ASTRID SHADOWBANE.
As the day went by, I started getting ready for my departure, but before I leave the village I had one last thing I had to do.
I wore a full-length with a large pointed cloak, that covers my face from winds and the dusts from the travels and the cloak is fasten to a metal clasp near my chest. Underneath the deep charcoal cloak, a light grey top, with a V-shape neck with a criss-cross lacing underneath, making sure the iron chestplate is in place. around my waist, it's black belt giving shape to the top, my blade my positioned at my waist, The skirt was multi layered with shorter top layer, revealing pale white layer underneath.
With my travel bag hanging over my shoulders, and my hair neatly braided beneath the cloak, and I let the bag rest ovee the cloak.
With everything ready, I stepped out of my small cabin, and looked one last time, and placed my hand over the small door, as I felt the wooden texture on my calloused fingers one last time, and left the place.
It was a narrow path, and the road was slightly wet from the snow, on both sides there were trees with quite a few distance between them, on each side there were houses and on the right side there were nothing, just empty grass plains.
As I finally arrived at the destination i'm all too familiar with— My parents grave stone.
I knelt infront of the grave stone, and placed a few flowers and a bottle of wine my father liked. "Hey there you two, it's been a while huh? sorry that I didn't visit you guys that often these past few months." I took a deep breath as I said my final goodbye to my parents. "I have been thinking of leaving tje village and, uhhh find big brother,
but i'm just— y'know don't know where to start, that's why I've decided to enroll in the 'Nottingster academy of magic' in the captial city where brother went missing. so i'm— just here to say goodbye, that's all."
After saying what I wanted to say, I stood up and turned my back, but I turned my head to look at the grave stone over my shoulder and said, my tone uncertain about how my journey gonna be, and what kind of people do I have face inorder to get to my brother, everything is uncertain. "Good bye, papa, mama."
The walk back to the entrance gate was uneventful, as people kept staring at me, but I didn't pay them much attention, as I made my way to the gate, where my uncle is Waiting with the kids, they had a sad expression, but uncle hide it really well, Henry on the other hand is on the verge of crying.
As I walked closer to them, Henry ran upto me and hugged my waist as he started crying. "Please don't go aunty, i'll talk to mom please don't go."
I struggled to form words, as he started bawling his eyes out, I patted his head and said, "Henry, i'm not leaving because I had a fight with your mom, i'm going on an adventure to my find my big brother, you woukd miss your big sisters if they leave you right? That's how I feel about my big brother, i'm sorry Henry, but i'll promise you this, I will come back after I find him okay? until then no crying is that clear?"
My uncle pulled Henry away from me, as he stopped crying and nodded his head, I looked at my uncle. "Aunt didn't come huh?" My uncle shook his head, he didn't say anything, he just stayed silent, he already said what he wanted to say when he gave me that sword.
I atleast thought she would show up, I guess she meant every word she said.
My train of thought was interrupted by the coachman, as he started shouting. "Come on lady, it's getting late if we don't get moving now, we won't make it to the next town in time."
After hugging the kids one last time, I looked back at the entrace gate, before stepping into the carriage, and the horse pulled carriage started moving, my uncle and the three kids started waving their hands, and slowly the distance between us grew, and in the next few second, they were gone.
As the wooden carriage moved, I stared out side my travel bag next to me, the carriage was empty except me and the coachman, and his goods probably? thecarriage was silent, and the only sounds were from the horse and the wheels of the carriage.
"Ahem—sir? How long does it take for us to reach the Captial city of milry?" I asked the coachman, and he turned his head to look at me over his shoulder, and said in a raspy tone.
"It will take around 3 months to reach the capital, if we take breaks often, and if you need to buy rations, there are only two stops, so use them wisely, I won't be sharing my rations with you. and the next stop is going to be in a few days."
Then he turned his head, focusing on the muddy road ahead.
A few days went by without nych happening, there were no other passangers, it's just me and the coachman, and the horse, he wpuld stop the carriage when the sun sets and resume the travels when the sun raises, ut pretty much became our daily routine, and finally we arrived at our first stop in this travel.
The town of 'Deadford', as we reached the main gate, we were stopped by a knight wearing who wore chain armor, with a spear in his right hand, and a mage at distance with a wand at his waist. "Entrance toll fee, or any form of identification? " The knight said, as he reached his hand towards the coachman, and he handed him a metal card, and the knight examined the identification card, and let us in, but I had to pay the toll, since this is my first time.
As we entered the main gate, it was quite opposite to Shegan, the road was paved with bricks and even the houses were built with bricks, they looked sturdier than a wooden house.
As I was taking all the sceneries in, I was pulled back to reality with the familiar raspy voice. "We stop here for the next 2 hours, go and buy your supplies and rations, and I won't wait for you even a second, so be here on time, in 2 hours." With that, the man left leaving me in carriage.
I stepped out of the carriage, and made my way to the market, I strolled around the market, passing by stalls that sold fruits, and other accessories like jewellery and other stuff. I passed by them onky giving them the slightest glances, finally found the shop I was looking for.
I stood infront of the butcher shop, and was about to enter, but I felt my shoe step on something gooey, I jumped back, losing my balance in the process, as I was falling I closed my eyes instinctively, but I left someone catching me.
I felt the strong but thin arm around my waist and a hot breath against my face, I slowly opened my eyes, and my gaze landed on a man, with emerald green eyes, at that time, there was only one thought running through my mind. It's not the time I have left for my shopping before the carriage leaves. No the only thought that ran through my mind was....How beautiful his eyes were.
His hair was split in the middle, slightly offside, as it fell gently on both sides of his forehead, his hair was long enough to touch his ears. My eyes darted around on his face, to his jawline, and to the line of his nose. My thoughts came to an abrupt stop as he released me from his grasp, letting me stand on my own feet.
"My, watch your steps milday, it would break my heart to see such a beauty get hurt." He said in a calm and throaty tone. And after that the man disappeared into the crowd like he was never even there.
"I didn't even get a chance to properly thank him, for catching me." Putting that aside I entered the butcher shop. and was greated by a short....dwarf?