Next Day, Morning
It's now a beautiful morning. Sun a bit above the horizon shines it's light at the camp of the sleeping trio.
Gah-Hal is the first one to wake up. The moment he opens his eyes, he doesn't yawn or even refresh himself, but instead walks out of his tent and stretches. After stretching he looks at his tent and makes it disappear.
He goes to the extingushed campfire and makes it disappear too. He then goes to Hogel's tent and peeks a little through it. He sees Hogel still sleeping. Gah-Hal decided to wake him up by nudging his leg with his leg.
"Wake up. Good time to go." Gah-Hal says from the tent entrance.
After Hogel he goes to Hanna's tent and peaks through it. Hanna is also sleeping peacefully. Gah-Hal nudges Hanna's leg with his leg just like he did to Hogel.
"Wake up. We can move on." Gah-Hal says from the tent entrance.
Once he leaves Hanna's tent he goes up the hill that 20 feet away and looks around. He sees steep terrain continue to on the way for 4-5 miles and then rest of the way will be plains.
After gazing ahead, he turned around and noticed movement in his campsite. Hogel emerged from his tent, his expression still a mix of sleepiness and alertness. Hogel spots Gah-Hal coming back to camp from the hill and waving to him.
Hogel waved back as he went to the bag with food to eat something. After a short while, Hanna also emerges from her tent a bit less sleepy than Hogel. She looked around for few seconds and also went for food in the bag.
"Good news. If we move on in a moment, we will be in Glazes before Evening. If nothing stands on our way then I assume it will take 6 hours." Gah-Hal says while rubbing his hands and smiling.
Hogel smiles before taking a bite of bread. Hanna does the same.
"Fi-na-lly! All this walking and jogging bores me already. You both are the only things that make me keep going." Hogel says with piece of bread in his mouth showing relief and excitement.
"Yea, finally. You both also are the reason why I didn't sprint straight to the town. Beauty of nature is reason too actually, but you know." Gah-Hal says while going to tents and making them disappear.
There is now nothing left here that would leave a trace of the team ever being here.
"Where will we sleep once we arrive in Glazes? I'm sure that there will be some taverns since it's capital." Hanna asks while holding a bread and meat in her hands.
"Don't worry about it. I will find a place where we all will feel like nobles." Gah-Hal says sounding confident.
Hogel, with his mouth still half-full, raises an eyebrow at Gah-Hal's statement.
"Nobles, huh. I don't doubt it. You have so much golden coins that you could literally get into rivalry against some official nobles. The thought about that excites me." Hogel says with wide grin.
"Oh, since we are talking about luxury, what will you use that silk for?" Hanna asks and points at the silk bag next to the bag with food.
Gah-Hal looks at it and then back at Hanna.
"I want to keep it a secret for now. At least until we arrive in Glazes." Gah-Hal answers.
"I see." Hanna says while taking a bite of bread.
"Anyways. Enjoy your meal. Let me know once you are ready to go." Gah-Hal says as he goes on the road to look standing around 20 feet away from Hogel and Hanna.
As Gah-Hal walks away from two of them, Hanna starts talking to Hogel quietly.
"If we were in life and death situation, I without a doubt would leave my life in his hands, but on the other hand there are few things that Im not sure of about him." Hanna quietly says to Hogel.
"You mean his confidence? Are you afraid that he is so confident in himself he will forget that we are with him?" Hogel quietly asks Hanna.
"Yes. But it's not just confidence. I just feel like his ego is so high, he doesn't actually feel empathy to anyone. That's what my lesser spirits told me." Hanna quietly says to Hogel.
Hogel chews the bread and look at Gah-Hal.
"Hard to say. He resurrected me two times, but after first revive I had a feeling like I had no other choice but to accept his journey offer. Now after spending some time with him I think it was just a delusional feeling." Hogel quietly replies to Hanna.
"So far I trust him with a lot of things. I know how badly he could beat me if I end up turning against him in any possible way. No no! I'm not even thinking about being his enemy. It's just his power that instinctively makes me respect him." Hogel quietly says to Hanna still while looking at Gah-Hal.
"I will trust him too. So far he doesn't seem like bad person. But I still think he lacks in empathy especially by bringing the memory of my past so casually." Hanna says to Hogel.
