Amukelo woke before dawn, his body stiff from a night of restless sleep. The quiet sounds of the early morning crept in through the cracks of the farmhouse. To his surprise, as he gathered his belongings, he heard movement from the main room. The farmer was already awake. As Amukelo entered the small kitchen, the farmer turned from the fire where a small pot of something was simmering.
"Good morning," the farmer said, his voice thick with sleep but kind. "You're up early. Would you like to stay for breakfast? It's nothing fancy, but it'll give you some strength for the road."
Amukelo appreciated the offer, but he shook his head. "Thank you, but I'll be heading off immediately. I still have a few things I need to take care of."
The farmer nodded, his expression understanding, but there was still a flicker of concern in his eyes. "I see. Well, in that case…" He walked over to a small shelf and pulled down a fresh loaf of bread, wrapping it carefully in a piece of cloth. "Take this, at least. It's not much, but it should hold you over for the morning. And I wish you the best of luck in your journey, whatever it is you're heading toward."
Amukelo took the bread, offering a brief but sincere smile. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady but with a touch of warmth. "And good luck to you as well."
The farmer gave him a nod, watching as Amukelo shouldered his pack and made his way toward the door. The early morning air was crisp and cool, and as he stepped outside, the sun was just beginning to break over the horizon, casting a pale golden light across the fields.
Amukelo bit into the bread as he walked, the taste simple but filling. He moved with a steady pace, retracing his steps back toward Ansford. The journey felt longer than it had the day before, his muscles tired from the previous day. His arm, though much improved since the healing spell, still ached faintly.
The town of Ansford gradually came into view after around an hour of walking. He needed to pack his things, clean up, and then head back to the cave where the orc and the beast awaited him.
As he entered the town, he made his way to the inn where he had been staying. The innkeeper was already awake, busy cleaning the bar area and setting up for the day. Amukelo gave him a brief nod as he moved upstairs to his room. His stay had been brief, but it was time to move on. He packed his belongings carefully, making sure his gear was secure and his supplies were organized for the long journey ahead. Once everything was packed, he took a moment to clean his cloak, brushing off the dried blood and grime.
After checking that he had everything, he descended back down the stairs and approached the innkeeper. "I'm leaving today," Amukelo said, his voice direct but polite. "Thank you for your hospitality."
The innkeeper nodded, offering a warm smile. "Safe travels, then. You're always welcome back here if your path ever leads you to Ansford again."
With that, Amukelo left the inn, the sounds of the busying streets filling his ears. He was about to head toward the outskirts of town when he remembered Versted. The pub was just beginning to open, and though it was early, it was worth checking to see if Versted was there. At the very least, Amukelo planned to leave him a note, thanking him for his efforts in trying to find a merchant headed toward Gathe.
As he pushed open the door to the pub, Amukelo was greeted by the soft murmur of morning patrons and the smell of freshly baked bread. The place was quiet, not yet filled with the usual bustle of the evening crowd. His eyes scanned the room, and to his surprise, he spotted Versted sitting at one of the corner tables, already eating breakfast.
A small wave of relief washed over Amukelo. It was much better to see Versted in person than to leave a note. He approached the table, and Versted looked up, a smile forming on his face as he recognized Amukelo.
"Ah, good morning!" Versted greeted, gesturing for Amukelo to sit. "You're up early."
Amukelo sat down across from him and ordered a quick meal from the waitress. "Good morning," Amukelo said.
Versted's expression shifted to one of mild disappointment. "Unfortunately, I still haven't found anyone heading toward Gathe," he said, shaking his head. "I've asked around, but most of the merchants are heading in the opposite direction or staying close to the region. Gathe's too far west for most of them."
Amukelo nodded, not surprised by the answer. He had already suspected it would be difficult to find anyone making the long journey to Gathe. "Thanks for your efforts," Amukelo said sincerely. "But you don't need to keep searching anymore. I've found another way to get there."
Versted's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Oh? How did you manage that? If you don't mind me asking, of course."
There was a brief pause as Amukelo considered his answer. He didn't want to reveal the details of his encounter with the orc and the beast. He didn't know how Versted would react to the fact that he'd be traveling with an orc. After a moment, he responded carefully. "I'd rather not get into it," he said, his tone neutral but firm.
Versted, sensing Amukelo's reluctance, didn't push further. He gave a respectful nod, understanding that there were some things best left unsaid. "Fair enough," Versted said, his tone lightening again. "I won't press you on it."
