And of this day, I say, shall it find itself to be a special one.
... (Yeah, the anniversary, I remember.)
Well, yes...
However and also...
Hmmm...
Well, I suppose I shall end the very chapter with that.
Indeed.
... (With what?)
You shall see...
Moving along...
Ah, yes...
I do remember myself saying something following the very manner of tortoises...
Yes...
Now, where was I...
Ah, yes...
The very beasts that find themselves patient enough to wait inside the belly of a beast...
'Till the hard stone that they make of themselves either falls out of their mouths...
Or finds itself a hindrance to them...
Unto death.
Indeed.
... (Sheesh.)
Yes, yes...
'Tis a most interesting creature.
Moving along...
Ah, yes...
As Madam Thornberry did somewhat timidly hide her head as she said this things...
Of shame did she do as such, I would say...
Even so, why...
Did the very man by the name of Florian Addison...
Why, did he merely lower his head as well...
As though some sort of bow...
And as for Madam Hathaway...
Why, did she merely turn her head...
And say, oh so curtly...
Victoria: Very well then...
Before they all, one after the other, soon decided to close their windows...
Well, I do suppose this much was said first.
Fren: Very well then. It is decided.
Reginald: Indeed.
That followed by a sorrowful nod from Madam Thornberry and Florian...
Before they spoke even more.
Fren: I shall show him how it works...
Reginald: Very well then. Do take care.
Fren: Yes. Of course. And thereof, I do believe that we should all take care.
Yes...
A most simplistic thing, I should say.
... (Why? Oh... is it because Jake is way too strong?)
Why, yes...
Yes indeed.
The very nature of things is as so, I should say.
Should the young lad rush too quickly, shall he kill them all.
... (That much, huh?)
Yes...
'Tis of every machine to hold some sort of limitation, I should say.
All the same, do I argue...
That the very failure of him to do as should be done shall utterly result in destruction of not merely their machine, but also, their very...
Well, you know by now.
Moving along...
Ah, yes...
The very crooked path that lay ahead of them...
As a touch so unfamiliar, now found itself the very beholder of their lives...
Indeed.
And thereof...
Fren: Now then, my dear lad...
Did the lesson begin...
Fren: Allow me to first off uncoil this beauty, before I find myself giving this to you.
The very young lad said not a word as he uncoiled it...
Slowly and methodically...
Showing a bit of strain here and there...
Why, the others were not foolish enough to even so attempt to use their own "bikes."
... (Hmmm? Why so?)
For the very same reason that they had to take care of their lives...
... (Oh yeah...)
Yes...
Do imagine a human of their calibre...
Attempting to keep up with the young lad.
Indeed.
Why, their legs would most certainly...
Well, you do have an idea, I should say.
Moving along, ah yes...
The very moment...
After the machine had been uncoiled...
The very young lad watching all the while...
Why, had he said not a word or even so, made a gesture...
Before Fren Chavalier did finally straighten it...
And following that, did he say...
Fren: Dear lad, do say, have you before ridden a bicycle?
Yes...
The very tool used by the less affluent folk to get from place to place...
... (Bicycles, huh?)
Yes.
A most common thing held by lads...
Why, do some even attempt to ride these through the woods...
Rather than simply rushing there without a carriage...
Going along barefoot.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
... (Is that a thing?)
In flatter lands, perhaps...
Even so, in places with roads, I should say.
However, in a place such as the very forest they do find themselves in...
Indeed.
A terrible idea.
... (Are the bicycles the same as in my world?)
I would like to imagine so.
Why, should they be different, well...
In any case, that matters little...
I have a story to tell, I'll have you know.
And of the very same, was it then as Fren Chavalier continued his very ride...
That the young lad did answer...
Jake: Only a little bit. When I was younger...
Ah, fond memories of his childhood...
That also would be a long story.
Moving along...
Ah, yes...
Fren Chavalier did continue only a bit longer...
A strained smile upon his face...
Not merely for the work, but also for the worries about his heart.
Amongst them being a fear for his own life...
Yes...
However, and even so, did he eventually...
Fren: Have you taken note of how I do it?
Jake: Hmph.
A simple affirmative nod followed...
All before...
Fren: Very good then...
He did finally slow down...
Yes...
Coming to a halt, and allowing the young lad to take a seat.
And thereof, did he inspect every part of his body...
Ensuring that nothing was amiss.
Fren: Hmmm... Do give me but a moment, my dear lad.
He would fail to be foolish enough to allow the young lad begin without the very greatest of cautions.
Why, even so, following his oh-so careful expert inspection of the lad, did he finally allow him to get started.
