The next morning, at daybreak, Eldrin and Ruk packed up their belongings and made their way outside, only to find Ana waiting for them, already packed and ready to go. “Well, Eldrin,” she said, smirking, “your little goblin friend isn’t enough to keep you safe out there. I better tag along to make sure you don’t end up dead. Roads aren’t safe these days.”

Eldrin chuckled. “I think you’re right,” he admitted. “But we’re not heading out into the wilderness for a couple of days. We need to resupply, and I have some research to do.”

Ana crossed her arms, giving him a knowing look. “You always were the cautious one,” she said. “But fine. I’ll stick around for a while longer.”

The morning sun cast long shadows as Eldrin, Ana, and Ruk set off from the inn, following the winding path that would lead them to Eastmere, the last large settlement on the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Aldrosia. As they walked, Ruk’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Eldrin, The place where we are going. Is it a big city?” Ruk asked, his eyes wide with interest.

“Not quite a city, Ruk,” Eldrin replied with a patient smile. “It’s a large town called Eastmere. It’s the last place people can find before heading into the wild lands beyond the kingdom. A busy place, with traders and adventurers coming through, but not as big as a real city.”

“Does Eastmere have King?” Ruk asked, his ears twitching.

“No.” Ana answered, glancing over at the goblin. “Eastmere is in the Kingdom of Aldrosia. Known for its strong culture, rich lands, and a bit of magic here and there. But Eastmere is the furthest outpost to the east, which means it’s also the most dangerous.”

Ruk nodded thoughtfully. “And this road? What’s it called?”

“This is the Silverleaf Road,” Eldrin explained. “It’s named after the trees that line the way.” He gestured to the trees along the path, their leaves shimmering with a silvery hue as the morning light filtered through them. “It looks beautiful, but don’t let that fool you—it’s a favorite haunt for bandits.”

“Bandits?” Ruk’s eyes went wide, and he instinctively reached for the dagger at his waist. “Will they try to take our shinies?”

“They might,” Eldrin said seriously. “But we’ll be ready if they do.”

As the hours passed and the sun dipped lower toward the horizon, the group’s pace slowed. The soft rustling of leaves suddenly seemed louder, and the sound of movement caught their attention. Four figures emerged from the underbrush, each clad in mismatched armor and wielding rusty weapons.

“That’s far enough!” a tall, scarred man barked, brandishing a sword. “Hand over your coin, and no one has to get hurt!”

Ana stepped forward, drawing her longsword with a practiced motion, her eyes flashing dangerously. “You picked the wrong group to rob today,” she growled.

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Eldrin tightened his grip on his staff, and Ruk brandished his dagger with a determined grin. “We attack,” Eldrin declared.

The fight was swift. Ana charged forward, her longsword striking the nearest bandit with a powerful slash. Ruk, following her lead, darted in and plunged his dagger into the bandit’s side, the man collapsing to the ground. Eldrin stepped back, raising his staff and muttering the incantation for Sleep. A shimmering mist spread from his hands, enveloping the remaining bandits. Two of them swayed, then collapsed to the ground, snoring softly.

Only one bandit remained, his eyes wide with terror. He looked around, realizing he was hopelessly outmatched.

“Drop your weapon, and you will not die,” Eldrin commanded, his voice calm but unyielding. “Ana, don’t kill him if he surrenders.”

The bandit hesitated, his grip tightening on his sword, but when he saw the determined expressions on all three of his attackers, his courage faltered. He let the sword clatter to the ground and fell to his knees. “Fine! Just… don’t hurt me!”

“No, you will not leave,” Eldrin said coldly, pulling a length of rope from his pack. “You and your companions must pay for what you’ve done.” He and Ruk moved quickly, tying up the bandits and disarming them, ensuring they posed no further threat.

“You always were the soft one, Eldrin,” Ana remarked, shaking her head.

Eldrin smiled faintly as he took some cloth from the bandits' own clothing to bandage the wounded one. “Perhaps. But it’s easier to collect on a bounty when they’re alive.”

The journey continued, and by late afternoon, the stone walls of Eastmere came into view, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. As they approached the town gates, a burly guard stepped forward, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the bound bandits.

“Halt! State your business,” he commanded.

“We’ve brought you some troublemakers,” Eldrin replied, gesturing to the bandits. “Caught them on the road to Eastmere.”

The guard’s expression softened as he signaled for his comrades. “You did us a favor, travelers. These bastards have been robbing folks for weeks.” Two guards took hold of the bandits, dragging them toward the town's jailhouse.

“Is there a reward for them?” Eldrin asked.

The guard disappeared into the nearby gatehouse and returned a moment later with a small leather pouch. “20 gold for the lot. Not bad for a day’s work.” He handed the pouch to Eldrin, who weighed it in his hand before looking at Ana with a playful smile.

“You called me a softy, but it’s easier to collect on a wanted man when they’re alive,” Eldrin teased.

Ana chuckled. “You’ve got me there, Eldrin. Maybe you’re not as soft as I thought.”

Ruk, meanwhile, was practically bouncing with excitement. “Ruk helped! Does Ruk get shinies too?”

“Of course,” Eldrin said, handing him six gold coins from the pouch. “You earned your share.”

Ruk’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Ruk is rich now!”

The guard gave them a nod. “Welcome to Eastmere. If you need a place to stay, try the Silver Swan down the main road. Market’s still open if you want to trade.”

“Thank you,” Eldrin replied. “We’ll make good use of that information.”

As the guard returned to his post, Ana nudged Eldrin playfully. “So, what now, oh great wizard?”

“We resupply, rest, and then I have some research to do,” Eldrin said thoughtfully. “There’s something I need to understand before we head out again.”

“Well then, lead the way,” Ana replied, her tone softer, the tension of the day slipping away. “I’ll follow, for now.”

Together, the three companions entered Eastmere, ready for whatever challenges awaited them next.