The four men were still struggling against the knights holding them in place.
"That boy is a thief!"
The largest of the group spat on the ground and glared at Eryx, who remained curled on the ground, one hand pressed against his stomach.
"We did nothing wrong," he insisted.
Aric turned toward him, his expression hardening.
"And you thought beating him half to death was the appropriate response?"
The man sneered at him.
"Why does that matter to you, you stupid brat? If it weren’t for your bodyguards, we’d have beaten you too."
He barely finished speaking before one of the knights forced him face down onto the ground.
"No disrespect toward House Noctra will be tolerated."
The impact drew a sharp cry from the man, and the remaining three immediately stopped struggling.
House Noctra.
Their gazes shifted toward the knights’ armor, settling on the insignia engraved upon their armour. Recognition dawned on their faces, followed almost immediately by fear.
They had just threatened a member of the ducal family.
Aric paid them no further attention. Instead, he crouched beside Eryx, who was struggling to breathe through his bruised lips. Blood trickled from his nose, and the way he guarded his side suggested that he had suffered more than a few broken ribs.
"Hold still," Aric instructed.
He placed his palm against Eryx’s chest and closed his eyes, carefully drawing upon his mana. Healing magic had never been his strongest discipline, and even after months of training, he still found it considerably more difficult than manipulating the elements he was familiar with. Nevertheless, he knew enough to deal with the immediate injuries.
A soft green light spread from his palm, seeping into Eryx’s body.
The boy flinched at the unfamiliar sensation, his muscles tensing beneath Aric’s hand, but the warmth gradually eased his pain. The bleeding stopped, and the swelling around his eye began to subside. Aric could not repair every injury, especially without exhausting himself, but he managed to stabilize Eryx and relieve enough of his pain for him to breathe more comfortably.
When Aric finally withdrew his hand, Eryx looked up at him in disbelief.
"Thank you."
"Can you sit up?"
Eryx nodded and slowly pushed himself off the ground. He winced as he moved, but managed to sit upright without assistance.
Satisfied that he was no longer in immediate danger, Aric rose to his feet and faced the men.
"I am Aric Noctra, second son of House Noctra. What you have done is a blatant insult to my house, not to mention an appalling way to treat another person."
The color drained from their faces.
"My Lord, please forgive us!" the largest man stammered. "We didn’t recognize you. It’s been a long time since we last saw the young master."
Aric regarded him coldly.
"What did he steal?"
The four men exchanged uneasy glances.
"Some pastries, my Lord. Sugary snacks from a baker’s stall."
Aric reached into his pocket and retrieved a small pouch of coins. Without another word, he tossed it toward the largest man, who caught it clumsily.
"That should cover whatever he took, with enough left over to compensate the baker for the trouble. Take the rest for yourselves."
The man stared at the pouch, apparently struggling to understand what he had just heard.
"My Lord?"
"Do you need me to repeat myself?"
"No, my Lord!"
The four men bowed hastily before retreating down the street, eager to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the young noble they had just insulted.
Aric watched them leave before turning back to Eryx.
"Can you walk?"
The boy planted a hand against the wall and struggled to his feet. His knees wavered, but he managed to steady himself.
"Yes."
"Good. Come with me."
Aric started toward the carriage, expecting him to follow, but Eryx remained where he was for a moment, glancing between the waiting knights and the luxurious vehicle.
One of the knights stepped forward as Aric approached.
"Young Master, are you certain you wish to bring him along?"
Aric glanced at him.
"Why wouldn’t I?"
The knight hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
"Allowing a commoner to ride in the ducal carriage is somewhat... unconventional."
"Unconventional?"
Aric raised an eyebrow.
"He was beaten in the middle of our capital, and you’re concerned about whether he deserves a seat in my carriage?"
The knight lowered his head.
"That was not my intention, Young Master."
"Then there’s no problem."
Aric turned toward Eryx and held out a hand.
"Come on."
