Fresh air.

Dust and dirt had become what my lungs expected.

Green rolling hills were a jarring sight.

Finally, I muttered.

Robert's heavy hand patted my shoulder.

Finally, Indeed, boy.

Leaving the mountain passage our party was immediately met by merchants offering to buy our wares, more specifically- shell hides.

Robert shooed them, eagerly.

We had already had this discussion before leaving the pass. No one was to sell their shares, no matter the cost. Everyone was to wait until reaching the nearest large town, where the prices would be much more generous.

Looking at our party.

The four survivors that followed the three of us were like lost children. Their eyes had lost the will to battle. Any fire they once had was now extinguished.

We traveled on.

Miles down the road we ran into a small abbey village. A quaint place that promised a quiet life.

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The four survivors sold us their loot and stayed behind.

Exchanging farewells, we wished each other the best.

We traveled on.

The rear guard had survived the party.

Rolling hills were surmounted only to reveal another set of hills. High in the sky the sun beamed. Life blossomed around us.

Danger never felt near.

My body calmed as if my own disposition towards battle dissipated.

A part of me wished for this part of the journey to be the whole of it.

Another part was saddened that nothing of my past reminded me of these days.

Only village life could compare, but nothing before.

Settling down for the night, I was given watch.

Seeing as the stillness in the land carried no threats.

I unsleeved the deck of cards.

Turning the first over in my hand revealed a blank slate. Shuffling threw all of them had proven that it was the case for the rest as well.

In resignation, I began to put them away, when one of them began to reveal itself as if painting itself before my eyes.

A caricature of what appeared to be the beast on one half and the former captain on the other.

Not knowing what anything meant, I tapped into my sight

The cards held an aura of power, also something trapped within.

As if a well of power was waiting to be unlocked.

Putting the cards back into their sleeve,

I decided to sleep instead of investigating further.