Chapter 99: Ten Kingdoms: Magic Association Alliance (1/2)

Kadyn, Barret, Zelie, and Elora sat inside a single carriage. Kadyn told the entire story that happened last night. From drugs to conspiracy. From start to end. From slaughter to the arrival of Barret. How he turned the tables. How they stripped the brother-sister duo naked and made them slap each other — Zelie and Elora blushed furiously when they heard about it — until Patriarch Irabel realised something wrong. Kadyn looked at the two ladies and smiled awkwardly and stopped talking.

Zelie eyed Kadyn incredulously and said with a shocked voice. ”So much had happened. Why didn't you wake us up?”

”I don't know about Elora but you'll only make things difficult so it is natural.” Barret snorted when he heard his daughter's question. He peered at her with a stern expression and said. ”You've yet to explain your previous actions.”

Kadyn also shook his head. He had been conned by this girl. He took her with him because he thought she had already asked Barret's permission. Now he realised that she made a fool of him. He felt embarrassed and comical at the same time.

”Would you have let me come if I had told you?”

”No.”

”See, you didn't even think before replying.” Zelie pouted like a ten years old child.

Elora, who was sitting silently all this time, turned towards Kadyn and asked. ”How're your wounds, now?” her voice was filled with concern.

Kadyn smiled towards her and replied. ”Don't worry. The potion worked fine and I'm mostly healed after your spell.”

Elora nodded and then said with slightly an unnatural tone. ”If you do something like this next time, do tell me. I know I'm not a battle mage, but I won't become a burden at the very least.”

Kadyn—who had started to talk with Barret—turned towards her in surprise. Though Elora's face didn't show it, Kadyn realised that she seemed angry with him.

Before he could speak anything Elora continued. ”I'm working hard not because I want to become famous, nor for riches, nor for anything else.” She looked at him and said with slightly wet eyes. ”I'm working hard to become strong because I want to support you, to protect you, to stand side by side and face all kinds of perils TOGETHER— if something had happened to you I won't be able to live. I'll tell you. I don't have the courage to face my mother and father and tell them that their son is no more.”

Kadyn's heart skipped a beat when he heard words. He looked at her determined face and tightly held her hand. Then he soothed the girl. ”I promise something like that will never happen again. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. Because I didn't want to worry you. Because I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't know I would hurt you, instead.”

Only then Elora's expression improved somewhat. The journey continued. The group passed a few towns in between. In the Lightbreach Town, they stopped and replenished their provisions and took long baths before leaving the town. They also crossed a river. Frothy Canal was its name. Though it wasn't as wide as Tonton River. It was, nonetheless, a river. The water was fresh. One could see the bottom of the river, fishes hopping inside and out merrily. Though there was no angler to be seen as Tonton River.

As they proceeded the mountains started to become taller and wider and closer, trees started to become dense, long and somewhat eerie ”Hopeless Mountain Range.” Barret murmured.

Kadyn looked outside and saw large boulders and trees and towering peaks in the distance and asked. ”So this is the famous Hopeless Mountain Range where Hopeless Bandit lives—or plunder.”

Barret nodded then said. ”Hopeless Bandit isn't a single group. All of the groups here collectively are called Hopeless Bandits.”

”Ouch!” something came under the wheel of the cart and Zelie's head hit the roof of the carriage as she winced.

”Be careful. The path is full of debris and pits.” Barret said, looking at his daughter disapprovingly. It has already been one and a half days since she was travelling and yet she still hasn't learned to be careful on such a decrepit path.

Zelie smiled awkwardly and held the handle at the corner of the cart tightly. No letting the bounces affect her.

”Si-sir~”

At this moment the carriage stopped abruptly and the driver said with a trembling voice. Everyone exchanged confused looks. Then Kadyn asked. ”What happened?”