The horse galloped as fast as it can in this foggy road of Swamp Rebean. A puddle splashed and crows caw atop the dead trees surrounding them. It had been an hour since they began to depart from the graveyard, yet this murky swamp barely changed.

“Swamp’s three hours long,” Said a witch hunter as he held the reins. His chainmail was visible around his armpits, cloaked by leather armor down to his boots. He had brown hair, an eye with an old scar and a sword dripping blood out on the corner of its sheathe. Aaron was sitting on his back, his attention caught him. “They say here at Rebean Swamp lies the story of a forbidden love between a witch and a prince.”

Interesting, Aaron thought. His day was over and was now taking a rest behind the hunter’s back. A short story wouldn’t hurt that much. “Forbidden love, huh?”

"Aye. The witch saw the prince outside her house, wounded. Out of pity, she dragged him inside, helped him. The prince fell in love at first sight, decided to give her a proper payment for tending to his wounds.”

“Is it gold?”

“Much more than gold. A decent house in a keep with immeasurable rum and vast springs of jewelry. But the witch didn’t accept his offer, said she don’t need that much money and was content with her shack. But he insisted and wanted to repay her, so he gave her foods and golds in secret, letters too.”

“Let me guess – the witch fell in love with the prince in the end?”

The hunter laughed hysterically. “Close enough. An attack from foreigners raided the keep, but the prince survived the siege with a strand of luck. He’s anxious after arriving at the witch’s house, said he didn’t have any pearl to give her, no necklace to wear around her neck. The witch didn’t mind though – loved him dearly despite having nothing at all.”

Aaron sighed. “Your typical romance.”

“But that’s not all,” Another hunter laughed beside Aaron as he continued the story. He was much thinner and his eyes looked like it was about to bulge out in a single push. "Real story is that she had a perfume for charming men, sole reason for the prince to fall in love with her.

“The thing is, lad,” he whispered. “That witch snipped her prince’s limbs and cooked it piece by piece before eating him and leaving his heart for dessert. Couple of days later, witch hunters came and fed her alive to the dogs instead.”

Aaron chuckled, his eyes half-dead, tired. “Tragic.”

"Ain't it?" The Hunter laughed. “We’ve full collection of tales like it in the keep we sieged two hundred years past, feel free to scour the library.”

“Wait, you mean—“

“Aye.”

Aaron still hasn't had the chance to ask questions. "Can we talk now? Why are—"

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“—We're close," The woman shouted behind her shoulders, waking up Aaron and the rest of the team. “Wake up, wake up!”

An eerie sight unfolded in Aaron’s eyes. Huge stone walls blocked their way, with a thick, wooden door crushing the pebble road. Torches were lit up and crows eased themselves on the roof tiles. The whole keep was attached to the mountain and it still doesn’t seem like a landslide could destroy it.

A man whistled lazily about on these walls and beamed as soon as he saw a group of men in horses. “Open the gates!” He looked back hurriedly.

A robust steel resonated throughout, pulling two heavy doors to its own side. Aaron glanced left and right slowly, his heart beating so fast again. It felt so different before diving in the game. Now, he was much more… mature. He acted like he wanted to act, talked and conversed as if it was normal. Was he that desperate for his life? If so then, it just cured him of his anxiety. Don't know how long this'll last though.

“We’re here,” said a Hunter. “Look around lads, what do you see?”

What do we see? There were skinned wolves, hanging them as the butchers were tending to it. A dozen men were drinking at his farthest left where torches were alit and bards sang livelily. It was muddy, but the pebble floor occupied most of the area, as if it stood out on its own to avoid getting this place mistaken for being haunted.

And swords… there were several dozens of them in racks, people in light armor sparring each other while others merely watched, their eyes glued to the match and not the new arrivals.

“What is this place?” Eric asked.

“Hm?” The woman answered. “Berean Keep. They call it the witch hunters’ keep, Cursed Garden.”

Aaron butted in, tried to find the words. “I understand the cursed and all, but why a garden?”

“Because a dead man blooms a lotus flower once killed by a witch hunter. But enough about that – come, you must be hungry. We’ll talk inside.”

The woman guided the silent group personally towards the keep. Upon ascending the stone stairs, Aaron could feel a different atmosphere than before. He passed by the wooden hallway while the loud stomps kept him awake. Turning right, everyone stepped inside the door.

“You there!” The woman said, pointing at a woman holding a casket. “Get them a decent set of clothes. And guide her…” she looked behind her to Aaron’s female companion. “I haven’t gotten your name, dear.”

“Lina. Just Lina.” She was quiet this whole time. What a way to change attitudes.

“I see,” The woman didn’t react. “Guide Lina to the sauna and have her wear decent clothes,” she turned around again, but to Aaron and Eric. “And to you as well.”

There were two saunas for men and women while both were in the caves of the mountain. Aaron had no choice but to listen and wait, so he agreed and took a bath first.

Finally, after a long, exhausting day, Aaron skipped the sauna and dived straight into a cold spring next to it, naked of course. The whole place was still steaming, so even if the water was crystal clear, there would be no problem. Unfortunately, there were no holes to see behind these wooden walls.

“Got any plans?” Eric asked, dipping himself in water.

"I was about to ask you that," Aaron shrugged. "I mean, witch hunters? What're they gonna do, recruit us?"

“Maybe. I’ve tried contacting Amy but no luck. What a useless guide.”

Aaron shrugged. “We wouldn’t be here if LINK knows how to operate inside the game anyways.”

“Maybe because it’s an AI that created the game.”

“An AI?” Aaron snorted. “But if it’s true, then it explains the limitations. Know anything about this AI?”

“I only know that it’s extremely smart. We need to ask Laurence about these details later. But I don’t know where he is, never seen Lisa either since we arrived here. Maybe something—“

“Don’t even think about it. Nothing could possibly happen.”

“Yeah,” Eric slumped down, scratching his head. “Let’s hope so.”