Ben squinted at the fuel gauge.

  [23%]

  He wasn't sure exactly how much he’d need for the journey to Robynhill, and the last thing he wanted was to run out in the middle of nowhere, potentially surrounded by enemies. He felt there would be no chance of a rescue out there. Opening his profile stats, he realized his magic pool was dry as a bone.

  Ahh, great news.

  Twisting his neck towards the potions Le’Vieux had given him, he figured it would be best to use one so he could put his mind at ease. He wanted to enjoy the journey there and not constantly think about fuel level. Leaning to the passenger seat, he grabbed one and gulped it down.

  [+50MP]

  After pressing the refuel option, he waited till it was all used up.

  [Fuel: 73%]

  Hopefully, I can upgrade this damn skill sometime.

  Ben glanced at the road ahead. The feeling of butterflies erupted in his stomach as he wasn't sure what to expect. If it was anything like what he had seen the previous few days, he was in store for one crazy ride.

  Let’s get to it then!

  The road led him through the mountainous region before the scenery shifted to a densely packed forest of conifers. It was mostly straight with few bends and blended perfectly with the terrain. The great thing about it was that it seemed almost in perfect condition as if no expense was spared for its maintenance. He could travel at greater speeds without worrying about wearing out the van’s suspension and jokingly decided to name it the ‘medieval highway.’

  Along the way, various off-road trails shot off the highway and led to what looked like smaller settlements in the distance. The people there started running towards the road to see what was happening, but Ben didn't want to cause any commotion and hit the gas to escape swiftly.

  Then, there were the caravans, which consisted of many horse carts and platoons of armed men. Upon noticing him, they had always huddled together and formed defensive formations as if they would get attacked. When he drove past them without giving them any notice, they appeared to look rather confused.

  After avoiding trouble, Ben noticed a little trail leading towards a large river where he could see a bridge. Towers of smoke rose from between tents where various Hollow Moon banners had been staked into the ground.

  That must be the checkpoint Le’Vieux was talking about.

  Two guards standing at the mouth of the bridge noticed him. They went straight for their weapons before one of them sounded a war horn. Within seconds, more figures stormed out of the camp and joined them with their steel glinting in the fading light. Ben counted eleven in total, including a knight and two archers.

  Ben rolled the window down. Behind his shield, the knight shouted muffled orders, and the men at arms formed a V on either side of their commander. The archers stood at the back, removed arrows from their quivers, and aimed their bows at the van.

  Whoa! Relax guys!

  Not wanting to get an arrow through the windscreen, Ben stopped about a hundred feet away. His heart pounded as he didn't like the idea of those arrows going through his windscreen. Since Ben wasn't wearing any armor, he figured he would be dead if one managed to hit him. He raised his hands to show he wasn’t armed and gave them a friendly wave, hoping it would dispel the tension.

  The knight must have noticed that and grabbed two of his younger-looking men by the shoulders and pushed them towards the van. They looked like they were trembling with every step as they stumbled to the van.

  Ben grabbed the pendant and dangled it out the window to be visible to them.

  The two men came to a sudden stop. One of them turned back to the knight. “Sir, you should see this!”

  The knight shook his head as if he was annoyed before stomping ahead. When his gaze met the pendant, he pushed the two out of the way. He froze still as a stone for a moment before facing his men. “Stand down, for now!” He stepped closer to the van and thoroughly examined the pendant.

  While he did that, Ben noticed the steel plates on his armor were tattered and bent, with many scratches and scuffs. It looked like the man had gone through years of service without repairing it. Even his surcoat was full of dirt and patches of blood, making it hard to see the Hollow Moon sigil.

  “Where did you get this from?” The knight asked.

  Ben cleared his throat. “Grand Marshall Le’Vieux.”

  “How do I know you're not lying? You could have forged it for all I know.”

  “Look here… Le’Vieux gave this to me to get past this checkpoint so I can help figure out what happened to Alfred and his knights. He said nothing about this giant fuss you're making now.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  The knight shook his head and let out a huff. “You’re right. Alfred and his knights did come through here. But there’s no way I can risk you going through on my watch based on that information. However, there is something I can do to make sure things are in order.” He paused momentarily before a notification popped up.

  Allow Knight Elias Leloup to access your quest log. Y/N

  When Ben accepted the request, the knight nodded. “Alright, take it easy. Everything checks out.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe he’s sent you. A level four companion in a damn magic metal box on wheels to do this quest. Alone, mind you.”

  “Hey! It’s called a van. And it does a damn good job disposing of enemies.”

  “Whatever you say. Just be sure to get to Robynhill before nightfall. Those pesky bloodhounds are a pain in the ass around here. They can appear at any time through the shrubs.” The knight then turned to his men and shouted, “Make way!” it looked like he was about to start walking back to the camp but stopped mid-step. “Seen as though you’re headed to Robynhill. I don’t suppose you’re interested in earning some extra experience?”