The boy stared at the offered hand before accepting it, allowing Aric to help him into the carriage.
Roland, who had been standing nearby, watched the exchange with a thoughtful expression but made no further objection. Once Eryx was settled inside, Aric climbed in after him and reached for the food he had purchased earlier.
He placed the pastries, a small cake, and a meat pie on the seat between them.
"Here. Eat something."
Eryx stared at the food.
For a moment, he seemed uncertain whether Aric was serious. Then his stomach growled loudly enough to fill the silence.
Aric looked away, pretending not to notice.
That was apparently all the encouragement Eryx needed. He picked up a pastry and began eating, taking hurried bites as though someone might snatch it away from him. Even when he reached for the meat pie, his eyes kept darting toward Aric, wary of being told to stop.
Aric leaned back against the velvet seat and allowed him to eat in peace.
Only after Eryx had finished half the food did Aric speak.
"Why did you steal from the baker?"
Eryx slowed, his gaze dropping to the remaining pastry in his hand.
"I was hungry."
There was no attempt to justify himself, nor did he offer any elaborate excuse. He simply said it..
"Alright."
Aric leaned back against his seat, watching as Eryx finished the last of the meat pie.
"Better?"
Eryx glanced at him. "Much."
"Good. Now, do you intend to explain why you were stealing pastries, or should I guess?"
"I said I was hungry. I thought we’d established that."
Aric stared at him.
"You know, most people at least pretend to be grateful when someone saves them."
"I thanked you, didn’t I?"
"Once. You ate enough food for three people afterward."
"You gave it to me."
Aric opened his mouth, then closed it again.
He leaned back with a sigh. "You’re a difficult person."
"And you’re a strange noble."
"Strange?"
"What kind of noble picks up a random thief, gives him food, and puts him in a carriage?"
"One with excellent judgment."
Eryx looked at him for a moment before shaking his head and returning his attention to the remaining pastries.
Aric couldn’t decide whether he had just made a terrible decision or found someone entertaining enough to keep around.
The carriage departed later that afternoon, passing through the capital’s gates before following the road toward the countryside. Aric watched the city recede through the window as its crowded streets gave way to scattered buildings, open fields, and stretches of woodland.
Across from him, Eryx had finally fallen asleep, exhaustion overcoming whatever uneasiness he had felt in the presence of a noble. His bruised face rested against the seat, and his breathing had settled into a steady rhythm.
Aric left him undisturbed.
The journey continued for some time before Roland rode alongside the carriage and leaned toward the open window.
"Young Master, have you ever traveled this road before?"
Aric glanced at him. "No. Why?"
"There is another route we could take. It’s a little longer, but it passes through the hills east of here. I’ve traveled that way several times, and the view from the top is worth the extra time."
"Is it that impressive?"
Roland smiled faintly. "I believe you’ll find it interesting."
Aric glanced back at the countryside outside before nodding.
"Alright. Let’s take your route."
"As you wish, Young Master."
Roland rode ahead to inform the driver of the change.
A short while later, the carriage turned east, following a narrow road that gradually climbed into the hills. The fields slowly disappeared behind them, replaced by rocky slopes and towering trees as the road wound higher.
When the carriage finally reached the top, the landscape opened up before Aric.
A vast forest stretched across the land below, its canopy spreading as far as the eye could see. The treetops formed an endless sea of green, broken only by distant ridges rising above the woodland. Far below, the occasional glimpse of a river caught the sunlight as it wound between the trees.
Aric leaned closer to the window, taking in the view.
"Wow."
Aric turned toward Roland.
"Can we stop here for a while?"
"Of course, Young Master."
The carriage slowed before coming to a halt near the edge of the overlook. Aric opened the door and stepped outside, immediately feeling the cool breeze brush against his face. He walked closer to the viewpoint, careful to keep a safe distance from the steep drop, and looked down at the forest below.
The view was even more impressive from outside the carriage. Trees stretched across the land in every direction, their green canopies swaying gently beneath the wind.