Chapter Seven: The Sunset Prairie

In the early morning, a faint trace of the moon's waning shadow still lingered on the horizon. Creak, creak—the carriages rolled slowly out from the castle, each surrounded by a ring of mounted soldiers. The party moved down the empty streets, the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoing sharply in the quiet, accentuating the solitude. The horses, handpicked for this long journey, were all strikingly strong and beautiful, their coats unforgettable at a glance.

Inside the carriage, Hughes was undisturbed by the sounds of hooves and wheels grinding over stone. Awoken in the dead of night, he had climbed into the carriage and soon given in to drowsiness, continuing his slumber. Hughes and Count Clay had slipped away quietly, rousing no one, leaving the city behind and heading toward the outskirts.

When Hughes awoke, he stretched contentedly, then peered out the window. Daylight had fully claimed the sky, sunlight bathing the earth, a gentle breeze stirring, making the warmth pleasant rather than oppressive. It appeared to be a fine day.

With nothing to occupy himself in the carriage, Hughes settled into a cross-legged position and began practicing the foundational knight's breathing technique. Though he lacked the basic swordsmanship to complement it, it was still a way to strengthen his body. He emptied his mind and gradually lost all sense of time.

A sudden knocking on the carriage roused him. “Young Master Hughes, it’s already midday. Time for lunch,” a soldier outside called. “So soon?” Hughes hopped down, seeing the soldiers lining up for food and water. He collected his portion and made his way to Count Clay’s carriage.

“Father, how long until we reach Soto City?” Hughes asked between bites.

“If all goes well, about fifteen days. The road we’re taking now is relatively safe, with little threat. The real danger lies in the Sunset Prairie,” replied the Count.

“If it’s dangerous, can’t we avoid it? We still have enough time,” Hughes suggested.

“There’s no way around it. To reach Soto City, we must cross the Sunset Prairie. You might say the prairie is a natural barrier that protects the city,” his father explained.

“So, what exactly is on the prairie? With so many of us, we should be able to handle it, right?”

“Beasts. The Sunset Prairie is overrun with wild animals and venomous insects, often appearing in large packs. Let’s hope we don’t encounter them,” Count Clay said, some worry in his voice.

“Don’t worry, Father. We’ll make it to Soto City safely.”

The Count couldn’t help but laugh. “Ha! I’ve seen enough battles not to need your reassurance, boy. It should be me comforting you!”

Hughes grinned sheepishly. “Just trying to help.”

Lunch passed quickly, and after a brief rest, the convoy resumed its journey. Hughes soon found himself restless—initial excitement giving way to tedium as he sat in the carriage with nothing to do but practice his breathing exercises. The monotony became hard to bear.

“Night falls! Form the carriages into a circle, light the fires, and make camp!” came the order from the lead knight. Instantly, soldiers and coachmen halted, each following their assigned tasks with practiced efficiency.

Traveling at night was unwise—too many dangers, and exhaustion from pressing on without rest could fell both man and horse, causing even greater trouble. “We’ll take turns standing watch. Four men each night, divided between the first and second halves. No slacking—stay alert,” the lead soldier instructed.

The campfires brought warmth to the tranquil yet perilous night. With the dawn, the convoy set out once more on its long trek.

Inside the dim carriage, Hughes sat cross-legged, cultivating his breathing technique. The air was tinged with the carriage’s musty scent and the faint tang of sweat. Water was scarce along their route, so bathing was a luxury Hughes had to forgo.

Eight days had passed since they left the castle, and Hughes had become numb to the routine—eat, train, eat, train. There was nothing else to do. The only excitement was a skirmish with a band of marauders. Though they outnumbered the convoy, they were no match for the castle’s soldiers—and even Hughes himself had dispatched several foes.

Pent-up from days inside the carriage, Hughes had fought like an untethered colt, wielding the sword gifted by Count Clay with wild abandon. The bandits could not withstand his assault.

“Chip, display my body data.”

“Beep! Hughes Bruch: Strength: 3.6, Agility: 3.4, Constitution: 3.3, Mental Power: 1.5, Status: Healthy.”

“Sigh! My strength’s only increased by 0.2, agility by 0.2, constitution by 0.1—this is so slow. And as for mental power, it seems I’ll have to find a way once I become a wizard’s apprentice,” Hughes mused. Suddenly, the convoy stopped, and a commotion rose.

“What’s happening?” Hughes stepped out to investigate.

“Belita, isn’t it still a while until dusk? Why have we stopped? Has something happened?” he asked the lead soldier.

“Young Master Hughes, we’re not far from the Sunset Prairie—by midday tomorrow, we’ll be there. We’ve found a river ahead and plan to refill all our water supplies. Once we enter the prairie, water will be scarce and fiercely guarded by wild beasts. We must prepare in advance,” Belita explained.

“A river?” Hughes’s face lit up with delight—finally, a chance to bathe. Quickly learning the way, he ran ahead, stripped off his clothes, and plunged into the river.

Autumn’s chill had already crept into the water, but it didn’t bother Hughes. He swam happily, feeling days of fatigue melt away. The river only reached his waist, and the sensation on his skin told him something else.

“There are fish—there are fish in here! Tonight we can grill fish, maybe even have fish soup,” Hughes exclaimed with joy. Days of bland food had dulled his taste buds.

With his sword, he whittled a branch to a sharp point. Thanks to his quick reflexes, he soon speared over a dozen fish, each the length of an arm. He strung them with a vine to carry back.

“Ha!” Spotting another fish, Hughes thrust the wooden spear forward. When he picked it up, he realized it was a species he’d never seen before—translucent as crystal, only about fifteen centimeters long, its blood visible within. In the water, it was nearly invisible, and only his mental acuity had revealed it.

Hughes examined it carefully. “Can this fish be eaten?” he wondered.

“Beep! Unnamed species detected. Assign a name? This organism contains a form of unknown energy. Eating it will increase Agility by 0.6, Constitution by 0.7, Mental Power by 0.7 (Note: Full effects only if eaten raw).”

Hughes was stunned—a single fish could boost his attributes so significantly, especially mental power. Without hesitation, he slipped it off the stick and ate it raw. The flavor was surprisingly pleasant, devoid of any fishy taste, with a delicate, fresh aroma.

As he swallowed, a warm current surged from his stomach, spreading through his body, invigorating every pore.

“Chip, name that fish ‘Frost Crystal Fish.’ Scan if there are any more nearby—if so….” Hughes’s heart beat faster with anticipation.

“Beep. Scan complete. No Frost Crystal Fish detected.”

Unwilling to give up, Hughes searched several spots, but the result was always the same.

“Oh well, one is better than none.” He glanced at the darkening sky, then at his status panel.

“Hughes Bruch: Strength: 3.6, Agility: 4.0, Constitution: 4.0, Mental Power: 2.2, Status: Healthy.”

“In the past, strength was always my highest and the easiest to increase. Now it’s the lowest,” Hughes mused with satisfaction. Carrying his catch, he returned to camp.

With so many fish, a large pot of fish soup was made, warming everyone. After eating, Hughes picked up his sword and went to a quiet spot near the camp to grow accustomed to his new strength.

The wheels of the carriages creaked on, and as they drew nearer, the scent of fresh grass grew stronger.

“We’re finally here.” Hughes poked his head out of the carriage, gazing at the endless prairie ahead—a vast land where countless merchants, mercenaries, and bards had met their end, a place so formidable that even the horse bandits dared not enter.