Halfway

Aidan had clearly looked into it already.

He immediately replied, “The caravan manager said that if we don't encounter any trouble on the road, it will take about half a month.”

“Half a month.”

Matthew repeated in a low voice.

His gaze turned back toward the distant main road.

Half a month wasn't short.

But it wasn't too long either.

If he could maintain his current pace for these two weeks, he could still perform multiple meditations, absorb several magic stones, and adjust his state to be even closer to his peak.

When he arrived at the royal capital, he might not necessarily break through to become a Third-Grade Apprentice.

But at least he would be stronger than when he first left the county seat.

That was enough.

Matthew didn't like wasting the journey.

Since they still had half a month to go, those two weeks couldn't just be spent staring blankly and waiting.

Every day had to yield some gain.

His gaze shifted back from the distance and began to scan the entire convoy.

The line formed by the eight carriages was not loose as it stretched along the main road.

The first two carriages were responsible for travel supplies.

The third carriage was loaded with weapons and emergency items.

The fourth carriage, where he was located, was in the middle section, neither too far forward to be exposed nor too far back to be easily ambushed.

The four freight wagons at the rear carried the caravan's true goods.

Furs, herbs, silverware, and some boxes that were tightly covered.

There were more than a dozen guards on both sides of the caravan.

They were distributed in a very organized manner.

There were people scouting ahead, people accompanying the middle section, and people bringing up the rear.

Every once in a while, a mounted guard would circle from the front of the line to the back to confirm that no one had fallen behind and that there was nothing unusual with the cargo.

The caravan's pace wasn't fast, but it was steady.

This steadiness was built from experience.

Matthew looked around and nodded inwardly.

Regg had indeed arranged things well.

This caravan wasn't a temporary, ordinary group, but a mature one that had clearly traveled long distances many times.

The supplies were ample.

The guard distribution was reasonable.

The arrangement of the carriages was also very deliberate.

Even placing his own carriage in the fourth position was not random.

Too far forward, and he would easily be the first to be exposed in a conflict if they encountered an attack. Too far back, and they might be cut off by pursuers or bandits from the rear.

The middle was the steadiest.

There were buffers in both the front and back.

This indicated that the caravan manager had indeed received instructions from Regg and truly treated Matthew as an important guest who needed to be looked after.

Matthew’s impression of Regg improved by another notch.

Of course, it was only by a notch.

He wouldn't completely lower his guard just because the other party had made thorough arrangements.

The more thorough Regg was with him, the heavier this favor became.

If there was an opportunity in the future, he would likely have to pay it back.

However, this didn't repel Matthew.

As long as the transaction and the favor were clear, it was actually more reassuring than unprovoked enthusiasm.

He wasn't afraid of owing favors.

What he feared were favors with unknown costs.

Matthew’s gaze passed over the middle of the convoy and landed on a mounted guard nearby.

The man rode a black-maned horse, wore thickened leather armor, carried a longsword at his waist, and had a small round shield on his back. Compared to the other guards, his aura was clearly more composed, and his posture on horseback was extremely natural.

It was the same Brass Rank guard who had previously protected Regg.

To Matthew’s surprise, this man had actually been assigned to the caravan this time.

This made Matthew somewhat unexpected, yet it also further confirmed how much importance Regg placed on this trip.

A Brass Rank Class holder was no longer a small character that could be found everywhere in the county seat.

Furthermore, this man had once protected Regg personally, indicating that he was a trustworthy guard within the Holder family.

Having such a person accompany the caravan was not just for protecting the goods.

To some extent, it was also to give Matthew reassurance.

Matthew quietly glanced at the guard.

As if sensing his gaze, the Brass Rank guard slightly turned his head.

The two men's gazes briefly met across the dust and sunlight of the main road.

The guard was startled for a moment, then showed a polite smile and nodded slightly toward Matthew.

It wasn't fawning. Nor was it currying favor.

It was more like a greeting with a sense of propriety.

Matthew also nodded slightly in response.

The carriage curtain swayed gently in the wind.

Aidan, riding alongside, noticed this scene and lowered his voice, saying, “Big Brother Matthew, that guard seems to be the one who was with Young Master Regg before.”

“Yeah.”

Matthew responded.

Aidan felt some emotion.

“Young Master Regg arranged things very thoroughly this time.”

Matthew didn't respond.

He continued to watch the main road stretching ahead.

It was indeed thorough.

So thorough that he had to seriously take note of this favor.

The recommendation letter. The information booklet. The caravan. The private carriage. The Brass Rank guard accompanying them.

Added together, these things were no longer just a casual favor between ordinary friends.

Regg was placing a bet.

And a significant one at that.

Matthew knew very well that what Regg wanted was not an immediate return.

The other party valued his future.

An apprentice who might enter higher wizarding circles, someone who might become an Official Wizard in the future.

If Matthew truly climbed higher in the future, then this bit of help today would become a very profitable investment.

Regg understood this logic. Matthew understood it too.

So Matthew didn't feel that he owed a debt that was impossible to accept.

He was only more certain that he had to become stronger.

Only by becoming stronger would a favor truly be a favor.

If he remained weak, this help would eventually turn into pressure or even shackles.

But if he were strong enough in the future, then the help Regg gave today would only become an inspiring tale in their relationship.

At this thought, the expectation in Matthew’s heart for going to the royal capital deepened silently.

The capital was still half a month away.

After half a month, he would enter a larger world.