Amukelo's meal arrived, and he ate quickly, the simple food filling the remaining void in his hunger. There was a quiet camaraderie between them as they ate, and once Amukelo was finished, he stood up and adjusted his pack.
"Good luck, Versted," Amukelo said, extending a hand. "I appreciate all your help, and who knows? Maybe we'll run into each other again."
Versted smiled and shook his hand warmly. "Good luck to you too, my friend. I travel to many places, so who knows where we might cross paths again. Safe travels, and may your journey to Gathe be smooth."
With that, Amukelo offered one final nod and turned to leave the pub. The sun had risen higher in the sky, and the town of Ansford was now fully awake, the streets bustling with life.
Amukelo left the pub and made his way to the Adventurers' Association to claim the prize for the quest he had completed the day before. Amukelo moved through the crowd with purpose, his cloak pulled tightly around him, concealing the weight of his supplies and gear underneath.
Inside Amukelo approached the counter and handed over the severed beast's head he had wrapped in cloth. The attendant, a young woman with sharp eyes, inspected it with a nod of approval. "Well done," she said, jotting down the details on a piece of parchment. "This should settle your quest."
She reached beneath the counter and pulled out a small pouch of gold coins, placing it on the table in front of him. Amukelo picked up the pouch and opened it, counting the contents quickly. Seven golden coins. It wasn't much, but he hadn't expected it to be. The quest was a lower-tier mission.
Amukelo gave a small nod of thanks and turned to leave. His next destination was the cave where the orc and its beast awaited him. Amukelo left the town behind and headed back into the wilderness. The orc had promised to help guide him westward, and while he didn't trust the creature fully, he knew the orc had no choice but to honor their agreement if it wanted to survive.
After around an hour of walking, Amukelo finally arrived at the cave. As he approached, he noticed the beast standing guard at the entrance, its posture tense and alert. Its fur bristled as it saw him approach, and a low growl rumbled from its throat, but it didn't move. Amukelo knew the creature was more protective than aggressive, especially now that it was wounded.
As Amukelo entered the cave, he reached into his pack and pulled out two small bottles, each filled with a shimmering blue liquid. He handed both bottles to the orc, who accepted them with a nod of gratitude. The orc uncorked one of the bottles and drank the potion quickly, its face twitching slightly as the healing effects began to take hold. The orc's movements became smoother, and though it still bore the signs of its injuries, it seemed more capable of handling the journey ahead.
The second bottle was handed to the beast, which lapped up the potion eagerly. The shallow wounds Amukelo had inflicted the day before healed almost instantly, and the creature's posture relaxed slightly as the pain subsided. The tension in the air eased, though the beast still watched Amukelo with wary eyes.
"So," the orc said, its voice stronger now that the healing had begun to work. "Do you know the way we need to travel?"
Amukelo nodded and reached into his cloak, pulling out the large map he had purchased in Ansford. He knelt down, spreading the map on the ground between them. The orc and the beast watched curiously as Amukelo pointed to a small spot on the map. "We are here," Amukelo said, tapping his finger on the location of Ansford.
He then traced a line with his finger toward the western edge of the map, stopping at a point near the border of Elandria. "Our destination is not exactly the border," he continued. "You will help me get to this town." His finger landed on Gathe, the city he had been planning to reach since he left Llyn. "Once we reach Gathe, you can go back to your nation. That was the agreement."
The orc's eyes studied the map closely, its brow furrowing in concentration. After a moment, the orc nodded in understanding. "I see. Gathe is far, but it's closer than our lands."
Amukelo nodded. He calculated the direction quickly in his head, checking the map one more time before rolling it up. He pointed westward, slightly off-center. "We'll head in that direction," he said, his voice steady. "It's a long journey, and the terrain will be difficult, but if we stay on course, we should reach Gathe in about two months."
The orc seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. It didn't seem concerned with the distance, only focused on surviving the journey ahead. It glanced at its beast companion, which had fully healed and was now ready to travel. The orc climbed onto the creature's back, its movements still stiff but far more fluid than the day before.
Amukelo packed away the map, adjusting his pack and cloak to ensure everything was secure. He checked his sword, making sure it was easily accessible should trouble arise on the road.
Without another word, they set off. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows as they began their ride westward. The beast moved with surprising speed and grace, its powerful legs propelling it across the uneven terrain.