The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains of their rooms, casting a warm, golden glow over the small inn. The hustle and bustle from the street below began seeping into Nyrion and Seraphina's rooms, dragging them out of sleep.

Nyrion woke up first, already thinking about the day's tasks. He dressed quickly, checked his gear, put his armor on, and headed to the common room for breakfast. The inn was buzzing with travelers and locals enjoying their morning meals.

Seraphina came out of her room soon after, her hair messy her eyes awake but sleepy looking. She joined Nyrion at the table where he'd already ordered a modest breakfast.

"Good morning," she said, her voice carrying a hint of excitement for the day ahead if not for the yawn she released right after that is. Then her expression shifted to one of confusion and curiosity. "I hope you slept well, but do you never take that armor off? You could have put it on after breakfast. Don't tell me you slept in it!?"

Nyrion looked up from his meal, a bit surprised by her observation, his old companions were used to him so no one had commented on it in a long time. He chuckled, shaking his head. "Look at the vampire commenting on other people's sleeping habits. Did you enjoy the bed, or should I acquire a coffin for next time? And no, I didn't sleep in it, but I do keep it on hand. I'm used to being ready at a moment's notice. It's more about habit than anything else."

Seraphina laughed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "A coffin, huh? I think I'd rather stick with a bed, thanks. I suppose you have a point about staying prepared, though."

Nyrion nodded. "Exactly. It's better to be ready for anything, especially with the kind of mess we're in."

They finished their breakfast, and Seraphina looked at Nyrion with a mix of determination and curiosity. "So, what's next on the agenda?"

"You should go get your things from the blacksmith while I wait for our way to the port, Garret said he'll meet us during breakfast."

Seraphina nodded, her expression brightening at the thought of finally picking up her new gear. "Got it. I'll be right back."

Nyrion watched her go, then turned his attention to the inn's common room. As he waited, he reviewed their travel plans and checked his equipment to ensure everything was in order, mostly out of boredom.

About an hour later, Seraphina returned, her new armor and the repaired odachi in hand. She looked quite pleased with herself. "Everything's ready. What about Garret?"

"Not yet," Nyrion said, irritation creeping into his voice. He had never been a person who approved or had patience for tardiness. "He should be here soon. Once he arrives, we'll finalize our plans and head to the port."

She nodded and went to her room to put on the new gear. After a few minutes, she returned. Though the armor was light, it looked formidable, especially with the long sheath of her odachi enhancing her imposing presence. Despite her youthful appearance, her deadlines were unmistakable.

She sat down and as they were discussing their final preparations, Garret arrived, his entrance marked by a quick, purposeful stride. He approached their table with a friendly but businesslike demeanor.

He greeted Nyrion and Seraphina with a nod. "Apologies for the delay," he said. "I had to finalize a few things. Everything's set for our trip to Zalma."

Zalma was the port they were going to, as well as the island's biggest coastal city, Nyrion and Seraphina didn't waste time and moved their gear to the wagon, Garret tried helping them but they easily carried everything themselves. The wagon was sturdy and well-maintained, suited quite well for long travel.

"So, what's the plan?" Nyrion asked, surveying the setup, the wagon was loaded almost to the brink.

"Nothing complicated," Garret replied. "We'll just follow the road to the port. If we run into any bandits or beasts, you two will handle them. That should cover everything."

With the plan laid out—if one could even call it a plan—Garret climbed into the driver's seat, and Nyrion and Seraphina settled into the wagon, squeezing beside the various goods Garret was bringing with him. The horses began to trot, and the wagon rolled steadily down the road, heading towards the port.

"How long will it take to get to the port?" Already growing bored Seraphina asked after only a couple of minutes.

"About four to five hours, if nothing happens," Garret said. "So I'd recommend finding something to do."

Nyrion and Seraphina exchanged glances. Nyrion then pulled out a book he had been carrying and began to read, while Seraphina settled back to rest, she was clearly frustrated she didn't think of that, her thoughts drifting as the scenery passed by. The rhythmic clopping of the horses' hooves and the creaking of the wagon wheels created a soothing backdrop, easing the tension from their recent encounters.

