The sun started to go down as Magnum continued to follow the river upstream. While there were many rivers in the country, the two most important ones are the River Rosary and River Lang-i. The river Lang-i was the one Matrina was talking about. The river comes down from the Mother Mountain all the way to the plains of Midandria then turns east where it branches to many smaller rivers.

The Mother Mountain was home to many great tribes. The most known is the Kal-nga tribe. They are fierce warriors who take the heads of their victims and often use the jawbones as ornaments at their homes. They were the main reason why the Cresanyan army never conquered the Mother Mountain.

Magnum has been following the river for three days now. His trip had been really quiet since he parted ways with the Fadel and her granddaughter, Fina. While he liked being alone, their conversations were always comforting to hear. Especially the past few days where for the first time, he hated being alone. No one to keep him from thinking how big of a loser he is. One thing that he kept focusing on was the strength of the river current. He always knew about the river; he used to bathe on it with his younger brother when they were kids on the other side of the country. It was not this strong back in his hometown, they would drown here. Unnatural shapes starting to jut out of the tall trees. He was getting closer to the mountain and Magnum knew he found the town he was looking for. Originally, he didn’t want to follow any advice from Garvin or Matrina but venturing further south would be instant death if he didn’t get stronger.

He started hearing the buzz of the town over its high stone walls from the other side of the river. He saw a stone bridge that had wooden towers. It will let him cross to the other side, which relieved some worry that he had to swim over the strong river just to get over. Swimming with his wagon would be hard, based on his personal experience.

"A functional town. How?"

He walked up to the stone bridge and saw a wall made of logs. The bridge was made from stone bricks. Some of the bricks were the white bricks from the capital road but it wasn’t sparkling.

“Of course, it wasn’t sparkling. There should be no knights here.”

"What do you want?" One of the guards on the top tower said.

"Lodging... and selling," Magnum pointed to the instruments on his wagon.

The two guards looked at each other. The older-looking guard waved at the other guard to go down. “We have to check them first,” the older guard said looking down at him.

The younger guard opened the wooden door below. He appeared like a mercenary which surprised Magnum. Dark leather clothes, multiple belts, and big guns, yes look like mercenary.

“These mercs, they shouldn’t be related to that witch. They shouldn’t be. Cause if they are…”

"So… you're a merc?" the younger guard said as the old guard watched from above.

“No,” he said inspecting the guard. Looking for any connection with the ones he saw with the witch. He saw a patch on the right shoulder of the guard, an eagle’s talon was at the forefront of a shield.

The guard climbed up to the wagon and inspected all his belongings. Magnum felt a little bit nervous. Something could happen here.

“See! You got some dust on you! Merc!” the guard said.

“I’m not a merc!” Magnum’s face turned serious as he watched the guard inside his wagon.

The guard looked back at Magnum, “Yes you are,” he said and then turned around and jumped down. “But don’t worry. Mercs are welcome here.”

“Mercs are welcome here… what a strange thing to hear.”

The younger guard signaled the older guard.

“Okay, you can enter but don’t be a problem, okay?” the older guard said.

“What a general thing to say. It could be a trap.”

The gate opened and Magnum walked to the bridge. It looked old but strong and mirrored the construction of the walls around the town. The gate also had guards but they were just standing and only looked at him as he walked the paved road.

"Mercs everywhere, but this is not the Merc City," he was shocked as he entered the gate and saw mercs walking around leisurely checking stalls and talking casually.

A couple of townspeople laugh behind Magnum, "Yes, it's not. The mercs here are employed by Don Cid.”

"Employed? This is bad. Once they get the trust of the people they can lure demons here just like the other town. That's gotta be it!"

"I’m sorry. I didn't know Don Cid. How can I find him?" He said looking around, " And how long have the mercs been here?"

"You want to join the guild? Hey! Tanna!” The man shouted while moving his head around. “Someone wants to join the guild! Tanna!”

“Huh, where is she? She usually pops up immediately.” The other guy said.

“Who’s Tanna?” Magnum asked.

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“Me!” A girl appeared behind Magnum. She was wearing some light merc leather armour and her hair was short and colored blue.

“We don’t just let anyone join the guild. Don’t listen to these guys!”

“What? Garza said you need people.”

Tanna growled at Magnum, “Don’t listen to them!” she said and then disappeared.

“Don’t worry about her. It's been about twenty years since mercs started showing up. There, that’s the home of the White Talon Guild at the central road.” the man said pointing at the tallest building.

"Are these people enchanted by magic? Is this a trick?"

Magnum stepped out of his wagon. He thought he was being watched but maybe it was because he was not used to being around with many people. He noticed that the two men he was walking to had fruit stalls that stood beside each other.

"Are buying or not?" the man said.

Magnum shook his head, “Can you let me know where Don Cid’s house is? And also the Inn?"

"Don Cid is a very kind man but you can’t just go and see him. Go to the guild first. The Inn is also at the central road.”

"Thank you!"

Magnum pulled his wagon passing along fruit and merchandise stalls. The people seemed not bothered by his presence and minded their own business. However, an old lady approached and was bothered seeing him pull his own wagon.

"Hey kid, you want a bull?" she said.

"A bull?" He remembered the look of the bull that he fought. "I'm not sure if I want to buy one but can I see it?"

"I have to see this. It doesn’t have to be a bull but the coincidence is crazy."

