“Is it… done?” Asked Ano in a tired state.

“No.” vehemently stated Orm “We were fighting into their dominion, the only physical consequence for them is the damage to their minds. They may be back in a few hours, before that we need to find their lair.”

“So… why did you say sorry to that man, your… brother?” said Anny with a somehow confused face, searching for answers in both Ano and Orm.

“Your death is much more painful in your own dominion, and that was Taka’s… He must’ve felt what hell feels like” Answered Orm with a closed expression.

He mourned the loss of faith from his younger brother, Taka, who so many years ago aided Sakhel and the Leher rebels in the great war. That war, they called the dark insurrection… Orm closed his eyes remembering the feeling of using his own shadow magic in battle, and so, dying many, many times.

Orm had a piece of Taka’s armour in hand.

The three had the same thought “We need to get to them, and fast.” So they immediately went back to the information booth. And slammed the piece of cloth that Orm had on the table, the searches began once more.

“There’s not much we can do, Anny.” Ano said “I know it’s not the best situation, but all we CAN do is wait… Unfortunate.”

“Master, let’s leave the city… We can be in danger if we stay, and bring even more of them here.”

“Yeah… Anny, could you call that man who brought us here? It may be time to head to the next city.”

“Mehel should be here in no time, he was also planning to stay here for the night, but I guess it isn’t that safe.”

And leave they did.

Mehel arrived in front of the Inn, they had some trouble explaining to the keeper why they wouldn’t be staying, but at the end they cancelled the reservations and got in the Yerehm carriage.

5th day, 1st summer week 1274.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The sun rose, and the next day came. They were decently tired, without any sleep in the last 24 hours they decided to rest in turns inside the moving car. First were the kids, they slept without even noticing and fell on each other’s shoulders. “Cute” thought Orm, who had a better time keeping watch due to being from a naturally war born race as the Ilkayinn. He mumbled traditional chants to pass the time, also watching the forest run as they passed by. Some deers ran in the distance, some birds flew by, and midday came.

Anny woke up, and feeling a bit dizzy turned to see Ano and Orm asleep, she smiled and gently put Ano’s head on her lap, who after a minute or two, also woke up. He jumped from Anny’s lap as he felt like he was falling from a high tower, but immediately laughed it off as he noticed the situation he was in, so instantly got back.

They talked for about an hour before stopping in a small town to get some food in a local restaurant, but they didn’t wake Orm up, as he was in a heavy sleep (They got some food for him too.) but soon left for the main road.

Ano and Any explained their families to each other, and also talked about their lives up to that moment. So much politics, so many schemes, all of that surrounded their lives and chased them down. Ano as the second son didn’t have much trouble for not being the direct successor to the duchy, but Eimanny Yerehm was a very well known name in the noble houses around Zuhrav, as she refused to marry anyone for political reasons and was not yet betrothed.

They looked at each other for some time and smiled.

Orm woke up to the two kids clearly flirting in front of him and sighed heavily to make his presence known.

“Master… How close are we to Metarom?”

“Umm… I believe that we’re soon arriving at the next stop, so there is only one remaining.”

“Rimen, is it?” Asked Anny trying to avoid more attention to what the two of them were doing.

“Yes, I believe it’s a more rural town, but it has quite some people in it. We definitely will not have trouble there, the church keeps anyone remotely suspicious away through their so-called holy powers. Maybe I’ll be in a bad situation for being an Ilkayin, but my half form may not attract that much attention.”

“Can’t that also be said about other Ilkayinn, Sir Ina?”

“The only other that can transform as well as me is my son, and the last time he was seen, he was in the Orhim region. He may be taking his time after being captured by my lord, but it is not entirely impossible we’ll see him on our trip, but definitely not here.”

Rimen was here.

The city had a beautiful sky, free from any urban influence, only composed of a small market and service centre in the core of the city. The golden hour left the kids gasping from a never before seen view. Ano suddenly felt like painting “She likes to paint”, maybe he and Anny could do it together after returning.

It was really pretty.