Chapter 131: Travel Problems

The carriage calmly departed from the Ducato of Vorah and was now advancing along the winding road that stretched beyond the region's borders. The surroundings were serene, but the trees and vegetation were becoming increasingly wild, the density of the area growing exponentially, closing in on the road.

The group was still adjusting to the pace of the journey, especially the girls who had never traveled this way before, like Beatrice and Monica, who had only taken short trips between nearby cities of Stainhardt.

After leaving the Ducato, Strax and Carlos discussed the best routes they could take. Carlos suggested a safer, albeit longer, route that could extend to three or four days if any problems occurred on the road; it would avoid the more dangerous areas of the forest. However, Strax decided he preferred a more direct route through the forest, believing it would save time.

Besides, he had confidence in handling any issues that arose, given...

Let's just say he had received some encouragement and insights from two swords that seemed quite eager to slice through human flesh and tear it apart with tortuous and deep strikes... Well, he certainly followed their lead...

Carlos furrowed his brow, clearly worried but reluctant to insist, knowing that even if this madman wanted to get himself killed, he could manage. "Alright, if that's what you prefer. Just be aware that the forest is known for being treacherous."

"Understood," Strax replied with a resolute expression. "We'll go through the forest. The route may be shorter, and we have the advantage of being a well-prepared group."

The decision was made. The carriage moved forward, entering the forest which, although beautiful, offered a narrow and complicated path. The vegetation became increasingly dense, with the trees intertwining above, creating a green tunnel.

"You can do a kilometer?" Monica asked, curious, but the answer wasn't very satisfying. "No," Samira shook her head. "I can manage 750 meters, but I still have a long way to go to reach a kilometer, and I can only maintain it for a few seconds."

Inside the carriage, they continued discussing the technique Samira had explained. Well, it wasn't exactly a technique; it was something cultivators of Mana could do, like an enhanced vision... If they knew how Strax saw the world with his Dragon's eyes, they might have felt even worse for only being able to do this.

As they advanced and talked about techniques they could easily learn and share with each other, the sound of the horses' hooves and the carriage wheels resonated in the tranquility of the forest. However, the uneven road began to show its challenges, as it was still a dirt road. The potholes and roots emerging from the ground frequently jolted the carriage, causing the group to feel the impact.

"This road is in terrible condition," Beatrice commented, observing the terrain from inside the carriage. "It's no wonder it's so difficult to pass through here."

"I should have anticipated this," Strax said, approaching the open window where Beatrice spoke, then moving to the front of the carriage to inspect the terrain. "Let's try to continue like this and see how far we can go before making a stop."

CRACK*

There wasn't even time for Strax to think about anything. Shortly after checking the path ahead, a loud crack echoed through the solitary forest. The right rear wheel of the carriage had broken due to the uneven terrain, and the carriage began to tilt dangerously to one side.

"Damn it!" Strax exclaimed, pulling on the reins and trying to control the agitated horses. "Stop!" he quickly told Carlos, who halted the horses almost immediately. "I warned you," Carlos said...

Strax went to the back of the carriage to check what had happened, and well... the problem might be relatively simple. "If we go slowly, we can manage until the next village," Carlos said, assessing the situation. It wasn't that the wheel had broken; it was actually a wooden wheel, and one of the spokes had snapped.