Beyond The Courtyards

Chapter 4

Chapter 04 - Down the Mountain

After a long rest with the fire keeping them warm, the sun started to rise. They got up slowly, sleepy after a good nights rest.

"Mornin'." Chris yawned, stretching his arms and getting up.

"Morning." Jorge muttered.

"Morning..." Tyler said, sitting up but falling back, his head hitting the snow. Sub was still asleep.

"Morning!" Carlo said, enthusiastically.

"What's that smell...?"

"Food!" Carlo held out plates of sushi, potatoes and other good foods, cooked well and had a good scent. Everyone's eyes widened, and rushed up to him.

"H-How!? Y-you can't make this without a stov-" Chris exclaimed, but stopped his sentence to see a stove behind Carlo.

"Carlo... HOW THE FUCK DID YOU GET A STOVE HERE?!" Tyler screamed, amazed.

"Magic. Seto taught me a way to make things with the wand, but it comes with a price. You see... I can use my mind to imagine the object... but the bigger the object, the more energy it takes from me. I'm not that worn out yet." Carlo explained.

"Then how did you get the foods from Sub?" Jorge asked with curiosity, his mouth slowly watering.

"Sub woke up earlier, and I saw him attempting to get up. So I stopped him. He's still tired, but I asked him to bring out the food before he went back to sleep."

"Carlo, I love you." Chris said, hugging his little brother. "Now, can we eat? I'm starving."

"O-Oh! Yeah, here you guys go."

They ate in peace, Sub waking up a bit late and joining in the little feast afterwards. Talking about their past lives before they had even met, it was interesting for them to reflect on themselves now.

"Whoo! I'm good on food." Tyler said, full after a good meal and laying down on the snow.

"Dude, when did you learn how to cook?" Jorge asked Carlo.

"Back at the adoption center. Ashley and Piper always taught me." He answered.

"Wow! That's amazing."

"Well... that was a good meal, but maybe we should get going. It's almost 10." Sub suggested.

"Yeah, let's get goin'." Chris agreed.

They all got ready, packed their things to go down the mountain.

"Okay, we're ready. Now, how the fuck are we gonna get down?" Tyler asked.

"I'm not allowing Sub to teleport us again." Jorge said. Sub sighed, but nodded.

"I don't want to wear myself too much. Maybe a rope?" Sub suggested.

"U-Uh... I don't know how long this goes down... so I-I can't make a rope." Carlo stuttered.

"Hm..." Tyler looked around the mountain cliff, careful of his steps. The boys followed him, confused on what he was doing. For a while they walked around until Tyler came to a quick stop.

"Tyler, what is it?" Chris asked. He said nothing, but had a smirk on his face.

"T-Tyler... what are you thinking?" Jorge questioned Tyler cautiously.

"DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WE GO!" He hollered and jumped head first down the mountain.

"TYLER!" They screamed, as they looked down hesitantly. A splash was heard, as they looked down and saw Tyler swimming in a large pond.

"C'mon down! The water's fine!" Tyler exclaimed. The 3 other boys snickered and jumped, but Sub stayed back.

"...I can't lose you, my greatest creation. You must stay away from water." Was Sketch's words to Sub before he left. Sub sighed, and jumped off to glitch his way before touching the water.

"Where's Sub?" Carlo asked, coming up in the water.

"I-I'm right here." Sub said.

"Oh fuck... I-I forgot... you're half tech. I'm sorry." Tyler apologized.

"No need for an apology. But you guys need to dry off before touching me..."

"Okay, well let's go." Jorge said, swimming out of the water. The others followed him, Sub silently sighing.

Although I want to have fun like normal boys, I cannot risk my life.

I'm sorry.

They continued their adventure once they dried off, knowing that leaving their footprints in cold water wasn't safe in territories like these. They saw the ruined roads and broken houses, their faces in shock and awe.

"Whatever happened... Mom might have been in this." Chris muttered.

"I-I hope not..." Carlo whispered.

"There might be mobs, get ready." Jorge said, taking out his swords. Sub got his axe ready, Tyler readying his crossbow. Chris and Carlo were back to back with their daggers and wand ready to use.

A dangerous road.