"I'm sure he had no intention to offend you. He apologized, gave you a damn golden coin and even invited you to the team. Probably all this in exchange for what he brought. All I will tell you is to leave some things to him. Not only he is one of the strongest people I've seen so far, but he also has quite a wisdom and experience as someone much younger than me. I mean, you are his age. I can easily say that he knows more than you and me combined." Hogel quietly explains to Hanna.
Hanna doesn't say anything for a while. She finishes her bread and meat and looks at Hogel.
"Maybe you are right. But I will still keep this opinion. It may change anytime depending on what will he do once we get into town." Hanna quietly says to Hogel.
"As you wish." Hogel quietly replies.
Hogel finishes his bread and wipes his hands. He stands up and takes the bag with food which is now half-way empty. He then waits for Hanna to also stand up so they could go to him together.
Few second after Reden picked up the bag, Hanna also stands up, looks at him and then they both go to Gahes.
Once the trio is now standing next to eachother, they continue walking and slowly turning it into jogging again. The next stop is Glazes, the capital of Glazes Kingdom.
"Hey, Hanna. I want to ask you a little personal question if I can." Gah-Hal says.
"Um. Sure. What do you want to ask about?" Hanna replies.
"Hypotethically, would you like to see your parents? If yes then what would you do if you did?" Gah-Hal asks.
Hanna's expression turns pensive as she considers Gah-Hal's question. Her gaze drops to the ground as if she's searching for the right words to answer.
"Well..." Hanna begins, her voice carrying a mixture of emotions.
"I was 8 years old when that happend, so I couldn't understand and remember much before I was taken away. But I remember that they didn't care too much about me. I remember they were overdosing drug fungus. I don't know what happend exactly but I suppose they spent most money on this and this is why they sold me to some men. I haven't heard of them again after that." Hanna says looking down.
"So if I somehow met them again I would show them how good Im doing unlike them, drug addicts. I hate them, but I would want to see them just to brag about my success especially the one I have right now with you guys and then leave to never see them again." Hanna says loudly with a bit of wrath and hatred in her voice.
Hogel looks at Hanna with sympathy. He feels bad for her for what she went through. He knows that among the whole group, she had the worst childhood.
"I see. My condolences and sorry for bringing it up again." Gah-Hal says showing sympathy.
"It's fine. Actually. I feel better that I said it out loud. But that still leaves a bad taste." Hanna says.
Hogel wanted to know more about her past. Who were these men and how is she free right now, but he decided to not ask any more questions as he doesn't want to irritate her.
However for Gah-Hal the information he got is already enough for him. He thinks about something for a moment and then focuses back on the road.
"Well. Whatever happens, we are in this together from now on. That's what friends are for, right?" Hogel says.
Gah-Hal nods in agreement, his expression gentle.
"Yeah, we're a team now. And we'll face anything. Together." Gah-Hal adds.
Hanna's smile grows, and she feels a sense of gratitude for the companionship she's found in Gah-Hal and Hogel.
"Thank you, both of you. It means a lot." Hanna says, her voice filled with emotion.
This way the group of three continues journey to Glazes, together with strong bond.
5.75 Hours Later, Afternoon
Finally, after days and hours of jogging that felt longer than just few days finally gets closer to the end as Gah-Hal can see the glorious Town of Glazes in the distance. Around 15 minutes of jogging to arrive there left.
"If you look ahead in front of you, a little to the right, you can see the destination of our journey. We are almost there. Finally." Gah-Hal says while smiling.
"Finally. Some place to actually relax. I had enough of this never ending running." Hogel says while smiling.
"It looks amazing. So beautiful." Hanna says while smiling.
The trio's excitement is palpable as they gaze upon the magnificent sight of Glazes in the distance. The city's grandeur and splendor are evident even from afar and it's a promising sight after the long journey they've undertaken.
Gah-Hal's smile widens as he looks at his companions.
"Yeah, it's quite the sight, isn't it? Glazes, althouh occupied and puppeted by empire, it's still a city of opportunities and wonders. We've made it." Gah-Hal says with a mix of pride and contentment.
