Chapter 65: Be happy. It is the only thing that is really important at the end.

The morning was pale and chill, and the mist hung low over the street, winding itself around the wheels of the carriage that Felix had rented. Dune brought the last of Leto’s luggage to the front steps, neatly arranging it in front of the door just as Felix turned the corner with the tired old horse drawing the carriage to a stop in front of the house.

"Door-to-door service," Felix jumped down from the bench, lightly patting the horse on the neck. "Had to walk only a bit to get this one. The owner nearly handed me the reins for the price."

"I am truly grateful," Leto stepped out of the doorway and adjusted his collar in reaction to the coolness of the morning. After he stood for a second looking back at the house once more, he walked over to help load the luggage.

Working quickly, they stacked the two leather boxes and the package of gifts inside the carriage, carefully covering it all with a blanket to protect it from the morning dew. Dune climbed up into the carriage without saying a word and took a seat near the windows, folding her hands on her lap.

Felix walked to the horse, examining the leather straps securing its harness and checking whether everything was tight, before climbing up into the coachman’s seat beside the man who rented the carriage to him – an older man with a rugged face, who hadn’t said much up until now.

"Are we all set back there?" Felix called over his shoulder.

"All set," Leto climbed in after him and took the opposite seat from Dune, resting his hands on his knees.

The coachman clicked his tongue and the carriage started moving, its wheels creaking in response to the uneven cobblestones. Leaving behind the house that grew smaller and smaller with every rotation of the wheels, disappearing completely when the road took the sharp turn.

The city had rapidly dispersed behind them, buildings giving way to farmlands within an hour past sunrise and by midday, the road had become a thin dirt track winding through vast grassy fields. Felix was lying on the driver’s seat, almost falling asleep with his arms crossed, the creak of the wheels putting him close to sleep.

By the second day, the landscape had changed again, dense forests crowding the left side of the road while on the other side lay hills without any obstacles. The temperature had dropped, filling the atmosphere with the smell of pines and soil.

"Trouble up ahead," The coachman said abruptly, his tone very serious.

Felix opened his eyes wide, startled. There were seven men standing at the road, blocking it completely. Their swords were drawn and glistening in the rays of sunlight, while three of them were using their magic powers, one forming a puddle of water around his open palm, another breaking the rocks from under his feet and the last one making sparks of electricity.

"Coachman, stop the carriage," Felix quickly got down when the coach had just started to slow down and loosened his shoulders. He glanced back and said. "Stay here for a moment."

"Are you sure about this?" Leto was leaning forward and holding on tightly to the edge of his seat.

"Seven guys with swords." Felix cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading on his face. "I’ve had rougher mornings than this, I promise."

The first bandit moved in without prior warning. Felix easily evaded the move, flicking a playing card into his neck before he was even able to properly land his strike. He fell instantly. The second one went at him from the left, obviously inexperienced. Felix ducked under the attack, elbowed him in the ribcage, and spun right into the third bandit’s sword, deflecting the blow by holding a card flat between two fingers.

The stone-caster hurled a sharp spike right at his chest. Felix barely managed to dodge just in time, allowing the spike to break harmlessly against the side of the carriage.

"Be careful with the carriage!" Felix shouted behind his shoulder, completely unaffected by the attack. "I don’t really want to pay for that out of my own pocket."

The water-caster launched a blade of compressed liquid at him. Felix rolled under it, throwing himself up already mid-roll and sending three cards flying at the attacker, dropping him onto the ground immediately.

Two other men rushed him at once from both sides, with swords raised high above their heads. Felix easily dodged the first blow, seized the second sword by its blade with two fingers, twisted it out of his grasp, and kneed him in the gut, bending him over instantly.

One man tried to break away from the fight, running to the side of the carriage where the horses were standing. He raised his sword to stab the coachman, who was still frozen in his place.

Dune got to him before he even had a chance to get close enough to do any damage.

She grabbed his wrist right as he tried to slash the sword at her. He dropped his weapon in the dirt within an instant before receiving a powerful blow to his jaw, dropping him immediately to the ground. She stepped calmly back to her place beside the carriage afterward, as if she was just brushing a bug off herself.

Other bandits, looking at their fallen comrades and the girl standing beside the unconscious bandit, exchanged a quick worried look and retreated instantly, running back into the woods.

Felix got up slowly, dusting himself off, looking back toward the carriage. "Well, there you go." He went toward it again, examining the wheels for any damage quickly. "Everybody all right back there?"

"Just great." Leto exhaled slowly, still obviously unnerved, wide-eyed. "You made that look too easy."

"Almost too easy," Felix corrected him, getting back up onto the driver’s bench, a grin on his face. "All right. We better keep going before more of them come up with some bright ideas."

On the third day around afternoon, the town came into sight, the rooftops rising above the tree line ahead, smoke curling steadily out of a dozen chimneys dotting the horizon. Leto sat forward in his seat, looking it for a while in silence before he spoke at last.

"You can stop here." His tone was quieter than usual. "I’ll walk from here on my own."

Felix turned to look back. "We’re almost at the gate. Are you sure?"

"Sure am." Leto gave a weary smile. "This place is home for neither of you two. Wouldn’t be right dragging strangers through all of this."

"Fair enough." Felix waved at the coachman to stop the carriage.

They unloaded the luggage from the carriage, the package of presents, as well as the two leather cases, putting them gently down on the roadside grass. First, Leto took some money for the coachman out. "Ten silvers. In addition to your work, for the trouble and the diversion from your usual path."

"That is much appreciated." Coachman pocketed it quickly and turned the carriage towards home.

Afterwards, Leto took Felix’s attention, giving him three gold coins firmly, although he had an objection prepared beforehand.

"You don’t have to do that."

"I do." Leto held his hand tight and longer than necessary. "I, Leto Socrates, will never forget your kindness. If you’ll ever need any help, let me know. Truly."

"Yeah. Sure thing." Felix held his hand tight too, hesitated for a split of a second at hearing his name, but quickly masked it with a nod. "Good journey back home."

Leto turned to Dune and something in his face changed. His face softened in a way which wasn’t seen during the whole travel. "Take care of yourself." He held her gaze for several seconds. "Be happy. It is the only thing that is really important at the end."

"Goodbye, Leto." She said it calmly and simply, as if there was nothing special in it, just like she usually did.

Leto nodded, took both cases and left towards the town without looking back at them, leaving their sight.

Felix watched him for a while and then turned to the empty road behind them. "Okay." He clapped his hands once. "It’s time to go home. I’m hungry and, apparently, I’m rich now."

"You are not rich," Dune told him and started to climb back into the carriage.

"Three gold coins richer than I was this morning. It is enough."