and then took Ricky and Anna close to her to protect them.
Rumble!
The carriage wheel was caught.
Crack!
The wheel soon got smashed.
The balance broke.
The door with the Welton symbol broke open.
The wind was blowing outside.
Jamie raised his Mana and pulled Ricky and Anna into the other side of the carriage. He then tried to grab Sears’ arm and pulled her back.
However, Sears could feel her other arm that was holding Sarah lose strength.
She yelled.
“No!”
Crackle!
Another wheel crashed, and the carriage hit the ground.
The shock caused Jamie to miss Sears’ arm.
Mother and daughter were thrown outside.
Without another thought, Jamie flew.
The first thing he saw was the cliff on the other side, where the bottom couldn’t be seen, and then he saw a stream.
Sears and Sarah seemed to be falling into the stream.
A thin hard thread made of Mana stretched out from Jamie’s five fingers.
Sears was the first to get wrapped.
“Jamie! First sarah!”
He hesitated a bit at Sears’ cry, but he was sure that he could save Sarah.
Jamie ignored her scream and threw her up. Thanks to the members of the Pier Knights waiting at the edge, she was immediately taken to safety.
“Brother!”
Sarah cried and called for Jamie.
How many times did his younger sister ever call him brother?
‘Only when you are troubled.’
Jamie smiled at that.
“Everything is fine.”
Sarah’s expression softened at Jamie’s calm voice.
Jamie released the mana thread and gently hugged Sarah.
Sarah held onto him.
He took her hand and then threw her up.
One of the knights caught Sarah.
‘Phew- thank god.’
There was a sudden accident, but everyone was saved.
‘Now I need to go up.’
Jamie raised his Mana to cast fly magic.
It was at that moment.
‘The mana!’
All the Mana around him started to burn.
Mana wasn’t coming out of his body.
“Jamie!”
“Jamie! Come up fast!”
Several voices could be heard.
‘Black!’
Even his own summon couldn’t respond.
Jamie was aware of this phenomenon.
‘Mana Burn!’
Higher magic that completely burns Mana and makes the magician incapacitated, ‘Mana Burn’.
[Who are you?]
A voice echoed in his mind.
[You]
His mind was shaken.
The voice said.
[are a dragon?]
Jamie’s tiny body fell into the valley.
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