"Welcome back!" Aneko happily greeted her savior and host, she had taken on the position of a housemaid to thank Kuburi while she learned the language and customs.

"Ah... It smells great." The dwarf smiled while looking at the woman before him, unable to believe she had already managed to learn their language. Enough to cover the basics at least, but that was still impressive.

"Thanks, I used the last of the Savra Lizard meat to prepare it." Aneko replied with a beautiful smile, making Kurburi wonder for just a second if he might be interested in none dwarven women. Just for a second though.

"I see, no problem. I will go buy some tomorrow." Putting down his basket, Kuburi moved to the kitchen to clean himself of most of the dirt covering his body.

Flowing water taps aren't a thing in this world, not even for the dwarves. They did have some workaround, such as aqua ducts diverting the groundwater to their towns and villages. And in the case of nobles even to their pools. Some even diverted hot springs.

As such, while they didn't have a tap, they did have fresh water. They didn't need to go through the effort of pulling it up from a well like most humans who lived far from a river or dam either.

"Have you heard of anyone else like me?" Aneko asked as she prepped the table and served the food.

"No, nothing. I only got more disturbing news about the kingdom of Eskrat."

"Again?" Aneko sighed, it seemed like this kingdom was hell-bent on destroying the dwarves.

No one knew why, it wasn't like it was easy to attack a dwarven kingdom. In fact, it was just about the most difficult things one could attempt.

Even a normal dwarven town had defenses on par with human cities. This was due to the dangers of the mountain and as such sieging them isn't easy. Yet, they kept attacking.

The most shocking thing was the fact that they were starting to push back the dwarves. Forcing them deeper into the mountain. Their casualties were nearly four times that of the dwarves, but their fervor was shocking.

It was like they didn't even care that they were losing so many men.

"Yes, actually..." Kurburi paused as he turned to the door, sighing.

"What is it?" Aneko asked, getting a bad feeling.

"I am sorry, I really am." As he said this, four dwarves in the heaviest armor Aneko had ever seen burst through the door.

"Human! Surrender or die!"

"Wha-what?" Aneko looked between the dwarves pointing their weapons at her and Kurburi, unable to make sense of what was going on.

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Naturally, she had no wish to die so she immediately threw her hands into the air.

One of the dwarves stepped forward and threw her to the ground, mercilessly pulling her hands behind her back and even causing one of her shoulders to dislocate.

"Enough! She isn't a threat!" Kurburi shouted, unable to accept this roughness.

The dwarf who was manhandling Aneko turned to him with a death stare, "They are the ones who attacked us. Who killed thousands of dwarves, ripped hundred of families apart!"

"We cannot harbor any feelings for humans!"

Kurburi faltered hearing this, indeed. Humans had started this war and had killed so many of his kin. The refugees were constantly fleeing deeper into the mountain, even having to go so far as to settle in the abandoned mines.

"But... I am sure she isn't a spy!" Kurburi shouted as the dwarf pulled her up, her face bruised and swollen.

"You say that, but we can't risk it!" The dwarf said, pushing Aneko forward into the arms of the other dwarves who quickly restrained her further and collared her.

'What... What is going on?' Aneko tried to ask, but her mind wasn't able to form the words through the shock and pain.

...

Ven woke with a massive headache under a wooden roof. The sight caused her to feel relieved, at least she wasn't dead.

Turning her head to the side she observed the room she was in. Outside of the bed she was on, there was a single table with a few wooden bowls and a bunch of leaves.

'Where am I?' Ven wondered as she slowly managed to stand up, though her body felt extremely tired. She needed to first confirm she was safe.

Stumbling towards the door, she heard some strange language being spoken. Causing her to remember the scene on the road in the forest and nearly fall to her knees. She fought her fear and slowly opened the door.

{"Ah, you are awake."} A female dressed in what seemed to be hunter's clothing said, she had long bright red hair coming down to the small of her back.

"Wher-where am I?" Ven asked, the woman moving slowly so as to try and not spook her.

{"I know you can't understand me, but you are in the Pirn... Pirn."} She repeated to try and make it clear, after which she pointed to herself and introduces who she was. {"I am Gabriella Sandor."}

"Gabriella?" Ven repeated and the lady nodded, seeing this Ven pointed at herself. "Vendelin Bach... Ven for short."

{"I see, Vendelin... Welcome to our town. You were in a really bad state, here... Drink"} Gabriella handed Ven a wooden cup filled with a sweet-smelling tea while indicating that she should drink.

Ven did just that, knowing that if the village had wanted to harm her, then they would have done so long ago.

Upon tasting the tea she immediately felt refreshed, the sweetness cleared her mind while the smoothness gave her energy. Not much, but enough for her to fight the fatigue covering her like a thick blanket.

{"Come, sit.} Gabriella helped Ven to a chair and slowly started to try and converse with the foreigner. Still unable to believe that someone in such a bad state had managed to make it to her barony.

It took some time, but with the help of gestures, the two manage to get acquainted.

{"I see,"} Naturally, a great deal was lost due to them only being able to communicate via a makeshift mix of gestures and body language. But Gabriella managed to confirm that Ven had been lost for some time in the forest until she finally managed to find their village.

Gabriella also confirmed that Ven wasn't just a peasant. Even in her state, she could keep up with her as the two tried to find a way to talk.

{"Rest for now,"} Gabriella said, taking Ven's hand and looking her in the eyes seriously. {"I will have my daughter come to teach you our language. So please, try your best, Vendelin."}

Ven wasn't sure what she was saying, but she nodded nonetheless. Not wanting to be rude and not feeling any malice from the person before her. In fact, she could feel that the lady truly wanted to help her.

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