After buying Mel a few new outfits, Yavi picked out some children's clothes with her for his two little nieces, then bought a few outfits for a young girl for the little sister he had never met. With Mel there, he did not have to worry about the sizes.
As they left the shop, Yavi looked with satisfaction at the carefully chosen gifts in his hands, imagining his family's surprised expressions when they received them. Beside him, Mel shook her head with a smile, wearing her new clothes. "I never thought a witcher like you would be so good at picking out things for women." Yavi merely shrugged, but he could not help the corners of his mouth turning up.
The two finally arrived at Honey and Spice, a food shop at the corner of the market, its window filled with all sorts of exquisite desserts. As they pushed open the door, a rich caramel fragrance greeted them.
"What flavors do my two little nieces like best?" Yavi asked, feeling a little lost as he looked at the dazzling candy counter.
Mel pointed with practiced ease to several beautifully packaged boxes. "Ella likes fruit gummies, and Lina prefers chocolate." She picked up a candy box shaped like a little castle. "They definitely won't have seen this new one."
"What snacks do you think I should bring Amy? I don't know anything about her, after all." Yavi was somewhat at a loss when it came to this little sister he had never met.
"A twelve-year-old girl..." Mel tapped her chin with a slender finger as she thought. "Candy that's too childish wouldn't suit her anymore, but it can't be too grown-up either."
Yavi's attention was caught by a set of exquisitely designed macaron gift boxes. "How about this? They're pretty and colorful without being too sweet." Six flavors of macarons were neatly arranged in the box, each decorated with edible gold leaf.
"Good choice." Mel nodded approvingly, then picked up a box of handmade chocolate truffles. "Add this, too. Rich, but not too bitter."
Mel added a few packets of fruit tea that were currently popular among girls. "She can enjoy these with the treats."
The shop assistant carefully packaged their chosen snacks into a pink-themed gift basket, even tying a pretty bow on top. Yavi paid with satisfaction, then turned to Mel with a smile. "That should keep my little sister happy. She won't feel we're treating her like a child, and it won't be too grown-up either."
Satisfied with their choice of gifts, the two left the food shop and prepared to head to Oxenfurt's west gate, where many caravans were getting ready to travel to destinations all over the world. Mel had already contacted a caravan she knew and planned to travel with them. After all, there was more safety in numbers.
On the way, Yavi stored everything they had bought in the Talisman Space, leaving only a few simple items in the backpacks they carried. Mel's supplies were more comprehensive, while Yavi's bag was full of all sorts of odds and ends.
By the time they reached the west gate, it was already bustling. Groups of students were saying goodbye to one another, the caravan pack animals snorted one after another, and the air held a mixture of leather, spices, and hay.
Mel made her way through the crowd with practiced familiarity and approached a caravan flying a white eagle flag on a blue field. Its leader was a burly middle-aged man with a conspicuous scar on his bronze face, who was frowning as he checked a cargo manifest.
"Captain Hawk." Mel stepped forward to greet him, her clear voice carrying through the noisy crowd.
The leader named Hawk looked up, his stern expression easing slightly. "Miss Mel. Right on time. Good." His sharp gaze swept over Yavi. "Is this your younger brother?"
Yavi nodded slightly in greeting, noticing a finely crafted shortsword at Hawk's waist-not the standard-issue weapon an ordinary caravan guard would use.
"Where's your luggage?" Hawk looked at their light traveling gear in puzzlement. "Just two backpacks? Never mind. Get aboard."
Hawk raised an eyebrow but asked no more questions, merely pointing to a covered wagon in the middle of the caravan. "Your places are there. Don't wander off. The caravan is about to leave."
"Captain Hawk looks fierce, but he's actually a decent man," Mel explained quietly to Yavi. "He used to be a scout on the northern frontier, so he's particularly cautious."
Yavi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the caravan's guards. They stood straight, their eyes alert, and had clearly received professional training. This caravan was far more dependable than he had imagined.
The covered wagon was small, with barely enough room for four people, but since it also had to carry some goods, only three passengers had been assigned to it. Though simple inside, it was lined with clean hay, and someone had thoughtfully hung a piece of coarse linen to provide shade. Yavi helped Mel put away her backpack, suddenly noticing how remarkably comprehensive her supplies were: everything from emergency medicine to basic cooking utensils, and even a thick Guide to Continental Trade Routes.
"Did you bring half your dorm room along?" Yavi teased, comparing it to the few changes of clothes and dry rations haphazardly stuffed into his own bag.
Mel proudly waved the waterskin in her hand. "Speaking from experience. Last time I traveled with a caravan, I learned the hard way." She suddenly lowered her voice. "Oh, right. Captain Hawk's caravan has a rule: the guards take turns keeping watch at night, and we're not allowed to leave the caravan. If we stray too far, they won't come looking for us..."
A rapid series of horn blasts interrupted her explanation. The caravan began to move slowly.
"Wait... wait for me! I'm coming..."
Yavi looked toward the voice and spotted a petite girl with a golden braid hurrying toward them. It was none other than Elena's roommate, Claire of the Afternoon Tea Squad.
The wagon had only just started moving and was not going fast, so Claire soon caught up. Yavi reached out and pulled her aboard. Lying in the wagon and panting heavily, Claire had not seen who had just helped her up. "Th-thank you. I almost... almost missed it."
"Another minute later and you probably really would have missed it," Yavi teased with a smile.
"Oh! It's Yavi! And Senior Mel! You're traveling with this caravan too!" Only after catching her breath did Claire see that the two people sharing her wagon were actually the siblings Yavi and Mel.
As the wagon gradually picked up speed, Oxenfurt's towering walls receded into the distance. Yavi leaned against the side of the covered wagon, looking out at the wilderness opening up before them, feeling that he was another step closer to home.
"There are lots of students we know traveling with this caravan, too. Everyone will get out and stretch their legs when we camp tonight, so we'll see who's here then." Claire said that many other students were traveling with the caravan as well.
"I hope we don't run into anyone annoying." Mel said mildly that she hoped they would not be people she did not want to see. After all, the Popular Election Faction and the Royal Election Faction were still competing.
At those words, Claire awkwardly rubbed her head.
"It's fine. If there is anyone annoying, tonight I'll just..." As Yavi spoke, he drew a hand across his throat.
"You can't do that, Yavi! That's too scary."
"Hahaha, I'm kidding."
The atmosphere in the wagon gradually grew more cheerful. After all, people of the same age found it easier to hit it off.