Yes...
Everything had to be watched.
A duration of say...
Five minutes...
All the while, as Jake himself did simply wait...
'Twas a tad bit boring for him.
And thereof, did he give instructions...
Fren: Very well then, my dear lad. Even so, as you have found yourself upon this bicycle, I should warn you to be gentle, why... it does not do very well should it go fast.
Jake: Ok.
And thereof...
Fren: Alright. Do take but the smallest of steps forward...
And did the young lad do as he was told.
A mere step.
However, unlike the very...
Hmmm...
No, no, ...
You would understand that he had no trouble at all moving his foot forward.
'Twas childsplay to him, I say.
Why, did they all in the back hear and feel it.
'Twas a bit more sudden than one would imagine.
Moving along...
Fren: Very good then. Now...
Did the man take a moment to look through the small window...
To see what was ahead of himself...
Before turning back to Jake...
Fren: Do simply move a few feet forward...
And thereof, why...
Should I say...
Fren: Slowly...
That the very boy by the name of Jake Phyr...
Does not belong to those who fail to understand their strength.
Why, even so...
Was he ever more careful as he did move.
Yes.
Unstrained...
And yet, at a pace much similar to that of Fren Chavalier...
But also, quite a bit faster.
Indeed.
Fren: Why... yes! Simply as so.
The very man was shocked, one would say...
Shocked enough that he would soon find himself simply stepping aside and standing by the young lad...
No longer worried for his life...
But merely...
Sharing his view of what was ahead of them.
Fren: Yes. Yes. Just as so.
Why, he watched the very young lad himself...
Inspecting everything...
His form...
The very lack of sweat or strain upon his brow.
Why, was the very young lad most certainly unchallenged by this battle of self-control and power.
Indeed.
'Tis of the many things of great warriors.
Moving along...
Ah, yes...
Fren Chavalier continued his inspection, even turning, walking to his other side...
Fren: Why, young lad, you truly are amazing.
Yes...
The very same words could be held by those who were at the back.
Madam Thornberry and they all...
Simply surprised by the lack of what they were all prepared to at the very least be a harsh first few steps...
All before what turned to be a journey well set and well met.
For not a one of them seemed to even quiver at his movements...
Indeed.
As though Fren Chavalier himself, but merely...
Faster.
Of course, some caution followed that...
However and even so, why...
Did Fren Chavalier soon find himself fully convinced...
And would they all...
That the young lad could most easily handle it.
Indeed.
And thereof...
Fren: Why, young lad... Truly I say...
Did he remain there but for a time...
Watching the young lad...
Before he himself did finally decide to get up and make a move himself.
Why, the very man is a meat seller...
And I shall have you know, that he had many preparations to make.
Indeed.
Fren: Very well then, my dear lad. I shall leave it to you.
And thereof...
Fren: And should you require anything or have any question unanswered... do simply find me in my room.
Yes.
He did eventually go to his room...
Leaving the young lad to travel on his lonesome...
Well, I do suppose Fren Chavalier would come to check him once every several minutes or so....
Each check taking longer than the one before.
Indeed.
He would fail to say a word...
And even so, offer water and perhaps milk...
Should the young lad require it.
And of the very same, did the young lad fail to require such...
Yes...
Why, was this most perfect for what he was being paid for.
... (Whaddya mean?)
Simply put, the young lad could afford to change direction should he smell danger in front of them...
All the while, could he do this most quickly...
And this, I tell you, my dear reader...
Is what followed until the very evening.
Indeed.
Why, did Fren Chavalier find himself so busy with his work...
That he had even forgotten to check his map.
And of that...
Was it a most surprising thing, when he asked the lad to stop for supper, only to realise that they had long since passed their mark.
Indeed.
The very man did ask the young lad to stop...
And that he did, while also attempting to coil the carriages...
A most failed art, why...
The young lad simply lacked the expertise to do so...
And thereof, did he struggle only for a moment to manage so without hitting Madam Hathaway's carriage...
Or even so, that of Reginald...
Before the man did finally take over.
Fren: Do allow me to do that, my dear lad.
Yes.
The young lad gave it up without so much as a squabble...
Getting to his feet...
And thereof, only a few beads of sweat upon his brow...
Following what was a pant or two here and there.
... (He actually got tired?)
Fail to assume that the grand lad has some sort of endless pool of stamina.
No.
The very lad was exhausted, I would say.
Why, had he done all that for what had amounted to several hours.
Yes...
All the way from lunch till supper.
And thereof, did Fren Chavalier look out the small window once, and even so, open the larger one, but to realise...
