The Unwanted Prince

Ch. 15 - Adrian

Mother of all that is Holy-

Can Oliver ever shut up?

I thought scholars were supposed to be timid ass kissers. The only time they ever want to speak up is to show off their knowledge in the world.

But Oliver hasn't stopped saying a single word since we've left.

It's not even anything about the journey itself! He keeps talking about random shenanigans he's learned from his years in university. Something about magic theories or whatever?

It's almost been two days since we've left Novaria. Two days of endless chatter from Oliver.

Often times, I would catch Mar looking irritated beyond words. Her hands were fisted tightly, holding the reins to prevent herself from punching someone. That someone could be Oliver or me.

She hates Oliver. But I think she hates me more because I let Oliver come along.

As annoying as the scholar is, I don't regret it. I mean, I've done the lone wolf thing since forever and Oliver's mouth won't ever shut. But it's at least entertaining to see Mar get so riled up.

Hey, call me an asshole for purposefully pissing off my companions.

That's the whole plan.

Hopefully, with enough annoyance, Mar will give up and leave. Then after that, I could just tell Oliver to stick it up to his ass and make him leave the quest as well. Then we'll go back to where I should be, alone.

Ah, doesn't that sound lovely?

"Do you think we'll encounter a group of centaurs? I heard they're strong as a pack, smart too! Oh-oh! What about a unicorn? I've always wanted to see one, there have been so many depictions of what those mythical horses look like. Do you think they have spiraling horns or smooth ones?" Oliver rambled on, for the hundredth time. For some reason, he has a huge fascination with magic and creatures.

I thought scholars were supposed to know math? And literature? Maybe history too.

But mythical beasts? Magic among species?

What kind of scholar is Oliver?

"Your Highness," Mar drove her horse closer to mine, ignoring Oliver as he continued to speak, "I don't think we're going the right way."

I pulled out the marked-up map King Marlo gave me.

The map was newly printed, though there had been many markings and notes written on it. The map was showing two paths, one colored red, and the other green.

Pointing to the red one, I said, "That's the main path that every quester has been using."

"Yes," Mar nodded, "That's the fasted route to the empire. But we should've reached an outpost by now."

"We're not going that way," I said, pointing over to the green path, "His Majesty told me to take this path, the one no one's gone on before. He and his advisor planned this path based on the, uh, how should I say this..."

"Based on the failures of the previous one," Mar finished.

Yeah, that.

"It's going to take longer but it should be safer. Since this is a new path we're taking, the Emperor won't know exactly where we're going." I pointed out, trying to replay what the king had told me before I left.

"Hm," Mar looked at the map closer, "There's a town nearby, we should reach it by tonight. We'll rest there then continue on in the morning."

Sure, whatever. Maybe I could ditch them early and continue on my own.