After we had completed our path following the map—or rather, I should say "following the map," because there was a fool asleep who did not want to help—we had covered a good distance, with only three days left to reach our destination. As I was looking ahead, I spotted a cart not too far away, and its owner was waving at us from a distance. I hesitated a little before approaching him, yet it seemed good to have a means of transportation, especially since we had enough money to pay for the journey.
I approached the cart, which was not very luxurious, and it seemed to belong to a traveling worker or something of the sort. As I steadied myself, I muttered to myself: "What did you expect? A prince standing here for you?"
When I arrived, the cart owner greeted me with a smile and said,
"Welcome, young man. May I know your destination?"
I was a little surprised by his kindness, finding it strange that he would help me without any clear reason. I replied with a wary expression, as if filled with suspicion,
"I'm heading to the city of Kazanora."
He smiled and said,
"What a coincidence! That's my destination too. What do you think about coming with me, young man?"
I felt a mix of hope and joy at the same time, and I replied,
"Yes, if that is possible."
Then he asked,
"Are you alone, or are there others with you?"
I was about to tell him about "Arthos," but he stopped me angrily, saying,
"Be quiet, you fool! Don't you dare tell anyone."
I asked in surprise,
"Why?"
He replied angrily,
"Just be quiet, you fool, and focus."
I paused for a moment, and he asked,
"Did anyone accompany you?"
I answered nervously,
"No, no one is with me."
He said with a smile,
"Good, you may get in."
I climbed onto the cart, and we continued on our way. After a few moments of silence, he asked,
"What is your name, young man, and where are you from?"
I answered in a low tone with respect,
"My name is Itchinaro, and I come from a small village called Nirava, located on the edge of the Valoria forest. And you, sir?"
He smiled and said,
"My name is Valder. As for my home, I am a traveling merchant, I have no permanent residence. I travel around the world searching for my daily sustenance."
I immediately replied,
"I suspected you were a traveling merchant ever since I saw you, sir Valder."
He chuckled softly and said,
"That's quite obvious."
I responded with a smile,
"It's just a guess, though."
Valder then began to tell me about his adventures and journeys around the world. He advised me not to trust anyone and to always be cautious, emphasizing that the world does not care about the good of others, and everyone seeks their own interest. I found myself engrossed in his stories, thoroughly enjoying them, as it was the first time I had ever heard tales of the outside world.
As night fell, we stopped to spend the night. Valder got down and opened the back door of the cart, taking out four blue stones with mysterious inscriptions that I could not read. I asked him, puzzled,
"What are these stones, sir Valder?"
He turned to me while placing one on the edge of the cart and said,
"These stones are charged with Kaizo. When placed on the edges of the object you want to protect, they create a field of energy that cannot be penetrated unless the attacker is very strong. These stones work because of the inscriptions on them."
I asked,
"May I ask you another question?"
He replied with a smile,
"Of course, you may ask whatever you like."
I asked,
"What do these inscriptions mean, and how can they do that?"
He answered,
"These inscriptions are an art of Kaizo energy. They can direct energy and make it do what you want. The inscription on this stone means 'Barrier'."
I replied in amazement,
"That's incredible and useful, but I cannot read what is on these stones. Is there a special language for them?"
He said,
"Yes, each word has a specific use. These stones are used to protect cities, but this is a small version with a limited amount of energy. They can also be used to launch attacks from a distance. They made machines from them called 'Propellers,' which have a word that allows them to release large amounts of energy explosively, and they can be filled with energy by their user. Some types, however, cannot be refilled after use and are only thrown."
I thought to myself, "This is amazing. Why doesn't our village have one of these?"
After placing the four stones and establishing the energy field, he said,
"The time for questions is over. It's time to sleep."
He had pillows and blankets in the cart. I took a pillow and a blanket, leaning against the pillow, but I could not sleep. I stared at the ceiling, and before long, Valder fell asleep.
I asked Arthos, who seemed to have been asleep the whole time,
"You stupid dagger, did you know about these things and the stones?"
He replied with an angry tone,
"Who are you calling a stupid dagger, fool? How do you know I knew about this? What did you expect from a seventeen-year-old boy who has never left his village?"
I answered irritably,
"Yes, yes, I remember, you little fool. But you learn these things by yourself. I am not here to take care of children. Depend on yourself."
My expression changed, and I thought, "Damn it," but I sensed he was not listening to me, so I closed my eyes.
From the narrator's perspective (Arthos observing):
That night, while Itchinaro slept, Arthos remained awake for a while. He remembered Itchinaro's father and scowled at the boy's lack of initiative, thinking, "He left me a troublesome child who does not try to put effort into discovering things and learning." He did not sleep throughout the night, keeping watch over Itchinaro until morning.