You can join us

"Aren't you eating with us?" I point a lap of the rabbit at the prince, who has been staring at me as if I killed his pet.

"I'm not hungry," He snapped.

"Why did you snap at me? You would have just spoken in a calm tone. Was there any reason for you to yell?"

"And who said I snapped at you? Don't go ahead making things up." He frowned as he folded his arms and leaned on the tree.

Mart didn't say a word as he ate the flesh of the rabbit.

"Do you have any water with you?" I pursed my lips.

"Yes, I brought—"

"Here you are." Mart gave me a bottle of water next to him before the prince could complete his words.

And if I thought the prince's glares were much before, it was nothing compared to how it is now.

It seemed as if he was ready to murder someone with his eyes.

"Thank you, Mart. You are a lifesaver." I grinned at him before I uncapped the bottle, and drank from it. I closed it back and returned it to the owner before I resumed eating.

"You are welcome." Mart smiled as he took the bottle from me.

The prince didn't say a word as he watched us eat.

"Are you certain you would rather not eat?" I asked him when I noticed the meat was only remaining a little.

It won't be for long until the entire thing disappears.

"Go ahead. I'm going for a stroll." He said, before he rose from the ground and started walking in the direction we came from.

"I hope you are not planning to leave me behind!" I called out to him.

"I'm only taking a stroll." He replied without turning to look at me.

"Is this how he acts?" Mart asked the moment Zoban was out of earshot.

"No, he's not usually this cold."

At least, he hasn't been this way since the time he met me in the forest.

"Could it be that he doesn't like me?" Mart frowned at me.

"That will be the case. It's possible, since you are a stranger."

"When did you meet him? Have you guys been friends for long?" Mart asked as he divided the last portion of meat and gave me the rest.

"I Met him three days ago. We haven't known each other for long."

"Oh."

"You can say we clicked off in our last meeting and found an object of interest."

"Oh." Mart nodded as he took a bite of the meat. "Where did you guys come from, and where are you going? Don't take it that I'm nosy or anything of that sort.

It's just that I've not seen people take an interest in the mountains of the witches."

"We–We are the children of the Earth. And like you, we wander around as the spirit leads.

Right now, the— Zoban my companion, is being led towards the mountains. I believe there is a reason for that.

However, there is no reason for us to know about it until we reach there."

it is unclear to me why I lied, but I believed Zoban won't like it should I tell Mart of our mission.

After all, he's still a stranger to us.

And there's no way for us to trust a stranger. At least, not in this way.

"I see." Mart nodded. "You guys are just like me. Always wandering the face of the Earth, with no place to call home."

"The Earth is our home. And it's our duty as its children, to cherish nature."

If only Zoban will hear me speak, I bet he will be stunned by how eloquently I spoke.

Who knows, he might even award me with a title when we return to the Kingdom.

"Before you met him, where did you come from? You said you met him three days ago, yet you claim you are the offspring of the Earth who wander around with no place to call home. How comprehensive is this?"

"Oh," I nervously chuckled as I thought of a way out of this.

Who knew that the stranger has such a retentive memory?

"We are the offspring of the Earth who were once lone wanderers. However, three days ago, I met him in the forest that led to the kingdom we exited this morning. And just like that, our spirits seemed to agree with each other.

That's how we found ourselves travelling together.

After all, two heads will always be better than one."

"That's true." He placed his hands behind his head and leaned back.

"Are you a child of the Earth as well? How long have you been a lone traveller?"

"Not so long. You see, my companion died not very long ago. And since then, I've been alone."

"What a pity." I sighed.

"It's okay."

"So, what are you going over to the mountain of the witches to do?"

"Just like you are being led there, the spirit also led me there. I don't know what I'm going there to do."

"Isn't it the fate of the Earth for us to meet here?" I grinned.

"You can say that."

"I will speak with Zoban when he returns. Who knows, he might let you travel with us when he hears of your words and your assignments. We are always happy to meet another child of the Earth."

"I will be pleased to travel with you guys. But I don't think your companion will take me."

"What do you mean?"

"Can't you see how much he hates me? I doubt he will allow us to travel together."

"Why won't he? Don't fret, I will speak with him. He will allow us to travel together."

"But if he doesn't?"

"Don't worry, he will. There is no way in hell that he won't want to travel with you after he has heard your story. Don't fret, I will speak to him for you."

"If he agrees, then it's for the best. This way, I won't get to travel alone any more."

"Don't worry, you won't."