Once he regained his composure, he raised his head and took in the surrounding area. It was a small, rural, and dilapidated settlement. At first sight, he saw five houses, a lighthouse, and a bigger mansion at the end of the town. Overall, it looked abandoned, but the Antithetical saw two figures in the distance. It puzzled his mind how it was possible that the Mine led to a coastal town. How long had it been since he had become just a thrall? He turned his head again, facing the dilapidated settlement. Even this place was already run down and withering. Every time the wind blew, the old wood creaked. Unable to solve the puzzle, he turned his attention back to the two figures in front of him. Next to the lighthouse was a staircase and an old bench on which the hooded figure sat. He couldn't see his face; the hood was far too low. The person was dressed all in dark clothes with sturdy leather boots, looking down at the ground and clasping his hands in front of him. Long, unwashed brown hair lay on his chest, sticking out of his hood. As he radiated no danger, the Antithetical approached, lowering his guard so as not to pose a threat. As he came nearer, the hooded figure said, “Well, well, what have we here? A new arrival…”
He had a rough, weathered appearance, due to his years of living in this harsh coastal environment. Now that he lifted his head, he could see his face more clearly. His face was deeply etched with wrinkles and lines, reflecting the harsh life he had led. His eyes had a piercing blue and a faint shine of emerald, they held a deep wisdom and understanding. He had a thick, unkempt beard that was flecked with gray, and his long, unkempt hair had a deep brown color. Despite his rugged appearance, there was a certain grace and nobility to his bearing. He carried himself with quiet confidence, as if he had seen and experienced things that most people could only imagine. “Thou art not alone, for many of the Undying have come and perished anew. Thy fate is as certain as my own impending death. I pray thou hast accepted thine eternal destiny, for the Bead-Bearers eagerly await their newest plaything,” he said as he lowered his head once again.
“What… What do you mean?” the Antithetical asked, his voice still unused. He cleared his throat and added, “A new arrival? Bead-bearers? I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about. What kind of place is this? Loosen your tongue and explain.”
Although he had a peaceful presence, it was now clear that he had no intention of talking any further. The Antithetical turned around and decided to take a closer look at the village. The layout of the settlement was quite small and simple. At the cave entrance of the town, there was a small dirt path leading towards where he was standing now. The first building one encountered was the lighthouse, standing tall and proud at the edge of the town, overlooking the sea. Next to the lighthouse, there was a staircase that led down to the beach, and a bench on which the hooded figure sat.
As one continued down the dirt path, they would come across the five houses, all of them small and rundown. The houses were located left and right, one after the other. At the end of the dirt path, there was a bigger mansion, standing out among the other dilapidated buildings. This mansion looked to be in slightly better condition than the rest of the settlement, indicating that it was the home of someone of higher status or wealth. Near the mansion was a well, and directly next to it, in one of the small houses, was a blacksmith. The entrance door of one of the houses was hammered shut with wood, but according to the sign next to the door, it was a bar. The other house on the left was where a merchant lived. Normally, everybody should have been very skeptical of new people in this age, but the merchant was the exact opposite. As the Antithetical walked by the entrance, he shouted from the inside, “Oh no, what do we have here? A newcomer, I do see. Well, you have certainly found yourself in the right place. I am Silas, the one and only merchant in this godforsaken town. And let me tell you, I have everything you could need. For a price, of course. Ha ha ha!” The Antithetical decided to indulge the merchant and ask him about this place.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Hello Silas, was it?” he said.
“Yes, yes, Silas it was. You found the right place, because I am here. I certainly have what you need in these dire times.” Silas answered.
He wasn't quite sure how to interact with that fellow, so he asked quite upfront.
“Silas, what is this place? I just…” He stopped himself for a second, not wanting to reveal too much information as he did not yet know if he was a trustworthy person. He continued, “I just arrived here after a long journey. Tell me about this place.”
Silas looked at him with sharp eyes and a deceitful grin. He began saying, “A long journey thou sayest. Say, friend… Thou seemest to come from a, how should I phrase it, from a hot region. Nee hee hee hee hee!” He laughed. “Yes, a long journey. Thou hast arrived here in Siren's Cove. A small coastal town that held once an eminent position in the last Era.
Yonder this town was not so run down and dilapidated. Didst thou see the Mansion here next to my small shop? Valtor once lived here and back then the Mansion was more like a Church. As thou canst see, this town stands near the sea with a small port and pier down the beach. Some years ago, trade was quite important for the Emuna Region, especially Allano. Cause of the Telhalian Conflict some merchants were forced to take different routes than usual. This here is like the “backdoor” they used to take. Ahh those times, so golden, radiant and… prosperous. Excuse me, I ramble… I think thou wouldst like to wear some other clothes, right?”
The Antithetical couldn't follow Silas's ramblings at all. But he deemed the information about the town's name, “Siren's Cove,” and its location at the back of the mountain, to be most critical. He also realized for the first time that he was only wearing a scorched linen shirt and had no boots or trousers.
“Yes, clothes, of course. Thank you for the information, Silas,” he paused, trying to find the right words. Although Silas seemed to have knowledge of his journey, the Antithetical still didn't trust him fully. He thought of a different way to phrase his next questions. “I arrived here by boat, but it sank a few miles out. I need a new path to take. Where should I go?”
“Verily, a new path is to be treaded upon,” spoke Silas. “In the spirit of benevolence, I shall offer unto thee a smidgen of my counsel. Perchance thou might view it as a taster of my wares. I dost presume that thou art aware of thine origins but allow me to impart unto thee knowledge of thine destination. Hard by my humble abode lies a grandiose mansion. Therein, thy inquiries may be resolved, yet new conundrums shall arise. Be on thy way but tarry a moment. Thou canst not present thyself thusly, put on these garbs.” And with that, Silas gave a knowing wink.