During the night, while the carriage was still moving, Herega woke Eavelin. The young man had just felt a strong sense of restlessness, and looking out of the carriage, he noticed they were near a shore. Since their destination was an island, every clue suggested they were in the right place. So, they got out. The girl wasn't very convinced, but having trusted Herega until that moment, she couldn't doubt him now. They continued walking along the shore, guided by the sensations perceived by the young man. After a few minutes, they found a small port where an elderly man drew their attention:
«Hello, young ones. What brings you here at this hour?» He said.
His voice was very low, suggesting he was a person of great self-esteem.
«Hello. We need to reach the east island of Triosa. Do you know how we could get there?» Eavelin asked.
The girl's vision was illuminated by the moon's rays reflecting behind her. The old man laughed heartily.
«Are you asking me if I know? Of course, of course. Why else would I be here? I can take you there, but there's only one condition: No one can stay on the island for more than a week.» The old man said.
The two youths looked at each other, both seeking an answer from the other. What worried them was the reason for the time limit, but it wouldn't stop them from reaching their goal.
«Alright, we accept. How much do we owe you?» Herega replied, taking out the pouch containing the money from his backpack.
«1 Crest each.» He answered.
The two youths exchanged a puzzled look. The price was unusually low for what they were used to. However, they decided to keep their questions to themselves, avoiding the possibility that the price might be raised. So, they set sail. They were informed that the island wasn't very far from the port, so the journey would only take a few hours. According to the old man's predictions, they would arrive at sunrise. Herega decided to try to catch up on the sleep he had lost. Meanwhile, Eavelin, not entirely trusting the man, chose to stay awake. During the journey, she thought about the life she had just renounced, deciding to completely overturn it to embark on a wild adventure with her friend.
♦️
After some time, the old man informed the girl that they would arrive in less than ten minutes. She then decided to wake Herega and prepare herself mentally for the real beginning of their journey. Once arrived, they got off the boat.
«Remember, you must return within a week. I'll be waiting for you here.»
The two thanked him and walked toward a forest, which appeared to be the only access to the island's interior.
♦️
The ground was marked by a cobblestone path that would probably lead them out. It seemed to be man-made, so they thought it was built by the locals. They followed it. The sunlight couldn't completely penetrate the thick branches of the trees, but their vision was not entirely obstructed. Along the way, they saw a shadow moving in front of them. It was an animal walking on four legs, but its shape made it unidentifiable. Herega decided to stand in front of Eavelin, as if to protect her. He usually carried wooden swords for hunting beasts, but this time he had nothing. They stood still. The shadow seemed to get closer; now, from a bush, the head of a wolf could be seen. Sniffing an unusual smell, it noticed the presence of the two. A moment of hesitation, then, with a quick howl, it charged at full speed. They started to run. Herega was faster, so he decided to make the first move. While running, he looked for a low tree branch, resistant enough to support two people. As the beast continued to approach, he took a chance. Jumping, he grabbed a branch about two and a half meters above the ground, managing to pull himself up. As soon as the girl arrived, he reached out to her, she grabbed his hand, and Herega pulled her up onto the branch with him. The wolf managed to scratch Eavelin just before she reached the young man. At the moment, she didn't notice it.
«Are you okay?» Herega asked, breathing a bit heavily.
The wolf was still below them, waiting for them to come down.
«I think so. How do we get rid of it?» She replied.
The sight of the wolf terrified her; she tried only to stay balanced while looking at her friend's face.
Herega looked down and then around him. He tried to break off a branch about the size of an arm. He succeeded, and by scraping its surface against the tree trunk, he created a sufficiently sharp tip. He repeated the process three more times to get four sticks, two of which would be used by Eavelin.
«We could try this way: I'll get down from the branch first to distract it. While it approaches, you'll come down second and stab it. While it's stunned, I'll aim for its eyes. But you have to be convinced; if you don't penetrate deep enough, we could risk our lives.» The young man said.
As expected, the girl was quite fearful; she had never harmed anyone, not even an animal. Leaving a wolf with deep wounds was certainly not what she aspired to. She tried to calm herself, taking a minute to focus, then told Herega she was ready. So, they executed the plan. Herega climbed down far enough from the animal's position that it turned towards him. As soon as it moved its paws, Eavelin also climbed down, stabbing it. She managed to paralyze it, inflicting two severe wounds on its back. It was then easy for Herega to deliver the final blow. Faced with that spectacle, Eavelin closed her eyes in disgust, while Herega was just relieved that they had survived.
«Let's move on.» The young man said. She didn't reply but followed him, trying to stay as close to him as possible.
♦️
No other dangers appeared before their eyes, so they continued along the path peacefully. It didn't take long to find the exit. Now, all they saw was a large square. To the north there was a path, as well as to the east and to the west. Around the square there were what seemed to be a tavern, a large stage, and a few small houses.