Once again Titanias completely neglected to take in the beautiful scenery that stretched out before him as broke through the line of trees that rimmed the edge of the forest. He was entirely focused on averting the ever present danger of crashing. Despite having lost his pursuers, he had yet to figure out how to slow the carriage, though not for lack of trying. No amount of rearing on the reins or movement of the throttle could get the artifact to reduce gears and at the speed he was going, swerving left or right to slow could spell instant disaster.

    The road he hurtled down wound through fields of wheat followed by flooded paddy fields as he neared the creek that flowed out of the forest he'd left behind. As he passed he drew many a distressed glance by the farmers out harvesting their rice.  

    It wasn't until the side road merged back with the main road that he had to worry about anything other than keeping to the path ahead, but once on the main road obstructions abounded. Carts and carriages lined the road heading into the town leadened with food and supplies for the upcoming celebration. Titanias tried to maneuver around the hurdles, throwing his caboose this way and that so as to not hit anyone as he passed by, but some of the slower moving carts who were unlucky enough to be in his way were crushed to pieces as his carriage crashed through them. In those cases, Titanias made sure to toss barriers around the drivers and passengers so that they were unharmed, but the loss of goods was quickly escalating.

    “Help!” He screamed as he flew passed a Garrison of soldiers stationed to protect against disturbances on the road. Earsplitting whistles echoed across the valley, traveling along the road as each new soldier, hearing the previous ones warning, picked up the call. The carriages began moving off to the side of the road with haste, thinking some important individual from the capital was coming by but when up to possibly catch a glimpse of nobility all they saw was a mad man leaving a trail of dust and debris that filled their nostrils and stung their eyes.

     Eventually, the cause of the ruckus was ascertained and cries of, “rampaging carriage!” And “out of control vehicle!” Filled the air along with the jarring whistles. Titanias made his way down the road relatively peacefully after that, until he approached the high city walls that separated the town proper from its surrounding countryside. Soldiers and frieters scurried about trying to relocate the crates of supplies that were distributed about the entryway we're struggling under the heavy cargo and time constraints.

     As Titanias realized that the velocity he was traveling had him on a collision course with said crates he saw a woman with strawberry blond hair and a tight fitting corset jump out of one of the carriage's as it moved aside. She had her back to him but he could feel the tremendous amount of mana she gathered. All of a sudden heat swarmed the ground beneath the carts, soldiers, and workers as they clambered about, warming the air to an extent that it propelled itself and everything in it up into the sky. Titanias watched them struggle in the upward stream as he passed harmlessly beneath them.

    As he traversed the guards at the city gates yelled orders but had no time to do anything to enforce their demands.

    “Halt!” One soldier said as Titanias rushed by.

    “I w…” Titanias screamed over his shoulder.

    “What did he say?” Another soldier asked, scratching his head.

     “I think he said, ‘I wish I could.” Said the first soldier.

     “What a strange man.”