THE RELUCTANT QUEST
218 Words
Chapter Two – The Reluctant Quest
By sunset, Elric had packed for his “grand journey” — which was, in truth, a picnic basket filled with pastries, three forks, and a pillow.
“I’m ready,” he announced.
Tara stared at him. “You brought no weapons. No map. No magic charms.”
Elric nodded proudly. “Correct. I intend to charm my way through this with wit and snacks.”
Sir Buttons adjusted his squeaky armor. “Sire, the Truth Fog has already reached the marketplace. The royal cobbler is currently confessing that he’s been making the left shoe slightly smaller out of spite.”
“Savage,” Elric muttered.
They stepped outside the castle gates and were instantly met with chaos. Townsfolk sang their secrets in painfully catchy melodies. One man belted, “🎵 I still can’t read! 🎵” while a noblewoman sobbed through, “🎵 My hair is a wig! 🎵”
Grunk, the vegetarian ogre, waved from the fountain. “I wrote a haiku about cabbage!” he declared, unprompted.
Tara rolled her eyes. “We need to find the source of the fog.”
Elric sighed, taking a bite of cherry tart. “Fine. But if this quest ruins my boots, I’m sending the bill to whoever invented destiny.”
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