Traveling with Jakel turned out to be surprisingly pleasant.
⸻ Traveling with Arthur, however, was considerably less pleasant.
⸻ At least according to Jakel.
⸻ The Minotaur had known him for four days.
⸻ Four.
⸻ And already Arthur had: * Climbed a cliff that looked unstable.
* Tried to pet a wild boar.
* Crossed a river before checking its depth.
* Nearly walked into a monster nest.
⸻ Twice.
⸻ Jakel had developed a headache.
⸻ “How are you still alive?” ⸻ Arthur looked genuinely confused.
⸻ “What do you mean?” ⸻ Leona immediately answered.
⸻ “He means you’re a menace.” ⸻ “Thank you, Leona.” ⸻ “You’re welcome.” ⸻ Jakel was beginning to understand why the sword spirit sounded perpetually exhausted.
⸻ The Bridge Incident The road eventually brought them to a narrow stone bridge spanning a deep ravine.
⸻ Several wagons had stopped nearby.
⸻ A crowd gathered around the entrance.
⸻ Nobody seemed willing to cross.
⸻ Arthur approached.
⸻ “What’s happening?” ⸻ A merchant pointed toward the center of the bridge.
⸻ “There.” ⸻ Arthur looked.
⸻ A young man sat directly in the middle of the bridge.
⸻ Eating an apple.
⸻ The crowd stared.
⸻ The young man stared back.
⸻ Neither side appeared willing to move.
⸻ Arthur blinked.
⸻ “…Why is he sitting there?” ⸻ The merchant looked offended.
⸻ “If we knew that, we wouldn’t still be here.” ⸻ Fair point.
⸻ Jakel rubbed his forehead.
⸻ Something told him this situation was about to become much worse.
⸻ Thomas Smith Arthur walked onto the bridge.
⸻ The young man looked up.
⸻ Blond hair.
⸻ Bright eyes.
⸻ A sword resting beside him.
⸻ And the most relaxed expression Arthur had ever seen.
⸻ The stranger took another bite of his apple.
⸻ “Hello.” ⸻ “Hello.” Arthur replied.
⸻ A pause followed.
⸻ Then: ⸻ “Why are you sitting in the middle of a bridge?” ⸻ The young man pointed ahead.
⸻ Arthur followed the gesture.
⸻ A section of the bridge had partially collapsed.
⸻ The damaged stone looked unstable.
⸻ Dangerously unstable.
⸻ “Oh.” ⸻ “Exactly.” ⸻ The stranger took another bite.
⸻ “The first merchant ignored me.” ⸻ “Then the second merchant ignored me.” ⸻ “Then the third merchant called me an idiot.” ⸻ Arthur nodded.
⸻ “Reasonable.” ⸻ “Thank you.” ⸻ “Not a compliment.” ⸻ “That’s what everyone keeps saying.” ⸻ Jakel sighed.
⸻ Two of them.
⸻ There were now two of them.
⸻ The universe clearly hated him.
⸻ The Aasimar The young man eventually stood.
⸻ Arthur immediately noticed something unusual.
⸻ A faint glow lingered around him.
⸻ Subtle.
⸻ Almost invisible.
⸻ Yet unmistakable.
⸻ Leona noticed it too.
⸻ “Huh.” ⸻ Arthur raised an eyebrow.
⸻ “What?” ⸻ “Interesting.” ⸻ “That’s not an answer.” ⸻ The sword spirit ignored him.
⸻ As usual.
⸻ The stranger extended a hand.
⸻ “Thomas Smith.” ⸻ Arthur shook it.
⸻ “Arthur Pendragon.” ⸻ Thomas smiled.
⸻ Then pointed at Jakel.
⸻ “Big guy?” ⸻ “Jakel.” ⸻ Thomas nodded.
⸻ “Good.” ⸻ Another pause.
⸻ Then: ⸻ “You all seem trustworthy.” ⸻ Arthur felt slightly concerned.
⸻ “Why?” ⸻ Thomas smiled wider.
⸻ “No reason.” ⸻ Arthur became more concerned.
⸻ Fixing Problems Several minutes later.
⸻ Arthur.
Jakel.
Thomas.
And a group of confused merchants.
⸻ Were repairing a bridge.
⸻ Nobody was entirely sure how this happened.
⸻ Least of all the merchants.
⸻ Yet somehow Thomas had organized everyone.
⸻ Arthur lifted stone.
⸻ Jakel lifted larger stone.
⸻ Thomas directed traffic.
⸻ And occasionally climbed dangerous sections nobody else wanted to approach.
⸻ By sunset.
⸻ The bridge was usable again.
⸻ The merchants celebrated.
⸻ The travelers crossed safely.
⸻ The problem was solved.
⸻ Arthur sat beside the repaired bridge.
⸻ Watching the sunset.
⸻ Thomas sat beside him.
⸻ For several moments.
Neither spoke.
⸻ Then Thomas asked: ⸻ “Where are you going?” ⸻ Arthur smiled.
⸻ “Honestly?” ⸻ “Honestly.” ⸻ “Everywhere.” ⸻ Thomas laughed.
⸻ Then immediately regretted encouraging Arthur.
⸻ Because Arthur continued.
⸻ “I want to understand the continent.” ⸻ “The kingdoms.” ⸻ “The people.” ⸻ “The problems.” ⸻ “I want to fix things.” ⸻ Thomas stared.
⸻ For a very long time.
⸻ Then looked toward Jakel.
⸻ “Is he serious?” ⸻ Jakel answered immediately.
⸻ “Unfortunately.” ⸻ Leona laughed.
⸻ Thomas laughed.
⸻ Arthur frowned.
⸻ “I’m right here.” ⸻ Joining the Journey Night settled over the road.
⸻ The merchants departed.
⸻ The campfire crackled softly.
⸻ Arthur looked toward Thomas.
⸻ “Want to travel together?” ⸻ Jakel nearly dropped his food.
⸻ Thomas blinked.
⸻ “You ask everyone that?” ⸻ Arthur considered it.
⸻ “…Maybe.” ⸻ “That’s concerning.” ⸻ “Probably.” ⸻ Thomas stared into the flames.
⸻ Thinking.
⸻ Then smiled.
⸻ A genuine smile.
⸻ The kind born from curiosity.
⸻ Adventure.
⸻ Possibility.
⸻ “Sure.” ⸻ Arthur immediately brightened.
⸻ “Really?” ⸻ “Really.” ⸻ Thomas pointed toward him.
⸻ “But if your dream gets us killed.” ⸻ Arthur laughed.
⸻ “Fair.” ⸻ Jakel sighed.
⸻ Leona groaned.
⸻ And somewhere deep inside.
⸻ For the first time in centuries.
⸻ The sword spirit felt something unexpected.
⸻ Hope.
⸻ Small.
⸻ Fragile.
⸻ But real.
⸻ She quickly buried the feeling.
⸻ Because acknowledging it would be embarrassing.
⸻ The fire crackled.
⸻ The stars shone overhead.
⸻ And the road ahead grew a little more crowded.
⸻ Arthur Pendragon.
⸻ Jakel Baker.
⸻ Thomas Smith.
⸻ Three travelers.
⸻ Three dreamers.
⸻ Three future legends.
⸻ Though none of them knew it yet.
End of Chapter 10