“Fine.” She shrugs, but she doesn’t move her arms from her chest. A little awkwardly, I move closer. I touch her shoulders first. Then I pull her to my chest.
Her folded arms make it so the hug is clumsy and rather inept. But I don’t complain. I just close my eyes and try to memorize the feel of her body, the scent of her skin, the warmth of her presence.
“Good night, Moe. I’ll see you soon.”
Another lie.
“Good night, Nykander.”
A knot forms in my throat as I slowly retreat to my room.
She did not call me Nyk.
30
The two moons reach their apex in the sky, granting increased luminosity in the early hours of the day. I stealthily make my way out, lingering a little too long in front of Moe’s room.
There are so many things I wish I could tell her: the reason why I’m undertaking this dangerous mission, the fact that I’m one foot in the grave regardless and that should I survive, I might be cursed anyway.
But I cannot. I don’t think I could bear it if she looked at me differently. Even if our relationship never progresses to the level I dream of, her friendship is equally as important to me. And when I’m gone—if I’m gone—then I would like her to remember me fondly.
“Please don’t forget me,” I whisper, my hand hovering in the air over her door. “If I never come back… I hope you will remember me.”
I sigh and shake my head. The more I linger, the harder it will be for me to leave.
Wearing my thick coat, I swing my bag over my shoulder and head to the coach station. According to the instructions and themap I received, the journey to Horan Forest will take me some two to three days.
Horan Forest is at the bottom of the Gaigo Mountain, part of the Gaigo-ne Mountainous Region. Public transportation can only take me to the bottom of Perr Hill, a popular touristic attraction.
Gaigo Mountain is an eighteen-hour trek from Perr Hill, which means I will have to cross the hill then walk across a rugged and rocky canyon before reaching the edge of Horan Forest. That’s where the difficulty starts.
I must traverse a vast expanse of forest and reach the mid-point, which is marked by the red tree trunks of the rare feiyin tree. That’s the heart of the forest and the most dangerous part. The mythical beasts live a distance from there.
The first ride is via public coach, which takes me to the outskirts of Sattoriya. Public coaches, though a cheap means of transportation, are usually crowded and loud. Especially at this hour, since people tend to commute. I find a spot in the back, squeezing in between a few bodies.
Another reason why I need to buy a carriage.I would hate for Moe to have to withstand this, or be pressed against sweaty bodies. Just thinking of anyone accidentally touching her makes my blood boil.
Yes, she needs her own carriage; with plush, soft cushions and plenty of space to relax. Perhaps I will have enough money to afford a flying horse. Those are so much faster. To pass the time and to give myself some courage for what’s to come, I make a list of all the things I’ll buy for Moe once this is over.
Three hours later, I get off at my stop, a town called Invider which is right outside of Sattoriya. It takes me a couple of tries to find the next coach stop to board my next carriage. This time, the destination is the town of Jober and the journey takes four hours. Luckily, I find a seat before the carriage gets overly full.
This is my first time traveling by myself outside of Sattoriya. That thought alone makes me excited—as if I’m taking the reins of my destiny for the first time. My eyes are glued to the window as I take in the changes in scenery—things I’ve never seen before. Yet as much as I admire all the beautiful landscapes, I wish I had someone to share it with. Someone like…
Stop it, Nykander! I mentally chastise myself for not lasting even one moment without thinking of her. But with so much time alone with my own thoughts, I find it hard not to. Especially now that we’ll be apart for quite some time.
Jober is a small coastal town but it sees a lot of tourists all year round. There is another locality one hour away called Oppiya that is a favorite place for the nobility who seeks to get away from the bustling capital. It’s the main reason why Jober has become such a popular destination. Oppiya is for the aristocracy. Following the trend, the plebes made their own destination.
Since it’s almost noon, I decide to grab a bite at a tavern before getting on my next leg of the journey.
The place is as busy as expected, but most people are at the bar and the gambling tables. There are quite a few empty tables in the back for dining. The server leads me to one of them and gives me the menu.
I try to focus on the printed text but it’s hard with all the commotion around. People are laughing and yelling, some even sobbing over lost money. Movement flashes at the edges of my eyes. I catch a glimpse of a long black coat as someone takes a seat right behind me. I half-turn to see a male with a thick woolen hat and a pair of tinted glasses. He brings up the menu to his face, obscuring his features.
“Ready to order?” The server interrupts my scrutiny.
“The soup of the day please.”
More loud noises echo in the tavern, and soon a fight breaks out in the gambling area. I finish my food, pay and leave, not wanting to waste more time there.
