[Current Balance: £2,733,571 15s. 11d.]
---
The carriage rolled smoothly along the dirt road, its wheels kicking up small clouds of dust as it approached the Penn Estate.
The coachman gently pulled on the reins, slowing the horses to a steady trot. The pair of horses neighed softly, their hooves clattering against the cobblestones as the carriage came to a halt.
"Easy now," the coachman murmured, his voice calm as he patted the neck of the nearest horse. The animal snorted, tossing its head, before settling down. The coachman hopped down from his seat, dusting off his hands as he turned to Alaric and Reuben.
"Here we are, sirs," he said, gesturing toward the estate with a small bow.
Alaric stepped down from the carriage, his boots hitting the ground with a soft thud. He adjusted his coat and nodded to the coachman. "Thanks for the ride."
The coachman smiled warmly, tipping his hat. "The honor was mine, Master Alaric."
Reuben followed suit, stretching his arms as he stepped onto the ground. "Nice ride," he said, glancing back at the carriage. "A bit fancy for my taste, though."
"Ah, don't be modest," Alaric teased, smirking. "You enjoyed it."
Reuben shrugged, chuckling. "Maybe a little."
Alaric turned his attention toward the estate, where William Penn stood amidst a flurry of activity. The Quaker was inspecting multiple wagons, each loaded with crates of Celestial Salves. His hands moved swiftly as he gestured to the workers, instructing them to cover the wagonss with tarps to protect the precious cargo from potential damage.
"Make sure those are secure!" Penn called out, his voice firm but calm. "We're carrying the Queen's salves, not potatoes."
Alaric watched as the workers quickly obeyed, ensuring the crates were tightly covered. Nearby, Penn was speaking with the guard captain, a stout man with a scar running down his cheek.
"Two guards per wagon," Penn said, pointing at the formation. "Mounted escorts on both flanks, and scouts ahead to clear the road. Understood?"
The guard captain nodded sharply. "Aye, sir. We'll keep 'em safe."
Penn clapped the man on the shoulder. "Good. Make sure your men are ready. We leave within the hour."
As Penn turned, he spotted Alaric and Reuben approaching. A smile spread across his face. "Ah, good morning, lads! Sleep well?"
"Morning, Penn," Alaric greeted, nodding. "Ready to get this show on the road?"
"As ready as we'll ever be," Penn replied, his tone light. "Letitia and James are inside the mansion, getting ready. They'll be joining us shortly."
Reuben scratched his head. "How many people are coming along?"
"Just the family, a few handpicked staff, and the guards," Penn explained. "We're keeping the group small to avoid drawing too much attention."
Alaric crossed his arms, glancing at the wagonss. "You mentioned the route earlier. How many stops are we looking at?"
Penn nodded, pulling out a small map from his coat. "Right. We'll reach Swindon in two days, so we'll need to camp at least once or twice along the way. From Swindon to Reading, another two days. Reading to Slough will take a day and a half, and Slough to London another day and a half. All in all, about seven days, give or take."
Alaric absorbed the information, his expression thoughtful. "Seven days... plenty of time for things to go wrong."
Reuben chimed in, his tone slightly wary. "You think we'll run into trouble? Bandits, maybe?"
Penn chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I'd expect nothing less. The roads can be treacherous, especially with cargo this valuable. But we're prepared for it. Any delays are already factored into our schedule."
Alaric smirked. "Good to know we're not flying blind."
Penn glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "And what about you? Everything squared away?"
Alaric nodded, but there was a hint of something else in his expression. "Actually, I've got somewhere to be before we reach Swindon. I'll meet you there."
Both Penn and Reuben turned to him, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"Wait, what?" Reuben frowned. "You're not coming with us?"
Alaric shook his head. "Nope. I'll catch up with you in Swindon. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Penn hesitated, his brow furrowed. "And where exactly are you going?"
Alaric waved a hand dismissively. "Just a little detour. Nothing major."
Reuben's frown deepened. "You're being vague again, you know that?"
Alaric shrugged, smirking. "It's part of my charm."
Reuben sighed, shaking his head. "Whatever. Can I at least have the carriage to myself while you're gone?"
Alaric shot him a look. "Obviously?"
Reuben grinned, throwing his hands up. "Hey, I'm just making sure. A man's gotta have his space."
Penn chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, then. We'll see you in Swindon, Alaric. Just... don't get into trouble, will you?"
"Me? Never." Alaric's smirk widened as he turned to leave. "Take care of yourselves. I'll catch up soon."
As Alaric walked away, Reuben and Penn exchanged a glance, both wondering what the blonde was up to this time.
---Minutes Later---
Alaric stood atop a towering tree, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon.
The wind rustled through the leaves, and the sun cast long shadows across the forest below.
He adjusted his stance, his boots digging into the bark as he muttered to himself.
"Hmm..." Alaric's voice was low, almost a whisper. "I should be heading south from Bristol..."
He reached into his pocket, his fingers brushing against the cool metal of a gold pocket-compass. Pulling it out, he flipped it open with a practiced motion.
The needle spun briefly before settling, pointing him in the right direction.
"There are three places I could think of to find the Excalibur..." Alaric mused, while his gaze was distant.
"Glastonbury Tor, Stonehenge in Salisbury, and the Royal Palace."
He snapped the compass shut, tucking it back into his pocket.
Turning south, he crouched slightly, a faint glow of chakra enveloping his lower body.
"Let's start with the obvious... Glastonbury it is."
With that, Alaric leaped forward, his body was a blur as he soared through the air.
He landed on the next treetop, the branches barely bending despite his weight.
The wind whipped past his face, and he squinted against the sun's harsh glare.
"Damn... the sun's burning my skin..." he muttered, shielding his eyes with one hand.
Without missing a beat, he dropped down slightly, leaping from branch to branch instead of the treetops.
The shade provided some relief, but the speed at which he moved was still intense.
Alaric wasn't pushing himself to his limits, but he was moving at a steady 80 kilometers per hour, his body was a blur of motion.
'Come to think of it...' Alaric thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. 'I never got to release that bloodline limit here...'
He raised a single hand, forming a quick hand sign. His smirk widened as he felt the surge of energy coursing through him.
"Jinton..."
The moment the word left his lips, the world around him seemed to slow.
Then, with a deafening BOOMMMMMM, Alaric shot forward like a bullet.
The force of his movement created a shockwave, knocking over trees in his wake.
The air itself seemed to split as he left an afterimage in his original spot, the sonic boom echoing through the forest.
Alaric's grin widened as he felt the sheer power of the Swift Release.
The trees blurred into streaks of green and brown, and the ground below became a smudge of color.
He was moving faster than he ever had before, and the sensation was exhilarating.
'This is so amazing,' he thought, his heart racing with excitement. 'I always get surprised when using this.'
The forest became a blur as Alaric continued his journey south, the 'swiftness' of the Swift Release propelling him forward at incredible speeds.
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