In the morning I had packed our small carriage with Pina ready to go. She was quite happy to move again and I could see she had gotten a little plumper, most likely due to the children feeding her snacks. Servius and his father had their traders ready to leave but there was just one problem in the form of Ardent cheerily sitting on the wagon in excitement. My intention was for him to stay because I didn't want to bother Servius and his family but the man had somehow pressured Servius' father into telling the truth. When I asked what happened, he replied, "Your friend Ardent has quite the mouth, before I knew it I had already lost." The man himself was happy to get a free ride into the Demon's territory.
"Rain." I turned to see Mattias and my other parents waiting. He continued to speak, "It's sad to see you go again so soon but it's for the best. We hope you enjoy yourself."
"I'll be fine," I smiled encouragingly.
Margaret pushed a small pouch into my hands, "Just in case you need to make things go boom."
I warily took the pouch, "Umm thank you." To be honest I would probably need it.
"It's a new recipe I made myself, the instructions are in the bag. Do be careful. Also if you find any interesting reagents please feel free to bring back a souvenir."
I nodded.
"Rain take this with you as well," Tarhand, our blacksmith, passed me a sheathed sword. "Please treat it well. It's been a while since I have created anything as brilliant as that and I am proud of it."
"Thank you," I took the sword and replaced the one I had borrowed. It was a little heavier but felt ten times sturdier. Curious I unsheathed the blade and couldn't help notice the lack of light reflecting from it. "What is this?"
"A sword I made just for you," he spoke proudly. "With the Master Wizard you would have realised your mana situation."
"Yeah…."
"A knight's sword responds to mana, which won't do you much good. That blade doesn't need it. I guarantee it won't shatter to anything."
Before I could respond Lane jumped onto me tightly, "Why does he have to leave again, what if he gets hurt?"
Walter pulled her off, "Now you don't be clingy, the boys a grown man. Rain keep yourself straight. If you get into a fight the missy behind you is capable, that I know." I looked behind me to see Taylor swinging her legs off the carriage without care. She waved.
"But… but," Lane continued to mope. Her eyes spotted the sword in my hand and in a sudden whip, she snapped at Tarhand. "You! Twenty years you refused to make that sword for me and now you give it to Rain!"
Tarhand huffed, "It didn't suit you, and besides is there anything wrong gifting it to our beloved son?"
"Ah I guess you're right…," she backed off but was now looking at him with an odd tinge of jealously. I had to wonder just how expensive the sword was.
I smiled. "Thanks everyone. I won't be gone too long."
"Just come home in one piece." It was impossible for me not to considering I'd just come back to life. It was them I was worried about. Ardent had prepared all the defences he could over the past few days and I had warned Mattias to be wary of any strangers. If something went wrong we would know, but with any hope we'd find them first.
A few more gifts were pressed towards me including food and provisions. It was like I had left the last time. It barely fit into the carriage. I lined Pina next to the rest of the caravan as we said our final goodbyes.
Servius came to my side, "Just follow us. I'll sit with you to make sure everything goes well."
We were about to leave when Mattias and Servius' father came towards us carrying a small wooden box.
"Almost forgot," Mattias opened the box and inside where what looked like several horns.
"What are these?" I asked as Ardent gazed over my shoulder.
Servius' father answered, "These are disguises imbued with magic." He took a pair of thin black curved horns and pressed them against the front of my head. A sting went through my scalp and when he had removed his hands the horns were firmly stuck against my head. "The horn tribe are the most like humans and the easiest disguise for yourselves. While our village is friendly we do have the rare visitor."
"Oh?" Ardent clapped happily. "Mind if I choose my own?"
"Go ahead Master Wizard."
Ardent chose a single horn that centred on his forehead and stuck out slightly while Taylor chose a pair that clung behind her ears pointing back. They quite suited her. With that we were on our way and I waved back to the people of Axel as they said goodbye. Taylor sat on one side of me while Servius was on the other, Ardent casually read in the back like always. A few hours passed quietly as I talked with Servius and Taylor. The two of them still didn't get along but each talked to me cheerily. Like that we headed south and turned onto a small dirt path heading west. Our carriages left barely a track, magic was clearly in play.
When we reached the edge of the border forest Servius' father and two other women walked to the front of the trees. A flash of light spread between them and the trees themselves began to part, clearing a way for us to pass through. Ardent gazed from our carriage with deep interest, even taking a few notes. I had to remind him to keep it a secret. The revealed path was convoluted, and twisted back and forth randomly. At many points more trees had to be moved to proceed. It was no wonder I had never stumbled on the village before.
