Leaving my hiding spot, I caught sight of two guards descending the stairs to the lower street, while the ones stationed at the gates headed toward the stairs, likely off for a meal or drink. This was my moment; if I moved quietly and quickly, I could slip out through the unguarded main gates.

I pulled my hood down lower, fists clenched, and exhaled slowly. If this didn’t work, they'd haul me back to school. I couldn’t let that happen.

As the two groups of guards converged briefly in the middle of the street—one pair moving to the stairs, the other toward the gates—I seized my chance. Moving at a brisk pace, I passed them, my heart pounding as I half-expected someone to call me back. But no one did. With the last step, I was outside the city walls, glancing at the stable a few paces ahead where the owner sat on a stool, chewing on a piece of grass.

“Alright…” I muttered, striding toward the stable.

The man from earlier, the one who suggested checking with the old woman about her ring, looked up and gave a nod. “Well, if it isn’t you. Did you find that ring, kid?”

“Yes, sir. Thanks for the tip.” I said to the stable owner.

“Good, good.” He got up slowly, dusting off his hands. “So, what brings you back here?”

“I need a ride to… uh…” I struggled to recall the village’s name. “Kora Village. Urgent business.”

“Kora? That place overrun by goblins?” He eyed me curiously. “What in the world’s got you heading there?”

“It’s… personal.” I replied. “Can you take me, or know someone who can?”

He chuckled. “Not me, kid. But my son can.” He pointed toward a carriage a few metres away, where a young coachman lounged, idly adjusting the reins. “Go have a word with him.”

“Thank you, sir.” I nodded.

“Just stay safe.” He called after me with a small wave.

I walked over to the carriage and gave a nod to the coachman, a tall man in his late twenties with sharp eyes and a rough stubble across his jaw. He glanced at me with a raised eyebrow, his gaze appraising.

“Hello,” I greeted. “Can you take me to Kora?”

“Kora?” His eyebrow inched higher. “Odd place to be headed. You sure?”

“Yeah. Personal reasons.” I held his gaze, hoping he wouldn’t pry further. “How much for the trip?”

“Five silver.”

Just by thinking I opened my inventory, focused on withdrawing five silver, and a small prompt appeared, asking for confirmation. With a quick nod, the HUD faded, and in an instant, the coins materialised in my palm, faint golden light shimmering as they settled.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I handed him the coins and climbed into the back of the carriage. It wasn’t the most comfortable setup, but at least it had a covered seat with curtains to block out the wind and rain.

“Kora…” the coachman muttered as he flicked the reins. “Had some good folks there once.”

I glanced at him sympathetically. “Sorry to hear that.”

He grunted, his voice laced with bitterness. “Bet it was the elves behind it, pushing those goblins toward the village. Always been troublemakers.”

“Maybe…” I said, keeping my tone neutral, though I knew it was Suzan’s doing. “Could’ve been them. Either way, it’s a real shame.”

“Damn right,” he muttered, shaking his head as we began our journey.

══════✦══════

As the carriage slowed, I parted the curtains at the back to get a sense of where I was. The dirt road behind us was uneven, scattered with potholes and rain-filled puddles. The sky had turned dark, heavy clouds blotting out the sun as a cold wind swept through, making the tree branches sway wildly. Oddly enough, it felt a bit like home, if only for a moment.

When the carriage came to a stop, I hopped out and walked over to the coachman, who was scanning the area with a wary eye. I couldn’t blame him; something about this place felt wrong, like we were being watched.

"This is it," he said, nodding toward the dark path ahead. "Just keep walking that way. You’ll reach Kora."

“Got it. Thanks.”

He nodded. “Good luck… whatever it is you’re doing out here.”

“Hmm.”

I watched as he turned the carriage around, heading back toward Kinowa. Once he was out of sight, I took a slow look around. The eerie quiet settled in, and the unease I’d been suppressing rose back up. Somewhere ahead, Suzan might be hiding. A part of me wanted to turn back, to report her to the guards and let them deal with it. But that could take time, and who knew if they’d even reward me for the risk. I needed the gold; maybe that was a little selfish, but it felt like my best option.

I adjusted my cloak, draping it over my shoulder. The rain beat down, cold and relentless, slipping through the torn patches in my clothes.

“Calm down, Ax,” I muttered, forcing myself to breathe. “You’ve got this.”

Bracing against the wind, I took my first steps forward. The rain slapped my face, the storm intensifying by the second. My shoulder wound and the claw marks across my back flared up, stinging with each gust. This had to be one of the worst days of my life… well, maybe second-worst.

Once I entered the forest where the coachman had pointed, the wind lessened a bit, and I could finally walk at a normal pace. I tried to stretch my arm, rotating it gently to ease the pain. But each movement only made the wound throb harder.

"Ugh… it hurts."

Ahead, I spotted a bridge stretching over a deep ravine, maybe twenty or thirty metres below, with a river rushing beneath. The bridge was old and weather-beaten, the wood creaking in the wind. In any other situation, I wouldn’t have set foot on it, but I didn’t have the time or energy to look for another way across.

I placed one foot on the bridge, testing the weight. It held, so I took a few cautious steps, gripping the cracked rail tightly. Each gust made the bridge sway, and my heart pounded with every creak.

“Come on, come on… just a little further.”

Finally, I made it across. Exhaling in relief, I looked up and saw the village just visible through the trees. I was close.

“Alright,” I murmured to myself, steeling my nerves. “I can do this… I can do this.”