Hogel lets out a relieved sigh, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
"I can almost smell the comfort and relaxation already," Hogel says with a chuckle.
Hanna's eyes shine with anticipation.
"I can't wait to explore the city and see all it has to offer," Hanna adds.
As they draw nearer to Glazes, the trio's jogging transforms into brisk walking. The excitement of reaching their destination fuels their steps and each one of them is filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Eventually, the gates of Glazes come into view and the trio enters the city. The streets are alive with people of all kinds, merchants selling their wares, colorful banners fluttering in the breeze, and the grand architecture. There can be seen some holes on the pavements, but they aren't very troublesome.
"And here we are. Passed through the gates. Our journey has officially ended. So now give me your answers for the game. How many merchants and villages did we pass on our way here?" Gah-Hal asks turning around and facing Hogel and Hanna.
"Oh. Uhm. I lost count... 12 villages and 52 merchants?" Hogel guesses.
"Naah. Wrong." Gah-Hal says with grin.
"14 villages and 62 merchants." Hanna says.
"Good. 14 villages and 62 merchants." Gah-Hal says smiling at Hanna.
"Your spirits really save you a lot of troubles, hehe." Gah-Hal says.
"That's why I love them for that, hehe." Hanna replies.
Gah-Hal turns and looks around.
"According to some information, there is a certain tavern in here that I'm looking for. The perfect tavern for a little family like us." Gah-Hal says.
"It's amazing how many knights are just on the streets." Hogel says.
"Yeah. Strategical move to weaken the resistance a bit, but it doesn't affect us. Not yet at least. For now we are looking for a way to relax." Gah-Hal says still looking around with his head.
Gah-Hal then takes few steps forward and gestures the rest of his team to follow him.
"Come. I already know where it is." Gah-Hal says gesturing Hogel and Hanna to follow him.
Hogel and Hanna follow Gahes. As they walk they see people minding their own businesses. At least 1 out of 10 people that the trio passes looks like at least a middle-class civilian.
As the trio walks to the tavern, Gah-Hal stops for a moment looking at the podium to his left. There are 2 knights standing there and one woman with while clothes kneeling with her head down and both hands tied behind her back. One of the knights holding a sword on her nape.
"Uh oh. A public execution. Don't look if you have weak nerves. Any of you." Gah-Hal says to his companion who is also looking at the podium.
Hanna turns away. She goes forward not wanting to look at what might happen in a moment. Meanwhile Gah-Hal and Hogel stand in place looking at execution.
Few minutes have passed. The knight without a sword gestures the second knight to continue. After gesture, the knight raises his sword above him and after two seconds brings it down decapitating the woman.
The view is disturbing. Even for Hogel who frowns his face a little from what they just saw. For Gah-Hal meanwhile there is just a bit upset look visible on his face.
"Damn. Alright let's go." Gah-Hal says.
"Before you say something. This is happening at least once a week. Not only here, but also in other places occupied by Empire of Singard. Thankfully we wont need to see this very often, because the tavern we are going to spend some time in is far away from here." Gah-Hal explains to Hogel.
Hogel nods.
"I can get used to it. I'm more worried if Hanna will get used to it." Hogel says.
As Gah-Hal and Hogel go, Hanna goes back to them and now three of them continue going to tavern.
"No worries Hanna. If you hate such views just stay away from this podium. It's the only place in Glazes where public executions take place. You won't see it as long as you stay away from there." Gah-Hal calms Hanna down a bit.
Hanna nods and lets out a little 'mh' sound.
Trio leaves the horrible and frightening place and continues going. Hogel and Hanna follow Gah-Hal while also exploring the big town.
After few minutes of walking on main road, they arrived in place they were looking for.
"Here we are. A tavern with places to sleep is finally here. Meet the 'Regal Treasury Tavern'. A tavern only for wealthiest people. Place one of the highest rated qualities in Glazes." Gah-Hal says with confidence and a bit of excitement while looking at Hogel and Hanna.
Hogel and Hanna's eyes light up hearing what Gahes just said.
"Wooah." Hogel and Hanna says simultaneously.
"So. To enter we need to buy passes for 5 silver coins per person. 15 silver coins in total. I can easily afford that. Are you ready?" Gah-Hal asks excited.
