Aidan offered a faint smile, his expression softening as he stepped back, giving Zane space to approach. His eyes flickered briefly to the Zephyron, then back to Zane as he gestured toward the open space, allowing Zane to jump on his carriage.
Zane smirked as he effortlessly jumped off his Zephyron, landing with a soft thud beside the carriage. His mount remained close, pacing alongside with a steady rhythm, not missing a beat.
The sound of Zane's armor echoed faintly as he climbed into the carriage. Unlike Matthew's finely crafted armor, Zane's looked more like standard-issue for his rank—practical, functional, but not tailored to the man himself.
The metal plates clinked as he shifted, a reminder of the roughness of his role, far from the refined elegance Matthew wore.
Aidan couldn't help but smirk as Zane jumped off his Zephyron, landing with an exaggerated flourish. He leaned against the edge of the carriage and raised an eyebrow. "Quite the dramatic landing, Zane. You practicing for a role as a hero in a play or just trying to show off?"
Zane, ever the sarcastic one, flashed a grin as he straightened up, dusting off his armor with mock seriousness. "Oh, absolutely. I've got a whole troupe waiting for me back at the capital. I thought I'd set the tone with something grand."
He gave a sweeping gesture, as if to take credit for the performance. "You know, I like to keep it interesting for you, Aidan."
Aidan chuckled, shaking his head. "You're lucky that wasn't as embarrassing as it looked. Could've sworn I saw your Zephyron rolling its eyes."
Zane smirked, his eyes glinting with humor. "The Zephyron's just jealous it doesn't have my charm."
Aidan raised an eyebrow, an exaggerated grimace crossing his face at Zane's remark. He placed a hand over his heart, as if feeling genuinely ill and about to vomit. "Ugh, it's a good thing I am not a girl, Zane. I swear, sometimes I feel like you're truly trying to protagonist with all this grand gesture of yours."
Zane's eyelid twitched as he caught Aidan's expression—face scrunched, lips pursed, one hand dramatically clutching his stomach like he might hurl at any moment.
Was his landing really that bad?
Zane glanced back at the spot where he'd jumped from his Zephyron. Smooth dismount, solid landing, no stumble. Still... seeing Aidan looking like he'd just witnessed a war crime made him question everything.
"You done dying?" Zane muttered, his tone dry. "Should I get you a bucket next time I make an entrance?"
Aidan groaned, waving a hand. "Just—just give me a moment. That cringe line that you said hit harder than the punch of yours—so I can't—" Aidan said, laughing out loud, unable to control it any longer.
Zane snorted, choosing to ignore Aidan's obnoxious laugh as he turned his head. The carriage had come to a slow halt, the world outside finally still. Before them stood a towering stone wall, lined with soldiers in neat formation, their armor catching the light in sharp glints.
This was the first patrol point—one that needed to be cleared before anyone could approach the Wilson estate from the capital. A gateway to the castle grounds.
Aidan took a step forward, the last traces of laughter still tugging at the corners of his lips. He leaned slightly out of the carriage, squinting up at the imposing wall.
"Hey, Zane," Aidan called, his voice unusually light, almost playful. "Once we're through here, we're officially in Wilson's capital, right?"
Zane gave a small nod, though his eyes stayed fixed on the wall. He wasn't really seeing it—not just the stone and guards. What he saw was the memory.
He remembered the first time he passed through these gates. A nameless recruit, barely strong enough to lift his own weapon. Now, years later, he was returning as a First Rank. He was no longer just a face in the crowd.
A quiet chuckle slipped past his lips.
He had people now—people who actually gave a damn. Matthew, a master who trained him like a warhound. His fellow recruits. And Aidan.
Zane's eyes softened, just a bit. He didn't say anything at first, but the quiet warmth beneath his usual smirk didn't go unnoticed.
"Hey, country bumpkin," he finally said, pointing a finger at Aidan with exaggerated flair. "Don't tell me this is your first time seeing the capital?"
Aidan raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised by the nickname. "Country bumpkin?" he echoed, a faint scoff escaping him. "That's a new one."
Zane's smirk widened. "Tch. Thought so. Just try not to embarrass the Wilson name, alright?" he said with a teasing tone, puffing out his chest slightly. "It's not exactly grand like your fancy estate, but the capital's packed—people everywhere, noise, energy. Might be a bit much for a sheltered noble like you."
He gave Aidan a dramatic look before thumping his fist lightly against his chest. "But don't worry. I, the great Zane, will be your humble guide through it all."
Aidan laughed out before saying, "Tell me, how many times you have been to the capital?" he questioned, eyebrow raised.
Zane stammered for a moment—just a flicker—but it was enough. The truth was, he wasn't from the capital. He'd grown up in the slums, and no matter how close they were, the two worlds couldn't have been more different.
"Well—not that different," he said quickly, trying to recover, waving a hand like it didn't matter. "Still! I know more than you do, that's for sure."
With that, he stepped forward, brushing past Aidan and flopping down onto one of the carriage seats with exaggerated confidence.
Aidan simply nodded, choosing not to ruin the moment. Usually, Zane carried himself with a maturity far beyond his years, but lately—ever since reaching Rank One—something had shifted. He'd started acting more like a teenager, as if catching up on the youth he'd skipped. And honestly, Aidan didn't mind it. It was good to see Zane being his age for once, even if it had come a little late.
As Aidan settled back into his seat, the massive iron gate of the fort began to rise. Guards moved in practiced unison, pulling the heavy cage-like door upward, while another captain oversaw the process with swift, efficient commands.
The carriage once again started to move, as the capital path was open before the carriage.