I, the slave boy, awaken with the most potent seed!!

Chapter 124: Private secret location

The arcane-powered cart hummed softly as it wound its way through the streets of Drakoria, its destination a mystery to at least one of its passengers. Cassandra sat across from Zafron, contentedly munching on a stick of some exotic snack, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She had offered one to Zafron earlier, but he had politely declined.

'As tempting as it looks,' Zafron thought, eyeing the colorful treat, 'I'm pretty sure "don't eat your boss's snacks" is rule number one in the Guard's Handbook. Right after "try not to trip over your own feet while looking intimidating."'

He adjusted his crisp blue blazer, still not quite used to the feeling of such fine clothing. The black trousers Cassandra had given him when he started working were more comfortable than anything he'd ever owned. 'I look like I should be guarding a king,' he mused. 'Or at least a very fancy garden gnome.'

"So," Zafron ventured, breaking the comfortable silence, "about this surprise you mentioned..."

Cassandra's grin widened, if that was even possible. "Now, now, Zafron. If I just blurted it out, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"

She giggled, a sound that seemed at odds with her usual poised demeanor. Her eyes never left Zafron's face, clearly enjoying his growing anxiety.

'Great,' Zafron thought. 'She's got that look again. The one that says "I know something you don't know, and I'm going to enjoy watching you squirm until I decide to tell you." I've seen less mysterious looks on fortune tellers.'

He turned his gaze to the window, trying to discern their destination from the passing scenery. They weren't heading to the commercial district or the market. In fact, they seemed to be leaving the city proper altogether.

'Let's see,' Zafron mused. 'We're not going anywhere we've been before. We're heading out of the city. Either we're about to have a lovely picnic in the wilderness, or I'm about to star in my very own horror story. Fifty-fifty chance, really.'

His mind wandered to the morning's activities. He had completed his daily quest, each one seemingly designed to push him just a little bit further than the last. 'At this rate,' he thought, 'I'll either be the strongest guard in Drakoria or the most exhausted. Possibly both.'

The cart came to a stop at the head of a trail that disappeared into a dense forest. Zafron blinked in surprise. 'Woods? In Drakoria? I thought the only trees here were the ones rich people kept in fancy pots as conversation starters.'

He quickly composed himself and stepped out of the cart, holding the door open for Cassandra. She emerged with a grace that seemed effortless, that ever-present grin still plastered on her face.

"Driver," Cassandra called, "the bag, please."

'Bag?' Zafron thought, perplexed. 'What bag? Did I miss the "pack a mysterious bag" memo this morning?'

The driver produced a satchel from the trunk, handing it to Cassandra. She took it with a nod of thanks and then turned to Zafron, excitement radiating from her like heat from a furnace.

"Come along, Zafron!" she said, already starting down the trail. "Adventure awaits!"

'Adventure,' Zafron thought dryly. 'Right. Because nothing says "safe and secure" like following your employer into an unknown forest. I should have packed some bread crumbs.'

As they made their way deeper into the woods, Cassandra would occasionally turn back to look at Zafron, her giggles echoing through the trees. Zafron, for his part, was on high alert, his eyes scanning the area for any potential threats.

'Let's see,' he thought. 'No sign of bandits, no wild animals, and definitely no aggressive butterflies. So far, so good. Though I wouldn't put it past Cassandra to have trained squirrels as her personal army.'

The deeper they went, the more Zafron marveled at their surroundings. The towering trees, the soft carpet of leaves underfoot, the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy - it was a far cry from the bustling streets and towering mansions of Drakoria.

"Um, Miss," Zafron finally asked, his curiosity getting the better of him, "where exactly are we?"

Cassandra's only response was another giggle as she pressed on through a small clearing.

'Right,' Zafron thought. 'Why use words when you can communicate entirely through giggles and mysterious smirks? It's like I'm guarding the world's most elegant mime.'

As they continued their trek, Zafron couldn't help but reflect on the past week. Cassandra had been nothing but kind to him, treating him more like a friend than an employee. It was a treatment he wasn't used to, and if he was being honest with himself, it was starting to affect him.

'She's growing on me,' he admitted to himself. 'Like a very expensive, very giggly fungus. Is that normal? Do all guards end up feeling this way about their charges? There really should be a manual for this sort of thing.'

The sound of rushing water began to fill the air, growing louder with each step. Cassandra's pace quickened, her excitement palpable.

"We're almost there!" she called back to Zafron, her voice barely containing her glee.

'Almost where?' Zafron wondered. 'A secret waterfall? A hidden grotto? The world's most remote and impractical shopping mall?'

As they rounded a bend in the trail, the trees suddenly parted, revealing a sight that made Zafron stop in his tracks. Before them lay a pristine lake, its surface like glass, reflecting the surrounding trees and the cloudless sky above. A small, sandy beach hugged the shoreline, and a wooden dock stretched out into the water.

Cassandra turned to face Zafron, her arms spread wide, her face alight with joy. "Welcome," she announced, "to my secret getaway!"

Zafron stood there, mouth agape, trying to process what he was seeing. 'A private lake,' he thought. 'Because of course she has a private lake. Why wouldn't she? I bet the fish here pay rent.'

As Cassandra began to unpack the mysterious bag, pulling out towels and what looked suspiciously like swimwear, Zafron couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. Whatever this day had in store for him, he was certain of one thing - it was going to be unlike any other day he'd had as Cassandra's guard.

'Well, Zafron,' he thought to himself, a wry smile tugging at his lips, 'looks like you're about to add "lifeguard" to your ever-growing list of job responsibilities. Let's just hope those morning exercises have prepared you for whatever aquatic adventures await.'