For the first three hours, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. The wagon continued along the well-trodden road, and the landscape gradually shifted from open fields to a dense forest. The trees grew taller, their branches forming a natural canopy overhead, casting dappled shadows on the road.

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Garret was humming a tune as he drove, while Nyrion and Seraphina had switched their activities. At some point, Nyrion, who was now resting, had lent Seraphina his book and she quickly began absorbing everything in it. Surprisingly enough it was an adventure book about a fantasy hero defeating the demon king. She was quite surprised that Nyrion was into things like that.

Suddenly, the peaceful ambiance was interrupted by a faint, rustling sound coming from the forest. It was a subtle, skittering noise that grew louder and more insistent. Nyrion, attuned to the dangers of the wild, tensed immediately.

"Garret," Nyrion said sharply, his voice low but urgent. "We might have trouble up ahead. Speed up and keep an eye out."

Garret looked up from the reins, his expression puzzled but alert. "What do you mean?"

Then he heard a sound, and his face paled. He gripped the reins tighter, knuckles white. His eyes darted around nervously, but he made no move beyond his tight grip on the reins. The sound grew nearer, and before long, the forest exploded with movement.

A band of kobolds burst out onto the road, brandishing crude weapons and snarling with hostility. Garret froze, his fear evident as he stared at the approaching threat. He clutched a weapon but seemed paralyzed, unable to act.

Seraphina reacted instantly. Without a word, she threw the book aside and drew her odachi. With swift movements, she jumped out of the wagon and ran at the kobolds.

Her blade flashed in the dappled light, each swing precise and deadly. The kobolds charged at her, but Seraphina's combat skills were heavens above theirs. She danced through their ranks, her sword cutting through their bodies with ease. The attackers fell one by one, unable to match her skill and speed.

Nyrion who was ready to assist if necessary, kept a watchful eye on the battle. Seeing that Seraphina had the situation well in hand, he remained by Garret's side, offering a reassuring presence.

After a brief struggle, the last of the kobolds lay defeated, the last ones tried to run but Seraphina was simply too fast for them. She sheathed her sword after cleaning it and returned to the wagon, her expression calm and composed despite the bloodbath she had just caused.

Garret's hands were still trembling as he finally managed to move, looking at Seraphina with a mix of awe and relief. "Thank you," he said, his voice shaky. "I… I'm sorry I didn't—"

Seraphina gave him a reassuring nod. "You were safe inside. Let's keep moving. We're getting close to the port."

Garret knew he couldn't do anything against the kobolds, he was a mere level 1 after all, but he still considered himself a coward for not at least trying to help.

They then had a short discussion where they considered taking the kobold corpses, but decided against it, neither of them was close to a level up, and the kobolds were too low level to sell them, Garret also felt like he didn't deserve them.

As the wagon rolled forward nothing else happened, the forest gradually thinned, revealing an open plain stretching toward the horizon. The transition from the dense woods to the open landscape was a welcome change, bringing a sense of relief and progress, at least to Garret.

Garret was still visibly shaken, he focused intently on the road, determined to regain his composure. The rhythmic sound of the horse's hooves against the firm ground provided a steady reassurance. Seraphina and Nyrion exchanged glances, she recognized the strain Garret was under and appreciated his efforts to stay on course. While Nyrion was wondering how such a coward even managed to leave his hometown.

As the wagon continued across the open plain, the port's bustling activity became more visible on the horizon. Ships of various sizes and designs would soon come into view, their sails fluttering in the breeze, but for now, the distant outline of the port was all that could be seen.

Garret, visibly steadied by the sight of their destination, made a deliberate effort to focus on the road. His hands, though still trembling, had steadied on the reins as he pushed through his unease.

Seraphina sat quietly, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Garret, assessing his condition. She could tell he was still unnerved but was trying to mask his fear. She admired his effort to push through his fear, even if his previous actions hadn't quite lived up to the bravado he showed during their conversations.

Nyrion, meanwhile, kept his attention split between the approaching port and Garret. His thoughts were practical but tinged with frustration. It was evident that Garret's fear was more than just momentary; it seemed to run deep. Nyrion was relieved they would soon part ways.

