The day was going well and it was almost time for night.
On a certain caravan - one that seemed to jump every 5 seconds like the road was made of nothing but rocks.
Roads aren't usually made entirely out of dirt, but this one clearly had way too many rocks.
Inside that caravan sat Aven - hands and legs still tied by ropes, the back even more messed up from the constant jumping.
But it seems the jumping is coming to an end as the road ahead looks way smoother, the roads almost looked like it was carved from stones but how long did it take to make roads this smooth was a question lingering in Aven's mind.
The caravan finally stopped jumping as the road changed from dirt to smooth stone.
Oh man, finally the caravan stopped jumping but yea my back is already messed up and I think we are in the kingdom but at the same time they are taking me to the king. So if I have to guess he probably has a huge castle like what they tell about how kings lived in history, Aven thought.
There were actually buildings like small houses, shops selling fruits and people walking around with their children, loved ones, friends and some with their parents.
The fruits don't look like anything available on Earth but they do look damn tasty.
"Wow there are actually people - I mean, humans - here. Wait, that should've been obvious I literally got arrested by 2 guards. Anyway the surrounding is seriously beautiful just look at the colour of houses, people laughing, some arguing prices with vendors, the birds chirping and some vendors shouting in a language that he didn't know. Why was this sword still floating beside me…" he said quietly.
People were staring at the caravan but not at Aven because yea they can't see him it's covered mostly with a big hole in the back but if you are lying down, you can't be seen.
So what were they staring at? The sword that was floating in the caravan.
"Is that sword floating?" a random person asked.
"Could it be a legendary sword. I mean it's floating? But wait… where is its wielder."
another person asked.
"It probably is a criminal in the caravan," a random person said.
"That's obvious it is a criminal but why is there a sword floating in the caravan? Is the sword the one which committed some crimes then?" another person asked.
Of course, the questions were all about the sword. They are used to seeing the caravan escort some criminals for judging, not a floating sword.
As for Aven he was actually not visible to others and they probably didn't care about Aven even if they saw him.
Aven is now peeking out of the caravan to see what the gossiping is about but yea he can't understand their language.
What are they talking about? Is it about me? No, that shouldn't be possible because I doubt they can see me. Then is this about this damn sword floating sword. I mean I can't understand them but yea they are not staring into my soul and I don't think they care if there's someone else in that caravan because who will be interested in a tied up dude when there's a literal floating sword, Aven thought.
The caravan kept going until a magnificent and huge castle was in the sight and the walls surrounding the castle which separated it from the rest of the place. The walls were at the very least 20 meters tall.
The caravan came to a halt at a gate where there were guards who wore the same armour as the 2 guards but were holding swords instead of spears.
The guards jumped down from the caravan and started talking with the guards stationed at the gate.
Wait why did the caravan completely stop. So, does that mean we have reached the castle or wherever they are taking me? he asked himself.
"What's your reason for coming here?" the guard asked.
"We have already informed the king about the matter and he should've given you orders to let us in," the 1st guard said.
The guard then walks to his superior and confirms this claim with his superior and comes back to the 2 guards.
"Well you are right. You were given permission by the king so I won't stop you. You can go in and then come back once your job is done. So, you can be assigned another duty." the guard said.
The 2 guards just gave a salute and sat back on the caravan.
The gate finally opened and the caravan started moving and passed through the gate. On the other side of the gate was a nice garden with plants not available on Earth. There was a water fountain just out of the main castle and it was decorated with flower bushes around it. The caravan then stopped just out of the main castle and the 2 guards jumped down and walked towards the back where Aven was tied.
Wait, did we reach our destination for sure this time? Oh no, why are there footsteps approaching the back of the caravan, Aven thought.
Before he could say anything else, the 2 guards had already grabbed him. They both were using 1 hand each to carry him. He looked like he was some baggage more than a human at this point.
The sword was still floating, now just behind Aven like it owned this castle.
Man, did I really just get picked by these 2 guards and they are each using 1 hand to carry me. This is the worst day of my life. I just wanted to go home and watch TV. Why did it end up like this and I know I'm being taken to the king but yea just let me walk by untying the ropes tied to my legs.
But nah they rather carry me like some baggage or I think they consider me a sack of potatoes, he thought.
The hallway was nice with the walls being coloured white and there being a lot of paintings, flower vases and oddly, pieces of armour on display.
Then Aven saw a huge door which was obviously made of wood and with some silver parts purely there for design and with there being 2 guards stationed there just for opening the door.
The guards didn't ask a question. They saw Aven and the 2 guards carrying him and pushed open the door.
As the door opened inside there was a chandelier which seemed to be made of gold with pieces of glass, red curtains for the windows which screamed royalty and a throne in the end of it.
Wait, this actually looks so good. But where's everyone and why do I feel like I'm gonna be thrown, Aven thought.
