“Are the two of you sure that you wish to push on alone, on foot, no less?” Karl said disapprovingly. After securing the fortress, Maniard has been dispatched to Marquis Von Shelk to get help, with Karl and Marilyn acting as guards. Lawrence has left the other horse with them as well, in case it was needed.

In other words, Craig and Lawrence were leaving.

“Apologies but we need to push on to the Singing Gardens,” Lawrence replied, adjusting his waistband.

Father Karl walked closer and whispered, “If you see the Butcher, don’t try to deal with him yourself, fall back and wait for us.”

Lawrence smiled as he nodded, walking to Craig who was waiting for him.

As they waved farewell, Craig’s smile slowly faded, as an expression of determination replaces it. With the death of Marquis Donovan, it seemed as if the skies were clearer, though…

In the distance, after two hours of trekking through eerily silent woods, on the horizon, at the new town of Singing Gardens, it seemed as if a thunderstorm was brewing. Ominous clouds hung in the sky, the flashes of lightning and roars of thunder.

“A frontier town, how charming,” Craig said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Hey, it is an adventure after all… Coupled with a rescue mission,” Lawrence replied as the two continued on their walk to the town. The grass was significantly greener compared to that of the forest.

As they got closer to the town, a massive signboard, is at the side of the road.

Welcome to The Singing Gardens, where exploration is the new frontier

“Let’s go,” Lawrence said to Craig and the two of them walked towards the town. The walls were wooden palisades, with some wooden spikes driven into the ground. The town gate seemed to be reinforced wood. The door however, was closed, with a lone guard standing outside.

“Hold there, good sirs, hold. Welcome to the Singing Gardens. Before you enter, we need to ask you a few basic questions,” the guard said, smiling. Lawrence was instantly reminded of the slimy second hand car salesmen.

“Uhm… Sorry, who are you?” Craig asked and the man’s smile widened.

“I am with the town, of course! My name is Dendar Laughlin, and I am a member of the Order of Joy,” Dendar said, throwing his arms wide open in welcome, almost oblivious to the fact that Lawrence and Craig seemed even more unnerved by his friendliness.

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“Come, take a seat here, just a quick note I need to take, some details of all of you…” Dendar said.

Dendar points them to a set of table and chair at the side, beside the gate, underneath a canopy.

“Can’t we just go in?” Lawrence said, asking, hesitant to sit down. He was in fact, reminded of an odd settlement in Fallout 4 where people are given weird surveys to fill in before entering a town to drink suspiciously made lemonade.

“I’m afraid not, good sir!” Dendar said, shaking his head stubbornly as he sat down, paper in hand, along with a quill dipped in ink.

“What on earth is the Order of Joy anyway?” Craig asked, scratching his head. He had never heard of such a thing before and it was unheard of having to take part in some form of question and answer before entering any town.

“Oh, all in good time!” Dendar smiled, tapping his finger on the table, his head nodding in the direction of the chairs. Lawrence and Craig sat down, their hearts uncomfortable with going along with this. Whatever, they have to save someone anyway.

Lawrence scanned the perimeter walls with his eyes. He may not be sharp with his own eyes but the interface was definitely far sharper than him. Underneath the flags of the town, which had the symbol of a lone gold coloured eye, were men who were crouched, with the interface only picking them out because the tip of their crossbows was poking out from the wall.

The town was a fortress. This is not some upstart community.

“First question. Names?” Dendar asked and Lawrence gave a side eye to Craig.

“Craig Tumbleton!” Craig said immediately and Lawrence sighed in defeat. The man was not that alert to certain things.

“Tolf Hilm,” Lawrence replied and he noticed that Craig clenched his fist.

“Good, second question. Purpose of visit?” Dendar asked, offering a kind smile.

“Adventuring,” Lawrence replied and Dendar duly noted that down. Dendar twirled the quill in his hands before asking the next question, “Religion?”

“None,” Lawrence replied and Craig nodded, indicating the same.

“Great, all of you! Welcome to the Singing Gardens! I am sure you will enjoy your stay here!” Dendar said, smiling, reaching across the table to hug both Lawrence and Craig.

What on earth is this place… It is so weird…

As the gates opened, the place was bustling with life, filled with housewives that gossiped with one another, men walking around going about their daily duties.

However, what completely unnerved Lawrence was the smiles on their faces. How on earth do you have every person in your sight smiling at the same time? Was this North Korea? Was he in a propaganda town?

As they entered, they were offered a single parchment by a bald young man, dressed in golden robes.

“Lost sheep, if you need rest, head to the Golden Eye Inn. If you require adventures to test your mettle, head to the Joyful Guild and should you need guidance, Father Laughlin will be more than happy to guide all of you,” the young man smiled.

Looking at the parchment, Lawrence swallowed his saliva.

The Singing Gardens, where everyone shall find eternal peace, prosperity and happiness. Join the Order of Joy today, let the Joyful God into your hearts!

Below the text was an illustration.

The outline of a castle…

“This… This is… Fortress Altis, is it not?”