The sun rose over the southern horizon, casting a bright, golden light that stretched across the long, winding dirt road. The air was crisp and fresh, filled with the scent of the wild grass and the morning dew that still clung to the leaves of the trees. We had been traveling for a few hours since the sun came up, the four horses pulling the carriage at a steady and rhythmic pace. Inside, the mood was a bit quiet, likely because of what had happened the night before when everyone found out about Elphyete's habit of staying close to me. I sat by the window, watching the green fields and the occasional patches of forest go by, feeling the gentle sway of the carriage as it hit small bumps in the road.
Elphyete was sitting right next to me, her shoulder pressing firmly against mine. Even though the cabin was large enough for everyone to have their own space, she didn't seem interested in moving an inch away. Every time the carriage jolted, she would use it as an excuse to lean even further into my side. Across from us, Ishighi and Eufrien were talking in low voices about the road ahead, while Euphyne was leaning his head back against the purple velvet, looking like he was trying to catch up on the sleep he lost from falling out of the tree. The rest of the group was spread out, some looking out the windows and others just resting.
After another hour of travel, Sir Vael called out from the driver's bench, announcing that we were going to take a short break to let the horses rest and drink some water from a nearby pond. The carriage slowed down and eventually came to a stop near a small cluster of trees that provided a good amount of shade. One by one, everyone climbed out of the carriage to stretch their legs and walk around. The grass was tall and green here, and the sound of birds chirping in the branches above created a peaceful atmosphere.
As soon as my feet hit the ground, I felt a hand grab mine. It was Elphyete. She didn't say anything at first, but her eyes were fixed on a small hill a short distance away from where the others were congregating. She tugged on my hand, signaling for me to follow her. I looked back at the group, but they seemed busy with the horses or finding their own spots to rest. I followed Elphyete as she led me away from the camp, walking past a line of thick bushes until the carriage was mostly out of sight.
When we reached a small, flat area surrounded by tall flowers and a few large rocks, Elphyete stopped. She turned to face me, a small and mischievous smile playing on her lips. She raised her hands, and I saw a faint shimmer in the air around us. She was using her Creation magic, but she wasn't making a weapon this time. Instead, the air began to distort and ripple, turning into a sort of blurry wall that blended perfectly with the trees and the grass. Within seconds, we were encased in a dome of magical camouflage. From the outside, it probably just looked like an empty patch of woods, but inside, it was private and quiet.
"There," Elphyete said, her voice sounding a bit more relaxed now that we were hidden. "Now they won't be able to see us at all. We have a few hours before Sir Vael gets the horses ready again."
She didn't waste any time. Before I could even respond, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me down toward her. She started to kiss me, her movements soft and full of the affection she had been trying to hide while the others were watching. I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding her close as the world outside our little camouflage bubble disappeared. It felt different being alone like this, without the feeling of someone watching us from a tree or a bush.
We eventually sat down on the soft grass, the tall flowers swaying slightly in the breeze that managed to filter through the magical wall. Elphyete moved so that she was sitting between my legs, leaning her back against my chest while I rested my chin on her shoulder. She took my hands in hers, interlacing our fingers and squeezing gently. We spent a long time just flirting and talking in low whispers, saying things that would have made the others laugh or tease us if they had heard.
"I missed this," she whispered, turning her head slightly so she could look at me. "Just being able to be near you without Euphyne falling on our heads."
"I missed it too," I replied, kissing her cheek.
She turned around in my arms so she could face me again, her silver hair flowing over my shoulders like a silken curtain. She started to cuddle with me, tucking her head under my chin and curling her body against mine. We stayed like that for a long time, just enjoying the warmth and the silence. Every now and then, she would look up to give me a quick kiss or to tell me how much she liked being the only one who could be this close to me. The hours seemed to slip away as we talked about small things—how much we wanted to try the food in the next town, or how the carriage ride felt like it was taking forever.
Elphyete was being extremely sweet, her usual composed attitude completely gone. She laughed at my jokes and played with the fabric of my cloak, her eyes bright and happy. At one point, she lay down on the grass and pulled me down with her, wanting to just look up at the shimmering ceiling of the camouflage dome while we held hands. We were completely lost in our own little world, oblivious to the passage of time or the fact that the horses had probably finished their water a long time ago.
