1 A Haphazard Escape (1)

"Lucius Bartholomew Archsword! We have an imperial order for your arrest! Please surrender so that your sentence may be reduced!"

A bundle of armoured soldiers spurred on their armoured horses through the forest, beckoning them to gallop faster.

"Well this is unfortunate"

Neighing sounded out loudly, as the two horses guiding the carriage, protested against the fate that awaited them.

"Tell me, Matilde, how does one guide a carriage across a river without submitting to death's cruel embrace?"

A brown-haired woman leaned out of the window of the carriage, a blue translucent string waning into existence as she poured her mana into the golden bow in her hands.

Matilde pulled the string once and a thin, almost invisible, stream of fire flew out quickly cutting through the air, flying towards the soldiers.

BOOM!

A soft explosion sounded out, fire lighting the ground and burning the trees in the area suddenly.

"If there is a river ahead then we'll have to swim across it, at the very best we can crash the carriage into the guards to derail them," Matilde said, thinking quickly.

"Incorrect answer"

The horses, almost against their will, ran forward, rapidly approaching the far and wide river in front of them.

"This is your last warning! We will not have mercy on you if you do not surrender immediately!" the Head of the Fifth Knight Squad shouted out.

Matilde heeded his plea and responded with another gentle tug of the bowstring, causing another wave of fire to embrace the guards, heating their metal armour that they were already barely enduring.

The Head of the Fifth Knight Squad, Lord Twiso, gritted his teeth.

He had made up in his mind that when he captured the pair of rebellious teenagers, the prince would not escape his grasp unscathed and the maid....

She was good as dead.

"Stop the horses," Matilde said firmly, watching the explosion behind them.

"Are you sure? I really don't-"

Lucius was cut off.

"Now isn't the time for games! Stop the horses!" Matilde said, this time much more firm than before, raising her voice a few folds.

"I don't think I will, spring-time water is really good for body, helps the skin retain its valour," Lucius said gently.

"Lucius!"

Matilde turned around to look at him in his dark green eyes.

"Stop the horses!" she said seriously, perhaps the most serious he had ever heard her.

Lucius stared back at her, a small warm smile on his face.

"No," he said simply.

"But if you don't we're going to-"

NEEEEEIIIIGGHHH!

Matilde's request was interrupted by the horses who cursed loudly.

They were more than aware of the engulfing body of water that laid in front of them but they bound by a strange power to ignore their instincts and madly soldier forward.

Matilde grunted angrily and grabbed Lucius by the collar, placing one foot on the window of the carriage and beginning to climb out.

"Unhand me you succubus!" Lucius protested loudly.

Matilde winced as she prepared to jump only to see that firm forest floor had already expired, the carriage now travelling on a bright yellow bridge that vanished as they moved forward.

She released Lucius who pouted quietly and turned her head to the side, seeing the bright blue river surface next to the carriage.

The horses sighed relieved, letting out a soft neigh as they continued to travel on the yellow magic road that stretched out underneath their feet.

Lord Twiso and his soldiers stopped at the edge of the river, unable to travel any further.

"LUCIUS!" he roared out, completely irate.

"You didn't tell me you reached the Mana Consolidation stage!" Matilde said surprisedly, laying the golden bow on the other side of the carriage cushion.

"You didn't ask me, you ruffian!" Lucius said back, adjusting his collar which was manhandled by Matilde.

"I-I'm sorry," Matilde said softly.

"Don't go acting all cute now, you barbarian!" Lucius said, not buying her act for a second.

Matilde's gentle and passive manner melted like butter, her face again becoming firm and stoic.

She snickered.

"I apologise for my actions my lord," she said sincerely.

"Oh so it's my Lord after I save the both of us, I see, I see," Lucius said bitterly.

Lucius leaned on the windowsill of the carriage casting his eyes out to the scenery which swiftly change from sprawling water to thick jungle green again.

"You can't blame me," Matilde said defensively.

"Mana Consolidation isn't even a magical ability! Only a bonus that improves the quality of one's mana and the last person to reach the Mana Consolidation stage under the age of 18 was Intelleca the Great Sage! Not even the magicians in the magic towers would boldly declare they could do so," Matilde said, pleading her case.

"I humbly swear that the day you stop underestimating me is the day I'll propose to an orc," Lucius said simply.

Matilde snickered.

"Even by elven standards that growth rate is incomparably fast"

"My mother was not an ordinary elf"

Matilde kept quiet, they were approaching a subject that should not be approached.

Not on this day anyway.

"Well enough of that, a supply check is in order! What do we have?" Lucius asked clearly.

"82 gold coins, 3 days worth of food and a sleeping mat," Matilde responded dryly.

"Only one sleeping mat?" Lucius asked curiously.

"You were the one who delayed me," Matilde accused.

"I was being stabbed!" Lucius protested.

"You're a healer. Heal yourself. If you didn't cry out for me to come and rescue you I would have been able to prepare so much more," Matilde complained.

Lucius stared at Matilde dumbfounded.

"What? You've been doing all those sit-ups for ages now, I reckoned you would have been able to stomach a few more blows," Matilde said smiling.

"Your jokes aren't funny," Lucius said, recalling the feeling of his chest being penetrated.

"Don't be a baby, I've seen you endure much worse," Matilde said confidently.

Lucius grunted.

"Keep the sleeping mat, I'm sure dirt and sticks will be a much more passionate sleeping partner than you," Lucius said harshly.

"Ack! Your words! They hurt me, my lord!" Matilde said sarcastically, gripping her chest and leaning forward.

Lucius laughed loudly while Matilde also returned an involuntary smile.

The carriage continued to travel through North End Woods as the night fell and the world dimmed.