INCIDENT ON THE WAY TO THYMORE

Aki let out a sigh of relief as the eastern path stretched out before them, finally providing a straightforward and safe route. The contrasting landscapes on either side of the road were a breathtaking sight. To their right, a dense forest stood tall, while to their left, lush meadows sprawled as far as the eye could see. They never felt alone on their journey, as every few miles, a farmhouse could be spotted amidst the meadows. Additionally, they had encountered half a dozen fellow adventurers and traders, all heading in the direction of the Academy.

Despite the stunning scenery, Aki found it challenging to fully savor it. The day seemed to pass by as quickly as the brisk pace they maintained. Yumi's relentless stride pushed Aki to keep up, making him wonder, "Is she in such a hurry to reach the Capital?" Aki couldn't help but smile at the thought.

Yet, Aki couldn't ignore Yumi's frequent glances over her shoulder, as if she feared someone catching up to them. He attributed this to Yumi's competitive spirit, knowing that one's rank depended on how quickly they reached the Capital.

As Aki's thoughts swirled, a **** cry pierced the air, "HELP! Someone, please!"

Aki and Yumi exchanged quick glances before instinctively sprinting toward the source. Aki glanced at Yumi and saw the eager anticipation in her eyes, revealing her readiness for battle. Aki couldn't blame her; all their training had led to this moment. This was to be their first-ever battle. Of course, he hoped the person in distress would still be unscathed when they arrived.

Upon turning a bend, they came to an abrupt halt. A portly man, who seemed to be a merchant, cowered beside a large carriage, terror etched on his face as menacing giant wasps loomed above him, their venomous stingers poised to strike.

Yumi's disappointment was palpable as she let out an audible groan. Aki turned toward her, offering a sympathetic yet reproachful smile, fully understanding her sentiments. They both shared the frustration of facing such unimpressive foes. Giant Wasps had been their training adversaries countless times and posed little challenge.

However, Aki sprinted toward the giant wasps with determination, preparing his Scorching Ray spell, and Yumi followed suit without protest, armed with her shield and mace.

The battle ended swiftly, with Scorching Rays and Yumi's mace dispatching the giant wasps efficiently. Soon, the charred and lifeless wasp bodies littered the ground.

The merchant, gasping for breath, approached Aki and Yumi, gratitude emanating from him. Clutching his chest, he hugged them one by one. "Thank you so much! I thought we were done for! I tried to give the horses some rest and..." he exclaimed.

Aki nodded with a warm smile, about to say, "It was our pleasure to assist," when his attention shifted abruptly to the carriage as its door swung open. Two figures emerged, a young man and a woman, who quickly approached the merchant. The young man wore an expression of fright mixed with relief, while the woman's face was impassive.

The merchant embraced his son and reassured his wife of his well-being. Aki observed the trio before him with keen interest. The merchant, a portly man with narrow, squinted eyes, was dressed in colorful attire that spoke volumes about his status as a prominent businessman. His son, as Aki surmised, bore a striking resemblance to him and carried an air of smugness that hinted at arrogance. Although Aki kept his thoughts to himself. In contrast, the woman seemed overly slender and initially appeared haughty, but upon closer observation, it became clear that she's the kind who rarely displayed any discernible emotion.

The carriage behind them was an unusual sight. It was a stagecoach of substantial size, notably longer and wider than what was typically seen. Aki surmised that it served a dual purpose, housing both their merchandise and serving as their mobile abode. He couldn't help but worry about the strain it might put on the horses tasked with pulling it. Fortunately, Aki noticed that there were six horses harnessed to the stagecoach, which eased his concern.

The curtains were drawn, leaving Aki to wonder about the treasures concealed within.

"You're welcome!" Yumi replied, her bright eyes fixed on the carriage, curiosity gleaming. "What's inside there?" she inquired.

"Our merchandise and our sleeping quarters!" the merchant replied, straightening his posture and adjusting his robes. "My name is Schylo. Nice to meet you, miss...?"

"Yumi," she replied, casting a brief glance at Aki, who offered a small bow and a handshake as he introduced himself. "I'm Aki," he added.

Schylo snapped his fingers, beckoning his family to gather closer. His son complied eagerly, but not without casting a fleeting, disdainful glance at Aki before focusing on Yumi. The intensity of Landon's gaze toward Yumi left Aki feeling disconcerted. Serafina, the young man's mother, approached more cautiously, her eyes lingering on Aki and Yumi in a way that left Aki puzzled.

"This is my son, Landon," the merchant proudly introduced, giving the boy's shoulder a firm shake. "And this is my wife, Serafina," he added almost dismissively, offering her only a cursory glance.

Although Aki found the family dynamic unusual, he decided not to comment and greeted them with a warm smile. Schylo responded with a broad grin, Serafina with a polite bow, and Landon remained entirely focused on Yumi, not even acknowledging Aki's presence.

"Where are you going?" Schylo inquired. "You seem very young to be traveling!"

"We are graduates from the Academy," Aki replied. "We're on our way to Thymore."