The 2 guards started swinging him and then threw him and just started walking out of the door like they just didn't throw a human but threw someone's baggage or sack of potatoes.
The door closed as soon as the guards were out and Aven was left alone there.
His hands and legs are still tied, and his back even more messed up. But now his chest is in pain from that throw.
Those 2 damn guards seriously threw me like I'm a sack of potatoes. Couldn't they have just put me down with care? The carpet is soft tho that's good, he thought.
Aven was just lying on the carpet trying to loosen the ropes a bit but after a while he gave up because the ropes were tied so tight.
Nah why are these ropes tied so tightly like I can't even loosen them up a bit so my hands and legs can breathe. Where is this king like I've been here for so long, he thought.
He hadn't even been there for 5 minutes, but to him, it felt like hours.
The sword is now actually floating above Aven like it's a balloon.
Well Aven couldn't care less about that sword because he has bigger problems like his back and how the hell did he end up in this situation.
Even though I don't regret touching that sword, I didn't expect it to escalate this far. Well I should at least try to roll around a bit. I mean there's no one here so I can just try to see if I can roll around a bit and maybe just maybe lay on my back and not on my chest, he thought.
Aven was rolling around for 5 minutes but just within the carpet tho, then he stopped and laid on his back staring at the door.
I will lay on my chest once the king comes for now I will just wait and stare at the door. Oh wait my uniform, the blue shirt and black pants are torn at some places but not near private places luckily.
How long am I supposed to wait here for but hopefully they won't make me wait another day, he thought.
The door was opened by the guards and 3 people entered. Two boys and one girl. They looked like they were teenagers, but their expressions were serious.
One of the boys was wearing silver armour and was holding a shield taller than him and it was made of a strong material.
Wait, this dude looks like a guard. But damn that shield is even taller than him and even taller than me. That shield can probably kill me in a single hit, Aven thought.
The girl had a book in her hands and a cone shaped hat on her head. The hat was brown with silver embroidery. She was wearing clothes which was something he had never seen.
This girl has a book in her hand. Is she a priest? But it won't make sense why she's wearing a hat if she's a priest. Her clothes are something which look like something I will see in a show but yea this is the first time I'm seeing this type of clothing, he thought.
Another boy was wearing silver armour too but he also had a sword floating beside him, but he didn't seem to be annoyed by the sword's existence.
Wait, this dude also has a sword floating beside him. But why is he not questioning it and why doesn't he seem annoyed by the sword. I don't think his sword threw stones at him or chased him out. Lucky guy if I have to say the least, he thought.
Those 3 didn't even gaze at Aven who was tied up and laying there. They just started walking ahead and stood side by side.
They just ignored my existence didn't they? he asked himself.
The sword which chased Aven was still floating above him.
Well at least this sword didn't leave me but yea why the hell is it still floating above me. Why doesn't it to go back to that dungeon, he thought.
"Did you just suggest I leave you here and go back to the dungeon mortal? You were the one who touched me and now I'm not gonna leave you alone. So, I will keep floating near you but I won't really let you carry me and I won't help you if you get in danger. The problems are all up to you to figure out. And don't think I can't read your inner thoughts. I have heard your every inner thought so far,"the sword said to Aven.
Wait, the sword just heard what I said in my mind and was keeping quiet until now. It talked back only when I said it should leave. This is gonna be annoying at least I hope the sword won't snitch. Can't really trust something haunted by a spirit or ghost of someone, he thought.
The door was opened again by the guards and this time another person walked in. He was wearing long white robes and looked like he was a priest who was coming for exorcism or blessing the place. He kept walking and passed Aven and the 3 people who were standing side by side. He was headed straight for the throne.
Wait, why is there a priest here now? Oh I know he's for sure here to exorcise this ghost or spirit in this damn sword which is making it float. But wait, why did he just give me a look which didn't seem pity but I don't know what that look exactly meant. He also did look at the sword floating beside me but didn't even come close to it and just gave a look that seemed annoyed and kept walking. He even passed the 3 people who came before him and wait, is he first going to bless the throne before the king's arrival? he asked himself.
That person reached the throne and sat on it and he turned out to be the king of the kingdom, not a priest. The 3 people who came before him just kneeled down and bowed to the king once and then set their gaze at him as if waiting for him to say something.
Oh that's the king… but why the hell is he wearing long white robes and where is his crown? He looks more like a priest than a king. Oh wait I cannot say this to his face because he would just order my execution on spot for disrespecting him, Aven thought.
"Mortal from what I can see from the king's expression, he doesn't seem particularly pleased that you touched me. So, if I have to say expect the worst case scenario like maybe execution or worse torture," the sword said to Aven.
"Well I was expecting an execution. So, I guess torture will be the worst case scenario then. Wait, why am I suddenly trusting this sword too much," Aven said quietly.
To be continued…