Well, there isn’t much to say about the trek in the woods, I just focussed on learning as much as possible from Layla, while also keeping my senses alert for dead bodies or traps.

At the end of the 3 days, I and Layla found a bunch of traps still, which she disarmed, and a few more dead bodies, including Layla’s dad, all of them either had their throat slit or got hit by darts, they didn’t have a chance… I need to be way more careful with my friends… and probably tell them when I feel like we shouldn’t stick our nose into problems that are not ours, but it is also true that this endeavor earned me a lot of magical energy, while I used most of it, I still feel better than I ever been… but do I want to grow my power on the life of people that have chosen to help me?

As I mull over these things Evan and I get the wagon ready to depart, giving Marina and Lionel time to get ready.

The village paid us for helping the foreigners… even though they paid us more for getting rid of the renegades killing people, Layla threw in an extra for me helping her find his dad’s body, so stopping here wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Also since my part in the fight was big and after the “threat” from the foreigner, Lionel decided to pass by one of the big towns on the way to the capital, to make it know I’m an aspiring adventurer and not a rogue magical creature killing people unchecked. Another reason to pass by a proper city was that Lionel’s chest plate could not be saved, the darts did a number on the metal and it was scrap at this point.

So when we are all ready we depart saying goodbye to George and Layla which are the only ones seeing us off aside from some of the other rangers.

We get back on the road, the forest starts getting way noisier for 3 days.

In those 3 days, my traveling companions were mostly silent, which wasn’t normal so, I decide to confront them. I wait for the time when we stop to eat and ask:

Lionel looks at me and says: < It’s not because of you Ivo, you did a good job, on my side though if you weren’t around I would have just thrown my group into a death trap, to help idiots none the less, I felt bad for the rangers though and thought we could pull it off, but there were so many red flags, the confused intel, how uncooperative the foreigners were being… I should have refused the job. That is why I’m silent Ivo...> he chuckles and continues <...I’m regretting my decision>

Evan says:

Marina says:

I am a bit confused and say:

Marina nods energetically: < it’s the only thing that makes sense, a Nekra you could dispatch would have no chance against any of the other known magical creatures around the human empire… we kind of make them thrive to make us thrive… or stay very far away from them.>

I ask, even more confused.

Evan chimes in and says:

Lionel said:

Evan laughs and says jokingly: <”Allowed”>

I pretty much understand why people would be afraid of me… they don’t know if I’m hunting for life energy or about to fight one of the magical beasts they are familiar with for power, reasonable enough… I hope it stops once I become a proper adventurer… but probably not, still them being scared should prevent them from attacking me.

After Evan’s joke, the mood lightens a little and I feel better knowing that they are less tense now and after the meal, we get back on the road.

Soon the forest starts giving out to hills, nice and sunny hills, I feel pretty naked now that there are very few trees around, but I just need to get used to it I guess. The hills don’t last more than one day and ahead I can see many fields, as far as the eye can see… well probably a human’s eye, I can see better, I strain my eyesight past the fields and I can spot something that looks like a city surrounded by walls, though it’s still miles away and I can barely make out anything, I notice the walls mostly, and some tower-like things.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I ask Marina, which is sitting next to Evan on the wagon driving bench.

I notice her strain her eyesight too but then she shakes her head and says:

I say to stop her.

As much as I enjoy her “lectures” I prefer to be ready for them, or else I get a headache trying to follow, Its nice to know this land should be peaceful; hopefully, I can make a proper introduction to human civilization over here

she apologizes

I say amused, so it’s not all bad, humans seem to be able to get along with magical creatures just fine if they live together like that.

We indeed get to stop for a meal near a field of what looks like wheat, or some kind of yellow grain, but before Marina can start I ask something else:

Lionel answers me:

Marina chimes in too:

I nod and ask one final question:

Marina says:

So it’s an exception and not a rule, I’m interested to meet the ruler or rulers of this kingdom now.

Evan and Lionel Stifle a chuckle but marina looks at me with a look of pity and says:

I nod and say:

Lionel says: < It’s time to be on the way again, I think you sufficiently talked Ivo’s head off for now>

I say: