I feel great for a first time in forever. Having eaten most of the pig, my fever and hunger are gone, my hand has healed and the color has returned to my skin. But my body is still thinner than ever, even though I should have eaten more than enough to return back to the buff-version of me. It seems the body does not return to the shape it used to be before being wounded, but heals to the extend that it looks like normal human, on the limits of what us possessed look like human. Or the wolf is just screwing with me to get me accept his deal, as Ollie did turn bigger as he was wounded instead of losing mass. Maybe it is about how much we have in "storage"? I can eat more than my body weights after all. But no use worrying about that, I'm now like this till I get back to my old routine, which might be hard, as there are now monsters to wrestle in the capital area of the capital. Standing up from my spot near a boulder I used as a backrest, I turn towards the direction I spied from the family conversation and head to the capital.

After a while of walking I come back to the road I was following before and return following it. Faster this way, I think and look ahead, where I can see an outline of a wall and towers. But here is a problem I didn't notice before; how do I exactly make it in there? I don't exactly have the most trustworthy face or money for a toll if they ask that, and I'm much thinner than I used to be, ever, so I'm not sure about fighting being an option here. Not that starting a fight would be a smart option anyway, but still, when in need... I flex my arm just for the fun of it. I think I'm even thinner than the bird-boy before he became the boy-bird. Well, he had no problem fighting me, so I should be able to deal with normal humans when needed to.

While following the road, I came across a small stream of water, which reminded me that I'm still covered with blood. Following it back to the source, I find a small river. Good enough when it comes to cleaning myself. After having done that I return to the road and keep walking towards the outline of the castle town. I arrive to the gate area of the capital, packed with people. Peasants, hundreds of them, all trying to get in the capital. Should I try to slip in with some of them? No, that would just result in problems for them. Well, I think I can figure something out while waiting in the line.

Almost my turn, and I got nothing. The passing area is manned by fifty guards, all in gear of bevor-type armors, halberds and steel helmets called sallets. And that counts all of them present, even the ones I can hear walking and talking in the two towers of the gatehouse. I could take them, but few hits would get in and some of them have horns to call support, which could prove problematic and there are multiple civilians on the premises. Plus the soldiers are kinda part of the group of innocent bystanders when it comes to that and I'm not sure I can tear through the thick iron portcullis if they drop it. I guess I could climb it to the nearest window, and move forward from there. 

I'm brought out from my thoughts by someone tapping on my shoulder. Either the guy is really tall, or I've shrunk a little, because we are eye to eye. My appearance having come to look more like a normal person would explain why nobody panicked when I walked in here. Now I probably look like very tall, but otherwise normal peasant, whose lack of shirt can be explained by poverty. What a lucky turn of event the nearly dying horribly from hunger and wounds was.

The man, who is wearing the before mentioned uniform, begins talking:

"Name and reason for coming to Northall?"

"John, to talk to the society of wise."

I went with the truth. Let's see how that works out 

"John... Have you ever served in the kingdom's army?"

"I worked as scout in the western outpost."

"We have people looking for you... But they said you should be an unmistakable person with a... certain stature over others."

"Well, I'm taller than all of the people here, except for you of course."

"...The way they made it sound was that you were taller than the giant they already had with them."

"Oh, Sam the giant, he is known to..."

I almost said that Sam is known to exaggerate things, but I don't know if he was the one talking when they told about me.

"Is known to what?"

"Nothing about him, I spoke out of excitement for finding out that my friends have arrived here safely. But the description matches otherwise, right? Black, messy hair and red eyes, tall..."

This would be a lot easier if I knew what they said about me and if I looked like I used to, but this has to do for now. The guard looks me for a long while, and I start wondering if my eye color has changed with the regression of my possession. 

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"Yes, I can't deny that, I fix the description we have, you're free to go John."

"Thank you, sorry for the inconvenience."

I'm in, and for the first time here it didn't take nearly dying to get somewhere! Whistling happily as I walk through the gate might not been my smartest move yet, as it did draw lot attention to me, but it definitely wasn't the dumbest thing I have done in this world, so I didn't care. Now, should I head to the direction I was given for my friends, or should I follow the directions I asked and head to the society of wise? Hmm... I'm really feeling it for some answers, so the society it is.

The capital, Northall, was really easy to move in, as the roads were broad and paved with stones, and there were actual signpost to guide travelers. Maybe this world is more developed than I though, I mean in most stories the capital has few narrow streets paved with mud, and travelers better have a medieval GPS if they want to find where they are going. But the good guiding assistance and roads pay off, and I'm in front of the society of wise before I even know it. A grand building, made with red bricks in Brick Gothic-style, with small patches of white plaster that have been carved into small artworks as ornaments. Well, no use admiring it so I step inside.

Inside is nearly completely covered with the plaster that has been worked into a room size mural of carvings, adorning the walls and ceiling. The floor is made of white stone tiles, reminding me of the temple I was unfortunate enough to be trapped in. The furniture consists of ebony chairs and tables, few similar shelves and six ornament pillars that don't even reach the ceiling. Few men sit around the tables and few more are standing near the shelves, studying the artworks kept on them. The business side has stone counter paved with plaster, topped with paperwork. A group of men is going through them as I survey my surroundings. Probably smartest thing to do is to talk to the receptionist who's free at the moment.

"Excuse me, how can one access the library and the works of the society of wise?"

"By being a member." 

A dry answer from the middle aged receptionist.

"How can one become a member or get an audience with a member?"

"By filling this and waiting for two weeks for the meeting, being born right for the membership."

He hands me a paper as I'm becoming disillusioned of the grandeur of the place. Well, last friendly try.

"How about if one is a member of the kingdom's army?"

"Filling this paper and waiting for a week."

He hands me another paper and beckons me to pass the old one back. 

"I need to see one member and discuss very serious things with them immediately, how can I do that?"

"You can't and you won't"

"How about if it is about relying information for you people? That what you're all about, right?"

"Yes, and that is why we have the visiting hours."

He is enjoying himself. I'm not, but I'm feeling like making that very clear to him.

"Okay, here's a deal for you, you get me someone to talk to or few volumes about the western forest and I mean the Forbidden Woods-one with that, and you don't get stuck at the top of one those pillars there."

"We do not allow violence here, please came back later after you have managed to calm down."

Comes the answer in the same bored tone I've been getting them the whole time. I'm not waiting for a week to get answers, especially when Ollie is out there. Well, I did offer a rather fair deal; it was his choice not to take it, so let's see how high I can throw the fat man. He calls the guards as I step on the counter and six men in similar outfits to the ones guarding the gate come rushing from each of the two doors behind the counter. I simply step down on the fat man's side of the counter and grab the ends of the halberds jabbed at me, bending the steel blades in my grip. 

"Audience, books or a beating, the choice is yours."

I get an audience with a man called Lewin, as he got interested when the fat man went to tell them about me and my interest in the Forbidden Woods. Probably have to talk fast and get out before reinforcements come. As I'm being led to Lewin's study I take closer look at my hands that have small, paper cut like wounds on the parts that pressed against the blades of the halberds. Shouldn't prove a problem, even if I'm forced to fight the reinforcements.