The carriage doors protested with a low groan as they swung open.
A man emerged, cautiously placing his feet on the ground. He adjusted the strap of a worn travel bag slung across his thin frame. His shoulders were slightly stooped, and his ash-brown hair was tied back in a simple knot. Keen, gray eyes darted around, taking in every detail of the landscape without lingering on any single thing.
Good morning, he said, his voice polite. I'm Lapo Tarup.
Silence hung in the air. No one spoke.
Kael glanced back at the group. That's him.
Lapo nodded, as if this small confirmation held some deeper meaning for him. I appreciate the escort. I heard SCANT Valley isn't exactly… welcoming.
It isn't, Branna said, her tone flat as she rested her shield against the side of the carriage. So stay inside unless we say otherwise.
Lapo offered a small smile. Understood.
They started their trek shortly after.
As they entered the valley, the road became narrow. Stone walls jutted, lined unevenly on each side, with shallow caves and broken ledges scattered across the walls. Few trees clung to the slopes, their roots exposed like vulnerable veins.
Silence fell for sometime.
Then Tess broke the silence.
So, she said, leaning back against the carriage frame, what's everyone doing once this job's over?
Kael spoke first and swiftly. Tramph Town.
Lira gave him a quick look. Still planning on hitting up the tournament?
Yeah, Kael replied, The prize money's good. Plus, it's good for my rep.
Branna snorted. That is if Tess doesn't get us kicked out first.
Hey, Tess protested. That happened one time.
Lapo watched them curiously. A tournament?
Just adventurer stuff, Tess said. You probably wouldn't be interested.
I might be," Lapo said calmly. I like watching skilled people fight.
Harn chuckled softly.
Kael turned slightly toward Zairen. What about you? Going anywhere after this?
Zairen hesitated.
I… I'm not sure, he admitted. I can't remember much... Bandits attacked me. I just joined the guild recently.
Oh, Tess said. That explains why you're so quiet.
I'm staying with a nice old couple in Grayhaven for now, Zairen continued. Until I get my memories back.
Lapo tilted his head slightly. Maybe you shouldn't go back.
Zairen looked at him, puzzled. Why?
Kulap Town is right past this valley, Lapo said. It's a lot bigger. More guild branches. Better flow of information. If you want answers, that's the place to get them.
Kael nodded slowly. He's got a point.
Branna shrugged. Makes a lot of sense.
Zairen thought about it.
I could join another branch, he murmured.
You should do it, Lapo said. Drop those old folks a letter. Show them that you're okay."
Zairen nodded. I will.
The first two days were uneventful.
Skitter hounds showed up at one point. But they were easily scared off. A stoneback crawler tried to jump them, only to be pinned by Branna's shield and finished off by Harn's mace.
Nothing major.
The third day, fog rolled in.
Visibility dropped fast. Sound changed, echoing strangely.
Then, the howl came.
Low, drawn-out, and deep.
Everyone froze.
A massive shadow moved along the edge of the cliff above them. The fog distorted it, but it was huge.
Tess swallowed hard. Okay, that's… not right."
Kael made a quick call. Out of the carriage, now!
No one argued.
They ran.
After a few minutes, Kael raised a hand.
Everyone stopped.
He showed them toward a jumble of rocks. They crouched down, pressed against the cold stone as the fog drifted around them.
Lira immediately turned to Kael, her voice low but mad.
You crazy? she hissed. That thing—"
Quiet, Kael snapped. Just watch.
She looked like she wanted to say more, but she turned her gaze back toward the cliff.
The dark shadow moved again.
Then… it thinned.
The edges blurred. The fog shifted and stretched the outline, then slowly disappeared.
A second later, people appeared where the shadow had been.
Men with ropes, hooks, and rough masks. One of them cupped his hands around his mouth and let out another long howl, laughing when it bounced through the valley.
Told you that would work, one of them said. Works every time.
Idiots run much faster than horses," another said. Easy money, if you ask me.
Kael grinned.
See? he whispered. A real monster wouldn't need tricks. It would have attacked by now.
He gestured quietly.
Keeping low, they circled around, careful to avoid the gravel crunching under their boots. The bandits were too busy laughing about their easy score.
Kael stepped out of the fog.
And kicked the closest bandit in the face.
The man dropped hard.
So, Kael's voice boomed, you're the reason caravans are going missing in SCANT Valley.
The bandit leader spun around, his eyes wide. Then he yelled, Attack!
Steel clanged.
The fight broke out.
They barely had time to loose their weapons. Before they could, Lira's knives were already in the air.
One sank into a bandit's thigh.
He screamed and fell.
Branna moved with a crash.
She stepped forward like a wall. Her shield slammed into a man's chest. The bandit went tumbling into another one.
Oi—watch it! one of them yelled.
Try watching where you're standing, Tess replied, letting loose an arrow.
It hit a bandit in the shoulder, making him drop his weapon and scream.
Harn waded in, silent as death.
His mace fell once.
Twice.
Each hit ended with a body crashing to the ground. One bandit tried to block, and ended up with sharp crack as his arms bowed.
Zairen stood back at first.
Watching.
One bandit charged him, blade raised.
Zairen sidestepped, then hit the man with the flat of his sword to knock him unconscious. The bandit dropped.
The fight didn't last long.
When the last bandit groaned and clutched his nose, Kael stepped forward and looked around.
Well, he said, that explains the missing caravans.
Lapo peered out from behind a rock. So… no monster?
Kael shook his head. Just some fools with good timing.
Tess kicked at one of the bandits. You really thought pretending to be a monster would work for long?
The bandit groaned. It… worked yesterday.
Lira sighed. Of course it did.
They tied up the bandits and left them near the road.
The carriage was untouched.
They continued on soon after.
The next few days were quiet.
No fog or ambushes.
SCANT Valley widened slowly. The walls lowered. The road became smoother. By the fifth day, they saw farms and guard posts.
Kulap Town appeared in the late afternoon.
It was bigger, busier, and noisier than Grayhaven.
Stone buildings stood close together. Banners marking different guild branches fluttered from posts around the town. Caravans lined the roads. Adventurers walked around in the streets, some wore polished armor while others looked more rough around the edges.
The carriage slowed as they got closer to the town.
This is where I get off, Zairen said. Thanks to all of you.
Kael nodded. Safe travels.
Lapo turned to Zairen. Kulap is great for people like you. Ask all the questions that you have. Learn.
I will, Zairen said.
The group headed on, waving as they rode toward Tramph Town.
Zairen stood still for a bit.
Then he turned toward the city.
It took him a while to find the guild branch.
Kulap's Adventurer Guild was bigger than any other. It took him awhile. But he got his money and then walked next door to the local post office.
He wrote with care.
Short sentences, clear.
I made it to Kulap Town okay.
I joined another guild branch here.
Thank you for being great people.
I will write again soon.
Once his letter to the old couple was sent, Zairen stepped back out into the busy street.
People moved past him.
The city didn't know him, but that was okay.
The road behind him was closed
The road ahead had begun.