“No, I don’t like tea. I just want to know if you can do the job or not; otherwise, I can go somewhere else.”

“There is only one cartographer in the entire city,” he said, looking at me smugly.

I held back a groan. The last thing I needed today was this man’s ego, especially with a penalty mission hanging over my head.

I don’t want that penalty mission!

Time Left: 2 mins 20 seconds.

He looked at me and sighed, lowering his head. “Listen, I know another kid like you. He’s also suffering like you. Maybe this is a new plague, affecting young kids in this country.”

When will he stop yapping?

I glanced at the timer again: 1 min 45 seconds left.

“So, will you commission me a map or not? I understand you have a family to feed. I have money. Just tell me your price, and I’m willing to pay it.”

1 min 11 seconds.

"We can talk about that later. Do you want some dandelion tea? I got some fresh from the market today.”

Argh! This guy.

“Map?!” I said, gritting my teeth.

“Don’t worry! I will commission the map for you!” he finally said, giving me the golden words I’d been craving. Relief washed over me, like a parched traveler stumbling upon an oasis in the desert.

Quest Complete

+20 XP

+10 Elmarst Crowns

+Map Unlock

“How much longer will it take to finish?” I asked.

“If you want it today, it’ll be 10 Elmarst Crowns. If you can wait until next week, it’s 8.”

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Today it is,” I replied, handing over 10 crowns rolled in a cloth.

He snatched the money from my hands and shoved it into his back pocket. “You can wait by the other side of the shop. My house is over there if you need to rest.”

What is this world like, exactly? Who even lets strangers stay in their house? But before I could say anything, he gave me a gentle shove toward the back door.

I pushed the doors open, expecting disappointment, but an unexpected sight greeted my eyes—a cozy cabin stood in the middle of a vast expanse of greenery, bordered by wooden fences. Both sides of the cabin were lined with vegetable patches, some ripe, some rotting.

Sighing, I headed towards the cabin. The wooden door looked at least a century old, crusty and clearly was a permanent home to woodworms. Sighing, I wrapped my cold hands around the doorknob, ---What could go wrong? -- and just as I twisted it—fwip!—an arrow was jutted into the doorframe, just a few inches above my hand.

Am I under attack?

Before I could turn, unknown but powerful hands gripped my shoulders, holding me in place as a dagger with a gemstone-studded hilt was pressed against my neck—as -- a warning. If I moved, I’d be done for.

“What’s your business here?” a rough voice snarled in my ear.

“The dwarf sent me to… to rest here,” I stammered, my pulse racing.

“His name is Killian,” the voice growled.

“Y-yes, him,” I somehow managed to twist out of his hold. I finally looked at my attacker and nearly lost my composure at the sight. The man had a striking red mullet, his dark eyes glinted beneath the ends of his hair. His nose was sharp, his full lips were set in a scowl, and he was built like a fortress beneath the worn fabric of his thin tunic.

He paused, after scanning me, he raised an eyebrow. “Why did he send you here?”

“To rest. I just commissioned a map from him.”

"To rest?!", he scoffed at my reply and continued “Strangers aren’t welcome here”

"That old man never understands", he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. He squinted at me, then added, “Go stay at a nearby inn.”

“And if I don’t want to?” I challenged. This man was bruising my ego. Even though I’d have stayed at an inn if Killian hadn’t insisted, I was not going to back down now.

“Then I’ll have to make you leave,” he retorted. Before I could react, he swung his fist. A jolt of pain exploded across my face as I hit the ground.

“As if this wasn’t humiliating enough,” he muttered, turning away.

I gritted my teeth and grabbed his ankle with my trembling hand, the rough fabric grazing my skin.

“Do you have any idea what I just went through to get here?” I spat.

He froze, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at me. Then, with a twist of his mouth, he leaned down, studying me with a mixture of suspicion and something else… amusement?

“Strange,” he murmured, almost to himself. “He never sends anyone here. Especially not on purpose.”

“What do you mean?”, I said backing away.