Chapter 42 - On the Way
Zio finished pulling his cart to the side of the road.
Light footsteps approached, clearly different from the heavier, hurried steps around him.
“Hey.”
A soft voice brushed against his hearing.
Zio turned his head.
An elf girl in uniform stood in front of him.
“Where are you heading?” she asked.
Zio did not answer right away. His gaze lingered briefly on the girl’s face.
For a moment, the name Sylvaen crossed his mind.
Then his eyes shifted aside, caught by the movement of the street behind her.
“Oy, Nyssa.”
Another voice came from the same direction, louder.
A girl wearing the same uniform walked over quickly.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Nyssa said lightly. “I think he’s lost.”
“Oh.” The girl glanced at Zio’s cart.
“So, a courier.”
“Since when do you get involved in things like this?” she added.
“I noticed him earlier,” Nyssa replied.
“He keeps looking around. Like he doesn’t know the way.”
“Hm,” her friend murmured, squinting briefly.
“Oh right, I’m stopping by the clothing shop for a moment,” she said.
“If I’m late, don’t wait for me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Nyssa waved it off.
The girl jogged off, soon swallowed by the moving crowd.
A light breeze passed through, stirring the young leaves on the roadside trees.
Zio was still standing in the same spot. His right hand remained on the cart’s handle.
Nyssa turned back toward him.
“Sorry,” she said, her voice softer.
“Where are you delivering to?”
“Solcarys Academy,” Zio answered.
He straightened slightly, turning his gaze away.
“Oh,” Nyssa replied.
“Alright then. I’ll take you there.”
“No need,” Zio said shortly.
“Just tell me the directions. How many times straight, how many turns.”
“I live there too,” Nyssa replied, her tone lifting slightly.
“Let’s go together.”
Zio glanced briefly at the road ahead.
He let out a quiet breath, then gave a short nod.
Nyssa started walking along the sidewalk.
Zio followed behind, pulling his cart.
Tall stone buildings lined both sides of the street, their surfaces reflecting the sun as it grew warmer.
Footsteps, cart wheels, and short conversations blended into the steady rhythm of Solcarys.
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Daylight entered through the inn window, soft and warm. A thin curtain stirred gently as the breeze brushed against it.
Teodor stood in the middle of the room.
The bandages on his leg had already been removed. He rolled his ankle slowly, bent his knee, then lifted the leg slightly. A small hop in place followed.
Teodor let out a quiet breath, his footing steady, then walked slowly toward the window.
The scent of whole-grain bread slipped in as the room door opened.
Leon and Rask entered without much noise. The door closed, and they sat down.
“Well,” Leon said casually.
“Back to work tomorrow, huh.”
“Yeah,” Teodor replied shortly.
From outside the room came the sound of footsteps and wood creaking softly.
Nyssa slowed her pace as they approached a narrow alley.
“This way,” she said, turning into it.
“It’s faster.”
Zio pulled the cart more carefully, glancing to both sides to make sure the wheels did not scrape against the walls or jutting stones.
They kept moving.
Zio lifted his gaze briefly toward the strip of sky visible between the buildings, gauging the sun’s position. Time felt like it was moving faster than he had expected.
He drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.
Nyssa’s steps suddenly slowed. She glanced back.
Zio lost his rhythm for a moment. The cart bumped lightly against his back before coming to a stop.
Nyssa let out a long sigh.
“Why are you walking right behind me like that?” she said.
Zio did not answer.
A breeze flowed in from the front of the alley, carrying a soft, unfamiliar scent.
“Here,” Nyssa said.
“Walk beside me.”
“This is the last alley anyway,” she added.
They started moving again. This time, Zio walked at Nyssa’s side.
The alley was quieter. No conversation.
Only the faint creak of wooden wheels and the sound of footsteps brushing against stone.
Nyssa glanced sideways at Zio.
His black hair caught no light. Sea-blue eyes, calm. Dust from dried grain clung to his clothes. A silver pendant hung at his neck.
“Where are you from?” Nyssa asked.
"The north,” Zio answered shortly.
“I know Ravenhold’s in the north,” Nyssa replied, her tone lifting slightly.
“I mean before Ravenhold.”
“The north,” Zio said again, without turning.
Nyssa drew in a breath, then let out a quiet groan.
“Alright, fine,” she muttered, giving up.
The iron fence of Solcarys Academy came into view as they emerged from the alley.
Tall stone pillars supported the long stretch of iron bars.
Nyssa stopped walking.
“That’s it,” she said.
“This gate’s for the girls’ dormitory.”
She raised a hand and pointed in another direction.
“The main gate’s in the middle. That one’s for general access.”
Zio gave a small nod.
“Who’s the grain delivery for?” Nyssa asked.
“Solcarys Academy,” Zio replied.
Nyssa clenched her hand slightly, her brow creasing.
“There are three food halls here.”
“I was only told Solcarys Academy,” Zio said quietly.
Nyssa sighed.
“Then try the main gate. Ask the guard there.”
Zio nodded.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Sorry for the trouble.”
He pulled the cart forward and continued on.
Nyssa passed through the dormitory gate. The attendant gave her only a brief glance before letting her through. She crossed the courtyard, heading toward the dorm building standing quietly behind the trees.
She stretched her body, drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.
A woman seated on a bench in the courtyard turned toward her.
“Out again?”
“Just getting some air,” Nyssa replied shortly.
“This isn’t the time to be fooling around,” the woman continued. “Graduation exams are coming up.”
“Yeah,” Nyssa answered without stopping. “I just hope I can get out of here soon.”
The sound of wood creaking softly followed as the dormitory door opened, then closed again.
The central gate stood slightly larger than the others. Two guards looked up as Zio approached.
Zio brought his cart to a stop.
One of the guards walked over. Zio glanced at him briefly. Their attire differed from the city gatekeepers. No armor. Only thick, neatly kept green uniforms. A sword hung at the left hip, and the academy’s emblem was pinned to the chest.
The guard inspected the cart.
“Which food hall is this delivery for?” the guard asked.
“I forgot to ask,” Zio replied.
The guard paused for a moment.
“Wait here.”
He turned and stepped into the guard post.
Zio lifted his gaze to the sky, counting in silence. Not enough.
“Go in through the other gate,” the guard’s voice called from inside the post, pointing toward the direction Zio had come from.
Zio let out a long breath. He turned the cart around without a word.
Once or twice, his eyes drifted toward the windows of the main building. A brief glance. Not surveillance.
The sun leaned further west. The warmth in the air began to shift.
Zio entered through another gate without a long inspection. He followed the guard’s directions toward the food storage building.
A middle-aged woman stood at the front.
“From Albert’s logistics shop?” she asked.
“Yes,” Zio replied as he lowered the sacks of grain from the cart.
The woman glanced toward the gate outside. “You’re alone?”
Zio nodded.
“Put them over there,” she said.
Sack after sack was carried into the storage building. It did not take long.
“Thank you,” the woman said.
Zio took hold of the cart’s handle again and headed back out. Through the gate. Through the city streets.
Dusk slowly settled.
He looked up at the sky once more. Then his gaze dropped to his own feet.
Nothing about him had changed.
Only time felt as though it was moving faster.
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