"Yes yes!" the woman was delighted.

They both stepped inside her stall where one bull was kept.

The old woman pulled the bull closer to Magnum, “It's strong and healthy! It can pull your wagon without resting for days! Just don’t forget to feed em! And water!” she said.

“Oh it's a water buffalo,” Magnum said inspecting the animal. It was wearing a colorful necklace made up of wood with small stones. He then noticed that the old woman was wearing a necklace that resembled what the bull was wearing.

“Yes! It's the strongest and kindest of all the buffalos. It's perfect for pulling your wagon!”

"This one looks normal. My necklace also doesn't give a warning."

"Do you have others?"

“Yes! I have two more in the back but this is the best one.”

Magnum walked around the bull, “Can I see the others?”

The old woman waved at Magnum to follow her to the back of the stall where a door was opened. Two more water buffalos were relaxing under a tree.

"These bulls look strong and well-fed. It's also a reflection of the town. If the animals are well fed then most likely the people as well."

"You don’t like it? I have more on my farm but it's at the edge of the town," the old woman saw that Magnum was thinking.

"At the edge of the town? I'll check that out later.”

"I’m sorry Lola but I don’t need it now.”

The old woman was puzzled. “Are you sure? That wagon looked heavy! I’ll give you a discount!”

“Thanks but I have to go,” Magnum said.

"Okay Mr. Mercenary, come back if you changed your mind. You’ll hurt your back if you keep pulling that wagon!”

“Don't worry about it," he said.

Magnum arrived at the central road. The shops were still busy even though it was starting to get dark. Several buildings lined up on the right side, the Inn and the guild house were there.

“White Talon Guild? Never heard of em.”

On the left are more shops. Some shops sell items for mercs like armor, weapons, and even demon dust. Others sell instruments and items based on the Vicari faith. He saw a familiar-looking building on the left, almost at the center of the town after the shops.

"A sanctuary?"

An old man caught what he said, "You want to pray lad? But you won't find any priest there!" The old man laughed.

Magnum turned around, "Why?"

"Well, they are useless! Especially the knights!" The old man laughed again.

Magnum was about to laugh with the old man, "Damn right! But this could be a trap!" so he stopped himself.

“Is that why there’s so many mercs here?”

“Yes, the knights have been keeping the towers for themselves! It wasn’t like this back in the day! If only Don Cid was King, this country would not have failed like this.”

“What the hell?” Magnum dropped his wagon, “What are you talking about old man?”

“What? You don’t know your history? Of course, you don’t know! Ah kids these says. So dumb. Go read some books!”

“I’m not dumb! I read all the books the priest gave us!” Magnum said.

“And that’s the problem! You only read one side of the history! Come to my shop and read all the books! I’ll give you a discount!”

“Oh shit! He got me!” Magnum picked up his wagon again, “Maybe later old man,” he said.

“Ah! The new generation is doomed!” the old man said as he started walking away.

Another old lady approached him selling the same colorful necklaces like some people were wearing.

“Lad, you need this! It will keep you safe from demons visiting your dreams! Come to my shop! You can choose your favorite color! I have lots of black!” the old woman said but Magnum ignored her and proceeded to the Inn.

"Good day! Staying for the night?” a male attendant wearing eyeglasses said.

"Yes!"

"Great! Please write your information on this book." The attendant slammed a huge book on the table and pointed a pen at the desk in front.

“Name.

Guild.

Job.

I don’t have a guild. Job?”

Magnum flipped the book open and saw the jobs the others wrote.

Knight? Priest? I thought they didn’t come here. Scholar. Hunter. What are these jobs? Mercs. Who cares.

“Any issues?” the attendant said.

“I’m a hero… but it's not a job. It's a way of living. No, I’m not a hero. I’m shit.”

Magnum wrote his name. “Magnum Silvers” and then left the Job and Guild column blank. He put back the pen.

“Are you sure you want to leave this column blank?”

“Yeah, I’m shit.”

The attendant professionally did not react, “No worries, but a very interesting job. I must say,” he said.

“Yes, it's a difficult job. I must say,” Magnum said.

"I agree,” the attendant said. “Much harder than the others listed here. I must say.”

"But what do Scholars and Hunters do here?" Magnum said.

"Oh? They usually worked together. They come here as a base of operations when they explore the old kingdom."

"Old kingdom?"

“Yes, the old kingdom that got swallowed by the desert.”

“Old Kingdom. I guess that old man is correct. I don’t know anything at all!”

"Well, Mr. Silvers. That will be ten silvers per night.

“I only have ninety silvers. It's okay, I’ll sell or trade tomorrow.”

“Okay, let me try spending a night,” he said. Magnum paid and got his keys. The attendant then asked another man to assist Magnum with his personal things. His wagon was also taken to the back of the Inn, two men pulled it.

“Thank you, Mr. Silvers. You can proceed to your room now and if somehow you have weird dreams. You are free to wear the talismans beside the bed if it helps you.”

“Weird dreams?”

“I don’t think I’ll be needing it. Thank you.” Magnum said.

Magnum went to his room and took a shower. He was surprised at how clean and comfortable the room was. He’s not been sleeping well since the time he fought the mother demon, so he was hoping the clean bed would help. He lay on the bed. The talismans and a few colorful tribal necklaces were on the small cabinet beside him. He looked at it and closed his eyes.

“Weird dreams? Nah, who cares.”