  “If you can throw in some money, I don't mind. What do you need me to do?”

  “Our ale stores have been dry for months, which has caused low morale in the camp. Speak with that stingy innkeeper and see if he can sort something out for us. I’ll send you the quest through the system. Get this done, and I’ll owe you a favor, too.”

  Ben nodded. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. Now, get going before darkness falls.” The knight motioned towards the bridge.

  Ben didn't waste any time and made his way to the bridge. It was constructed of large stones and thick mortar, similar to the ramparts of the Hollow Keep. It was arched up with a couple of viaducts under it. It was wide enough for a couple of carts to pass without issue, but the van barely made it through without being scratched on either side.

  A crossroads presented itself, where a small wooden fingerpost had been erected.

  Forward: Dimiwood, Chateau Meso

  Left: Robynhill Village, Blackrock Mine

  Right: Sudfield Town

  Back: Feruswich, Deepwich

  When he steered left, he looked in awe at the snow-tipped mountains in the distance, which resembled the Himalayas. Suddenly, he hit a bump that rocked and rattled the van’s suspension, causing his butt to clench as the vibrations trembled up.

  Damn it!

  Ben didn't notice that the road had become thin and bumpy. The cobbles were uneven, and dead leaves and dirt obscured the path—the complete opposite of the one before the bridge. Lifting off the gas, he slowed down. He knew he could have upgraded the tires but opted to wait on spending any skill points till a more dire need arose.

  Ben had been driving for over half an hour when darkness began creeping across the sky. He knew it would soon be pitch black, like the old country roads in the English countryside back home, so he switched the headlight on.

  Moments later, something out of the ordinary caught his attention. It appeared to be a dark blob of fur at first. Then it started to resemble a large wolf with two humps on its back till, finally, he was close enough to get the finer details.

  The creature stared at a broken-down cart stuck in a ditch at the side of the road, a foot from where the trees began. It snarled at the struggling hooves of a horse, which looked like it would soon become a gourmet meal. Seconds before the creature looked like it was about to pounce, its ears stood erect, and it twisted its neck to face the van. Its crimson eyes fixated on Ben before it gave him a dirty snarl, revealing razor-sharp teeth resembling metal spikes.

  Great!

  [Barguest Level 7]

  Do you want some?

  Ben pressed hard on the gas and hurled the van towards it. As much as he wanted to avoid damaging the van, he wouldn't let a helpless horse die like that. The sudden shift to aggressive driving confused it before it turned tail and ran through the bushes on the opposite side of the road.

  Yeah, that's right. Run like the wind before you become roadkill!

  Ben stopped near the cart and looked around to see if more creatures were waiting. Once he was sure, he got out and made his way to the cart when he noticed two pale faces staring back at him from behind the trunks of the trees.

  One belonged to an old man who looked way past retirement age, with his frail white hair sticking out like a sore thumb. He was accompanied by a little girl no older than ten, and they both appeared to try their best to hide. Their heavy breathing and trembling gave away their positions.

  It didn't look like they would be a threat, so Ben shifted his attention to the struggling horse. Once more, he looked around to see if the coast was still clear before running to the van’s side door and sliding it open. He shuffled through the mess and took out a tow rope before attaching one end to the bull bar and the other to the back of the cart.

  When it was pulled out, the horse could stand on all fours. Its swishing tail was a testament to its urgency to escape the situation.

  Ben got out and slowly moved closer before patting it. “Don’t worry. You’re doing just fine. Let’s see if you’re hurt badly.” When he was about to check for wounds, rustling from the trees caught his attention.

  “We don’t have anything of value. Take what you want and leave us be. We will walk back to town.” The old man quivered, raising his hands

  Ben shook his head. “I’m not a thief. Just someone trying to help out another person in need.”

  The man huffed in relief, “Not many good people left in this world. I thought you were a thief or part of those bandits. That damn Barguest caught us off guard. We were running late with this shipment of barley and food for the inn.” He then moved closer to the horse and inspected the damage. “Just a little rash, but he’ll be fine.”

  Ben nodded. “Well, it’s kinda dark out here, and everyone keeps telling me it’s dangerous. I need to get to Robynhill Village and speak with the innkeeper there. Will you two be alright? Or shall I escort you to where you need to go?”

  “I guess it’s our lucky day, then. That’s where we are heading. I’ve never seen you around, so I’m going to assume you don't know where it is. You’re welcome to follow us. We’re not far.” The old man stared at the van, “If you don't mind me asking, what is that thing?”

  Ben scratched his head. “It’s a magic cart that runs without horses.” He had grown a little tired of people asking that question.

  “Fair enough. I have nothing to repay you with. Once we arrive at the inn, I can buy you ale and give you some coin once I’ve been paid for this shipment.”

  Before climbing the horse, the old man helped the little girl on the wooden cart. He kicked it a little and then set off.