Heavy is the Head that Wears the Solemn Crown

Thirty-Eight - Curse of Insecurity

Techno

The air slowly grows colder as the cart travels northward. The temperature drop isn't immediately noticeable. It is a gradual process like how the air chills during the hours between midday and twilight. Techno breathes in the colder air, hoping that it will settle his nerves. It is familiar, but it is nowhere near as crisp as it would be if he were truly in his home country. Instead, the air is tinged with the scent of dark oaks and iron. Perhaps, Techno thinks, there is the slightest bit of blood hidden in the undercurrent of it all. He knows that he's probably imagining that particular odor. Mythland might be known as the Region of Assassins, but most people knew how to keep their business clean. Additionally, this far away from civilization, the blood would be from predators finishing off their prey. It wasn't anything to get worked up about. Techno strengthened his holds on the reins regardless.

Techno looks down onto his thigh. A piece of paper is smoothed across his pant's leg. The paper is filled with crevices and ink markings. It is meant to be a map, but it can hardly be called that when most of the landmarks and names are being covered up. The only part that remains clear is a circled location on the map that falls around the point where several lines intersect. Techno brushes his gloved hands across the map to smooth it out even more. He places the circle between his thumb and index finger. He looks up after a moment. He determines that they are roughly near where they're supposed to be. It will probably take another dozen minutes or so.

Techno looks over his shoulder at the people riding in the cart. Imperial Prince Scott is sitting silently on the left sidebench. Scott's personal guard, Archibald, is seated right beside him, tilting so that he might peer at the changing scenery. Archmage Gemini is on the other side of Archibald, messing around with a purple crystal that fizzles and sparks beneath her magic. Across from Gemini, her twin brother Fwhip is holding tightly onto the straps of a contraption that sits at the bottom of the cart. Tubbo, right beside Fwhip, is holding the other set of straps. They are quietly discussing inventions, including the one they are currently safeguarding. Fool is sitting on the back of the cart, precariously holding onto the tailgate with her fists. They make an odd group, certainly, all of different positions and homelands. Techno can't help but compare them all to prisoners heading to their execution with how tense it is.

All of that brings Techno's attention to the person sitting right beside him. She's hunched over a leather bound notebook with a charcoal stick in her hand. She does not pay attention to a single thing outside of the glyphs and formulas she writes on the yellowing paper. Her face is twisted up with concentration, but it's a better expression than the people awaiting death behind Techno. He wishes that could bring him some sense of relief, but she's honestly the most disturbing part of this journey. He doesn't even know what to call her: Shubble or Shrub. He wonders if it matters, and if it does, why does it matter?

"Why didn't you want anyone knowing who you were?" Techno whispers to her. She startles to attention. Her eyes widen as she processes the question before they dim back down. She throws her gaze to the path Techno is leading them down. She sits up, leaning against the back of the frontbench. Techno wonders if she'll answer his question. In some circles, it would be considered inappropriate. In almost all circles, it would be considered uncomfortable. Techno didn't concern himself with those social faux pas. He needed to know if he could still trust her.

"After I was expelled," She started sorrowfully, something quiet and worn down in her voice. "I traveled to the moors in the northern part of Kinoko. I didn't want to return home as a failure, so I had made the decision to go somewhere else. I was planning where to go, and I was finalizing different things with my teachers and classmates. The headmaster told me that I had to return everything that made me a witch. I was going to have my magic sealed. I couldn't let them do that, so I ran off in the middle of the night. I should have ran south, honestly. I should have ran east or west. Thorns, I probably could have gotten away with running north west or north east. But no, I went true north. I followed the stars because I believed they would never lead me astray."