Setting off

"Are we going there by foot?" Amant asked as he walked towards the front door.

Keir was tying his shoelaces, with his bag and board laying beside him.

"I can afford a few rides for the two of us on the way." Keir said while standing up, "Otherwise it will be mostly on foot."

Amant nodded and went on to wear his slippers.

"Do you need me to help carry your stuff?" Keir asked while wearing his jacket.

Amant shook his head while adjusting the strap of his sling bag, "You are already helping me carry some weight, I can carry the rest by myself."

"You two really are going?" Ramona asked, standing by the hallway, "You kids are really something else.."

"I want to fix my arm." Amant gave a half shrug, "So why not?"

Ramona raised a brow, "Amant.."

"Alright." Keir said while grabbing his bag, "We have two months before the school semester starts. Let's get going."

Keir exited the house as Amant just stood there staring at Ramona.

"Amant," Ramona slowly spoke while touching her mask, "I hope you are really going there just for knowledge.."

Amant lips turned into a line and stood rooted there.

"Remember what I said when we first met…" Ramona said while turning around, "Amant, I hope you learn to open your heart."

"Ironic coming from you, don't you think?" Amant responded, turning and leaving the house.

Keir was waiting outside, staring up at the clouds.

When Amant came out, the two set off in the direction of the academy.

Both had a cloth mask covering half their face, with goggles protecting their eyes from the wind. Amant wore a beanie to cover his head while Keir just had his hood on.

Their travel lasted till the sun started setting, making it hard to see further on.

With the few rays of light left, they settle down to set up a camp.

They are surrounded by rocks covered in snow, with no trees in sight.

Keir took out the tools for the tent while Amant prepared the dinner.

"Do you plan to introduce yourself as Kai even in the academy?" Amant asked while placing the lid over the food.

"That's the idea." Keir confirmed, swinging the hammer in his hand.

Amant scratched his head, "Don't trust them?"

"I can't trust how well informed my parents might be." He shrugged, "Sounds dumb."

"I don't understand. Why trust me?" He asked, "I could've told Ramona."

Keir slowly stood up and answered, "You don't seem like the kind that would tell a secret."

Amant raised a brow but didn't ask any further, just focused on cooking.

Soon, one medium sized grey tent were set up. Keir stood a distance away with his chin held up.

"Who needs tech when you got a traditional tent." Keir had his hand on his hip as one corner of his lip curved up.

"You sure you want an answer to that?" Amant raised a brow, seeing Keir smug smile.

Keir gave a half shrug and strolled towards his bag, packing the tools he asked, "What are we having for the night?"

"Mystery stew." Amant smirked, "Who needs technology when you got traditional way of cooking outdoor."

"Haha.. funny.." Keir answered, zipping his bag up, "Let's eat in the tent. Can't be sure what we might attract with the smell."

Before Amant could reply, Keir was quick to add, "I know what you're gonna say, so you better not say it." He glared, causing Amant to chuckle.

"Traditional tent, ya right." Amant smirked while grabbing his bag.

Keir's shoulder slouched as he grabbed the pot of food and his bag.

Entering inside, he saw Amant taking out an inflatable sleeping bag.

They stared at each other, Amant had a smirk while Keir's lips became a straight line.

"You are going to hunt me with that statement now.. Aren't you?" Keir guessed, placing down the food in the middle of the tent.

"Isn't that what friends are for?" Amant replied while placing his bag at the corner, "Who needs tech when you got a traditional way of setting a sleeping bag."

Keir zipped the tent while speaking in a low voice,"I'm going kill you in your sleep."

His words were heard, causing Amant to try and hold his laughter.

"Alright, let's eat. I'm starving!" Keir threw his bag at his corner and clapped his hands, acting like nothing happened.

"Why-"

"Let's…eat..." Keir emphasised his words, speaking through gritted teeth.

Amant rubbed his nose, "Sure sure.."

Keir closed his eyes while tilting his head, "Thank you kind sir."

Amant opened the lid, and the aroma of the meat filled the tent.

"Don't you just like," Amant said with a pause, looking at Keir, who was taking out the bowls.

"I will throw this at you if you finish it." Keir gave a fake smile.

"The smell of dinner?" Amant raised a brow, "Why would you throw a bowl at me for that?"

"Heh heh heh…" Keir scooped some soup into the bowl, "I wonder…"

After passing the bowl to Amant, without tossing the bowl, Keir helped himself with a serving.

Both of them ate in silence and in darkness.

Both could see just fine in the darkness, so they don't bother wasting the stored energy on light.

After finishing their dinner, Keir cleaned up while Amant finished setting up the bed.

"I will throw this at you if you say that." Keir said, feeling Amant's gaze.

Keri turned to meet his gaze, raising the dirty cloth in his hand.

Amant closed his eyes and smiled, turning back to pull up the divide for the tent.

"Sleep well, brother." Amant said, "I think tech is better than traditional stuff."

Before he could finish, Keir unzipped the divider and threw the cloth.

"Can't I be proud of setting a tent without any help for once?" Keir's nostrils flared.

Amant's brows knitted as he said while seriousness, "It's my duty to make sure you don't grow arrogant."

"Oh fuck off." Keir threw his shoe at Amant's face, Amant dodged it but return the favour.

Amant crawled towards the divider and saw the shoe landed right on Keir's forehead.

He held his laughter, seeing Keir removing the shoe to reveal a shoe print.

"You dare laugh?" Keir's eyes narrowed.

Amant zipped up the divider, and burst out laughing. Keir's forehead creased as he started chuckling.

"Night Keir." Amant said, "Tomorrow I will make the mysterious stew."

"Oi." Keir stared at the divider, wiping his forehead, "Don't you dare."

No reply was received, causing him to sigh. However he had a small smile, and collapsed on his bed.

'I hope our journey will be as smooth as today.. but that's just wishful thinking..' He covered his eyes with his hand, slowly drifting off to sleep.