Rays of sunlight cast an aura over and past the plains, the party was greeted with hills and vast fields of crops overlaying the landscape. A smile grew on Zilian’s face from relief, both because of their escape of the Mountain and answering Nature’s call behind a bush. Now they relax that they made it to neutral grounds, the latter of their trip should be no more then a stroll in a park from there on out.

"You meant every word of it." Erica said cryptically beside him.

He eyed Erica quizzically. "What?" Zilian asked.

She rubbed her shoulders under a blanket she wrapped herself in, the early morning air was really cool at this time. "You said we'll make it to Kartick early in the morning, didn't think it would have been this early." Erica teased.

"Yeah well, not soon enough." He replied.

The duo followed their escort on a dirt path leading straight to the city, he could see the large walls and sentry towers surrounding the city in the horizon. All that popped in his mind is how different it was from everywhere else he had been, the walls, the fields, even the name was indigenous. His shoulders dropped in longing, all of it was foreign to him.

Fields growing all sorts of crop surrounded all sides of the vast city, they strolled past fields of wheat and corobs. He saw many men harvest ripe crops and plowing over dirt, little time passed when they reached the massive gate doors that stretched twenty meters high.

The man who led the party saluted the gate guard holding two fingers up his brow, the guard responded with a nod and turned to open the gate. They were greeted with load creaking wood and grating steel hinges, and once inside he was shocked at what was housed behind the walls. An ocean of people sprawled around makeshift tents and buildings, men, women and children hacking, coughing and writhing in pain around them.

His throat swelled in disgust as he saw all the blood soaked bandage wrapped around most of the people, "What happened?" He directed the question to the leader of their escort.

His answer was eerily calm, "We took them in. Citizens of Forest Mist came requesting for our aid, so we provided refuge by opening our doors for them."

His escort signaled Zilian and Erica to follow as he continued walking deeper into the city, while the remainder soldiers went their separate ways. Zilian guessed he and Erica were being led to their own corner in the city, outside somewhere with the rest of the escapees from Misty Forest.

Erica held Zilian's arm as they walked past everyone, pain burning in her eyes. Seeing everyone out here who lost their families, homes and everything they had, growing up without knowing what it was like to be free from war. Erica took note of one family who were crying over their seriously injured father, his head was completely wrapped in bandage and his arms tied in a sling.

Their escort stopped in front of a building that had sign hanging outside , the Mylven Hotel.

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Zilian scratched the back of his ear, "What are we doing here?"

The soldier grinned, “This will be my way of saying thanks for the good laugh this morning. The Head Council of Kartick, have come to an agreement to move some of the folks into hotels. The organizing and processing will be in a couple of days, but I can get you special pass." Zilian did not get to object his offer as he walked way in. He approached to the counter, where a manager made herself comfortable.

The manager was a young woman in her early twenties. Her long and black hair hung from the sides of her tilted head, laying on the desk as she read a book. She recognized who neared her as she looked up from her book. "Fale!" She ran out from behind the desk and threw herself to the man, he responding by grabbing and swirling her around.

He greeted her with a particular sweetness in his voice as he let her down, "Hello Kayla."

"I heard you encountered with the Mountain, I was worried you were hurt or something.” Her eyes showed genuine worry.

"Nah, nothing we couldn't handle. Truth be told, this boy here should have all the credit." He pointed to Zilian.

"Huh? Me?" Zilian responded confusingly.

Fale recounted what Zilian had done before they bumped into each other, and he told her everything. From how he why he woke up early morning that served as a premise of his success, to the horse pursuit through the forest and even the part where he relieved himself behind a bush - that last comment merited a giggly laugh from Kayla.

"Taking on two squadrons, maybe three. Boy has guts and hint of brains." Fale finished with nudge on Zilian’s side.

Kayla predicted what he was going to say next, "Now you want to give them a nice place to stay? I guess I can give them that." She gave a reply before it even was requested. She knelt over and kissed both Zilian and Erica on the forehead.

"My name is Kayla, what is yours?"

He answered, "I'm Zilian."

“Erica.” She kissed her cheek.

"Lovely names, here," She remarked, then stepped behind the desk to grab a couple of keys hanging on the wall, "We have a no boys with girls policy, unless you are married which you clearly are not. These two rooms are facing each other, so you'll be close."

She walked from the desk and lead Erica, Zilian, and Fale into a hallway, stopping at a door that had the number 137 on the door. She took her key and flicked the lock, opening the door. She turned around to the door across with number 138 and opened that door too.

She turned to address them both. "Here's a key for each, the rooms are exactly the same so it doesn't matter which room you have. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you are welcomed to help yourselves. Now I will leave you guys, so you two can get some rest."

Rest. Now that is something he almost forgot what it was like to do, absolutely no action whatsoever. He and Erica both went to their separate rooms, he could see she was very tired as well from the black edges around her eyes. Fale and Kayla stood in front each other, Kayla, with her arms wrapped around Fale’s neck and his around her waist. They both kissed each other affectionately.

"I have to go dear, I have to file this morning’s report. I will, however, be back soon." Fale asserted.

"Ok, take care. I will save a room for us both when you make it back." Kayla winked at him cryptically. She unwound her arm and went back to the reception desk.

Fale blushed when he saw that Zilian witnessed it all, "Wives; men would not be anything without them." He paused recomposing, "I'll meet you tomorrow, lot of pending work for today."

"Ok,” He paused too, “And Fale, thank you.".

He winked, "Anytime. Just take care."