As they drew closer to the port, the sounds of the docks remained distant but promising. The rhythmic clanging of distant dockworkers and the occasional flare of magical signals could be heard faintly, indicating the lively activity awaiting them. The wagon rolled steadily toward the port, and the anticipation of reaching safety and bustling commerce provided a contrast to the earlier tension.

Garret's demeanor improved with each passing minute. His focus was resolute, though he still occasionally glanced nervously at the shifting scenery. He seemed to draw strength from the approaching port, a clear sign of relief escaped his mouth now that their journey was nearing its end.

Seraphina, noting Garret's gradual recovery, remained quiet but observant. She felt excited now that they were so close to their destination, she loved exploring new places. Her thoughts, however, were already shifting to what would happen after they left it and to where.

As the wagon rolled through the port's entrance, the energy of the docks enveloped them. The scene was a whirlwind of activity: ships of various sizes were being loaded and unloaded, vendors were shouting their wares, and sailors bustled about with purpose. The air was filled with the mingling scents of the sea, spices, and freshly prepared food.

Garret, with a mix of relief and residual tension, finally brought the wagon to a halt at a spot where they could safely get off. He took a deep breath, clearly relieved to have reached the destination.

Seraphina and Nyrion gathered their belongings and prepared to leave the wagon. As they stepped out into the lively port, Nyrion said to Garret. "Thank you for the ride. We'll handle ourselves from here."

Garret, still visibly relieved, nodded and gave a nervous smile. "You're welcome. I'm just glad we made it safely."

Seraphina gave him a nod of appreciation, her eyes scanning the bustling port with excitement. "We'll be fine. Good luck with everything."

With that, Garret gave a final wave and began to turn the wagon around. Seraphina and Nyrion watched as he drove off, leaving them to navigate the lively port on their own.

Seraphina's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took in the sights and sounds of the port. Ships from distant lands bobbed in the water, their colorful sails fluttering in the wind. The clamor of dockworkers and the murmur of negotiations between merchants filled the air, creating a symphony of activity.

Seraphina glanced at Nyrion, her excitement palpable. "Where should we head first? Oh, can we stop for some seafood? I never had any."

Nyrion surveyed the bustling docks, his brow furrowing slightly as he turned to look at her. "Stay focused, it's unlikely they'll catch us but even an hour of delay could prove deadly. First, we find a ship. You can do whatever afterward."

Her excitement waned a bit, but undeterred she nodded and started walking behind Nyrion who proceeded to the docs after he finished his scolding.

They walked through the busy streets at considerable speeds, the mass of people moving aside as if scared when noticing the small wall of iron walking toward them. Seraphina found the sight funny, she was, quite visibly, a vampire, standing slightly over 190 cm tall, clad in dark leather armor, with the trusty odachi hanging by her side, and yet she barely earned a glance or two from the odd passerby.

Yet this little twerp called Nyrion commanded such authority that people couldn't help but step aside for him, back in the mine she hasn't noticed it but, after spending more time together her senses began to take notice. 'Is that what people call murderous intent? I'll ask him later, knowing him he's probably exuding it just so people don't talk to him.'

She stopped where she stood, 'Knowing him? We've been together for not even two days, yet I'm talking as if I know him. To be fair he doesn't seem like a complex person. He feels like a grandpa who cares about his family but doesn't show it, Nyrion seems to be a lot older than me so maybe asking him for some stories would be a good start. I already agreed to travel together, might as well get to know him. '

After gathering her thoughts Seraphina realized that she had been standing still long enough for multiple people to walk between her and Nyrion, but from her height, she could easily spot the small hole devoid of people slowly making its way toward the port.

After pushing through the crowd with quite some difficulty and rejoining Nyrion, she had to acknowledge that his methods were quite effective. Without him, it would easily take over an hour just to reach the shipyards.

As they reached the shipyards, Seraphina couldn't help but appreciate Nyrion's no-nonsense approach; getting through the crowd would have taken forever without him. Ready for the next step, she followed him, eager for what lay ahead.