The Promise

The carriage driver sighed. He was an old man who planned to drive tomorrow since the skies were already dim. He might as well stay inside the town. One could even hear the growls of the beasts in the woods.

Melvin and his team appeared. He went close to the driver. "Hey, sir, can you drive us to the capital."

They used Shira as the translator.

The old man harrumphed. "Tell that guy, I'm done for now. No matter how much he pays me I'll set out for tomo---" He screamed seeing the gold coins on Melvin's palms.

Melvin grinned. "5 gold coins. How about that?" He thumbs up.

The old man cleared his throat. "Well, if you insist. Then to the capital!" He pointed at the northern direction.

One little girl with purple hair and cheap looking clothes went close and slapped his head. "You greedy old man! No one is gonna drive, it's already late at night."

The old man chuckled. "Well, my granddaughter is annoying. Can't you just get married and leave me alone? This is my ride. I can go whenever I want." He grunted.

Seeing her, she looked young. Melvin was concerned since she was around 13. "Isn't she too young for that?"

The old man grinned. He then assessed Melvin. "She's ready for any guy with her age. But too bad no one is falling for her. Mister, are you perhaps, interested?"

It was clear for Melvin that the laws of marriage here were different. It's common for those people in the medieval era to get wed at young age since the mortality rate was low.

Melvin felt like panicking. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. Of course not."

Rederick patted Melvin's shoulder. "Mr president just to let you know as long as you are in this world, the laws of the world doesn't apply here."

Melvin nodded with a smile. "You have a point."

Celine frowned. She was calling on her phone. "Hello FBI, I have something to report. The president of Vesna is a closet ped--"

Melvin grabbed the phone from her hand. "Secretary, I was just joking. Besides, I'm here to change some concerning traditional laws and not abide with it. We know better so we should be the one who should tell them about our modern ways."

But there was no point in telling a bunch of strangers about it. Melvin thought if he could talk directly to the King, he might change some things. For now, he planned to follow his main goal which is to go to the capital and climb the bridge to the heavens.

The girl approached Melvin. She was short that Melvin had to lower his head.

"My Lord, you're a noble aren't you? Come back tomorrow, we can't drive right now."

That was supposed to be the plan if the lower branch nobles didn't attack them. If they stayed here, it was likely they could get investigated. Dealing with them would be pain in the ass. This place was now dangerous since they killed several of their men.

"Little girl, you see, we have our reasons why we should leave early as possible. If you choose to agree, I'll pay you handsomely."

The girl's forehead creased a bit. "You nobles are too priviliged. You all know the night is dangerous since the veil spiders are lurking."

"Veil spiders?"

Shira explained what they were. Veil spiders lived in the inner region of the 1st ring of the Celpheus forest. They were rumored to kidnap people especially since they only hunt at night. Their captured prey would be dragged back deep into the deep forest.

Even the strongest military might of the capital couldn't deal with them.

They were fearsome since their numbers could reach over a thousand which even the Capital has found problematic. The only reason why they have not taken over the land was because they couldn't cross the wild valley. The wild valley is a barren land that stretched out several kiloemeters.

The most terrifying thing was that there was a time of the year where the Veil Spider Queen will experience hibernation. Before that period, the army of spiders will scour the land and grab as much prey as they could to feed their Queen.

Thus, the towns and villages close to the 1st ring of Celpheus forest was forced to migrate to the capital across the wild valley. In there they were somewhat safe.

The capital being built across the wild valley was due to the veil spiders, since they get easily weakened under the burning sun, and it would be crazy hot at the day.

Melvin thought about it and he couldn't imagine an army of spiders. The thought caused him to shiver from disgust.

"It's not the time of the year right?"

"No one, knows. One of the scholars who study them went with some royal guards into the Celpheus forest. But even if its not there are still a few spiders lurking around the forest."

"If it's only a few we can get through them. However, it would be our doom if it would be today." Melvin smiled. "But the year is composed of 365 days. The possibility of that happening is less than 1 percent."

Celine gave him an odd stare. "I feel like I heard that line before."

Melvin laughed. "Sure you have." He was sure it was during that time the possibility of the asteroid hitting their country.

Then the girl was irritated. She pointed at his face which shut him up. "Regardless, we haven't hired any guards to protect the carriage. There's no way we can even fend off even 1 spider."

"Anyway, how big is one spider?"

