Royal Mystery

Chapter 13: Detour

It had been almost a year working with the demon clan, Alex thought as he packed up the few belongings he'd managed to gather. He hadn't exactly been kidnapped with all his stuff. Getting used to life here has been a challenge. The daily activities were unlike anything he'd known; sometimes it felt like he was living among entirely different beings. But thanks to Sera, he had managed to sneak letters to his family, always risking the wrath of the queen if she ever found out.

Walking through the bustling streets, Alex reminisced about all the strange and wonderful things he'd built in the town. His handiwork was everywhere. The newly laid rail tracks gleamed under the sunlight, a testament to his efforts. He still marveled at how quickly the project had come together; a task that should have taken years had taken only three months. It felt surreal to be so integrated into the clan, to live freely among them—even with the queen watching his every move. He chuckled at the thought of returning home without a good explanation; his mother would surely have his head. "Home," he mused, almost wistfully.

"Ah," the queen's voice cut through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. "Don't tell me you're about to cry."

"Of course not," he replied quickly, though his voice wavered. She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "It's just... I'm going to miss this place."

"What's wrong with you? Weren't you the one begging me to let you go?" she shot back. Alex just smiled as a group of his workers came running over.

"Alex, we're going to miss you!" they shouted, enveloping him in a group hug. The queen took this as her cue to step aside, finding a quiet corner from which to watch.

"Please don't go, we need you here," one of the younger men pleaded. Alex couldn't help but laugh, his eyes widening. They wanted him to stay? It was almost funny, considering how he never intended to work here in the first place. "I've taught you everything I know," he replied, "Now it's up to you to keep building and make this place even better."

The small gathering quickly grew into a crowd, everyone eager to bid Alex farewell. They brought gifts and tokens of appreciation—so many that he'd have a hard time carrying them all. It was touching to see how he'd won over the hearts of so many, from the youngest to the oldest in the clan.

The queen, watching the scene unfold, felt a twinge of impatience. She had no plans to use her teleportation powers, meaning the journey to the East would take weeks. But if they didn't leave soon, these villagers might convince Alex to stay. Growing frustrated, she shouted, "Hey! Alex, let's go."

"Can't you wait a little longer?" Alex called back with a smile, but the look on the queen's face made it clear she was not amused. Her glare was answer enough.

Finally breaking away from the crowd, they began their long journey. Alex couldn't help but wonder why the queen chose not to teleport. Although his first experience with teleportation had been less than pleasant, it might have saved them weeks of travel.

That night, as they set up camp, Alex watched the fish he caught roast over the fire. He noticed the queen staring at him, not in her usual indifferent way, but almost as if she were searching for something. What exactly, he had no idea.

The silence was heavy, so he decided to break it. "You've been quiet this whole journey. Is something on your mind?" She didn't answer. He was getting used to that.

"Alright, I think they're ready," he said, offering her some fish. She looked at it skeptically.

He chuckled. "Oh, let me guess. You think I poisoned it?"

She gave him a look, then grabbed the fish and, with a flick of her wrist, set it aflame with her powers. "I need to sleep," she muttered, turning away to lie down. Alex stared at the burnt fish and sighed. Just a few more days, and he'd be free of her.