บท 4: The journey Begins

As dawn broke, Sir Alaric, the farmer, and the young lady began to prepare for their departure. The farmer, despite the early hour, was in high spirits, cracking jokes as he packed his gear. "Aye, this old sack's seen more action than most knights! If it had a mouth, it would tell tales to make your ears burn," he quipped, giving the worn bag a fond pat before shooting a wink at the brooding knight.The young lady, never one to shy away from a conversation, seized the moment. "More action than a knight, you say? Then why don't we let the sack lead the way?" She smirked, clearly enjoying the banter.The farmer chuckled, playing along. "It might do a better job at conversation than this one," he said, nodding towards Sir Alaric, who was meticulously checking his sword without so much as a glance at the two of them.Undeterred, the young lady turned her attention to Alaric. "Why so quiet? Is it true you've never lost a battle? What's your wolf's name again? How did you meet him?" She fired off her questions rapidly, hoping to crack his stoic exterior.The farmer, not missing a beat, chimed in, "Careful, lass. You'll overload his brain with all that chatter! He might just shut down completely."Sir Alaric, however, remained focused on his task, his expression grim. He barely acknowledged them, his thoughts swirling with the weight of his mission, the guilt gnawing at him like a persistent thorn.The young lady, refusing to be ignored, nudged the farmer with her elbow. "Think he'll ever answer, or should I start asking the wolf instead?"The farmer laughed heartily, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, the wolf might have more to say! But don't be too hard on our knight here. He's got the weight of the world on those broad shoulders."Alaric, finally looking up, met the farmer's gaze with a flicker of annoyance, but he kept his silence. The farmer simply grinned wider, clearly pleased with himself. Once they stepped outside, the farmer caught Alaric by the arm, leading him away from the others. In a rare moment of seriousness, the farmer's voice dropped low. "Alaric, you've been chasing this curse, but do you even know what it truly is?"The question struck the knight like a blow. He stared into the distance, the towering trees casting long shadows in the early morning light. Did he know what the curse really was? Or was he just as lost as the day he had failed the young prince? The thought gnawed at him—could he be part of the curse? Or worse, could he be the reason it could never be lifted?The journey began, with the trio trekking through a forest that seemed to mirror Alaric's inner turmoil. The landscape was dark and rugged, the trees ancient and twisted, their massive roots snaking across the ground like the grasping hands of long-forgotten spirits. The sun struggled to penetrate the dense canopy, casting eerie beams of light that illuminated the path ahead in a ghostly glow.The farmer, sensing the knight's dark mood, tried to lighten the atmosphere with his usual humor. He spoke of old legends and riddles, teasing Alaric about the truth behind the curse. "You know, some say the curse is just a bad hangover from a night of too much mead! But I reckon it's something far worse—like the wrath of a jilted lover, eh, Sir Knight?" The farmer's laughter echoed through the trees, but Alaric remained silent, lost in his thoughts.Suddenly, they stumbled upon an ancient battlefield, the ground littered with the remnants of a long-forgotten war. Ruins and bones lay scattered, half-buried in the earth, a grim reminder of a betrayal that had once taken place there. The farmer's voice dropped to a whisper as he recounted the tale. "This place… it was the site of a great betrayal. A leader who turned on his own, just as the prince was turned on. They say the curse feeds on such treachery, drawing strength from those who fail their oaths."Alaric's grip tightened on his sword, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him like a physical force. He had failed the prince, just as the ancient leader had failed his men. Was he doomed to repeat history? Was his quest nothing more than a futile attempt to escape his own fate?As they pressed on, the atmosphere grew more tense. The forest seemed to close in around them, the trees creaking ominously in the wind. Without warning, a group of twisted creatures emerged from the shadows, their grotesque forms barely human, with snarling faces and claws as sharp as daggers."Stay back!" Alaric barked to the young lady, drawing his sword with a steely determination. The farmer nocked an arrow, his eyes narrowing as he took aim. "Looks like we've got some uninvited guests!"The fight that followed was a blur of movement and fury. Alaric's sword cut through the air with deadly precision, each swing cleaving through the foul creatures as if they were nothing more than mist. His movements were swift and calculated, a testament to his years of training and experience.The farmer's arrows flew true, each one finding its mark with unerring accuracy. He moved with surprising agility for a man of his age, dodging the creatures' attacks while peppering them with arrows. "Not bad for an old man, eh?" he called out, grinning as another creature fell to the ground.Meanwhile, the dire wolf, Kellin, stayed close to the young lady, his eyes glowing with a fierce protectiveness. He snarled and lunged at any creature that dared come near her, his powerful jaws snapping shut with a bone-crunching force. The lady, though frightened, stood her ground, watching in awe as the wolf fought with a ferocity that belied his usually calm demeanor.But the battle was far from easy. The creatures were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. Alaric's breath came in ragged gasps as he fought, his muscles burning with exertion. Yet, he pushed on, driven by a determination that bordered on desperation.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the creatures fell. The forest fell silent once more, the only sound the heavy breathing of the trio as they stood amidst the carnage.Alaric, still catching his breath, looked back at the lady and the wolf. His gaze softened for a moment, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his stern features. This journey would test more than just their strength—it would test their very souls.Without a word, he turned to the farmer, nodding in silent gratitude. The old man simply grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "Well, that was quite the workout. Ready to find this dungeon of yours?"Alaric gave a brief nod, and they continued on, the weight of their quest heavier than ever.