The Path to Nottingham III

The carriage's interior shocked Pete. While the wooden coach was no larger than seven cubic feet on the outside, the inside was as large as a mini-cabin. The boy could stand erect and walk around comfortably.

'What kind of magic is this?' he wondered.

"You must be a great mage, sir…" he said, googling at the chamber with wonder.

Guy laughed and patted Pete on the back. "Oh, no, my boy. This carriage isn't of my making. Templars excel in combat magic, while this is the work of builder-class mages. You seem unaware of how magic works, Rob… Did you never have a master?"

The boy made a fist. "I can fight, sir, with my bare hands and weapons. But magic is something new to me. I am a fast learner, and given the proper teaching, I will excel in the craft in no time."

The templar regarded him for a moment. "Perhaps you have traveled only to the southern lands where warriors outnumber mages."

"Uh… you are right about that, sir."

"Hmm. The southern lands, huh? Dark and dreary. I hear they burn mages and witches in the far south. Is that true?"

"I… uh… haven't come across any such ritual, sir. I keep my head down and mind my business."

"Fine. Fine. I am glad you have escaped those primitive lands." Guy ushered Pete to a lounge seat.

A young, beautiful girl in an elaborate blue gown reclined on one of the seats. In her hands was a crystal sphere.

"This is my sister, Elaine," Guy introduced with a flourish. "She is a mage of high caliber already. In fact, she predicted we would meet an interesting individual today. And here we are!"

Something in Pete made him approach the girl. He bowed and kissed her extended hand. "Enchantee," the boy said with a paper-thin smile. Elaine's skin was soft and smelled of jasmine flowers. She blushed in response and beamed at him.

"This is Master Rob," Guy continued. "He was on his way to the trials, and I decided to give him a lift."

"I am glad you did, brother," the girl said in a sweet, silky voice. "I was tired of incessant talk about your glories."

"Ha ha ha! My sister takes a lot of liberty with me, you see. However, I love her to pieces. She is an incredible clairvoyant and also a builder-mage. In fact, this carriage was designed by her."

Elaine winked at Pete, and they exchanged chuckles. "You are a work of art, my lady," the boy said with as much charm he could muster.

Pete couldn't help but notice Elaine's body. It was the fan service of the game he was waiting for. The girl had full breasts and hips. Her eyes sparkled with adolescence. Was she eighteen yet?

"Sir, is your sister eighteen yet?" Pete blurted out without thinking. He instantly regretted it. The elevated confidence was a side-effect of the perfect-gene attribute. It was a double-edged sword, the boy realized. It could get him into serious trouble. The boy had had plenty of experience with sudden escalations in MMORPGs leading to death.

"Eighteen? Of age?" Guy asked, cocking his chin. "Of course not. She is only fifteen. Why do you ask?"

The boy floundered for an answer. "Because…uh… forgive my candidness, sir, but I couldn't help but observe that lady Elaine is very pretty. I can only imagine the number of suitors approaching you for her hand in marriage."

Guy nodded with pride. "That is true. She is a beauty, which is no secret to the King's realm. Elaine takes after her grandmother, you see. And indeed, she has innumerable suitors. I have ambitions of marrying her to Prince John."

Pete dug into the subject until Guy explained that Prince John was the younger brother of King Richard, the ruling monarch.

"What does her marriage prospects have to do with the age of eighteen?" Guy posed, still unhappy with Pete's question.

The boy figured he was in the medieval world. Perhaps there was no legal age for betrothal. What about sex? He had come across censorship of nudity in the game. What would happen if he committed a forbidden act? Would he be thrown out of the Isekai? Would the administrators barge in to stop him? The boy couldn't wait to find out.

"My mistake, sir. I simply wished to enquire about Lady Elaine's age."

Guy left his seat and poured a glass of wine from a mini-bar. "You surely are strange, m'boy. Your travels through the southern lands must have made you so. A month in Nottingham should nurse you straight."

Pete smiled at his patron and looked around the carriage. Even though they were traveling on a rough road, there were no tremors inside. It was as if they were flying.

"Sir, could you tell me more about the trials? What can I expect to face?"

Guy returned to his seat and crossed his legs. "Hmm. I understand your curiosity, Rob. However, the tasks are decided by the Sheriff. I do have a general idea but wouldn't want to ruin the suspense for anybody." He seemed pleased with himself. 'The Sheriff of Nottingham?' Pete asked himself. 'Isn't he supposed to be the principal antagonist in the Robin Hood storyline?"

"Do you know the Sheriff personally, Sir?"

"Of course, Rob. He is a dear friend. During the King's past wars, he bore the rank of a General. As did I."

"Amazing. I look forward to seeing him. And perhaps learn from him."

"Alright. I suggest you learn some magic before going on your first adventure. Monsters around the town are not as dangerous as those in Sherwood. Still, magic is a defense against any surprises that may spring up during a quest.." Pete nodded obediently.

"How did you plan to get to Nottingham without a lift from someone such as I?" Guy posed.

"I would have simply walked to the town square."

Guy guffawed so loudly and for so long that Pete was embarrassed.

"It seems the Derby folks told you nothing. Care to peek out the window, Rob?"

Pete raised an eyebrow and looked out the window. What he saw outside was more shocking than the magical coach.

The horse carriage was flying in the air!

"Oh, my God!" Pete's mouth was left hanging open.

"Ha ha ha! It is always amusing to watch a first-time flier. Isn't it so, Elaine?"

"Yes, brother."

The carriage's wheels rolled over nothing but fog. They were at least a hundred feet in the air. A misty river flowed through a gorge below.

"You see, Rob… To reach Nottingham from the direction-crossroads, one must go over the quarter-mile wide River Leen. Only magical vehicles can make it to the town from the other side. You were lucky that we found you. Here, the southern lands end, and the magical half of the King's realm begins!"

"Welcome to Nottingham, Robb," Elaine murmured sweetly. She winked and added with a smile, "Adventure and glory await you..."