Shin was dozing off as Kanah looked at him, a smirk spreading across his face. He brought his horse towards Shin and leaned from his horse placing a hand on the wooden seat as he moved his mouth right next to Shin's ear.
He then took a deep breath. "GOOD MORNING VIETNAAM!" Shin was shaken up as he turned to his right, throwing a punch which Kanah dodged by pushing himself away from the wagon and back on his horse.
"What was that?" Kanah shrugged his shoulders. "Good morning. The sun is up, how long will you stay asleep?"
Shin rubbed his eyes. "I was never asleep to begin with." As they exited the forest, he felt warmth land on his back as the sun rose behind them. He closed his eyes as he sighed. "This is good."
Kanah nodded as he turned forward, stopping his horse. Shin opened his eyes and stopped the wagon as they both gazed at what waited them in the far distance.
Nearly a hundred kilometers away at the base of the Arpeleon Hills and at the head of Bay of Malcer was Marne a majestic and gigantic city that would put Rine to shame in both size and architecture.
The morning sun made the sea water glitter as ships sailed towards the harbor. Kanah looked at the city mesmerized by it. "This sight never gets old. You know it is widely known that this hill top is the best place to look at Marne."
Kanah nodded before he patted his horse. "Let's move, we have to descend through the hills before that girl wakes up again." Shin looked at the curtain, nodding. "Agreed, she ate my entire brain. How do you handle her?"
"I just do." They then began their descend through the Arpeleon Hills. Shin looked at Kanah then back at the curtain. "Is your family alright?" Kanah raised an eyebrow. "I think so, other than my grandfather all of us are healthy. Why do you ask?"
Shin shook his head. "It's just they sleep a lot. They slept from the afternoon until midnight yesterday, only waking up for dinner before going back to sleep." Kanah just waved his hand towards Shin. "That's to be expected, we have covered a month's journey in less than a week."
"Hmmm." He then cracked his neck. "Isn't your back hurting?" Kanah shook his head. "I am not that fragile. I am a farmer, my back gets trained regularly."
Shin moved his tongue around in his mouth as he nodded. "I never said you look fragile. Your body is that of a seasoned warrior. Yet you are like a cinnamon roll."
"A what?" "OH, a cinnamon roll is a sweet delicacy. Sometimes it is used to describe harmless and nice people." Kanah nodded. "I see."
Shin raised his hand as he began his explanation. "The way it is used is actually. You show a picture of a person and say either 'looks like could kill you or looks like a cinnamon roll.' And then you respond to it with either, 'will kill you or is a cinnamon roll.' You look like you could kill, but you are a cinnamon roll."
Kanah chuckled. "So the complete opposite of you." Shin looked at Kanah shaking his head. "Oh. I don't look like I can kill." Kanah nodded. "I mean most of the time you looked like you have your eyes closed."
Shin's face became expressionless. "That is not funny." "I am sure someone will find it funny." Shin rolled his eyes as he yawned. "Screw this, I am sleeping." Shin then let go off the reins and laid on the wooden seat.
"We will be there in an hour and he decided to sleep now." Kanah shook his head, focusing on the road.
.
.
.
.
As they crossed into the plains from the hill. Kanah looked to his left and then to his right observing the empty grassland. Much different than the packed road.
Kanah then looked forward as they waited in a line, slowly crawling towards the city, while the wagons and horses exiting the city were given a free passage as they rushed past.
"Father, please wake up Shin. There seems to be a checking booth up ahead. We will need his license to pass with these men." Peter looked at his son and nodded, he then looked at Shin who laid there sleeping beside him.
"Wake up Kid." He placed a hand on Shin's knee shaking him. Shin shoved his hand away as he snuggled in his cloak. "Five more minutes." Peter frowned as his lips twitched.
"WAKE UP!" He then shook Shin violently. Shin sat up his eyes blood red, his face and hair a mess with drool coming out of his mouth. "What?" Kanah leaned forward to get a look at Shin.
The moment he saw his face he burst into laughter. Shin fixed his messy hair and wiped the drool of his mouth. "Why did you wake me up?"
Kanah calmed down holding his stomach. "There is a checkpoint up ahead. We need your Adventurer Id and Bounty License." "But why?" Kanah stared at Shin before looking over his shoulder at the unconscious men.
Shin looked at the five men as the sleepiness vanished from his face and his eyes widened. He placed a hand on Peter's shoulder and jumped towards the men. "Are they dead?"
Kanah turned himself around on the horse. "No. I have them under a sleeping spell." Shin sighed walking towards Kanah and stood beside him. "How long was I asleep?" "An hour and a half. Listen we were thinking we would first take my family to an inn near the shore then you and I will drop these men, the horses and the wagon at the Guild."
Shin frowned. "What?" Kanah pointed at his horse and the wagon. "I borrowed these from the Guild in Rine and have to return them at the Guild in Marne."
