The sun shined brightly in the afternoon sky. The sounds of birds and rustling leaves sang gently in the wind blowing through the air. Occasionally, the carriage wheels would creak as they traveled leisurely on the dirt path. The children chatted amongst themselves, and some read the Alloran Holy book to themselves quietly. 

“I spy with my little eye….” Luna called out with a slight grin. “Something red and puffy.” 

Maria giggled. “Is it Joshua’s nose?” She pointed at Joshua, who sat with an ice bag on his swollen nose where a bee that got stuck in the carriage had stung him. 

“That’s right, Maria!” Luna laughed loudly and pointed. “It is Joshua’s nose! You’re so good at this game.” She poked Joshua with her elbow and grinned. “Right, Joshua?”

“Ha. Ha. Real funny.” Joshua mused in a monotone voice.

The carriage continued to creak as it traveled down the dirt road; on both sides of the carriage were long, empty fields of grass dotted with trees, their leaves swaying in the wind. The carriage jolted from a bump on the road, causing pain to shoot up Luna’s side. 

“Ugh, we’ve been riding for hours,” Luna complained as she rubbed her side. “Maybe we should make a rest stop soon.”

“Yeah, the kids will probably have to use the restroom soon,” Joshua responded, still tending to his swollen nose. 

Luna clapped and smiled broadly at the children, “Okay! Who wants to take a break?”

Various hands shot up and shook widely. “Me, me, me!” The kids cried out, each trying to shout louder than the other. 

Luna poked her head in between a small gap in the fabric wall. She beckoned over Rue, who galloped gracefully on her horse alongside the carriage. “The kids, Joshua and I, are starting to get pretty restless,” Luna whined. “Do you think we could stop for a break for a little while?”

Rue smiled and nodded. “I’ll ask Raiza to see if we can pull over somewhere for a break. I’ll be right back.” Rue suddenly shook the reigns on her horse with a shout and shot forward towards the front of the caravan where Raiza led. 

After a few moments, Rue fell back until she rode evenly with their carriage again. 

“I asked Lady Raiza if she’d be willing to make a stop, but she said that we should be approaching Migozo Village in about an hour or so,” Rue explained as she trotted along. “Are you able to keep going?”

Luna sighed and poked her head back into the carriage. “Are you, kids, able to continue for another hour? If not, it’s okay. Just let me know.” 

The various kids murmured amongst themselves and agreed. “We can wait for one more hour.”

“Are you all sure?” Luna prodded. In truth, she hoped they’d beg for a stop.

“We’re sure, so don’t worry, your Holiness!” The kids shined happily.

You, kids, might be able to wait, but my butt sure can’t, Luna cried to herself before poking her head back outside the carriage. “Yeah, I think we should be able to wait one more hour.” 

Rue nodded, “understood, your Holiness,” and shot back towards Raiza. 

“One more hour,” Luna muttered to herself. “One more hour.” At this point, she was beginning to feel pins and needles in her butt. 

After some time, the caravan finally pulled up at a nearby barn at the entrance of Migozo Village to let the horses rest. Once the carriage stopped, Luna jumped out of the back of the carriage with the young girl named Lucy wiggling in her arms. 

“I gotta pee!” Lucy shouted at the top of her lungs, kicking and flailing. 

“Yeah, yeah, I know!” Luna looked around desperately for an outhouse. 

After a few seconds, Luna spotted one tucked away between two buildings and raced over, practically throwing Lucy inside. Once everything was secured, Luna sighed a deep breath of relief. 

“Crisis averted,” Luna muttered. 

Once everyone had settled, the group went to the nearby inn to get a couple of rooms. However, as Joshua, Rue, and the others walked into the building, a clean-looking and well-trained maid stepped out in front of Raiza and bowed. 

“I’ve been sent here on behalf of Lord Quargam of House Lindir in Valca.” As the maid spoke, her voice stayed calm and collected. Her tone perfected in her training in the addressing of her superiors. “The lord was expecting your arrival and instructed me to offer you the appropriate accommodations.”

“Is that so?” Raiza smiled earnestly. “I could use a proper bath, sure why not?”

The maid bowed once more and gestured with her hands. “Then, if you’d be so kind, my lady. Please follow me.”

Luna finished gawking at the crystalline perfection of the maid and began to make her way back toward the inn with the others when a cough rang out, prompting Luna to look back.

“The invitation from my lord also extends to you, your Holiness.” The maid continued her bow as her eyes hovered lowly; they refused to meet Luna’s. “If you don’t mind, I will gladly take your luggage as we head toward our destination.”

Luna stumbled backward a bit. She wasn’t used to being talked to with such formality before. “Uh, um. Thanks, but I’m not sure such a place for a lady fits me.” Luna was honestly shocked. Who knew house Lindir was so lovely they’d offer accommodations to a lower-class civilian?  

Raiza suddenly started laughing, confusing Luna even more. “W-what’s so funny, Lady Raiza?”

Raiza smiled as little chuckles continued to escape. “It makes sense. You’ve never left Edronta before, so you only know the people you’re familiar with.” Luna raised an eyebrow, unsure of where Raiza was going with this.

Raiza continued, “to promote humility, I’m sure the church treated you like a typical parish member. But as a Saintess, you’re on par with the Sword Saint regarding ranking in the Moncontian Empire.” 

Luna couldn’t believe what she was hearing. 

“Luna, at least as far as the Empire is concerned. You’re a noble.” Raiza finished, her hands placed on her hips.

“Huh!?” Luna shouted. She simply couldn’t understand a word Raiza was saying.