The girl stretched her arms out. "I think they are this big."

Melvin visualized it and its size was that of a big drum. Then that means they could easily shoot it with a gun. Smaller was more problematic since they would be harder to hit.

He then patted her purple hair. "You are quite smart aren't you to deliver the words you wanted without any problem? Which grade are you?"

"Grade?"

"Oh pardon me. I mean, you go to school right?"

The girl formed an awkward smile. "Huh? Only those with higher status have the privilege to get educated. While a girl like me... will have to wait until some guy shows up and propose to me with a dowry." She sighed.

***

Lexa could still remember that time. Since her parents died from the veil spider invasion. She lived with her aunt who was a merchant. She worked for her aunt for 5 years. Carrying luggages and doing errands for her. Worst of all she was mistreated and being called out as useless and freeloader.

She was also bullied by his aunt's son. Insulted by his peers and even thrown mud at her just for fun. She cried and endured it for years. Whatever happens, she wanted to go to achieve her goal.

But during those times she never had the chance to go to school. She tried asking her aunt. "Madam, I've been working her for 5 years. Can I go to school this next summer?"

Her aunt formed a disgusted look. "Enough joking around. Go wash my son's laundry and then clean his room."

Lexa's eyes widened. "But Madam, I've been working my every part of my body. I'm very looking forward to this."

Her aunt frowned into rage. Lexa got slapped which caused her to fall on the floor. "Oh my... You're really like your mother, idiot and naive. No wonder she died. Do you have any idea how much the tuition is? The work I give you is enough to feed you..."

She rambled on and on but Lexa couldn't hear her.

Those words pierced into her heart. No matter what insult and pain she received from her aunt she could take it. But for her to insult her mother, she finally snapped, left her home and lived with his grandfather.

***

Lexa sighed. "I want to be a herbal scholar and cure the ailments of the people. But as things are now, I have no future but to be a housewife."

Melvin placed his hand on her shoulder. "Little girl, what's your name?"

"Lexa."

"Alright Lexa, my name is Melvin Clyde, once we get back to our country, I will give you an enrollment to our public school for free. How about that?"

Seeing Melvin was serious, Lexa straightened her face as she nodded. "Yes!" But she got confused for a second. "Wait... You're serious right?"

Mevin grinned. "That is if you allow us to travel at night."

Lexa was thinking or a second, but she gave up. "Hmmm... geez, fine."

She couldn't believe those words. She didn't understand most of what he meant but it was worth a shot. A noble just invited him to go and study to his school. "Gah! I'm excited!"

Melvin smiled. "Now then let's head out."

Shira gave a gesture of a slave, notifying them of her position. She then ran to the storage room.

Melvin was confused. "Shira, where are you going?"

"Master err.. Sir, slaves are meant to stay in the storage room for the whole travel."

Melvin grunted. "Screw your slave customs, sit in here with us."

Lexa blocked Melvin. "My Lord wait, we can charge you less if your slave stays in the storage room."

"Well who cares, the storage room are for the supplies and materials right? Shira is not my belonging, she's my employee."

Lexa stared strangely at Melvin. "You're a weird noble. Even the lower branch nobles don't talk this casually to peasants like me."

Melvin shrugged as he entered inside the carriage with his team. While Lexa sat besides the driver.

Lexa was thinking about Melvin for a bit. "Gramps, isn't that noble a bit weird?"

"Huh? Why?"

"He made us comply without resorting to threats and everyone seems to be following him in good faith."

"Well, it seems the world is just too big. There are lots of different people out there."

It was known that others with status had only kept their subordinates loyal out of fear. If things won't go their way, they would threaten them. "Gramps, it seems I found a potential husband." She smiled widely.

The old man chuckled. "I'll be looking forward to my grandkids."

The carriage then drove into the Vars forest that led into the wild valley. The Vars forest were tamer compared to the ring forest, but the beasts living in it were still dangerous.

Melvin rested his head on his arm as he gazed into the dark forest.

Celine beside him was upset. "Sir, if I know you have some intentions of grooming that girl, I'll report you."

Melvin winced a bit. "Simmer down, Celine, I have no weird intentions. Besides, I'm not into kids. I just wanted to return to Vesna."

"That's good to know."

"Maybe, except anime lolis."

Celine frowned. She was tapping her phone. "Good thing there is no signal here."

Melvin laughed aloud. "Sorry, sorry."