"They let you borrow horses." Shin was left in shock as his mouth was left wide open. "What sort of connections do you have?" Kanah smirked. "Quite a few."
Then as the wagons in front of them moved forward Shin climbed back on the wagon and went forward until they arrived at a tent with barricading at the corners and was closed from the front and back by a Mana barrier.
Behind which were soldiers who were examining the carriages and wagons. At the side sat a middle-aged man with grey hair and a scar about a finger's width ran down from the bottom of his left eye down to his chin tearing off the side of his lips. He sat on a wooden chair beside a carriage under his personal umbrella, overviewing the examination.
It was evident from his armour and demeanor that he was a high ranking warrior.
Kanah looked around counting the soldiers. 'They could have sent more than seven soldiers. Is this the security for the biggest city in Istreid?'
Just then the barrier were opened allowing the people in front of them to carry onward after they exited the tent. The barrier was raised at the back and was opened at the front.
Shin and Kanah rode inside. A soldier raised his hand stopping them. Then the barrier closed behind them. Four soldiers placed a hand on their weapon as they approached the unconscious men, Kanah watched them check the men and their condition. "Hood off." Kanah turned towards the soldier standing in front of him.
The soldier gripped his sword. "Are you deaf? Off with the hood." "There's no need to bother this young man." The soldier turned to his left saluting his commander. The commander then turned towards Shin who climbed down and shook hands with the man. "Commander Alber." "Shin Furukawa. So you did manage to track down the Hissers."
Shin chuckled. "I had a little help from my friend here. His name is Kanah. He is a harmless farmer from Rine, traveling with his family." Commander Alber turned towards Kanah who nodded at him, his face hidden under his hood. "Kanah this is Commander Alber the highest commanding officer in Marne."
Alber looked towards Peter and Kanah with a stern face before smiling. "It is always a pleasure to have new arrivals." He then looked at his soldiers giving them a nod. "Let them through." Shin smiled shaking Alber's hand once more before getting on the wagon.
The barrier was lifted as they were rode out and onto the open road. As they traveled a couple of hundred meters away a loud yell came from behind as Shin and Kanah looked back seeing giant streaks of lightning explode out of the barrier and onto the fields creating a massive crater.
As the dust settled Alber walked out dragging a man by his throat, he extended his hand back as the crater dust and soil returned to the crater fixing it.
Shin looked at Kanah. "Probably some smuggler who thought they can get past that Master ranked Warrior."
Kanah chuckled. "There's something about these Master ranked Warriors. They all are alike." He then patted his horse guiding it forward. Shin approached beside Kanah. "Who are the Master Warrior do you know?"
He looked out towards the city with a smile on his face. "King Belreid and the heir to the Duke of the East, Reinhardt." Shin shook his head. "Everyone has heard of those legendary warriors. I am asking who the Master Warriors that you know personally are."
"The ones I just talked about." Shin's smile dropped as he leaned forward. "Are you for real? You know The King and the captain of the RG?" Kanah nodded. "I was personally trained by Reinhardt since I was six."
Shin leaned back with an open mouth as he looked down. 'He was trained by Reinhardt, he knows The King.' Shin then turned his head towards Kanah's hand and saw the Moon Rock ring. 'He got that ring from his girlfriend. She must be from a wealthy family.' He then looked at the ring for a few more moments. 'HOLY FUCKING SHIT!'
Shin turned towards Kanah. "Are you implying that Princess Aurelia is your lover?" Kanah shook his head as he chuckled. "I am not implying anything, you are the one who came to that conclusion."
"Am I correct?" Kanah nodded. "Yes you are." Shin shook his head in a circle before looking at Kanah. "How the fuck did you do that?" He was hit in the back of the head. "Ugh"
He then turned to the right, rubbing his head. Seeing Maya and Peter sitting there. "I am sorry uncle, it slipped out of my mind that there was a child around."
Peter scoffed turning forward. Kanah was struggling to hold his laughter as he leaned on the horse slapping his thighs. Until a sandal hit him in the head. He turned around seeing his mother peeking out of the wagon as she caught the sandal. "Don't laugh at your friend's pain"
She then patted Shin's head as Shin grinned ear to ear towards Kanah. Kanah took a deep breath through his nose as he nodded. 'I'll remember this.'
Then he turned forward as Shin sat normally with a smirk on his face. "Do you want to know something?" He then turned towards Maya and nodded. "I would love to." Maya pointed to her brother. "He was born on the night the twin comet passed nineteen years ago and even his birthday was on 24th of June."
Shin then turned towards Kanah with a grin on his face. "Was he now?"
Just then Kanah turned around. "Take us to an inn either on or close to the eastern harbor." Shin nodded and took the reins from Peter. "Just be careful to not fall behind."
He then flicked the horse's reins making it speed up as Kanah raced after them.
The moment they entered the city, Kanah and his family were greeted by a completely new sight. The roads were similar to Rine, yet everything else was a completely new experience for them.
