Chapter 143 - 144: Road to the Village

Chapter 143: Chapter 144: Road to the Village

They packed their things.

It didn’t take long. They didn’t have much. A few weapons. A few supplies. A few changes of clothes. Everything they owned fit into small bags and packs.

Daniel looked at his team. At his family. At his friends.

"Ready?" he asked.

They nodded. They were ready.

"Then let’s go."

They walked out of the camp. They walked through the forest. They walked toward the village.

The sun was bright. The sky was blue. The air was fresh. It was a beautiful day.

Daniel walked in front. His hands were in his pockets. His expression was calm. His eyes were sharp.

Lyra walked beside him. Her guns were holstered. Her eyes were scanning. She was ready for anything.

Fluffy walked behind them. She was small. She was quick. She was quiet. She was a shadow.

Mittens walked beside Fluffy. She was nervous. She was scared. But she was there.

Cheeky walked behind them. Her cloak was pulled low. Her hood covered her ears. She was hiding. But she was also smiling.

Paul walked beside Cheeky. His hands were in his pockets. His expression was tired. He was exhausted. But he was there.

Brick Head walked at the back. He was picking his nose. He was humming a tune. He was completely oblivious.

---

They walked for hours.

The forest was thick. The trees were tall. The shadows were deep. But the path was clear. Someone had walked this way before.

Daniel looked around. At the trees. At the animals. At the birds.

"It’s peaceful," he said.

Lyra nodded. "It is."

"I like it."

"Me too."

They walked in silence for a moment.

Then Daniel spoke.

"So," he said. "What’s the village called?"

Paul shrugged. "I still don’t know."

"You still don’t know?"

"I told you. I don’t remember the name."

Daniel sighed. "You’re useless."

"I know."

---

They walked for more hours.

The sun moved across the sky. The shadows shifted. The forest thinned.

They reached a clearing. A small clearing. It was quiet. It was peaceful. It was a good place to rest.

"We’ll stop here," Daniel said.

They stopped. They sat down. They rested.

Fluffy sat beside Daniel. She was tired. She was hungry. She was bored.

"Master," she said.

Daniel looked at her. "What?"

"Fluffy is bored."

"I know."

"Fluffy wants to do something."

"Like what?"

"Fluffy doesn’t know."

Daniel thought about it. "How about a game?"

Fluffy’s ears perked up. "A game?"

"Yes. A game."

"What game?"

Daniel smiled. "Would you rather."

Fluffy tilted her head. "Would you rather?"

"Yes. It’s a game. I ask you a question. You choose between two things."

Fluffy nodded. "Fluffy understands."

"Good. Would you rather have unlimited meat or unlimited head pats?"

Fluffy thought about it. Her brow furrowed. Her nose twitched.

"Both," she said.

"You can’t have both. You have to choose."

Fluffy thought harder. "Meat."

Daniel nodded. "Good choice."

"Fluffy loves meat."

"I know."

---

Lyra spoke.

"I have a question."

Daniel looked at her. "What?"

"Lord Ashworth. He’s still out there. He’s still looking for us."

Daniel nodded. "Yes."

"What if he finds us before we reach Heaven’s Domain?"

Daniel thought about it. "We’ll deal with him."

"How?"

"We’ll fight him. If we have to."

"We can’t beat him. He’s at stage four."

"I know. But we’re getting stronger. We’re training. We’re improving."

He paused.

"And we have something he doesn’t."

Lyra blinked. "What?"

"Each other."

Lyra was silent. She looked at him. At his calm face. At his determined eyes.

"Okay," she said. "Okay."

---

Cheeky spoke.

"I have a question."

Daniel looked at her. "What?"

"Lord Ashworth. He’s very strong. How do we beat him?"

Daniel thought about it. "We get stronger. We reach stage four. We reach stage five. We reach the aura realm."

Cheeky blinked. "The aura realm?"

"Yes."

"That’s... that’s impossible."

"Nothing is impossible."

"Daniel, the aura realm is... it’s a legend. Most people never reach it. Most people never even get close."

"I know. But we have to try."

Cheeky stared at him. Her mouth was open.

"You’re serious," she whispered.

"I’m always serious."

"You’re never serious."

"I’m serious now."

Cheeky was silent. She looked at him. At his calm face. At his determined eyes.

"Okay," she said. "Okay. We’ll try."

---

Mittens spoke.

"I have a question."

Daniel looked at her. "What?"

"Am I... am I really coming with you? To Heaven’s Domain?"

Daniel blinked. "Yes. Why wouldn’t you?"

"I’m not strong. I’m not useful. I’m just... me."

Daniel looked at her. At her scared face. At her trembling body. At her wet eyes.

"You’re coming with us," he said.

"But I’m not—"

"You’re coming with us. You’re part of the team. You’re part of the family."

Mittens stared at him. Her eyes were wet.

"But I’m not—"

"You’re coming with us. That’s final."

Mittens was silent. She was thinking. She was processing.

"Okay," she whispered. "Okay."

---

Brick Head spoke.

"I have a question."

Daniel looked at him. "What?"

"Where’s Heaven’s Domain?"

Daniel looked at Paul. Paul shrugged.

"It’s in the kingdom," Paul said. "A few days from here."

"A few days?"

"Yes."

"How many days?"

"Maybe a week. Maybe two."

Daniel sighed. "That’s too long."

"We don’t have a choice."

Daniel thought about it. "We’ll get a caravan. From the village. It’ll be faster."

Paul nodded. "That could work."

"It will work."

---

The rest ended.

They stood up. They stretched. They prepared to leave.

Daniel looked at his team. At his family. At his friends.

"We have a long journey ahead of us," he said. "But we’re ready."

He paused.

"Let’s go."

They walked out of the clearing. They walked through the forest. They walked toward the village.

---

They walked for more hours.

The sun was setting. The sky was orange. The clouds were pink. The stars were appearing.

They reached a hill. They climbed it. They looked down.

A village was below them. It was small. It was quiet. It was peaceful.

It was surrounded by walls. It was protected by guards. It was a safe place.

Daniel smiled. "There it is."

Paul nodded. "The village."

"What’s it called?"

Paul shrugged. "I still don’t know."

Daniel sighed. "You’re useless."

"I know."

They walked down the hill. They walked toward the village. They walked toward the gates.

The guards saw them. They raised their hands.

"Halt," one of them said. "State your business."

Daniel stopped. He looked at the guard. His expression was calm.

"We’re travelers," he said. "We’re looking for a caravan."

The guard looked at him. At his clothes. At his face. At the others behind him.

"Travelers?" he said. "You look like you’ve been through a war."

Daniel shrugged. "We have."

The guard blinked. He looked at the others. At Lyra. At Fluffy. At Cheeky. At Mittens. At Paul. At Brick Head.

"You’re armed," he said.

"We’re adventurers."

The guard nodded slowly. "Adventurers. Fine. Entrance fee is one silver per person."

Daniel reached into his pocket. He pulled out seven silver coins. He handed them over.

The guard counted them. He nodded. He stepped aside.

"Welcome to Greenfield," he said.

Daniel nodded. He walked through the gates. The others followed.

They were in the village.