"Yes!" Hogel and Hanna said also excited.
After the answer, Gah-Hal looks back at tavern and gets inside through the swinging doors. As they are now inside, in front of them is a strongly built man standing behind a high desk and looking at them.
"Hello. I would like to buy three entrance permits." Gah-Hal says as he takes out his pouch.
Guard bends down a little to pick up three necklaces with a circle hanging on it. Circle has special pattern on it.
Gah-Hal hands one golden coin. Guard looks at it for a second.
"No change." Guard says.
"It's fine. Three necklaces for 1 golden coin. Keep the change." Gah-Hal says.
Guard looks, a little shocked and amazed from generosity. He takes the coin and hands Gah-Hal three necklaces which are also a permit to tavern.
"With this you get access into the tavern as long as you are inside. Everytime you leave the place you are asked to return the necklaces. Once you return it you have to pay 5 silver coins again each time you decide to come back to tavern. Exceptions are made for people who rent a room here." Guard explains how things work here.
"Keep in mind that this necklace doesn't let you get food, drinks and rooms for free." Guard finishes explaining.
"Alright. I got it. Thanks." Gah-Hal says hiding his pouch back to where it was and gives necklaces to Hogel and Hanna.
The trio wears the necklaces and go through second swinging doors. Inside they see a complete prestige. A lot of space, a lot of tables and a lot of seats. A bar on the right side of the room is really wide and bottles behind barman have various colors and drinks. Inside there are 30 people in this building with 20 of them looking like actual nobility.
"Smell of wealth. View of wealth. Something that I needed for a very long time. Enjoy yourselves, because it will be our home for maybe a month." Gah-Hal says while slowly going towards the bar while rest of team looks around the bar enjoying the view.
Gah-Hal walks towards the barman. All the seats to the bar are already taken so he would need to stand if he wants to order something.
Once he reaches the bar and stands between two sitting guys he waves to barman. Barman walks to Gah-Hal and leans on desk.
"Hi there. I want to rent a room for three. One month." Gah-Hal says with smile.
Barman looks at Gah-Hal as well as few other people sitting by the bar for a while.
"That will be 30 golden coins." Barman says.
"Hehe, we really need to relax a bit, so why don't you tell us actual price?" Gah-Hal says with smile.
"What?" Barman says.
"My my. Works in such successful place and still tries to demand more. I get it that it's for wealthy people and renting a room for such price would also be a good flex. I would't mind it if you weren't actually trying to scam me." Gah-Hal says with a smile, but a bit colder face.
"1 golden coin for a room? Normally you are renting it for 25 silver coins for a day, but you are increasing a price for me because of my age. I refuse to pay that amount." Gah-Hal says with a cold face now.
"If you won't pay then you won't have a room." Barman says sounding mean.
"I will have a room for without overpaying like that." Gah-Hal says again with a grin.
"Tough boy right here. Shivering my timbers." Barman says as other guys by the bar laugh.
Gah-Hal laughs with them.
"Good one. Now a room please." Gah-Hal says smiling.
"You will get a room for a month if you pay 30 golden coins. Simple as that." Barman says.
Hogel and Hanna stand in the back stressed from situation that Gah-Hal is in.
Gah-Hal leans on a counter and looks deep into barman's eyes.
"I won't ask it again." Gah-Hal says with his eyes locked onto barman's eyes.
Barman looks at Gah-Hal with an upset and relucant look. He gets closer to Gah-Hal also leaning on the counter.
"7 golden coins and 50 silver coins." Barman says it like he suddenly decided not to play around anymore.
"That's much better. Price we all are happy with." Gah-Hal says while taking out the pouch and placing 8 golden coins on the counter.
Barman takes the paper and writes something on it. After that he takes the coins and hands Gah-Hal the key to the room with number 8.
Gah-Hal holds the key in his palm and goes to his team.
"All good now. Let's go." Gah-Hal says and leads Hogel and Hanna to the tavern rooms.
After a minute of looking for their room, they finally found it on the first story. Gah-Hal shoves the key into the keyhole and opens the door.
Behind the door the view is incredible. Great view on the town behind a window, pleasurable for the eyes walls colors and a lot of space. Beds clearly had a good care taken of them and the furniture in here is clean and made out of smooth dark oak.