Buildings that were five to six floors high provided shade to the street below. Sea-men walked among the humans and beast-men. Maya looked at one of the sea-men. "Father what's that?"
Peter matched his daughter's gaze. "That is a sea-man. They are from a sub species of humans that live in under water settlements. It is said they possess webbed hands and toes that enable them to be excellent swimmers. If you look at their necks you will see three cuts on each side, these are their gills, when underwater they breathe through them while on land they use their lungs."
Maya looked back at her father. "Why did we never see them before?" Peter smiled at his daughter. "If they stay away from fresh body of water for too long they tend to dry up and Rine does not have a open water source nearby. We too depend on the small streams of water that come down from the mountains for drinking water and agriculture."
After traveling through the city for some time, a new scent entered their nostrils as Maya and Peter covered their noses. Kanah took one whiff before closing his mouth shut.
Shin looked at Peter and Maya then realized what was happening. "Don't worry the fish market is not that long. Just bear with it for a few moments." Kanah looked around at the fish stalls hanging dead fishes on display.
He watched each and every thing that transpired in that market before they left it. Soon enough they arrived at the eastern harbor and stopped at the Quay. Ships were lined on the piers, as they were being unloaded and loaded with goods. Shin sighed as he admire the sea in front of him. "You know kiddo, this city is like an upside down U. It surrounds the sea from the west, north and east."
Maya then pointed towards the sea. "That there are more people on the other side of this?" Shin nodded. "If you cross this fifty four kilometer of sea you will reach the western dock."
"Will we find an inn on the other side?" Shin shook his head. "No. There's one to our left." Kanah then turned to his left and a couple of buildings down he saw the sign for the inn. "Sea-house."
Shin nodded. "I know the owner quite fondly. She will let you stay for a day or two free of cost. Just follow me." Kanah shrugged his shoulder and followed him.
They stopped the horses and the wagon on either sides of the door leading in the inn. Shin walked towards the door. "Get your family and stuff and bring it inside." Kanah nodded as he got off the horse, walking over to the back of the wagon. He climbed inside from the back. "Grandfather?" "Hmm." Benjamin looked at Kanah his eyes red and weakness in his voice.
Kanah looked at his mother. "Help me pick him up." She nodded as he knelt facing away from his grandfather. His mother helped Benjamin sit and place his hands on Kanah's shoulder, wrapping them around his chest.
Kanah then grabbed the underside of his thighs and lifted his grandfather on his back as he climbed out of the wagon. He then turned around focusing on the trunk at the front of the wagon. The trunk flew out and followed as Kanah walked inside.
It had a small lobby for people to sit in at the front and a few meters inside was the reception. There he saw Shin and the black haired receptionist talking. The receptionist then looked at Kanah and his family as she smiled while slightly bowing. "Welcome to Sea-house. You can take the stairs up to suite number 2 at the front. I hope you have a comfortable stay." Kanah nodded keeping his face hidden. "Thank you miss?"
"Geneva." Kanah nodded as he then walked towards the stairs on their right. Once they entered the suite. Maya gasped. "It's so big."
Kanah looked around and nodded. "It definitely is. Maya, you and Mother take the room to the left. Father and I will stay with grandfather in the room to the right." Maya frowned. "But I wanted to stay with you." "Either me or Father need to be by grandfather's side. I hope you understand that."
Maya nodded as she looked down. Kanah smiled as he patted her head before walking towards the room on the right. Opening it and laying his grandfather on the double bed. "Kanah, you go with your friend and make sure to pay him back for this."
Kanah nodded. "I will father." He then turned to his grandfather as he knelt beside his bed holding his hand. "Grandfather. Stay strong."
Benjamin scoffed. "I am not dying yet kid. I am just feeling unwell today. Promise you kid, when I feel better, I will pick both of my grandkids and take them to all the fairs in the city." Benjamin then tried to turn on the bed but was unable to even do so until Peter helped him.
Kanah sucked in his lips as tears formed in his eyes. He then stood up walking out of the room and looked at his mother and sister in the other room. His mother was brushing Maya's hair as he smiled gently before leaving the Suite.
As he climbed down the stairs he looked forward and saw that Shin was nowhere to be found. "Geneva. Where is Shin?" Geneva looked at Kanah. "He is waiting for you outside." Kanah turned his head towards her as he gave her a smile. "Thank you." He then walked towards the door.
Geneva watched him walk out as she leaned on the counter resting her head in her palm. "I wonder what he looks like."
Kanah opened the door and looked to his right and found Shin looking towards a group of women squealing. "What seems to be the cause for such distress?" Shin looked over his shoulder as he chuckled. "Your face. Apparently the women are finding you irresistible."
"Someone's jealous." Shin looked back at Kanah with a dead expression. "Let's go." Kanah shook his head. "When will you learn to take jokes?"
Shin climbed on the horse. "You take the wagon." Kanah shrugged his shoulder. As he climbed on the wagon.
Maya was in the window watching them ride away. "Come back soon."