Will of a Prince

Everyone walked in silence for the first few miles. Jacob and Maria walked next to both Lidia and Slimo in case they needed a break. Sarah was the first one to speak up and ask a question to Slimo, who was pulling the cart she was riding in.

"What information are we looking for?"

"We need to find more information regarding these cultists. There’s something weird going on with them and I have a feeling both empires are involved in some way."

Jacob looked over at Slimo, raising an eyebrow.

"Empires? As in more than one?"

"Yah. The Paria Empire isn’t the only one existing on this continent. There’s another one to the west of here. The Monlo Empire."

Jacob’s heart dropped slightly.

"So... the people who attacked Iron Kingdom-"

"Yup. Most likely from them. There used to be a third empire to the north, but it was destroyed in conflicts from both Paria and Monlo. To this day, they still both argue over who holds the right to the fertile lands."

"Ugh. Is humanity ever not fighting something?"

Slimo laughed.

"I don’t think they’ve ever not fought something! It must be human nature to want conflict in some way."

Jacob rubbed his face.

"What are we going to do when we get to the first kingdom? Do we have a plan on how we will get information?"

Slimo’s smile deepened.

"Oh, I have a plan alright. I’m enlisting all of you into the school system to get a proper education before anything! Who knows, you may even find some useful information that way! Meanwhile, me and Lidia will have to play the role as your guardians. I’m sure we can both find some work we can do to support you."

Jacob pointed a finger at Doc.

"What about him?"

"Making your poor grandfather work?! I’m so disappointed, Jacob."

Lidia started laughing hearing this remark. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"He got you good!"

"Doc can simply stay back and prepare any way he likes. Sarah, I have a special job for you and Squabee whenever Squabee isn’t in class."

Squabee stood up in the cart.

"What?! Why do I have to go to school! I grew up in Paria Empire!"

"Oh, that’s right. Sorry, it’s just sometimes you talk so oddly that it’s hard to remember you’re educated."

Squabee jumped on Slimo’s back and started hitting him. All of her punches did no damage whatsoever.

"Take it back, you stupid turd!"

"You’re only proving me right! Sit back down and listen!"

Squabee jumped back in the cart, sat down, and crossed her arms.

"Both you and Sarah will be in charge of figuring out what the hell your powers are. Squabee, I especially want you to find out since we can all feel how powerful it is. With a presence like that, we can easily be spotted by any enemy before they see us."

Sarah nodded her head and looked at Squabee.

"I look forward to it."

Luna seemed to overhear the conversation and question Slimo again.

"Even me and Bart have to go to school? We are around you age!"

"Yes, you both do. Anyone can go to school no matter what age!"

Luna looked distraught hearing the news.

"So then why does Lidia get to skip out?!"

"Like I said before, someone has to be responsible for everyone! We are going to be working to pay for your educations, so be grateful!"

Bart didn’t seem to care about being educated, but he his face was slightly anxious. Slimo stopped everyone and saw something charging after group. It looked like an oversized bee the size of a small hill. Its wings buzzed toward the group with malice. Slimo sighed and walked towards it.

"I got this one guys."

He stoically walked towards the creature with no fear in his eyes. Right as a massive stinger swung down to pierce his armor, Slimo simply caught it with one of his hands. He used it to pull the creature closer to him before sending a massive punch rippling through the beast. A hole the size of one of the wheels of the cart was left in the monster. It fell to the ground lifeless. Its wings twitched for a few moments before growing still.

"Ew. I hate bugs. Good thing it’s getting colder."

As if nothing happened, Slimo walked back to his cart and resumed carrying it. Gabriel seemed like the only one curious as to what he saw.

"You mentioned that you didn’t have a power, right?"

"Yah, that’s right. Why do you ask?"

Gabriel gulped and looked away.

"No reason. Just curious."

They all travelled together for another twenty hours before resting again. Upon stopping, Slimo and Sarah were in charge of cooking food for everyone. Jacob and Maria offered to carry the carts the rest of the way since hardly half a day’s trip was left. After a bit of hesitation, both Lidia and Slimo agreed.

"Why don’t you start a cooking place in this kingdom?! There’s no doubt you will make a lot of money!"

"It’s not a bad idea, but then I would have to worry about sourcing my product and so many other things. I would rather just be an employee than my own boss."

Sarah chuckled.

"I get that all too well. But if you change your mind, I don’t mind lending a hand or giving out some tips."

Lidia walked up to Slimo and rubbed the grease off her mouth from the meat she was eating.

"It’s a good thing to think about though. What should we do when we get there?"

"Well, between me and Doc, we have enough money to buy a very large house for everyone. However, I think me and you should work for the palace as guards."

"Guards? Why do you say that?"

"It’s all about what we can access. There has to be all sorts of information hiding in that palace that they don’t want the public finding out about."

"I see. That’s not a bad idea. Let’s do that then."

After everyone had their fill, they all started packing the carts once more. Jacob and Maria got in front of their carts and started pulling. To Jacob’s surprise, he was met with little resistance. His muscles seemed to be much larger than he remembered, and his legs felt like they balanced his figure much easier. In very little time, they made the half-day trip with ease. Lucy seemed to just finish Slimo’s helmet for him as they were approaching the massive gates of the kingdom. Her brown hair was in a ponytail as she worked, branding the helmet with another triangle. Slimo studied the mark with curiosity.

"What’s with the triangle?"

"I think I’ve decided to use it as my logo for whenever I make something!"

"I see. Maybe you should work for a black smith when we arrive."

After a grueling, terribly long journey, they all had finally made it to the first kingdom in the lands of Paria.