"Ah, we've just been there. We're headed to the Academy for business reasons. I'm opening a new store there," Schylo explained, his grin widening as he hugged his son tightly. "And my son is joining the Academy!"

Yumi cast a scrutinizing gaze at the boy. "Congratulations!" she said with a grin. A faint frown crossed her face as she hesitated before asking, "Isn't he a bit...?"

Aki agreed, thinking the boy seemed a bit older than the typical new Academy student.

"Ah, my boy is a late bloomer! I recognized his magical talent and, being a businessman, I pulled a few strings. It took quite a bit of money, actually," Schylo proudly announced as he ruffled the boy's hair.

Aki and Yumi exchanged glances, pondering how this rather portly young man would fare in the Academy's demanding training. They themselves had entered the Academy in their early teens, full of energy and youth, while this young man appeared to be in his mid to late teens. "He seemed to be the type that has a taste for every dish that was served to him." Aki thought inwardly.

Aki shrugged off his reservations, hoping for the best for the young man. An awkward silence fell over them, and Aki decided it was time to leave. He didn't want the merchant family to think they were expecting a reward for their service. "I wish you the best," Aki said as they prepared to depart.

"Ah, but the evening is upon us," Schylo observed, looking up at the sky, which had taken on shades of orange as the sun threatened to dip below the horizon. Schylo retrieved his satchel, jingling the coins within. "Would you consider accompanying us for the evening? I promise to make it worth your while."

Aki gazed at the darkening sky and realized that night had descended upon them. He cast a meaningful look at Yumi, who was eyeing the pouch of coins with interest.

"Well, it seems Yumi's interested," Aki thought. Despite his reservations about the way Landon had been staring at her, he found no compelling reason to decline the offer. He was also excited at the prospect of finally putting his hours of defensive rune mastery to use, an area in which he believed himself to be second to none, even compared to the Academy's professors. If the merchant was willing to pay for their time, why not? They were still ahead of their fellow graduates.

He turned to Yumi, who responded with an enthusiastic nod, affirming her consent. Aki couldn't help but find it amusing how her eyes gleamed like a trove of golden coins.

The campfire cast a warm, flickering light over the scene as the merchant's family and their two fellow travelers gathered around to share their meal. Aki felt a wave of relief wash over him, knowing he wouldn't have to forage for food thanks to the provisions thoughtfully prepared by the merchant.

Aki was preparing to depart and set up a perimeter of his defensive runes, a process that would take nearly half an hour. While he had mastered the incantations, arranging them around a campsite, especially one accommodating a large stagecoach and horses, presented unique challenges. However, just as he was about to leave, Schylo called him over and placed a plate of food in his hands. Aki briefly contemplated declining but his hunger got the better of him, especially since he had gone without a proper meal all day, unable to eat the canteen food he had ordered that morning. With ****, he accepted the plate and joined Yumi at the campfire she had set up.

To his surprise, Landon was already there, sitting rather closely beside Yumi, eagerly engaging in a conversation about the Academy. Aki couldn't help but notice that Landon's voice was both demanding and whiny, an odd combination. He quietly commended Yumi for her earnest participation in the conversation as he didn't think he could stomach hearing Landon speak that closely. Aki took a seat right next to Schylo in the opposite side, scowling as he observed that Landon's gaze frequently drifted toward Yumi's buxom.

With effort, he tore his gaze away from the Yumi and Landon. A question was burning in his mind, so he cautiously asked Schylo, "You mentioned you're a wealthy merchant from the Capital?"

Schylo nodded and tore a piece of chicken. "Indeed, that's correct."

Aki pressed further, "Then why didn't you hire bodyguards for your journey? I assume some adventurer's would take the job."

Schylo chewed thoughtfully, then replied, "We did hire a few adventurers, but most of them left along the way. I was assured that this route was safe, so I didn't seek replacements."

Behind Schylo, Serafina, who had been quiet throughout the night, averted her gaze, leaving Aki with a nagging sense that the merchant was withholding something. Aki ventured gently, "Why did they leave?"

With a mysterious grin, Schylo replied, "A bit of this, a bit of that," evading a direct answer.

Choosing not to press further, Aki refrained from offending their benefactor, who would be compensating them for their services that night. "You're right; this is a relatively safe route. The wasps are the most dangerous, but a torch can keep them at bay," Aki offered, recalling their training on dealing with wasps back at the Academy.

Schylo acknowledged him with a grin, although the smile never reached his eyes, "Ah, thank you for that valuable information." He summoned his wife's attention with a snap of his fingers, and she promptly poured wine for her husband and their protectors. "Please, partake in some wine."

Though Aki initially declined, Schylo insisted, "It's impolite to refuse the hospitality of your hosts."

Aki hesitated but when Yumi gratefully took hers, he accepted the goblet. As he sipped, he concealed his surprise, realizing this wine was exceptionally potent. Schylo observed Aki's reaction and raised his own cup in a toast.

