And there I stood by the cart, catching my breath in a faint silence, while my hands moved mechanically.
They lifted the bags one by one and placed them inside with weary care, as if my body had absorbed its mission and no longer needed orders from my mind.
The only cart we owned was gradually filling up, and with every bag placed, I felt the weight of the journey increasing… not on the cart, but on my chest.
We had no other choice.
One cart… and a whole group.
And that meant only one thing—
We would walk.
After several minutes of continuous work, the rest of us finished arranging the luggage. We took a step back, looking at what we had accomplished.
It wasn't perfect… but it was enough.
The employer stepped forward slightly, took a quick look at the cart, then said in a decisive tone:
"So… almost everything is ready. We will set off now."
Breath hitched for a moment. Then he added, directing his gaze toward Melissa and Liana:
"But… the women will ride the cart."
For a short moment, I didn't comment, then I nodded my head slightly.
A logical decision.
Not because they are weaker… but because the journey is long, endurance levels vary, and this isn't a short adventure to be underestimated.
Melissa climbed up first, with her usual calmness, then helped Liana on board, who seemed more excited than she should be, looking around as if she were at the start of a fun trip, not a march with unknown consequences.
The employer raised his voice afterward, saying:
"Then… let's move."
And so—
The journey began.
We all moved toward the east, steps synchronized at first, as if we were trying to convince ourselves that the matter was easy.
The gazes of some villagers followed us as we departed, watching this large gathering in a silence mixed with curiosity and a hint of astonishment.
And after a few minutes—
We were out.
We crossed the boundaries of the village.
I stopped for a short moment… or perhaps it was just a feeling.
So… this is goodbye. I didn't turn around; I didn't even try.
I bid the place farewell… in silence.
The road stretched long before us, flanked by trees on every side, but the strange thing wasn't their abundance… but their diversity.
The colors faded in an unfamiliar gradient, from dark green to light, and some leaned toward colors I wasn't used to seeing in one place.
A beautiful sight… but strange.
How can different trees grow with such variety… in the same environment?
A question crossed my mind—
Then it vanished.
This was no time for thinking.
As we continued walking, light conversations began to emerge here and there.
Simple words to lighten the weight of the road, faint laughs, passing comments… a collective attempt to escape the silence of the long journey.
But—
After only two hours—
The truth began to surface.
I felt a heaviness in my feet, as if the ground had become harder and more resistant to every step I took.
My breathing was no longer as steady as it was, and beads of sweat began to gather on my forehead, sliding down slowly as if reminding me of every step I had covered.
I looked at Vesper—
His condition… wasn't much different from mine, perhaps even worse.
While the rest?
Nothing, as if they were walking on a casual stroll.
We stopped every now and then for short rest periods, drinking water or eating something quick, then returning to the walk before exhaustion could settle deeper into our bodies.
But despite that—
Sweat poured from me with every distance.
As I tried to maintain my pace, Vesper's voice came fragmented and weary:
"Haaa… I-I'm dying… when will we rest?!"
I looked at him, and despite my fatigue, I couldn't stop myself from responding:
"Strange… I thought you'd last at least two days."
He looked at me with one eye half-closed, as if trying to gather what remained of his energy, then said:
"If you think this provocation of yours will work on me…"
He paused for a moment, panting, then finished with difficulty:
"Then yes… it worked. But I don't have the strength to respond to you right now."
I stifled a light laugh, but before I could comment—
Another voice entered, cold… and condescending as usual:
"You two are very weak."
Luxian.
"I doubt you'll last another day of walking."
I laughed with light sarcasm, despite my ragged breaths:
"Heh… save your energy for walking."
But—
To be fair, there was no trace of fatigue on him. No sweat… no labored breathing… not even a slowing of his pace.
Does he really have this level of endurance?
I looked ahead—
Toward the employer.
Steady, calm, and composed as usual. Then toward the rest—
The same thing.
Those with strong abilities… are truly different.
And so—
We continued.
Hour after hour.
Step after step.
Until six full hours had passed, interspersed with intermittent rest periods, barely enough to regain balance.
And as the sun set—
The second truth began to appear; even the strong… get tired.
Knox started to sweat, light droplets but visible.
Marcus… looked as if he was on the verge of collapsing at any moment.
Zairos stood with apparent steadiness, but his body was betraying him.
Tyros… was still relatively composed.
Sirion… calm as usual, but sweat began to show on him.
Calstier… his features didn't change much, but the fatigue was there.
Cairo…
He looked as if he might faint at any moment.
Reagan... there was no sign that he was tired.
Doctor Velor... looked as if he would fall to the ground despite his steadiness.
As for the employer—
Nothing, as if he hadn't walked a single step.
Finally—
Melissa and Liana…
Well, no need for comment.
As I dragged my feet, just trying to keep going—
Something appeared. A light, distant… weak… but clear.
My eyes locked onto it.
Am I… imagining it? It must be from the sheer exhaustion.
I rubbed my eyes once… then again.
But—
It didn't disappear.
What is this…?
And before I could ask—
The employer said, as if he had read my thoughts:
"It seems we are approaching a small village… we will rest there."
For a moment, I didn't process it.
Then—
Rest at last…
I felt as if my body suddenly came back to life.
Vesper said in a near-dead voice:
"Finally…"
We continued walking, this time with steps driven by hope, not just will.
Until we arrived and entered the village, which had nothing special about it—simple houses, quiet roads, dim lights… just an ordinary village.
But to me—
It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.