When Your Secret Crush Wizard Took a Love Potion - Chapter 15
After descending from Mount Torenne, it took us about a day to reach a large castle surrounded by a deep moat.
The drawbridge was down, allowing guests and traders entry after a check. Having lived in a secluded cabin in the valley, I had never been among such a bustling crowd.
I looked around with curious eyes.
People wore a variety of attire.
There were travelers with maps and backpacks dressed lightly, mercenaries in armor, and wanderers surveying the surroundings with their packs. One woman, in particular, wore heavy armor and had her hair cut so short her scalp was visible, a style I had never seen before and found quite fascinating.
“Good day, sir. I need to check your bag,” said one of the gatekeepers as the line quickly diminished, and we approached the city gate.
His tone was polite, and there was no hint of hostility.
“What brings you to our city?”
“For our honeymoon,” Edgar answered before I could say we were tourists.
“Ah, a perfect pair indeed. A spouse is the best companion and fellow traveler on life’s long journey. I hope you gain much from this trip.”
The gatekeeper said, genuinely happy as if celebrating his own occasion. It seemed too awkward to correct him at this point, so I just smiled and asked him another question.
“Where can I find the boat ticket office here?”
“Taking a cruise around the lake, how romantic!”
He chuckled and gave us directions to the ticket office. He continued to treat us like a lovestruck newlywed couple, which made me slightly embarrassed, so I hurried us along.
“May blessings follow you both!”
He called after us as we passed through the city gates.
Inside the city were a plethora of experiences I had yet to encounter.
Whooomm…
From a distance, the sound of a large ship’s horn echoed, signaling that it was docking at the harbor. Despite just having entered the city, a crisp breeze carried the distinctive briny scent of the water.
Then, a voice clearer than the ship’s horn rang in my ears.
“We’ve always lived near the forest, so this must be quite the sight for you, Chloe.”
Edgar was right.
This was my first time seeing such a historic harbor city. The sight sparked a romantic notion of travel I hadn’t fully acknowledged before.
I was captivated by the view, and Edgar came closer and whispered, “Looks like you’re enjoying this.”
“How about we travel across the entire continent while we’re at it?”
“That might take decades.”
“So what? Whether it takes decades or centuries, as long as you’re fine with it, Chloe, I am too….”
This wasn’t the time for such plans. I took Edgar’s hand and headed straight for the ticket office.
The area near the large stone building was bustling with passengers and sailors due to the constant docking of ships. My gaze caught the large flags fluttering in the wind and a relatively quieter breakwater below them.
“I’ll get the tickets and come back; wait here for me.”
“What? Are you saying you’re going without me?”
Edgar looked incredulous.
There was a rational reason for this. Edgar, who has always been reluctant to interact with others besides me, wasn’t particularly helpful in social interactions.
Given his condition after taking the potion, I was even more concerned.
It’ll be simpler if I go alone.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Chloe!”
“Just wait here patiently.”
I suppressed any protest from Edgar with a look and rushed to the building.
Before leaving, I had studied maps and travel guides. There were various routes from the northern forests to the western part of the continent where the Mistwood Forest lay.
If time were not an issue, I would have hired mercenaries through a guild to cross the Semelia mountains, but Edgar’s condition seemed to worsen day by day instead of improving.
Therefore, I chose to travel by sea.
According to the map, by going directly from the port city of Meroni across Lake Martin, I could reach the western village nearest to the Mistwood Forest in the shortest distance.
Though it was my first time considering sailing, I surmised that crossing the lake would be more efficient than taking a slow detour around the Semelia mountains.
