Chapter Text
If you were to ask young Toast what he wanted to be when he grew up, he'd probably say something simple like a magician or a teacher. He loves magic and loves teaching but if someone were to say he will be king, he'd laugh at your face.
But 19 year old Toast was sick of having to move from places to places, was sick of being bullied just because they were not from around here. He was also sick of being in a town full of idiots.
So he travelled, to give his family and friends a better life.
Friends however is rather relative, they were banded together because they were outsiders, sure.
"Lily! Put your back into it!" Toast scolds as she looks at him with wide eyes.
"I'm trying!" She whines.
"Toast, can't we catch a break? We have been travelling for hours now, we should take a rest," Poki suggested.
Toast looks at everyone who is worse for wear. He rolls his eyes, if he was travelling alone, he'd be far ahead but they brought a lot of things like instruments and food that took up half the space in the carriage and only Scarra is inside, the rest are walking while only Toast has a horse because they could only afford 3.
"Fine, we'll stop by the river," Toast replies and hops off," Lily get on."
"No! Aish! Let me sit here! It's not that far from the river!" Lily exclaims and plops down onto a rock. She had to bring her zither with her but that only added weight.
Toast looks at the distant river bank and climbs up his horse again, going ahead with their water bottles. Poki looks at him in relief and sat down beside Lily.
"Michael, sit down," Poki sighs looking up at Lily's boyfriend who is still standing but she can't be bothered to let him sit beside her as she fans herself.
"What if there are boars? I need to be ready..." Michael replies with his sword out but unsheathed. Poki let's him do whatever he wanted.
"What's going on?" Scarra asks, pulling open the window.
"We are resting! Come Scarra! Toast went to get water!" Lily beams.
Scarra went over and sat with the girls and looks over at Toast who is at the river bank, grabbing water. If he were to wear something else than a worn robe, he'd look like a beauty at the edge of a sparkling pool. He sighs, not at the heat but in pity that Toast wasn't that young lord.
But Toast said that the town they'll be going to has no bias, anyone capable can succeed and earn prestige and money. He can only hope that is true, but more importantly, was the no bias part. He'd want to be able to perform like he wanted to, maybe earn some cash while doing so.
Lily can play at her side and maybe Poki can do poetry, Toast? Well Toast will probably be elsewhere but he doesn't mind teaching Toast a few moves.
Toast with the bottles, rode back and gave them each their bottles. Lily was happy that Toast was being nice, which is rather rare but the next line he said make her slap her own mouth.
"We should go, we must reach a tavern before sunsets or we will be dinner for a pack of wolves," Toast replies.
Lily frowns, okay maybe he does make a good point.