5 Past the Gates

Couple of hours earlier before the ghoul incident

The vast wasteland appeared to finally draw to its end, a high stone wall emerging as a barrier for entry to their kingdom. The large wooden gates were shut tightly and bolted, as if their kingdom was put under a lockdown. He furrowed his brows, it was an odd sight. The sky was a hue of orange, red as the sun was nearly on its way to its rest.

"It seems like we're finally here." Hyde murmured to himself, his head outside the window. He felt an immediate tug on his collar that pulled him back into his seat, "What gives?" He groaned at Gus' loosening his grasp on Hyde's white collared shirt.

"It's unadvisable to poke your head outside. That's a vulnerable position in my opinion." The butler lowered his head, his voice seemed quiet and distant as he finally let go of his young master.

Hyde rotated his right shoulder, his left hand massaging it, "You don't have to worry about me Gus, if anything, the guards on horseback are more inclined to get endangered first if somebody does attack us and that's something that I don't like." He took a deep breath, "I'm more than capable to defend myself."

"Sir Hyde, we are willing to lay down our lives to ensure your and Lady Rhine's safety."

"Don't say something like that, it's weird." Hyde ran his fingers through his hair, some of it getting entangled, "Nobody's going to get endangered, what lies beyond us is the land of Nyx right? They say that nothing seems to be alive there, nothing's going to hurt us." What was he saying? This was tiresome but better than having to deal with pesky ladies.

The butler merely lowered his head and held a hand on his chest, "My apologies for displeasuring you sir Hyde."

"It's fine, it's your job as a butler to worry over the littlest things."

The earth groaned as Hyde fought back the urge to look out the window again. Rhine merely drew the tiny window above her head open, "Mister Anton, can you please move a bit."

"Yes my lady."

"Thank you."

The coachman moved away from the window to reveal large wooden gates slowly opening up.

"W-what?" Hyde rubbed his eyes and moved closer to the window, "T-the gates!"

"They're being opened with a spell…that's amazing!" Rhine's eyes lit up at the sight, although she felt a strange sensation at the pit of her stomach at what laid before them. What stood in plain sight was a wall that was higher than any of the watch tower at the House of Falcon, and to have such an intricate spell that seems to allow or bar entry from travellers outside the kingdom…

"Er… they're opening it up at the mere sight of us." Gus tossed his gaze towards the window, the sky was turning to cool shades of violet, amethyst and drawing closer to darkness. "Nobody is there that's conjuring the spell?"

Rhine pulled out a lantern from a wooden chest and lighted it up; her lips pressed down into a line at the butler's remark,"It appears to have been prepared beforehand. I can't tell what the conditions are, expect you may be right that it opened up on our arrival."

"Maybe it opens up whenever someone from our kingdom decides to leave?" Hyde shrugged, what stood before them was merely more of sand. He wanted to vomit at the sight of it.

Rhine placed the lantern on the table, she flipped open a grimoire, "Hyde, I don't think that seems like a good set up."

"Criminals, murderers and such could escape punishments if everyone could leave at will." Gus closed his eyes and let out a tired sigh.

Rhine stared towards the land before them, "That makes sense. Now, shall we take our rest in our land before travelling in the morning past the gates? I feel a bit worried of the land, who knows if there are brigands and other deserters who could attack us?" She rubbed the back of her neck, the sensation in her stomach lingering.

"My lady Rhine, I believe we should continue, we are unaware of how long this spell will keep the gates open." Gus offered her a small smile, "I believe your men are more than capable of overcoming the threats that you perceive."

"Not only them sis, you've got me on your side." Hyde pointed at himself, "Fear not, I'll protect you."

Rhine's lips twitched into a small smile, "Ah that really does sound comforting. Especially from a boy who got diarrhea after testing out a concoction I was doing."

"Now, now! We don't bring that up." Hyde felt his ears were burning up as he crossed his arms, "Anyway onto the land of Nyx!"

The carriage and guards on horseback travelled a good distance, the moonlight giving off a soft glow that illuminated their paths.

Hyde covered his yawn with a hand, "Aaah, can't we stop for a rest? I'm tired." He stretched out an arm.

"More so the guards and even mister Anton must be tired too." Rhine tilted her head at the now quiet coachman outside the draw-to-open window, for the past hour he had been singing and humming but now he just seemed to be focused on not falling off the carriage.

Gus dipped his head into a respectful gesture, "I suppose so… it's not my jurisdiction though young masters, please give us the orders and we shall stop."

"Alright, mister Anton, let's take a break and set up a camp alright?" Rhine clapped her hands, the carriage soon slowing down.

"Guys, let's stop for a break!" Hyde popped his head out the window again to gain the attention of their guards, much to the now reddened face of Rhine.

She wanted to slam her head against the wooden wall behind her head. The boy seemed to have a short-term memory, a bad one at that!