believe // camp camp

chapter 1 - decisions

"Harrison, shh! Someone might hear us-"

"I know, I know! You're the loud one!"

The hushed teenagers make their way through the small village. The boy apologized to various people they bump into and the girl drags him behind her by the wrist. She knocks over a basket of apples that belongs to a shop, the owner yelling after them. The boy, known as Harrison, winces when they began to shout swears and insults in what he presumed to be in another language.

"Nerris, please. Can we just stop? Slow down, you almost hit a child!"

"Harrison, please, I'm trying to think!"

The girl, now known as Nerris, looks around, and makes a swift turn into the forest, steering clear of hanging branches, bumps, and rocks on the ground. They eventually make it somewhere far enough so no one can see or hear them. Harrison collapses onto the ground, gasping for air. Nerris looks around to see if the area is clear. Once she knows that they're alone (if you don't count the bugs, animals, and plants), she begins speaking again.

"So, what, we're just gonna run forever? Seriously, Harrison, give it up, we won't find it-"

"No, no, I know we will!" Harrison begins to unsteadily stand, catching himself before he can lose his footing. "W-We'll find it, it's somewhere, my father held it before he died-"

"And my mother said my father was fibbing when he told me that spiel!" Nerris snapped, cutting Harrison off. She slowly gets hold of herself and tries to collect her thoughts. "...It's not real. It's just a story people would tell their children before they went to bed. Give it up, Harrison, can't we just go home?"

Harrison was disgruntled. "W-What, you're not the daredevil you used to be? Now that you're eighteen, you're too cultivated to go on a quest with your old friend. Now you just have to sit around and watch plants grow, your bones ache too much to actually move!"

Nerris opens her mouth to speak, but hesitates before she lets any words slip out. She's not... pretending to be too old to go on this "journey," is she?

No. Of course not.

"No, Harrison, I just... I'm just worried. I'm scared of dying on this journey of your's. Two people isn't enough to go and do this..." Nerris slowly steps forward, and places a hand on Harrison's shoulder. "I'm just uneasy about this... something might happen to us, you know? Despite how old you think I'm acting, I believe I'm too young to die. I can't. Not yet." She gently shakes her head, squeezing her eyes shut. "Like my father. He was too young to die, yet he assumed he could go get that dumb sword with your father and your father only. We both know how that played out."

Of course Harrison knows. He knows damn well what happened - endless months of waiting for his father to come home, endless months of him and Nerris acting out what they thought their fathers were doing... defeating monsters and being heroes, stuff like that. Months passed, then years. Eventually, they both lost hope, and just let it go.

Harrison slowly turns away, moving Nerris' hands away from him. "I mean... I guess we could get help..."

"Who would want to help us?" Nerris forces a laugh, shaking her head. "We're bad people. We're technically supposed to be dead, if it wasn't for your dumb magic act you pulled where you made us 'disappear!'" She waves her hands around, scoffing. "No one's gonna help us."

"I-I can help you guys!"

A tall male slowly steps out from behind a tree, and his booming voice made Nerris jump and Harrison stumble back. He was dressed as a jester - yellow clothing with green pieces, along with a ruff on his neck. He wore purple boots, a small hat, and around his waist there was a belt with a sword, along with various other things in pouches which were attached. The young sorceress narrows her eyes, beginning to get into a fighting stance. The male jumps, shielding his face with his arms.

"I just want to help, I apologize!"

"We're you sent to spy on us?!" Nerris hisses, stepping forward and drawing her fist back to throw the first punch.

The unknown male shrinks, terrified. He tries to look at the other through spaces between his arms. "No, no, m-...miss? I don't know, I just want to help!"

"Nerris, calm down! Maybe he can help!" Harrison gently takes Nerris' arm, pulling her back a bit too harsh. He steps forward, gently moving the male's arms. "What is your name?"

The male pauses, taking his hat off and bowing down. "Preston. Preston Goodplay. I am at your service. And you?"

"...Uhm... I'm Harrison, thanks... this is Nerris. Are you... someone from the kingdom?" Harrison squints up at the taller boy, looking him up and down to look for the symbols. Preston's face falls, and he shifts his gaze away.

"Y-... Yes. I entertain the king with various jokes and performances!... But I hate it." He folds his arms, stomping. How childish. "I just want to be free, and do anything! I've always dreamt of being a poet and going on various journies... alas, I am stuck doing dumb dances in the throne room to make the king and his daughter laugh..."

Harrison raises an eyebrow. "Nerris, there's no way this guy can be bad. We can... get him to help us. He can help us! We'll take him, go on the journey, and get that sword!"

"It's just one more person. He doesn't even look that strong." Nerris walks closer, looking Preston up and down. "We still need, like, just a few more people."

"...Well... I know this scientist...?"

Harrison pauses once he hears the new member of the group, thinking for a few seconds. A scientist... there are multiple scientists in the village. It's impossible he could be talking about -

"Neil Forrest. He's the son of the king. He's quite smart, and has good... um... relationships with very helpful people."

God damn it.

Harrison has the worst memories of Neil - even from when they were just children. Hair-pulling, slapping, fighting... he was terrible. Harrison never wanted to see him again. But, of course, they had to, since Harrison so desperately wants to go on this journey - he was beginning to think it just isn't worth it anymore.

But, of course, without thinking, he agreed. And now, they're on their way to town using secret routes Preston pointed out, going to see the one and only Neil Forrest.