Helos is waiting...

Chapter 5: A trip to Helos.

The hunting trip with Iris was a success. Arbos was overjoyed when he saw the number of animals we hunted and the berries and fruits we gathered. While Iris chatted with her father about the hunt, my mind lingered on everything that had happened—the strange voice, my inexplicable skills, and... Iris. Could I be starting to feel something for her? She’s gorgeous, that’s undeniable, and her teasing might be playing with my mind. But still, I’m not rushing anything. I’ll take my time and see where this leads.
The rest of the evening passed uneventfully. We had dinner and discussed the plan for tomorrow. Apparently, Ikaro had deliveries to make to the blacksmith, Gregory.
“Come on Kayn help me with that, and I will teach you some tips on how to wield a sword, what do you say?” Ikaro says

“I don’t know how much he can learn from you” Iris says teasing her brother with a jest. “I don’t know he seems like he knows his way around weapons considering how he knows how to use a knife and a bow.”

“Well he doesn’t know my secret techniques in combat.” Ikaro says smiling while Arbos and Iris roll their eys bewildered by his response

I chuckled at the exchange. “Sure, Ikaro. I’ll help you with the delivery. Sounds fun.”
Ikaro pumped his fist in victory, clearly pleased. Afterward, we finished dinner and prepared for bed.

As I was settling into bed, Iris opened the door to my room.

“Hey,” she said, leaning casually against the doorframe. “How are you holding up?”

“Pretty well, all things considered. What about you? How are your wounds?” I asked with a warm smile, genuinely concerned.

She shrugged, stepping into the room. “Not bad. That boar didn’t hurt me much, but the fall was a bit of a blow to my pride. Still... it’s nice of you to care.” Her blue eyes locked onto mine, their intensity making my breath hitch for a moment.

“Well, someone has to keep you out of trouble,” I teased, though my voice softened toward the end. “Besides, anyone in my place would’ve done the same.”

“Always so humble,” she replied, stepping close enough for the scent of pine and the faintest trace of lavender to reach me. “You’re an interesting one, Kayn. Mysterious. I can’t quite figure you out.”

“Maybe I like being a puzzle,” I said, holding her gaze. “Keeps people curious.”

Her lips curled into a smirk, and she placed a hand lightly on my arm, the touch sending a jolt through me. “Well, just so you know, I’m good at solving puzzles.”

“Something tells me I might be your toughest one yet,” I countered, matching her smirk.

She let out a small laugh, rich and musical then turned towards the door, her confident, almost seductive sway unmistakable, my eyes following her backside as she swayed her hips walking with confidence. Pausing at the threshold, she glanced over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “May Hypnos watch your dreams, snow hair.”

She winked and left before I could respond, leaving me with a bemused smile. As I collapsed onto the bed, I couldn’t help but mutter to myself, “Fuck me, this girl is going to be the **** of me.”

The next morning, I adapted quickly to the rhythm of farm life, already feeling more at home. Today, as planned, we were heading to the city of Helos to trade and seek out rumors about the meteor.
When I entered the dining room, I found Iris sitting alone at the table, a cup of steaming tea in her hands.

“Morning, snow hair. Took you long enough to wake up,” she teased, her smile playful and her eyes alight with mischief.

“Morning, brown hair,” I shot back, matching her tone as I poured myself some tea. Raising an eyebrow, I added, “Waiting for me? What did I do this time? Hopefully only good things.”

Her laughter was soft, her mood surprisingly light. “Nothing like that. Your entire existence is a mystery, but I’m just passing on a message from my dad. He and Ikaro are waiting for you at the entrance with the cart and horses.”

“Thanks for the heads-up. You’re in a good mood today. What’s the occasion?” I asked, leaning casually against the table.
She set her cup down and smirked. “Let’s just say I had some good dreams last night.”

“Oh? Care to share?” I asked, leaning in slightly, my tone laced with curiosity.

Iris tilted her head, her smirk growing. “If you behave, maybe I will. But I doubt that’ll happen—you seem like trouble.”
Raising my hands in mock surrender, I grinned. “Guilty as charged. Must be my irresistible charm.”

“Or your complete lack of common sense,” she quipped, rising from her chair. As she passed behind me, her voice dipped to a near whisper. “By the way, the dream... you might’ve been in it. But you’ll have to earn the full story.”

She left the room with a playful laugh, leaving me standing there, more intrigued than I cared to admit. Whatever she was playing at, she was good at keeping me on edge—and I wasn’t sure if I loved it or hated it.

When I stepped outside, the crisp morning air greeted me. Arbos and Ikaro were waiting by the cart, which was already loaded with goods. Two horses stood ready, their reins tied to a wooden post.

“Good morning, Kayn,” Arbos said warmly, his calm presence as steadying as ever. Ikaro gave a quick nod, the mischievous gleam in his eyes hinting at his usual playfulness.

“Morning,” I replied, stepping closer.

“I hope you don’t mind that we got everything ready. We didn’t want to waste time,” Arbos explained, patting the side of the cart.

“No problem at all. You’ve saved me the trouble,” I said with a grin, glancing at the goods stacked neatly in the cart.
Ikaro mounted his horse with an easy flourish. “So, Kayn, ready to see Helos? It’s a lively place—blacksmiths, markets, all kinds of interesting people. Might even find some entertainment if we’re lucky.”

“I’m ready,” I said, though my tone shifted to something more serious. “I just hope we find some answers about the meteor.”

Arbos placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm yet reassuring. “We will. Trust me on that.”

As he climbed onto the driver’s seat of the cart, my attention turned to the second horse. It stood tall and steady, its deep brown eyes meeting mine. Something in its gaze felt oddly familiar, like it was sizing me up.

Ikaro noticed my hesitation. “You know how to ride, right? If not, there’s plenty of space in the cart. No shame in hitching a ride.”

I turned to him, smirking. “Appreciate the concern, but I’ll manage.”
Stepping toward the horse, I reached out to stroke its head. As my hand made contact, a sudden wave of energy pulsed through me, unmistakable and powerful. That voice—the one from the forest—whispered again, soft but commanding.

“You know the strength of the bond between rider and horse. Let it connect with you, Kayn. Trust it, and you will move as one.”

The sensation was overwhelming, but not unpleasant. It felt as though the horse and I were merging on some deeper level, understanding each other without words. In one smooth motion, I swung myself onto the saddle, the act as effortless as if I’d been riding all my life.

Ikaro let out a low whistle. “Look at that! Maybe you’re not just good with bows and knives after all.”

“Hmm.” Arbos stroked his beard thoughtfully, his sharp eyes lingering on me longer than usual. His expression betrayed nothing, but I could sense the gears turning in his mind. He was noticing things—connecting dots I hadn’t even considered.

“Let’s get moving,” Arbos finally said, snapping the reins. The cart lurched forward, the horses pulling it with a steady rhythm.

Ikaro and I fell in line behind, riding side by side. As the wind brushed against my face and the forest began to thin into open plains, I couldn’t shake the feeling that today’s journey would be more than just a simple trip to Helos. Something was stirring within me—something I couldn’t yet explain.

“Helos is a big place,” Ikaro said, breaking the silence. “Keep an eye out. You never know who—or what—you might run into.”

His words hung in the air as we pressed onward, the road ahead full of possibilities—and unknowns.