There would be more people like Regg there. And there would also be more people even more difficult to deal with than Regg.

There would be resources. But there would also be traps.

There would be spell models. But there would also be hunters eyeing the magic stones and the lives of apprentices.

Matthew didn't think he would necessarily be able to establish himself easily.

But he was looking forward to it.

This expectation wasn't a frivolous excitement, but a scorching heat pressed beneath a shell of caution.

He had had enough of resource scarcity. He had had enough of a meager spell repertoire.

And he had had enough of having to rely on maps and decisiveness to find a way to survive in front of people like Herbert.

The royal capital was dangerous.

But the royal capital also meant possibility.

Matthew needed that possibility.

The caravan continued forward.

Hooves trod on the hard road surface, kicking up a bit of dust.

Wind blew in through the gaps in the carriage windows, carrying the scent of vegetation and earth.

Matthew looked toward the end of the distant main road, his eyes gradually becoming calm.

Half a month. It wasn't long.

But it was enough to do many things.

He lowered the curtain and said to Aidan, “Call me if anything happens.”

Aidan immediately nodded.

“Yes, Big Brother Matthew.”

Matthew leaned back into the carriage again.

The light from outside was blocked by the cloth curtain, and the interior darkened once more.

He didn't immediately resume his meditation, but instead closed his eyes to organize his thoughts.

The route was stable. The caravan was reliable. The guards were strong enough.

There was no obvious danger for the time being.

Next, he would continue to absorb magic stones.

Stabilize his Spirit.

And adjust himself to a better state as much as possible before arriving at the royal capital.

Matthew’s finger lightly touched his storage ring.

The ring was cold.

Inside, those magic stones were stored quietly.

Every magic stone was a small step forward.

And as long as there were enough of these small steps, they would eventually push him to the threshold of a Third-Grade Apprentice.

The sound of the wheels continued rhythmically.

The scenery on both sides of the main road slowly receded. Occasionally, a few travelers could be seen passing by with packhorses, and small caravans could be seen coming from the opposite direction.

Compared to the remote roads he had traveled from the small town to the county seat, this main highway leading toward the royal capital was clearly much wider and smoother.

The road was crisscrossed with ruts, indicating that people traveled here year-round.

At certain intervals, one could also see repaired mile markers. Although those mile markers were somewhat weathered, the distances toward the royal capital and the locations of nearby villages and towns were still carved on them.

This wasn't a wilderness path. Nor was it a mountain road where few people ventured.

They had already entered the range of the Royal Capital main highway.

The closer they got to the royal capital, the more merchant caravans passed by, and the more frequent the patrol squads became.

Ordinary bandits would never easily provoke a caravan like the Holder family's, which bore a noble insignia.

Matthew was well aware of this.

So he didn't focus most of his energy on guarding against ordinary bandits.

That wasn't something he should personally worry about.

The caravan had guards, a Brass Rank Class holder, and a manager to arrange the route and camping. If they couldn't even stop ordinary bandits, then this caravan wouldn't be worthy of Regg’s trust.

For Matthew, what he truly needed to do was conserve his energy.

Meditate. Absorb magic stones. Stabilize his Spirit.

However, the main road being safe didn't mean it was foolproof.

Stray magical beasts, fleeing criminals, private conflicts between nobles, or even unannounced slaughter between wizard apprentices—all could suddenly appear.

Danger didn't necessarily come from the middle of the road. It could also come from the woods by the roadside, from a strange carriage, or from a conflict that seemed unrelated to oneself.

At this thought, Matthew lifted the carriage curtain again.

Aidan was still riding alongside the carriage.

The youth heard the movement and immediately moved closer.

“Big Brother Matthew?”

Matthew looked at the main road ahead, his tone calm.

“On this journey, ordinary bandits probably won't appear.”

Aidan was startled for a moment.

He quickly reacted and followed Matthew’s gaze into the distance.

“The caravan manager also said that the closer we get to the royal capital, the fewer bandits there are,” Aidan said.

Matthew said faintly, “Yeah.”

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment and then added, “But don't relax because of that.”

Aidan’s expression immediately became serious. “Yes.”

Matthew glanced at him. Aidan was, after all, only a Black Iron Rank Class holder.

Matthew had no intention of letting him overreach.

He only needed Aidan to watch more, remember more, and report more.

“You don't need to be tense all the time,” Matthew said. “The caravan guards will handle ordinary bandits and road issues.”

Aidan nodded. “Understood.”

“But you need to keep an eye on a few things.”

Matthew said, “First, the horses. If several horses become anxious at the same time or snort frequently, it means there might be something nearby.”

Aidan seriously took note.

“Second, the movement of the guards. If they suddenly change positions or the scouts retreat, it means they've discovered something unusual.”

“Third, strangers. If someone proactively approaches my carriage, don't let them get close. Let the guards handle it.”

“Fourth, the woods and slopes. Dense forests, dry ditches, and abandoned stone houses can hide people or other things.”

Matthew paused before continuing, “Fifth, if you find anything unusual, don't rush to handle it. Tell me first.”

Aidan immediately nodded. “Yes, Big Brother Matthew.”

Matthew looked at him and added, “Especially things you don't understand.”

This sentence made Aidan’s heart tremble slightly. He understood that if it involved wizards or mana, it wasn't something he could interfere with.

Aidan said in a low voice, “I won't act recklessly.”

Matthew gave a faint “Yeah.”

He didn't say anything more. For a follower like Aidan, these instructions were enough.

...

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