A Journey Under Conditions

"I told you, traveling like this makes us more than just wanderers," Trevor said, sitting outside a black wooden carriage.

Inside the carriage, Jun, along with Kyou Kai, who was meditating, heard Trevor's voice and couldn't help but complain, "If we had traveled by donkeys, the journey would have taken much longer, but it would have shown that the gift was accepted."

Kyou Kai, who remained calm despite the importance of their journey, said, "Traveling by carriage is comfortable."

"Yes, but it's very boring. What we experienced in the city was fun, but we won't get that kind of entertainment for a long time," Jun remarked, feeling that excitement was something he always sought.

Many things could change, but few entertained him for long.

Now, although the journey should have been enjoyable, with Kyou Kai meditating and Jun singing dull songs, nothing seemed to improve.

"Do you think we'll be ambushed on the way?" Jun tried to start a conversation to break the monotony.

"I don't know..."

"It would be fun..."

But the conversation ended before it even began.

Truthfully, Jun was hoping something would happen, but nothing did. Soon, night fell, and the horses, like them, needed to rest.

Jun sat beside Kyou Kai, who was gazing up at the starry sky. "Sometimes I think we're just a small chapter in history, something that will die before we even realize it. That means we have little time to do great things, take revenge, and live a life worth living."

"I didn't think you were so sentimental, but I can relate," Kyou Kai responded. Both she and Jun had been trained not to feel anything, but over the years spent in a freer world, those restrictions had gradually weakened.

She realized that now there were only memories and feelings of the past when many were still here. Now, only she remained with those memories and the will to do something with them.

Unfulfilled dreams, beautiful ones, from which one doesn't want to wake.

"My parents, though I never knew them, were the light that made me cling to life. I can imagine what you feel thinking about losing yours. But I'm sure your sister wouldn't have ended your life to fulfill her dreams. If she's as incredible as you describe, and knowing she saved you from death, it means she wants you to live."

Kyou Kai had shared everything with Jun, and he had done the same. Hearing those words from him now made her smile genuinely.

"What do you think about ruling our own lives?" Jun asked, curious about Kyou Kai's thoughts on this sudden idea of ruling everything, even over a king or future emperor.

"Do you want to be king?"

Jun looked at Kyou Kai, who seemed surprised, and said, "If that King of Qin keeps testing me, he'll get what he's looking for."

The truth was that he was really annoyed with that king, as young as himself, who supposedly wanted to unite all of China under his rule.

Maybe he could do it. Jun didn't recall exactly how China had been shaped, but one thing was certain: if the king wanted him to be one of his executioners or generals, he'd better think twice before putting obstacles in his path.

"Well, if you want the throne, I'll follow you."

Jun smiled and said, "Then first, we need to deal with that bitch."

"Yes."