Chapter 404: The Caravan That Wouldn’t Arrive

From the ridge, the caravan looked like a row of toys trapped between two cliffs. Up close, Arthur could hear screaming transport Beasts, wagon wheels grinding against stone, and guards shouting over one another.

Six wagons had stopped before a narrow bridge. Its outer railing was broken, and the lead wagon’s rear wheel had sunk into a crack. Behind the caravan, a pack of horned predators descended the slope. Ahead, an enormous plated Beast occupied the only clear road.

"That’s a terrible place to get stuck," Sun said, tightening his grip on Long.

Celia studied the bridge through her field instrument. "The supporting stones have shifted. Don’t put everyone on it at once."

Arthur studied the plated Beast. Thick overlapping armor covered its shoulders, and its heavy forelimbs were digging grooves into the road. "I’ll get that big one out of the way."

Mithra caught his sleeve before he moved. "Arthur, you take the one in front. I’ll get everyone out. If we wait for it to be defeated, the pack behind us will reach the wagons."

Arthur glanced at the caravan and nodded. "You’ve got it."

Melo’s five tails spread with enthusiasm. "Finally, an audience that genuinely needs directions!"

Vedas smiled at Mithra. "Give the orders. I’ll organize the guards around your route."

They hurried down the slope together. A caravan guard raised his spear until Celia displayed her Academy credentials.

"We’re here to help," Mithra told him. "Who’s in charge?"

A broad-shouldered merchant pushed through the frightened travelers. "I am. Name’s Garrick. That monster broke our lead wagon’s axle, and we can’t turn around with the others coming down the cliffs!"

"Then we’re not turning around," Mithra replied, examining the bridge. "We’ll cross in pairs of wagons, with everyone else walking ahead. Keep the transport Beasts calm and follow my markers."

Garrick blinked. "You’re a student?"

"An excellent one," Arthur said cheerfully before turning toward the monster.

...

The plated Beast charged as Arthur approached. Its horn scraped sparks from the road, and the sheer weight of its body shook the nearest wagon.

"Hey!" Arthur called, stepping between it and the caravan. "Your fight’s over here!"

He met the horn with a golden-armored forearm. The impact sent a wave of dust across the valley, but Arthur held firm, directing the Beast’s momentum toward the unoccupied cliff wall. His follow-up Guardian Strike struck its shoulder plates, releasing a brilliant golden shockwave that cracked the rock behind it.

The Beast staggered, then regained its footing.

On the bridge, one of the guards stared. "He stopped that thing by himself!"

Garrick looked sharply toward Arthur. "That can’t be—you’re the champion from the Academy!"

"Everyone moving, now!" Mithra called, raising her voice over the commotion.

Melo sent blue-white illusions floating along the safe edge of the bridge, marking the path where Celia had confirmed the stone was sound. The frightened transport Beasts followed the luminous markers instead of struggling against their handlers.

Vedas gathered the caravan guards. "Two of you protect the rear. The rest keep the road clear and don’t crowd the bridge. Sun, can you stop the pack at that narrow bend?"

"That’s the easiest assignment I’ve heard all day!" Sun replied, racing toward the slope with Kong.

Kong intercepted the first horned predator with a punch that knocked it into two others. Sun followed with a controlled Ember Shock, sending the pack sliding backward without striking the wagons.

Athena and Athy took positions above the damaged bridge. "The middle support is weakened," Athena warned. "Keep everyone toward the inner wall."

Athy spotted loose stones above the crossing and called out their positions. Eden, safely beside Celia, relayed the warnings to the drivers as they passed.

At the third wagon, Star squeezed beneath the chassis and found a wheel jammed against a broken axle bracket. Its body flattened into the narrow opening, then hardened against the metal lever as it pushed the release free.

The wheel turned. The wagon lurched forward, and the driver nearly cried with relief.

"Star has excellent timing," Vedas observed proudly, directing the wagon onward.

...

Four wagons crossed. Then the bridge groaned.

A crack shot beneath the fifth wagon, sending its left wheels toward the missing railing. The transport Beast panicked and jerked its harness, tipping the wagon farther. Inside, two children screamed as stacked crates slid against the door.

"Stop the convoy!" Garrick shouted.

"Don’t stop the wagons already across," Mithra countered. "Clear the far end! We need somewhere to move these people!"

From the front of the valley, the plated Beast roared. It had recovered from Arthur’s last strike and was trying to break past him toward the bridge.

Arthur glanced over his shoulder. "Mithra, do you need me?"

"Keep that thing away from us!" she called. "I can get them out. Trust me!"

Arthur grinned and turned back toward his opponent. "Always!"

Mithra moved immediately. "Melo, calm the transport Beast. Vedas, anchor the wagon on the inner side. Star, get that door open!"