"Beautiful. How incredible. We will live here for a good month or even longer dependant on how we will do. Enjoy it. The start of a new feeling of being a part of wealthier part of society." Gah-Hal says.
"Woow." Hanna walks around room and touches the furniture and looking around.
"Nice." Hogel also walks around room looking around.
After looking around for a moment, Hogel places the food bag and silk bag on one bed on the other room.
This room in whole is made out of 3 other rooms. Livingroom and two bedrooms.
"Alright well. Glad I could take you here. Enjoy your time here, just two of you for now, because I have to do something before I can actually relax here." Gah-Hal says with smile before he head to the exit.
"Wait. Where?" Hogel asks.
"I need to find certain couple. I will be back before dusk. Im leaving my pouch here if you decide to go shopping. Like upper-class." Gah-Hal places his puch on drawer next to the exit door and leaves the room closing the door behind him.
Gah-Hal goes down the stairs and then heads to the tavern exit. Before he leaves he is stopped by some group of men. Fourt of them stand together around Gah-Hal.
"Wait here. We've got some questions to you." One of the guys says.
Gah-Hal turns his body to the dude and looks at him.
"What could that be?" Gah-Hal asks.
"What do you do for a living that you can afford a place like this? Are your parents part of the nobility?" Same dude asks.
"No. They aren't nobility. If you are asking if they gave me all this cash then they didn't. I'm just a business guy who knows a lot about monetary profit." Gah-Hal answers.
"How old are you?" Dude asks.
"Would you believe me if I said 30? The reason I'm so young looking are genetics." Gah-Hal says.
"Oh. Damn." Dude says looking troubled.
"Just playing. I'm 15 years old." Gah-Hal says with a small grin.
"Whatever. Teach us your ways. We will be grateful." Dude says.
"Successful person doesn't share his secrets with anyone. Sorry. See you around." Gah-Hal says while walking away from them not willing to tell the truth about the money and job part.
The group of men stands there for a while until Gah-Hal leaves the tavern. He goes to the right looking for isolated place where nobody will see him. After few second of walking he sees a dark alley.
"That will do." Gah-Hal says to himself.
Gah-Hal goes into the alley, but stops in the middle of it as he realized someone was following him. He stands then turned around until the stalker or to be more specific, four stalkers went into the alley behind him. He was now facing them.
"Boy. If you don't want to talk then at least give us what you got." The stalker says.
These are the same people who stopped Gahes in tavern.
"You are stubborn. Look at you, are four of you really going to threaten a teen like me? I'm sure one of you would be more than enough." Gah-Hal says while the group approaches closer.
"Don't come any closer. I'm warning you. Don't be so pathetic." Gah-Hal warns while the group still comes closer.
"Oh well. Too bad." Gah-Hal says looking at them with unamused face.
Suddenly a fist sized orange sphere on the ground next to the thugs starts to glow. After a second it unleashes inferno into the whole group. Before they managed to react in time, their flesh was already roasting while they couldn't let out a single sound as the fire almost immediately destroyed their vocal cords.
The moment they realized what happend it was already too late. The inferno was so hot their legs couldn't even hold them anymore. All the thugs fell on the ground with injuries that are impossible to live through. Meanwhile Gah-Hal just looks at them being in agony.
Nobody outside of alley seemed to see the explosion of the sphere which means that nobody might come to help. After a minute of the thugs lying on the ground in agony, Gah-Hal approached them and finished the job by turning them right into ashes with his magic.
"Their fault. Should've at least planned the robbery." Gah-Hal says.
All that was left from the thugs are their ashes and coins which Gah-Hal didn't get rid of on purpose. He kneels, picks the coins and puts them into his pocket. Then he turns around and leaves the alley.
"This town downgraded. It is much different than what it was supposed to be before the war with Singard. Everything needs to be fixed. Damn." Gah-Hal says to himself clearly frustrated.
"But first, I will do lesser things to show myself to a town a bit and maybe get some reputation." Gah-Hal says with serious face.
That way he continues to go to do what he wanted to do not afraid of anything that may stand on his way. Especially bad guys.