Land: The Chronicles

Chapter 11: The Journey Continues

After I returned to the inn that afternoon, Ego told me that we were about to leave for the next town, I didn't really know what city it was, but he said it took about three days to get there.

So after waking up the next day, I immediately went to the bakery I went to yesterday, bought a lot of bread as a supply of travel. The ego will certainly hunt, but there is no harm in bringing bread?

Finally, when the sundial pointed at the number eight, me and Ego came out of the city. By the way, Ego bought two horses as mounts.

Along the way, most of what I saw were meadows and forests or rocky hills. Although the Orthras Kingdom was not as advanced as Arakaza, but the Orthras region was said to be extremely beautiful.

I had never seen anything as beautiful as it was, but the scenery I saw now was indeed incredible, I could see the clear lakes and rivers along the way, even fish swimming in the river can be seen.

Most of the Orthras region only had two seasons, but you could see a high mountain whose peak was covered with snow. The distance of the mountain was indeed very far and partly covered with clouds, but because the clouds covering the mountain made it look very large and high. I wondered if I would climb that mountain someday.

After several hours of travel, Ego decided to stop, letting our horse rest near a lake. There are several other groups who first rest here, most of them seem to be traders.

We rested on the edge of the lake after tethering the horses on the provided pegs, it seemed like this place had indeed become a resting place.

I lay on the grass, straightening my legs. Ahhh ... So yummy. After a while, I sat back down and opened my bag, took out two pieces of bread and gave one to Ego.

"Why bother bringing supplies?" Ask Ego while chewing his bread.

"It's not a problem". Answer's short.

We are still resting for the next few minutes. Then, one of the members of the group approached us, he introduced himself as the leader of the trade expedition of a trading company.

"My name is Ego". Ego greets the man and lets him sit down, I follow him. "I'm Arion".

"Ah, nice to meet you guys, my name is Alean". After that he and Ego chatted about some things, Ego seemed to be able to understand the topic of chatter around the trading world, making the person even more interested.

"Actually, I heard rumors from the merchant company we met on the road, he said recently there have been gangs of bandits blocking the merchant in the forest path". He pointed to the forest that was part of this route.

"They advised me to hire a bodyguard because I didn't bring enough people to deal with the bandits, even though he said that the bandits were only asking for road taxes, but I still feel insecure without any extra bodyguards". The man sighed, looking a little anxious. "When this route is usually clean, I don't know what the royal military is doing".

Ego smiled, "Then, how about you hire us? Coincidentally we are mercenaries, it also happens that we will pass the same route as your entourage".

That person was watching the two of us closely, Ego's appearance looked reassuring, so he didn't seem to mind.

"Alright, so it's true that you're a mercenary, are you affiliated with a bureau?" Alean asked, Ego shook his head. "I'm not affiliated with any bureau, to be honest even I usually travel alone, only this time I bring a colleague". He pointed.

Alean nodded. "Unfortunately, that friend of yours looks too 'clean' to a mercenary, I was a little hesitant when I wanted to hire you guys".

"But it's clear now, right? Then what about his employment contract?" The ego immediately asks the core of this conversation.

Alean opened his bag and took out a piece of paper then wrote something on the paper, then gave it to Ego.

"The duration of the contract is only until we get out of the forest path. If there are no bandits during the journey, then we will pay you ten gold plates, including if the bandits appear and there is no fight. But if there is a fight and you manage to make the bandits retreat, then the pay will be twenty-five gold plates. What say?"

The ego reads the contents of the paper while stroking its chin. "Make thirty if you fight with bandits". Alean thought for a moment then nodded. "alright". Then he took the paper from Ego and went back to writing something.

"In this way we have a deal?" Alean showed the paper to Ego, he nodded and they both gave the thumbprints on the paper.

"Then I'll introduce you to my group". Alean stood up and directed us to the resting place of his group, he introduced his members one by one.

The Alen trade expedition group consisted of 30 porters, 14 bodyguards, and 4 trade group staff. 10 Horses and 13 chariots pulled by a bull each.

