World Isekai

"How did you realize he was working against us?" asked Lilae.

"It was hunches, only confirmed when the brand didn't activate," replied Mori.

"That's it?" said Xannos. "impressive, still."

"Let's get going. We have ground to cover, and there's another Sovereign on their way too."

"You really don't mind that we can be attacked at any point?" asked Lilae.

Mori chuckled, "Luxian gave me way too much information. He's on the 10th path, while the other Sovereigns are at half that. There's no way they can fight me on equal ground. And Reaper, so nice of him, told us only one of them is after us. You guys can probably deal with them without me."

"By 'you guys', you mean Lilae Aura and that Griswald guy, right?" said Xannos.

Mori sighed while throwing dirt on the fire to extinguish.

Darkness surrounded them, but didn't bother at all. They walked back to the village, toward the stables where the horses should be.

Everyone was sound asleep, no torches lit anywhere, and all the establishments seemed closed. Even the Inn, which in all logic, should've had a torch lit in case travelers arrived late.

"There's someone in the stables," said Aura.

"Huh. That's too far for me to see. What are they doing?" asked Mori.

"They're trying to steal our horses, most likely," she replied.

Without saying a word, Lilae went ahead, using the darkness to her advantage.

They watched as she silently approached the stables, muffled struggling sounds coming out of it.

After a short moment, Lilae came out with the horses.

She was waving at them, walking toward the carriage.

Xannos helped her harness them in, while Mori and Aura jumped in the back and sat down.

I'm guessing Reaper tried to stall us by telling those guys to steal our horses.

It didn't take them too long before they were finally on their way. Lilae drove the carriage first, the night too dark for Xannos to navigate.

"Is everyone here able to see well in darkness?" asked Xannos.

"I can see, but not that well. Aura is better than me at it," said Mori.

"I'm pretty good too," added Lilae.

"Xannos and I will alternate during day, and you two during night, we'll try to only stop when necessary. That sovereign on our tail doesn't scare me, but I'd rather arrive faster."

"Agreed," said Aura.

Two benches on each side of the carriage had someone sleep on them, while the remaining person would sleep on the floorboard.

Despite the vibrations, everyone was able to get some rest. The silence and quiet helped, only crossing paths with another carriage once during the night.

Eventually, the first rays of light shone through the opening at the back, Xannos being the first one to wake up from it.

Lilae was getting tired, and let him take her place, joining the others.

Only a few more hours went by, before he woke the group.

"Another village," he said.

It was around noon; the sun was high up and their stomach empty.

They looked outside, the village was as small as the previous one, but more lively.

Kids were running around, while a fair amount of people were busy outside, tending to the crops.

Some of them waved as they passed by, Xannos waving back with a big smile on his face.

He slowed the carriage down. On the side of the road was someone walking with jugs of water on their shoulders, hanging on a pole made of wood.

"Excuse me, is there a restaurant, or an inn in which we could eat, here?" asked Xannos.

"We have food," said Mori in the back.

"Yes, but I'd rather have good food."

"If ya want food, the only place ya got is that ol' pub. They always open. The food ain't that good lemme tell ya, but the beer hits the spot past the 4th or 5th pint," said the old man.

He looked like what you'd expect from an older man working the fields, but with horns.

Despite his old looks, he had bigger muscles than any of them. Most likely the result of working the fields his whole life.

"Thanks a lot, old man!"

"Tellem George sent ya! Might give ya a discount!"

"Thanks again!" said Xannos as he took off.

Turning right at the crossroads, they entered the village, some kids ran along the carriage, quickly giving up, unable to win against the horses.

Once on the main street, they looked on both sides, hoping to find the pub the man was talking about.

"That's the one, you think?" asked Lilae, pointing.

"Has to be," said Xannos.

It didn't look as bad as the inn in the previous village, but it needed work.

They parked the carriage on the side of the pub, making sure the horses wouldn't get away, and headed for the entrance.

The doors were built like those in westerns Mori had seen as a kid.

As they pushed them open, a bell rung above them, signaling their presence.

The inside wasn't as bad as the outside. The furniture was old, but at least it wasn't dusty or damp. It didn't smell poorly, and the floor wasn't dirty, an overall upgrade from the previous inn.

"Ah! Newcomers, welcome!" said the man coming out of the back.

"Hey, we've been referred to your fine establishment by 'George'," started Xannos.

The man frowned.

"That old fuck has a tab bigger than my dick, and it hasn't been paid yet."

"Well, how big is-"

"Massive."

"Alright, boys," cut Lilae. "It doesn't matter, we just want something to eat before we get on with our journey."

"Yeah... I don't mind, but I don't serve filth."

"It's fine, I'll wait outside," said Mori.

"Not you, although humans do get on my nerves. The lass."

Mori, turned, surprised.

Aura was as surprised as him, visibly confused as she stood there.

"Although..." said the man, "I'm not too sure... You look like a vampire, but your eyes are purple..."

"They're rarer than you getting clients in here, how can you hate vampires?" asked Lilae.

"Well you ain't wrong about the clients, that old George with his really massive tab is the only regular I have..."

The man spat on the ground, looking at Aura.

"But her kind is most unwelcome."