Eventually, the light outside the dome started to change, the shadows of the trees stretching longer across the ground. I realized that we had been away for quite a while. Elphyete seemed to realize it too, though she looked a bit reluctant to end the moment. She sat up and stretched her arms over her head, her silver hair catching the faint light that made it through the magic.
"We should probably head back," she said, though she stayed sitting on the grass for another minute, holding my hand. "If we stay any longer, Sir Vael might actually start looking for us, and I don't think he'll be fooled by the camouflage if he walks right into it."
She stood up and brushed the grass and petals off her clothes, making sure she looked as neat as possible. With a small wave of her hand, the shimmering wall around us vanished, and the sounds of the forest rushed back in. We were standing in the middle of the woods again, the sun now much lower in the sky than it had been when we left. I checked my own clothes, making sure I didn't have any obvious signs of our cuddling on me, and then we started to walk back toward the carriage.
As we rounded the final line of bushes and came back into the clearing, I saw that everyone was already gathered around the carriage. Sir Vael was standing by the front wheels, looking at his pocket watch, while Euphyne and Tokine were sitting on the steps. Ishighi was leaning against the side of the transport, his red eyes tracking our movement as we approached. The horses were all harnessed and ready to go, their tails swishing impatiently.
As soon as we got close enough, the questions started.
"Where did you two go?" Sir Vael asked, raising an eyebrow. He didn't look angry, but he definitely looked suspicious. "We've been ready to move for almost twenty minutes. You two just vanished into thin air."
"Yeah," Euphyne added, a wide and knowing smirk on his face as he looked between me and Elphyete. "We looked around the pond and the nearby trees, but it was like you weren't even there. What were you doing out there for a few hours?"
I felt a bit of pressure, wondering how we were going to explain away such a long absence. I looked at Elphyete, who had put her calm and stoic mask back on. She didn't skip a beat. She stood up straight and looked Sir Vael right in the eye, her expression completely serious.
"We found a very rare type of moss," Elphyete said. Her voice was steady and flat, without a hint of a lie in it. "I wanted to examine its properties for creation magic, and Sogha was helping me hold the samples so they wouldn't crumble. It was very delicate work and required a lot of concentration and a very specific environment away from the noise of the horses."
There was a long silence in the clearing. I could hear a cricket chirping in the grass nearby. Everyone just stared at her. The excuse was so obviously fake and stupid that it was almost hard to believe she had actually said it. Examining moss for a few hours while everyone was waiting to travel was the least believable thing I had ever heard.
"Moss?" Tokine asked, her voice full of disbelief. "You were looking at moss for three hours?"
"Yes," Elphyete replied, nodding firmly. "It was very interesting moss. We had to move slowly so we didn't disturb the spores. It is a very complex process that you wouldn't understand."
Sir Vael looked at me, his eyes searching for any sign of a different story. I just gave a small nod, trying to back her up. He sighed and shook his head, the smirk on his face growing wider. He clearly didn't believe a single word of it, and from the looks on the faces of Eufrien and Ishighi, nobody else did either. But they also seemed to realize that they weren't going to get a better answer out of her.
"Right," Sir Vael said, turning back toward the driver's bench. "Rare moss. Well, since the grand moss expedition is over, maybe we can actually get to the town before the sun goes down? Everyone get in the carriage. Now!"
We all hurried to climb back inside. I felt a bit embarrassed as I passed by Euphyne, who whispered "nice moss" as I walked by him. Elphyete ignored him entirely, stepping into the carriage with her head held high and taking her usual spot right next to me on the purple velvet seat. Once everyone was settled and the door was shut tight, I heard the familiar snap of the reins and the shout from Sir Vael.
The carriage lurched forward, and we continued traveling.
The next few hours of the journey were much faster than the morning had been. Sir Vael seemed determined to make up for the time we had lost. The four horses were pushed to a brisk gallop, the wheels of the carriage spinning rapidly and kicking up a large cloud of dust behind us. Inside the cabin, the conversation was light. Euphyne and Tokine were talking about the different types of food they wanted to try first, their voices full of excitement. Ishighi and Eufrien were discussing the layout of the town, mentioning that it was divided into different sectors for the rich and the commoners.
I looked out the window, noticing how the landscape was changing. The wild forests and open fields were starting to be replaced by more organized farmland. We passed by several small wagons filled with vegetables and crates of spices, all heading in the same direction we were. The road became wider and was paved with flat stones, which made the ride much smoother and less noisy. I could tell we were getting close to a major hub of trade and wealth.