Eventually the twists and turns ended and we found ourselves back on a structured road. We were in further than any time I had been in the border forest. The quiet and eerie atmosphere still lingered but the trees here were spaced even further apart growing taller. Before I could still reach the lowest branches but now the scenery quickly began to change till the eaves of the trees reached dozens of metres. I had never been anywhere like this yet I felt a strange peace and a warmth in my chest.
"It's nice isn't it?" Servius said. "Our village isn't far from here. In the summer the trees block out the worst of the sun's rays but the ground can become humid quickly. However in winter it keeps us warm. Perfect for scaleskin like us."
"The mana here is quite potent," Ardent gazed into the open trees. "Monsters must be quite a problem."
"Well yes," Servius admitted. "But they usually keep to the thicker parts of the forest and the ones here aren't much of a threat. It's actually the wild beasts that are more dangerous."
Taylor was lounging beside me looking up into the sky as the sun filtered down on us through the leaves. She had an expression I rarely saw. Genuine enlightenment.
"Do you like it?" I asked her.
"It's nice," she said simply still staring into forest. Hearing her say that made me feel oddly happy.
The village came into sight. It was near camouflaged with the greenery behind it. Unlike Axel which was primarily made from stone, the village was almost entirely wooden structures that blended with the forest around it. If it weren't for the people walking about and the splashes of colour an inattentive person would walk right by.
"Welcome to Kerchest," Servius gestured gallantly with a proud smile. "It's small but I can guarantee there's nothing quite like it."
It truly was a village. Axel barely passed off as a small town but here the population looked like it barely passed 70 odd people. The buildings were spaced out quite far and each one had its own small garden. Compared to Axel where we clumped up near the town centre it was a refreshing sight. An entourage of demons came to greet us, it must have been almost the entire village. Unlike the ones traveling with us, they wore more open clothing fully showing the strange quirks on their bodies. I recognised quite a few of them. Most the demons were scaleskin like Servius but there were a few others who had my attention. A man covered in fur with a beast like face. A women with horns like our disguises. There was even a strong looking couple with four arms each.
Together with the caravan we pulled Pina to a halt in the centre of the village. She chirped curiously at the children that were looking at her in awe. It would seem paradise moas were uncommon here.
"Everyone I have an announcement," Servius' father stood on top a carriage. His voice bellowed echoing through the trees. "We have important guests from Axel. As you know we have always had good relations with them and them with us. Without them our village would have starved through the winters. I know many of you still have doubts about the humans but I tell you they are not so different from us. I ask you to join me in welcoming Rain the son of Axel's Mayor and his companions Taylor and Ardent."
An applause broke out as Servius' father gestured towards us and I was forced to stand and wave. Many of the townspeople I had met before when they came to trade and they greeted me with smiling faces. Some looked at us curiously and a scarce few frowned towards us. I guess even with a small village there were still the odd ones out.
"In celebration Axel has given us fine gifts to share. Tonight we shall feast!" The applause rose to an all new high.
We had left in the early morning and it was already the late afternoon now. While quite a few hours had passed it was still just a half day's travel from Axel. It was no wonder why they came by every month to trade, the journey was short enough and mostly comfortable. I had to sigh inwardly. All my life and to think there was another world so close by to my own. A world that was far more familiar than I thought.
"Rain this way," Servius guided me away from the caravan as they unpacked. "I'll introduce you to everyone. Master Ardent please do come as well." He made no attempt to invite Taylor but she came anyway.
As the village became active around us I talked with demons who came our way. Again most were the ones I knew who were playing at my surprise. They laughed as they told me about the close calls they had with some of the other people of Axel and the relief it was for me to be here. A few of the stranger demons came to greet me as well. It was an odd sight as Ardent and them traded turns poking and prodding each other. He was getting along with them fine. Behind the adults shy children gazed at us from afar and especially at Taylor. She was getting more attention than me even from both the women and men. I had to remind her to keep a level head.
We were shown across the village. They had a single large building which they used for gatherings and as their town hall. Specialty work like the blacksmith and an apothecary was non-existent, another reason why they came to Axel so much. Their clothing was of a different fashion to ours, plainer but the fabric had been cut thick to protect against scratches from the passing forest. The entire time I was intrigued by the differences, how each race of demons helped the town differently but there was thing I quickly realised. They were practically the same as us. It could have been due to them being in contact with Axel for so long but the village almost felt like a second home with how they acted.
Then as the sunset the feast began. A fire reaching ten metres high blazed in the centre of the village. Food and drink was spread around as everyone mingled with each other. There was a dance where we all held hands and sang. Ardent lit up the sky with magic and some sang songs I had never heard. I was swept up in the moment and for once my worries were completely gone.