That they and they all found themselves in the very depths of the woods...
Indeed.
Why, did they all, one after the other, do the same.
Reginald: Fren, my good man...
Fren: Yes, I do understand. 'Twould seem that we moved too far ahead.
And thereof, was the young lad properly able to hear them all...
Jake: I apologise. I shall...
However, and of course, did they all...
Fren: No, no, no! Fail to apologise, my dear lad.
Reginald: Indeed. Why, should we be further is it all the better. Why, Fren my good man, does there find itself to be yet another open space not too far from here?
Fren: But, of course, surely...
The very man returned...
Got the map once more...
And thereof, began to read it...
Looking carefully...
All the while as the young lad simply watched them all.
Fren: Let us see. Ah, yes... Indeed! Not too far from here, I should say.
Reginald: Really?
Fren: Absolutely.
In the meanwhile, Madam Thornberry had started a conversation with the young lad...
Nancy: Worry not, young lad. Why, I shall cook extra meat for you today!
Yes, a most honourable offer, I would say.
Nancy: And should you require something, why... shall I most certainly give it. Even so, do take a break. You deserve the very same.
All the while as the young lad failed to answer...
And all the while as Fren spoke of what they needed to do.
Fren: 'Tis a little off our way, however... once there, we shall be by the open space next to the river once more.
Indeed.
And thereof, I say...
Was it fully and utterly agreed by they all...
Before they returned to their carriages...
But not before...
Fren: This time, however, I would like you, dear lad, to take a break.
Jake: Hmph?
Fren: Oh, worry not, I say. Why, 'tis only for thirty minutes...
Yes...
Do fail to assume that this man had lost his pride.
... (Such... honour...)
Yes, yes, do be fascinated by it all.
All the same, I would say...
Reginald: Indeed. Why, I am most well rested.
Nancy: Surely, I say. Even so, do I require yet a chance to work my weight.
Yes, yes...
The very three did say that.
Florian merely nodded in agreement...
All the while, as the very Madam Hathaway...
Found herself nodding all the same.
Victoria: I agree.
And as for the young lad...
Jake: Ok.
That was all.
And they all enjoyed what was a most short and uninteresting journey to their destination...
All the same, as they did do as they always do.
No leaving their carriages required as they rushed on over...
As though nothing could stop them.
Even so, why...
Did they have to do it in the dark...
And thereof was it only a bit harder, I would say.
Indeed.
And of the very same, why...
Did they all make it to their very destination...
Barely tired, I should say...
All the while, as the young lad soon after started to smell the air for any sort of encounter.
The mere point being...
Nothing.
Indeed.
Well, better put...
Nothing to concern themselves with.
And thereof, I say...
Did the young lad finally find his feet on the ground...
As they had finally made it to their final destination.
Indeed.
Fren: We have made it!
Yes...
'Twas only a few moments after, that...
Fren: Three cheers for the young lad!
Reginald: Indeed! Three cheers!
After they had done all this and that.
Nancy: Yes! Cheers!
Florian himself added his glass to theirs...
And even so...
Did Madam Thornberry...
Fren: Why, for his actions shall we find ourselves to our destination even faster than before.
Reginald: Indeed.
Nancy: Truly?
Fren: But, of course. Do look over here...
The very man had his map as well, full ready to explain it all.
I shan't bore you with all the very words about maps here and maps there.
'Twould be troublesome.
All the very same, I would say...
Did the very man find himself showing Madam Thornberry all this, as he and her did speak.
Only a loud... "Oh my" could be heard from all their talking...
And of the very same, why...
Did Reginald Walterson walk over to Florian...
Reginald: Why, you simply haven't drank enough, I say.
Do fail to worry of him too much, I would say.
Given the many things his lips have encountered...
'Twould be a strange thing I say, should mere mead cause him to be drunk.
All the same, did Madam Hathaway sit in silence...
The very one seated furthest from the young lad...
For they all sat in a circle...
And next to the young lad was always Fren and Florian...
As for herself, why...
Was she always the furthest from him...
And her eyes beheld this very fact...
That the young lad was unmoved by everything that occurred by them.
Why, would he simply continue to eat all the meat given him by Madam Thornberry...
Hmmm...
Time is up.
Well, I do say that there is a celebration to be upheld before I bring this chapter to a close.
... (Oh... that... I get it now.)
Yes...
'Tis a special day for me as well as for the young lad.
And thereof, do I say...
A jolly good day it is.
A jolly good day indeed.
Do take care to read not too much, my dear reader...
Too many ideas, I say...
Exhausts the bones.
The Cake.