In the Middle Lands of the human continent, near the massive border separating the Kingdom of Alisus and the Great Empire of Magic Reindorf, a lonely road stretched toward a towering stone wall that cut across the horizon like a scar.
Along that road rolled a small horse-driven carriage carrying a handful of passengers.
The wooden wheels creaked loudly every few seconds.
"Whooo! So that's the border?" a middle-aged man exclaimed, leaning out of the carriage window.
He had a small beard and a thick moustache that moved every time he spoke.
"It's way bigger than I imagined!"
The carriage driver chuckled without turning around. He wore a round wooden hat and held the reins with steady hands that had clearly been doing this job for decades.
"So it's your first time seeing it, huh?" the old man said in a raspy voice. "Don't worry. Everyone reacts like that the first time."
The moustached man scratched his chin.
"Well I mean… I knew it would be big but…"
He squinted at the gigantic wall stretching endlessly to the east and west.
"…did they build this to stop armies or to stop mountains?"
The driver laughed.
"Mostly to stop idiots."
The passengers chuckled softly.
Next to the moustached man sat a tired woman holding a small girl in her arms. Their clothes were dusty, and their expressions carried the same quiet exhaustion shared by the man sitting at the very back of the carriage.
The moustached man glanced at them, pity appearing in his eyes.
"A lot of people are moving away from the villages lately… aren't they?"
The driver nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
His tone grew heavier.
"Small villages always end up the same way. Either monsters destroy them… or bandits do."
The moustached man sighed.
"I wonder why the Alisus Kingdom doesn't do anything about it."
The driver shrugged.
"Adventurers rarely pass through those areas. And the knights are stationed too far away."
He spat off the side of the road.
"And moving troops costs money."
Then he added with a bitter chuckle,
"And we all know most nobles would rather spend that money on wine than protecting farmers."
The moustached man nodded.
"…True."
After a moment he said,
"At least I heard the Reindorf Empire treats common people better. Security is strict there."
The driver looked toward the distant border.
"Well… Alisus isn't the worst place."
He paused.
"But the Empire is where all the strong people gather."
He scratched his beard.
"Hard for monsters or bandits to cause trouble when half the country can throw fireballs."
The moustached man laughed.
"Haaah, you're right."
He gestured toward the wall.
"Most graduates from that place end up living there anyway."
"…Exactly."
The carriage finally slowed to a stop near the massive gates. The old driver removed his wooden hat.
"Well, gentlemen and ladies." He gestured toward the gate.
"That's as far as i go, good luck from here."
The passengers began climbing down one by one. The woman gently carried her daughter while the man from the back silently followed. The moustached man jumped down last.
"Well then, good luck old man!" he said while waving. "And thanks for the ride!"
Then he turned toward someone who had been sitting quietly during the entire trip.
"Looks like you had a good sleep, kid."
…
"Yaaawwwnnn."
A massive yawn escaped from the young man as he stretched his arms.
His messy black hair fell to his shoulders, His thick brows hung over his tired black eyes, resting above a sharply defined jaw.
He lazily pulled a long green herb from his pocket and stuck it between his teeth.
"Now that was a good nap," he muttered.
The moustached man rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"W-well… thanks again kid."
He smiled nervously.
"If it wasn't for you, we'd probably be monster food by now. Those beasts and bandits back there… I really can't thank you enough."
The young man blinked slowly at him with the sleepy expression of someone who had just woken up from a three-hour nap.
"No worries, moustache man."
He waved lazily and started walking down the road.
"Bye bye."
The man groaned.
"Will you stop calling me 'moustache man'? It's been two weeks!"
Then suddenly—
"Ah!"
He pointed.
"Wait! What's your name, kid?"
The young man kept walking without turning around.
He raised one hand and waved.
"It's—"
He paused.
Took two more steps.
"…Huh."
He scratched his head.
"…Did I just forget to tell him my name?"
He stopped walking. Thought about it for a moment, then shrugged.
"Eh. Too late now."
He stretched his arms with a loud groan.
"After a long, miserable, back-breaking, spine-destroying, two-week ride on that ancient wooden disaster…"
He looked back at the carriage. One of the wheels squeaked loudly.
SCCRRRREEEEEAK.
"…yeah that thing should be in a museum."
He turned toward the road ahead.
"Finally…"
He spread his arms dramatically.
"FINALLY I've reached the Great Empire of Magic Reindorf!"
The wind blew slightly. A heroic moment.
Then he noticed a wooden sign as he leaned closer.
"Capital City: 4 Days Walk."
His expression slowly died.
"…Four days."
He stared at the sign. Then the endless road. Then the sign again.
"…FOUR days?"
He rubbed his temples.
"Let me get this straight."
He pointed at the distant capital.
"This is the most powerful magic empire on the entire continent."
He raised a finger.
"You've got mages who can summon lightning."
Another finger.
"People who can fly."
Another.
"Probably guys who can turn rocks into gold."
He sighed deeply.
"But nobody thought about inventing…"
He looked around dramatically.
"…a damn carriage that doesn't break every five minutes?!"
He kicked a rock.
"Unbelievable."
He started walking down the road.
"Well whatever. At least I survived the monsters."
Pause.
"…and the bandits."
Pause.
"…and that carriage."
He shuddered.
"Honestly the carriage was the most dangerous part."
After a few steps he muttered,
"Next time I see monsters attacking a wagon…"
He cracked his knuckles.
"…I'm helping the monsters."
Then he sighed dramatically.
"…four days… unbelievable…"
And with that, he continued walking toward the capital of the Great Empire of Magic Reindorf.
Complaining to himself the entire way.