As they clinked their goblets, Aki couldn't help but overhear Yumi and Landon's conversation, which had now shifted to the village the merchant family just came from.

"I've been there before," Yumi whispered. "We visit it about once a month during breaks from our classes. There's a carriage that goes in and out..."

Aki had accompanied Yumi to the village only once. After that, she had made trips with her female friends, and Aki refrained from joining to avoid intruding as Yumi never invited him. Curiously, it was one of Yumi's friends that invited him to join them on another occasion, but the plan was canceled abruptly. That day, he had buried himself in his studies, feeling somewhat disheartened as he knew that Yumi and her friends still went to the village. He never had the heart to ask Yumi why he was left.

Schylo's voice broke Aki's reverie as he inquired, "When did you graduate from the Academy?"

"Two days ago," Aki replied simply. In the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Landon was whispering close to Yumi's ear, it must have been something funny as a strange smile appeared on her face, as she whispered back her reply. Aki couldn't hear any of these of course.

"In that case, congratulations are in order," Schylo said, raising his goblet in salute. Aki smiled gratefully and took another cautious sip of wine.

After they finished their meal, they continued to drink with Serafina pouring them wine whenever their goblet was empty. Schylo regaled him with stories about his hometown and how he amassed his wealth. Aki noticed, though, that Schylo seemed insistent on toasting him, encouraging more drinking. However, Aki was resolute not to overindulge, as he still needed to set up the defensive runes around their camp.

While Schylo recounted another tale, Aki glanced at Serafina, Schylo's wife, who appeared somewhat displeased. Following her gaze, Aki noticed it was directed toward Yumi and Landon, who were still engaged in lively conversation. He wondered about the source of her discontent, his gut feeling telling him that her gaze wasn't directed at Yumi but towards Landon.

Schylo seemed to sense this as well and turned to his wife. "You can go inside and rest. Everything is on the table."

Aki wondered what that meant, as it was obvious Schylo was being vague on purpose. But there was no answer to the mystery as Serafina merely nodded and headed into their carriage. Aki's eyes followed her as she went in. When she opened the door, Aki glimpsed a potion on the table but before he can fully inspect it, the door was closed behind Serafina.

"She was much livelier before," Schylo said. Aki shifted his attention to the merchant and found him watching Aki closely. "But the stress of traveling and our son leaving to study at the Academy has taken its toll on her. I hope you can forgive her."

Aki nodded understandingly.

"Anyway, before those cursed Wasps attacked us, we were discussing the Academy. We heard rumors of a professor persecuted for a romantic involvement with a student. Do you know anything about that?"

Aki nodded, and he observed Yumi and Landon's conversation pause as both of them leaned in to hear more. "We were actually there when they arrested him," Aki disclosed.

Schylo was about to respond when Yumi chimed in, "How did you guys learn about this so quickly?"

Schylo shrugged casually. "News travels fast, especially about the Academy. It was the talk of the village when we departed."

"So it's true then," Schylo stated. "The professor is imprisoned? What about the student?"

Aki shrugged, "We didn't actually see the student. The professor, Alkhart, claimed there was no romantic involvement."

"I see," Schylo responded thoughtfully. "We heard rumors from those that witnessed it. It was a much younger woman, beautiful body and the color of her hair...." His gaze drifted toward Yumi suddenly, and Aki followed it, noting Yumi's concerned expression that quickly disappeared as she sipped her wine.

"Never mind," Schylo said, grinning. "These are just rumors," he added with a hearty laugh.

"Oh," Aki said, draining the last of his wine and preparing to rise. "I apologize, but I need to set up our defenses for the night."

Schylo nodded, "We'll continue our delightful conversation once you return."

Aki offered a slight smile, concealing his wish that they'd be fast asleep by the time he finished. He had early morning plans, and he didn't want his rest to be compromised. However, as he began to rise, he noticed Schylo's gaze had shifted toward Yumi, and it left him with an uneasy feeling, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why.

His instincts whispered for him to stay with the group, but doing so would be odd, considering he had just announced his intention to set up defensive runes. Aki glanced at Yumi, silently hoping she would intervene, but she seemed entirely engrossed in Landon's jokes, oblivious to his imminent departure.

After hesitating for a moment, he released a deep sigh and continued toward the perimeter. He comforted himself with the thought that he would be nearby, and they probably wouldn't dare do anything with him so close. What they didn't know was that the process of setting up defensive runes demanded his full concentration, rendering his senses somewhat dulled. This was why he had initially intended to do it as early as possible.

Just before he could fully depart, he stole a final glance back.

To his surprise, Schylo had risen and repositioned his seat beside Yumi. Father and son were now encircling her, leaning in close. For Aki, they resembled cunning overfed hyenas, prodding and circling their prey. That was when it finally dawned on him why Schylo's gaze had unnerved him; it was the exact same disturbing look that Landon had been directing at Yumi all along.

Aki tore his gaze away, knowing there was little he could do at this moment. Nevertheless, he was now certain that both of them were untrustworthy.