As we traveled, the scent of the air began to change as well. The smell of the forest faded, replaced by a complex and mouth-watering aroma that seemed to hang over the entire region. It was the scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, exotic spices, and sweet pastries. Even from miles away, the smell of the Town of the Culinary was undeniable. Euphyne practically had his nose pressed against the glass, sniffing the air with a look of pure joy on his face.
"Do you smell that?" he asked, turning back to the group. "That's the smell of a hundred different kitchens all working at once. I think I can even smell the honey-glazed ribs from here."
"I think you're just hungry, Euphyne," Tokine said, though she was also looking out the window with interest.
The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in deep shades of orange, pink, and purple. The light reflected off the distant white walls of a massive city that was slowly appearing on the horizon. As we got closer, the size of the place became apparent. It wasn't just a town; it was a sprawling metropolis surrounded by high, elegant stone walls that looked like they were made of polished marble. Watchtowers stood at regular intervals, their tops glowing with magical lanterns that provided a steady light as the evening approached.
The road was now crowded with people. We saw carriages decorated with gold and fine silk, carrying wealthy merchants and nobles dressed in the finest clothes. There were also groups of travelers on foot, all drawn to the fame of the town. Despite the beauty and the wealth on display, I remembered Ishighi's warning about the underground business and the slaves. I looked closely at some of the wagons we passed, noticing that some of them had iron bars and were guarded by men with cold, hard expressions. It was a stark reminder that this place had two very different sides.
Elphyete was watching the scenery as well, her hand resting on my knee. She seemed much more composed now, the clinginess from our time under the camouflage dome tucked away for the moment. But I could still feel the warmth of her presence, a quiet reminder of the hours we had spent alone.
The carriage slowed down as we joined a long line of vehicles waiting to enter the city. The noise of the crowd was a constant hum—the sound of voices, the clinking of harnesses, and the shouting of guards directing traffic. The air was thick with the smell of the food, which was even stronger now, making my own stomach growl in anticipation. We crawled forward inch by inch, the massive stone walls looming over us like giants.
Up ahead, I could see the main entrance. It was a gargantuan gate made of dark wood and reinforced with shimmering steel bands. Above the gate, the crest of the kingdom was carved into the stone, surrounded by intricate designs of vines and fruits, fitting for a place known for its culinary arts. Guards dressed in polished silver armor stood on either side of the entrance, checking the papers of everyone who entered. They moved with a professional and strict efficiency, their eyes scanning the crowds for any signs of trouble.
Sir Vael steered our carriage toward one of the open lanes. We moved past a group of wealthy merchants who were arguing with a guard about a tax on their spices. The scale of the gate was incredible; it felt like we were driving into the mouth of a massive mountain. The stone was cool and damp as we passed under the archway, the sound of our horses' hooves echoing loudly against the walls.
I looked at my companions. Eufrien was adjusting his cloak, his mismatched eyes sharp and alert. Ishighi had his hand near the hilt of his sword, his expression neutral but his body ready for anything. Celdrich sat silently, his katana resting against his leg. Alea and Zhandra were looking around at the architecture, impressed by the grandeur of the entrance.
We moved further into the shadow of the gatehouse, the bright light of the sunset disappearing for a moment as we traveled through the thick stone passage. I could see the inner courtyard of the city starting to open up ahead of us, filled with even more lights and the bustling activity of the evening market. The smell of the food was almost overwhelming now, a delicious mix of a thousand different flavors that seemed to promise the best meal of our lives.
The carriage came to a final halt as we reached the inner checkpoint just past the main doors. A guard stepped forward, his hand raised to stop the horses. He looked up at Sir Vael, who reached into his cloak to pull out our travel documents. The guard took them and began to look them over, his eyes flicking toward the windows of the carriage to see who was inside.
We had made it. The long journey across the southern provinces had led us here, to the heart of wealth and luxury. I felt a mix of excitement and caution as I looked out at the town streets waiting for us. The king was somewhere inside these walls, and we were about to enter a world that was as dangerous as it was beautiful.
As the guard handed the papers back to Sir Vael and signaled for us to proceed, the carriage moved forward one last time. We rolled out of the shadow of the stone archway and into the vibrant, light-filled streets of the town. We arrived to the gate of the Town of the culinary.