Beginning

The whole caravan froze as if the world had skipped a beat. Eyes darted between the Paladin leader and Zephyr, disbelief thick in the air. Surely, they had misheard. What business could the mighty Paladins possibly have with a scruffy drifter who had simply hitched a ride with them?

Zephyr stood rooted, every muscle taut with dread.

No...No...No. His thoughts spiraled.

'I escaped Taisora. I made it out. I can't go back. I won't go back'.

But how could he resist? This wasn't some thug in an alleyway; it was a command from someone whose authority weighed heavier than chains.

Cedric, standing next to Zephyr, gawked in stunned silence, jaw slack. Knight Captain Gage observed in stark contrast—his expression unreadable, carved from stone, yet his sharp gaze hinted at curiosity.

Was this boy somehow tied to whatever the Paladins were after? The thought gnawed at him.

Amid the tension, the Priestess stood still, her presence serene yet undeniable. Her gaze locked onto Zephyr, deep and knowing, like a still lake that reflected not just appearances but truths buried far beneath the surface. Zephyr squirmed as though she could peer through his very soul—past the fear, past the confusion, to something even he didn't understand yet.

The Paladin leader hesitated mid-step, eyes flickering to the Priestess, awaiting her judgment.

"No," she said, voice gentle yet commanding—no room for argument. "Leave him."

The leader's jaw tightened, but before he could protest, the Priestess continued, her gaze never leaving Zephyr. "His journey has only just begun."

The silence that followed was deafening. Whispers rippled through the caravan. All eyes were back on Zephyr, looking at him in a different light. Cedric stared openly now, eyes wide, as if trying to piece together a puzzle that didn't yet exist.

Zephyr swallowed hard as he thought to himself. What...What did she see?

The Paladin leader didn't question her again. He gave a curt nod and ordered the knights to move out. As the Priestess turned toward her carriage, a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips—an expression both mysterious and unsettling. Her eyes found Zephyr one last time before she disappeared behind the velvet curtain.

What did she see? The question echoed in Zephyr's mind like a drumbeat as the caravan stood still, watching the Paladin entourage vanish over the hill.

The moment shattered with Gage's sharp command, "Pack up! We move now!"

The caravan jolted back to life—pots clanged, ropes tightened, and carts creaked into motion as they began to set out. But the air around Zephyr felt different now.

Heavy with questions. Eyes followed him, and whispers grew louder.

Cedric elbowed him with a grin. "Well, if that wasn't some kind of prophecy, I don't know what is. You hiding a crown somewhere? Gonna be a big-shot hero or something?"

Zephyr nudged him back. "Yeah, right. Big -shot hero, my ass."

Laughter erupted, easy and genuine, and it eased the tight knot in Zephyr's chest. As the caravan started to move, Zephyr slipped into easy conversation with Cedric, and the other guards—once indifferent—started joining in, tossing playful jabs his way. One older man, voice gruff and humor thick, clapped Zephyr on the back. "Knew you were destined for greatness the moment I laid eyes on ya. You've got that… heroic aura. Reminds me of my daughter, you know? She always said she'd marry someone important. You two'd get along."

Zephyr blinked. What the hell? "You didn't even know I existed thirty minutes ago."

The man just chuckled, shrugging like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Yeah, well, sometimes you just get a feeling about people, y'know?"

Despite himself, Zephyr chuckled too. The warmth of their teasing settled around him like a blanket—a stark contrast to the weight of the Priestess's words still looming in his mind.

My journey has just begun.

Did she know? Could she somehow tell that he didn't belong in this world? His mind spun with possibilities. Maybe… I could blend my knowledge of science with magic. Maybe… I could actually become someone great.

A goofy grin spread across his face, his imagination spiraling into wild daydreams.

Cedric noticed and snorted. "Look at that stupid look on your face. You're already picturing yourself as some grand hero, aren't you?"

Zephyr's face flushed with embarrassment. "Shut up."

The guards roared with laughter. Even Gage, up ahead, allowed the slightest ghost of a smile to grace his lips before straightening. "Eyes sharp. Pick up the pace."

The caravan continued it's journey as the twin suns traced their arc across the sky, climbing from the gentle glow of morning to the fierce blaze of midday, before descending into the horizon, draping the world in the warm hues of dusk.

When night fell, they set up camp—a circle of wagons under a sky littered with stars.

Seated by the fire, Zephyr watched the flames dance. "How far are we from Hoshin now?" he asked, voice low, lost in thought.

Cedric tossed him a piece of bread. "Not far. Should reach by midday tomorrow."

He leaned back, chuckling. "Man, Johan's gonna lose it when I tell him I was this close to a Priestess. He's gonna be pissed he missed this trip."

"Johan?" Zephyr asked.

"Yeah, another Tier 1 knight like me. Solid guy—you'll meet him soon."

Zephyr blinked. "Meet him?"

Cedric shot him a casual glance. "Well, yeah. You're sticking with us for a bit, right? You don't know anyone in Hoshin Bay. Stay at the Anchor's Lodge with us until you figure things out. Gage won't mind."

A grunt of mock protest from Gage drifted from nearby.

Zephyr hesitated. "We just met."

Cedric shrugged. "So? Doesn't mean we can't help."

Another guard chimed in. "Yeah, kid, don't overthink it. Besides…" He smirked. "We all wanna see where this "journey" of yours goes."

The laughter that followed was warm, genuine. Zephyr couldn't help but smile.

He leaned back, the tension in his shoulders easing.

Maybe... just maybe... this world isn't so bad after all.

The next morning, the journey continued. The road widened, the path getting thicker with travelers, merchants, and adventurers. By midday, as they crested a final hill, the sight before Zephyr stole his breath.

Hoshin Bay.

It sprawled before him—a vast city, alive and pulsing with energy. Docks stretched along the coastline, ships of every size anchored along the shore. The sea sparkled under the sun, endless and inviting. From a distance, the streams of people looked like ants, busy and bustling. It dwarfed Taisora in every way.

And yet, it wasn't just the size that moved him, he had seen bigger cities in his previous life. No this gave him a different feeling—the promise of something new. A future yet unwritten. His heart swelled with hope. Real and raw.

Cedric watched him, grinning proudly. "Told you. Nothing like you've ever seen."

Zephyr couldn't tear his eyes away. "Yeah," he whispered. "Yeah… it really isn't."