The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth as the group gathered in the inn's small dining area. The previous night's teasing still lingered in the air, a playful energy accompanying their breakfast.
Saanvi finished her meal, looking over at the others with a satisfied smile. "I think it's time we move on. We can reach the next village by evening."
Vihaan, as always, was silent, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he nodded slightly. His attention was always quietly on her, though the others would never know it.
Tianlan, already halfway through his meal, grumbled, "Great. More walking. I was hoping for a break."
Devran, always the mischievous one, chuckled. "You've been complaining since we left the temple. You're going to need more than a break to keep up with us."
Wei Zhan, sitting opposite, shot him a glare. "I'll keep up just fine," he retorted, clearly still half-asleep and irritated.
Xie Lian smiled at the group, the only one seemingly at peace with the constant movement. "Let's make sure we have everything. We don't want to be caught off guard."
They began to pack up their things, preparing to leave the inn. Saanvi gave a quick look around, making sure nothing was left behind. As they stepped out of the inn and into the warm light of morning, the road ahead seemed peaceful, yet something about it felt off.
The journey ahead was long and filled with uncertainty, but it wasn't the destination that worried Saanvi. It was what awaited them in the next village—and the dangerous truths that seemed to follow them wherever they went.
They walked in relative silence for the first part of the journey, the occasional rustling of trees the only sound accompanying their steps. But that peace was shattered when a strange noise broke through the calm.
A loud thud, followed by a series of frantic scurrying sounds, echoed through the trees. Devran immediately tensed, reaching for his sword.
"Stay alert," Saanvi murmured, her senses sharp as ever.
Before anyone could react further, a figure crashed down from a tree, landing in front of them with an ungraceful thud. The person—wearing mismatched, patchwork clothes, covered in leaves and dirt—rolled to a stop, a bundle of herbs and vegetables clutched tightly in their arms.
Devran stepped forward, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Who are you?"
The figure groaned, pushing themselves up, completely unbothered. They had a wild, untamed look about them, with wild black hair and a wide grin that seemed to suggest they were either crazy or very confident.
"Me? Oh, I'm Riku. And you all look like you could use some help," he said brightly, completely ignoring Devran's cautious stance.
Tianlan, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow. "Help? From you?"
Riku winked, unfazed. "Well, yeah! I'm an expert in survival skills. Herbs, cooking, magic tricks—if it's odd and useful, I can do it!"
Wei Zhan, who had been silently observing the encounter, let out a small, almost imperceptible snort. "Survival skills, huh? If you're such an expert, then what are you doing up in a tree?"
Riku grinned sheepishly, adjusting the herbs in his hands. "Uh, I got a bit... distracted. But that's not important right now! What's important is that I've got food and medicinal herbs—guaranteed to heal wounds and make you feel better than a week's worth of sleep!"
Saanvi's lips twitched in amusement, despite herself. "And what exactly do you want in return for all this?"
"Well, that's easy," Riku said with a dramatic sigh, dramatically fluttering his hands. "I need something in return, of course—your company, mostly. And some exciting stories!"
Devran wasn't sure what to make of the strange character. He didn't seem dangerous, but he was... unpredictable. "We don't need anyone else, but if you can help us find the next village, then we'll consider your offer."
Riku's eyes gleamed. "Deal! I know this forest like the back of my hand. Follow me, and I'll make sure you don't get lost."
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Later That Day
As the group walked on, Riku continued to fill the silence with his endless chatter. Despite his odd nature, there was something oddly charming about him. He would tease and joke, and even Devran couldn't help but crack a smile at his antics.
Riku had an annoying way of always being in the right place at the right time. When they came across a creek, he had a clever solution to cross without getting wet. When Wei Zhan complained about being hungry, Riku pulled out dried meat from his pouch and tossed it at him with a grin.
Xie Lian, always one for observing people, found himself laughing quietly at Riku's antics. "You certainly know how to keep things interesting."
Riku waggled his eyebrows. "Of course! Who wants to be boring when life can be this much fun?"
As the day stretched on, the sun began to set. The group found a small clearing and decided to set up camp for the night. Riku immediately started gathering firewood and set to work preparing some sort of strange stew from his herbs.
"Let's eat!" he called out, proudly holding up a bowl of his concoction.
The others hesitated, eyeing the dish skeptically.
Wei Zhan was the first to speak, grimacing. "Is this supposed to look like... that?"
Riku shrugged. "Hey, it's an acquired taste. But trust me, you'll love it!"
Tianlan, always skeptical of things that didn't look right, shot a glare at Riku. "I'm not eating that."
Riku grinned mischievously. "Oh, come on! You can't judge a book by its cover—or a stew by its color!"
Saanvi chuckled softly, accepting a bowl. "I think I'll try it. It might surprise you."
Xie Lian followed her example, taking a small bite. To everyone's surprise, it wasn't half bad.
Devran, seeing no way out, tried the stew as well, his lips twitching in amusement as he watched Riku's hopeful expression.
"It's actually... not terrible," he admitted.
Riku beamed. "Told you! You've got to trust a guy with a name like Riku."
---
Later that Night
After dinner, the group gathered around the fire, the quiet crackling of the flames filling the silence. Riku had insisted on telling stories, and even though some of them were ridiculous and far-fetched, they couldn't help but laugh.
Tianlan, however, still wasn't sure about this new ally. "What's your deal, Riku?"
Riku, laying back on the grass, looked up at the star-filled sky. "My deal? Oh, you know, the usual. I travel, I collect rare herbs, I avoid trouble... well, sometimes." He gave a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I've got a... complicated past. But who doesn't?"
Saanvi, listening intently, noticed the faint shadow that passed over his face. For a moment, he looked like a different person—a person with a past that he didn't want to discuss.
Vihaan, who had been silently observing the interaction, caught Saanvi's gaze and nodded slightly. They had both noticed Riku's guarded nature, but neither of them pressed him for more.
The night continued with light teasing, laughter, and the warmth of companionship that began to form between them all. Riku's presence, odd as it was, seemed to fill the gaps left by their previous silence.
And as the stars twinkled above them, the group knew that the journey ahead was going to be far more interesting with Riku around.
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End of Chapter 15: New Beginnings
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