Twist of Fate

Chapter 7: Travel Plans

I slid my bag over my shoulder as I gazed out the window. The sun was barely visible over the horizon, but the faint orange and red colors beginning to fill the sky were stunning. The sight was very similar to the ones I witnessed back home when I pulled all-nighters studying or training. I smiled as I remembered the scoldings I got numerous times from my brother right after I saw the sky. He would always tell me it was unhealthy to miss sleep and that if I did it too often I'd grow wrinkles in a matter of years.

  "What are you smiling about, Kouríeó," Zulén asked, snapping me out of my reverie. "Are you ready yet?"

  I scowled at him. "Stop calling me that. And yes, I've been ready for a while now."

  "Then come on." He strode out the room silently.

  I followed, closing the door of the peach-colored room gratefully. I wouldn't miss it. I hoped to never see such a horrid color ever again. Who in the world—in any world—would choose an awful color like that? Plain white would've been sufficient.

  "Hey," I said as we climbed down the stairs. "Isn't it a bit early? I thought we were leaving an hour after the sun rose."

  Zulén didn't turn around as he replied. "There are a few things we have to do before then. The boat leaves an hour after sunrise."

  "I see," I muttered. "A boat...I wonder if I'll get seasick."

  He sighed. "We'll see, I guess. I'll think about that after we finish some business."

  I wanted to ask him what business he was talking about, but decided to just wait and see. Why bother asking for an explanation when he could just show me? That business he spoke of turned out to be just that—business. I listened to the side as he spoke to the Village Chief. He was an old, formal looking man that spoke with respect to Zulén despite the immense age gap.

  "About the mission I received," Zulén began. "I was sent from the Academy to rid you of the wildcat that has been seen multiple times near the village. I have—"

  The Village Chief raised a hand to stop him. "You do not have to say anything. The wildcat has not appeared in the open since you returned. Just as it had been a month ago. So, technically, you have fulfilled our request."

  Zulén frowned. "That's not—"

  "I thank you on behalf of the village, for this and for taking care of those bandits." The old man bowed slightly. "The people you rescued would've been lost if you had not interfered. Proper payment will arrive at the Academy in a week's time."

  Zulén began to protest again but gave up, realizing the old Chief wouldn't budge. "Then, we of the Academy will be waiting for the payment. I bid you good day, Village Chief."

  The old man nodded. "And to you as well, Lord Zulén."

  Zulén nodded and walked out of the room without another word. I nodded to the Chief politely and jogged to catch up to the "Lord". I glanced up at him curiously to see how he reacted to the man's stubbornness. His face was blank, but I could see his brows were furrowed in what seemed to be disapproval. He didn't agree with what the Chief said, but he didn't protest.

  In a seemingly bad mood, Zulén continued to drag me around until it was time to get moving to the port where the boat to Tíurest was. We went by stores that opened near dawn and bought several things, but he wouldn't tell me what half of them were for some reason. It irritated me being kept in the dark but I was distracted when we met Yurón again, the man we had found with an overturned carriage. He agreed to take us to the port since he was heading there anyway and it would be quicker to just go together.