The Elementiels

Ch. 26: LET ME SHOW YOU 1

The next morning, Annabelle and Connor descended the wooden staircase, the aroma of freshly baked pastries filling the air. In the kitchen, Jason and Grandpa Mark were busy packaging an array of golden-brown treats.

“Good morning, you two!” Grandpa Mark greeted, his cheerful voice booming as he tied a string around a neatly wrapped box.

“Good morning to you too, Sir,” Annabelle and Connor replied in unison.

Mark chuckled, his laugh deep and hearty. “Now, now, none of that formality. You’re part of the family now. Just call me Pa.”

Connor smiled, relaxing. “Alright, Pa.”

Mark nodded in approval. “That’s better. Now, as you can see, we’ve got a busy morning ahead. Jason has a mountain of deliveries, and I need to restock on ingredients at the market.”

Annabelle’s face lit up with excitement. “We want to help! Is there anything we can do?”

Mark stroked his beard thoughtfully, his eyes twinkling. “Well now, let me think… How about this? Annabelle, you can help Jason with the deliveries, and Connor, you’ll come with me to the market.”

Jason glanced up and grinned. “Not a bad idea, Grandpa. It’ll give you two a chance to see more of the kingdom.”

Annabelle and Connor exchanged enthusiastic smiles. “Let’s do it!”

A short while later, Connor waved at Annabelle as he set off with Mark toward the market. Annabelle turned to find Jason finishing the arrangements on the delivery cart. Nearby, Belle whinnied softly as Annabelle approached.

“She’s beautiful,” Annabelle said, running her hand along Belle’s sleek neck. The horse nickered in response, leaning into the touch.

Jason glanced up from his work and smiled. “Yeah, Belle’s one of a kind. Grandpa found her abandoned a few years back. He brought her in, nursed her back to health, and now she’s part of the family.”

Annabelle smiled, her fingers still tracing Belle’s mane. “You’ve taken good care of her.”

Jason nodded, returning to his task of securing the packages. As she watched him work, a question bubbled to the surface. “Jason, why do you still deliver this way?” she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

Jason paused, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“With your powers,” she said, gesturing, “you could deliver all of this in seconds. But you still use the cart and horse.”

Jason leaned against the cart for a moment, considering her words. Finally, he smiled. “You’re right. I could make the deliveries faster with my powers. But where’s the fun in that?”

Annabelle blinked, waiting for him to elaborate.

“Taking the cart gives me a chance to see everything. The kids playing in the fields, the chatter of merchants in the marketplace, the way the sunrise paints the rooftops. If I used my powers, I’d miss out on all of that.”

Annabelle watched him, surprised by the depth of his answer.

Jason climbed onto the cart, then stretched out his hand toward her. “Hop on. Let me show you.”

Annabelle hesitated for only a moment before smiling and taking his hand. He helped her onto the cart, and she settled in beside him.

Jason gave the reins a gentle flick. “Alright, girl. Let’s go.”

Belle neighed softly before trotting forward, the cart creaking as it rolled down the cobbled streets.

After delivering a few packages around the kingdom, Annabelle leaned back slightly on the cart and grinned. “Alright, where to next, partner?”