"We're still planning on taking a little longer break, you guys don't mind, do you?" Alean asked after he finished introducing his members.

Ego nodded. "No problem".

I decided to sit back on the edge of the lake, slightly away from the group. Ego is seen back chatting with Alean, one of the staff also seems to start joining their chat because they are interested in Ego knowledge around the topic of trade even though he is a Pay Soldier.

That guy can be everything. Fighting, cooking, hunting. Even now I know that his knowledge is broad, no matter how many topics he mastered, maybe later we will meet nobles and he can blend in with them. Could be, right?

"Excuse me, are you alone?" A woman's voice was heard greeting me, I turned my head, she was one of the staff Alean had introduced. What the hell's his name? Forgetting.

"You're a staff member, you don't understand the subject of their conversation?" I asked, "Well, I'm going to join a trade expedition this time, my goal is to follow them too so I can learn".

I didn't ask your purpose, but you did.

"By the way, it looks like you became a mercenary recently huh? You look different from your friends over there".

"Indeed, just yesterday". My answer.

"Eh, it's so new dong". He looked surprised, I nodded. "Your parents agree that you're a mercenary?" He asked again, if about parents, I was confused to answer how.

"Eh, sorry if I'm too curious, if you're not comfortable being answered too gapapa kok". His face looks awkward.

"No problem, I'm just confused about how to answer". I said, "after all my parents are gone". My welcome.

"Geez, I'm sorry I made you remember". He lowered his head and clenched his two palms, truly a clumsy chick.

"It doesn't matter, it's been a while". Lying anyway.

"I'm so sorry, I really don't mean anything". He kept looking down apologetically, which made me feel uncomfortable.

"Here it is, I will be emotional if you continue like that". He was finally silent.

....

Very awkward, he did not dare to open the chat again, wanted to leave also could not, just wrong anyway.

"By the way I don't know your name". I finally opened up the chatter to remove the awkwardness

"Eh, when I was introduced to Uncle Alean. You don't pay attention to it". Successfully, he went straight back to how he was.

"Well, it's kind of hard to remember the name of the person I just met". My answer.

"Yes ... My name is Brita, you're Arion". I'm nodding.

"Oh yeah, how old are you?". She asked. "nineteen". His expression looked a little surprised. "I guess we're the same age, but looking around again, you do look young anyway. I'm twenty-five". I'm responding.

"Aren't you interested in another job?" Ask him again. "While this hasn't been too thoughtful". Answer's short.

"What is your relationship with the ego? Is it okay to call him that? We look the same age". I myself do not know the age of the Ego, never thought to ask his age, but I just do it. "No problem. When asked about my relationship with Ego ... Maybe he's like a mentor?". Brita seemed confused to hear my answer.

"Like?" Ask him confused. "But anyway, he picked me up from the street and invited me to go on an adventure with him". Almost close to a lie, but a little true too. But I did get Ego off the street, even though the street wasn't what he thought it was.

"Hmmm ... Yes, more to the mentor anyway, or the savior huh?"

"As far as you are". My timpal.

"Oh yeah, you said 'uncle Alean', is he your uncle?" It was my turn to ask.

"not that. This trading company belongs to my father, it just so happens that Alean's uncle has been working with me for a long time, so having known him since childhood, I ended up calling him uncle".

Son of the sultan. But if in the Illustrated Fairy Tale, usually the edges of people like Alean will betray in the future, and the main character will be involved in the conflict.

I hope it doesn't.

A few moments later, Alean's cry was heard saying that if the trip would continue in twenty minutes, everyone immediately packed up and cleaned the place used for rest.

Brita stood up and patted her clothes. "Then I go first, thank you for talking to me". He walked up to the staff train and entered it.

I also stood up and walked towards the mooring of my horse which was satisfied eating grass and drinking water. After making sure no items were left behind, I rode on the horse and joined the group of bodyguards.

This will be my first mission as a mercenary.