Melo spread Dream Weave around the frightened animal, replacing the sight of the broken bridge with an illusion of solid ground. Its frantic movements slowed enough for the driver to release the harness.

Vedas planted his spear and formed a golden barrier beneath the wagon’s slipping side. It wouldn’t hold indefinitely, but it stopped the fall. Star slipped through the crushed doorframe, stretched around the latch from inside, and pulled it open.

Mithra climbed onto the leaning wagon and reached for the children. "Look at me, both of you. We’re getting down together. Don’t look at the edge."

The older child grabbed her hand while the younger clung to her sleeve. Mithra guided them out, then leapt to the inner walkway as the wagon shifted again.

Athena suddenly pointed upward. "Mithra! Falling rocks, above the sixth wagon!"

Athy dove across the road to signal the drivers. Sun and Kong struck the largest rocks before they landed, shattering them into fragments that rained harmlessly against Athena’s raised shield.

Mithra turned toward Garrick. "Is the cargo worth risking everyone?"

Garrick looked at the wagon, then at the rescued children. He swallowed. "No. Leave it."

"Then cut the harness and walk the transport Beasts across without the load," Mithra ordered. "Nobody stays for supplies."

The merchants obeyed. Star freed the remaining straps while Vedas held the wagon steady just long enough for the drivers to escape. The final travelers crossed on foot under Athena’s guidance.

As the last person reached solid ground, Vedas withdrew his barrier. The abandoned wagon slid sideways, striking the weakened support. With a tremendous crack, the bridge collapsed into the ravine, carrying the empty wagon’s cargo down with it.

Garrick stared at the gap. "Everyone made it?"

Mithra counted the travelers with the guards. "Everyone. No one left behind."

...

Arthur heard the bridge collapse but didn’t turn. The plated Beast had lowered its head for another charge, its fractured armor shifting with every breath.

"All right," Arthur said, rolling his shoulders. "Now that they’re clear, we can finish this properly."

He waited until the Beast lunged, then stepped aside and drove Guardian Strike into the exposed seam beneath its neck. Golden force erupted through the damaged plates, lifting the enormous creature off its feet and hurling it against the cliff far from the fleeing caravan.

The Beast collapsed, stunned. Arthur watched its breathing, then lowered his hand. It wasn’t pursuing anyone now, and he had no reason to kill it.

When he returned, the caravan guards cheered. Sun threw an arm around his shoulders while Kong proudly displayed a horn snapped off one of the smaller predators.

"We saved everyone!" Sun said. "And Kong insists he did most of the work."

"True," Kong replied.

Athena looked toward Mithra. "Your decision to abandon the last wagon prevented the bridge from taking the drivers with it."

"I hated losing their cargo," Mithra admitted. "But I’d hate losing people more."

Garrick approached Arthur and bowed. "Champion Cronwall, you saved my caravan. I don’t know how to thank you."

Arthur shook his head and pointed toward Mithra. "I held the big Beast back. Mithra handled the evacuation. You should thank her."

Garrick turned toward her. "Then thank you, young lady. I nearly ordered everyone to stay on that bridge. You saved my people from my mistake."

Mithra smiled. "You made the right choice when it mattered. That’s what counts."

Arthur looked at her with a grin. "You were impressive out there."

Mithra’s cheeks warmed slightly. "You were busy fighting."

"I still noticed," Arthur replied, making Melo look delighted.

...

The merchants recovered what supplies they could from the safe wagons. Garrick offered the group a modest pouch of Mana crystals, fresh provisions, and a locally made dust-resistant protective mantle from his own stock.

"It’s not much compared with what you saved," Garrick said, "but please accept it."

Sun immediately admired the crystals, while Kong looked far more impressed by the food.

"Best reward," Kong declared, holding up a wrapped pastry.

"Of course that’s your favorite," Sun replied.

Then one of the merchants stepped forward. "I manage deliveries to the observation station near Stillwater Basin. I heard you discussing it earlier. If you need the monitoring instruments, I can arrange access with the station staff."

Eden’s eyes widened. "Arthur! That’s the place!"

Arthur smiled at her. "Looks like helping out found us exactly what we needed."

The merchant handed Celia an authorization letter and a route sketch, but his expression grew serious. "There’s one thing you should know. The temporal Mana currents have become less predictable. The safe observation windows are shorter than they used to be."

Athena studied the notes. "Then timing will matter even more than it did during Steven’s training."

Eden glanced at the basin’s position on the map, then at Arthur. He gently patted her head.

"We’ll do it safely," he promised. "And you’ll make the important decision yourself."

Eden smiled, her excitement returning. "Then I’m ready to learn!"

Arthur looked toward the distant highlands where the observation station waited. "Looks like your turn is coming."