The guard blocking the path by the stone gate had a deep frown, his gaze sharp as Veronica whispered a few words into his ear.
Ebony, fearing for her own life, tightened her grip on the bandages covering the massive rectangular weapon on her back, ready for a fight, but Lucian stopped her by raising his hand with his palm open.
Seconds passed as the guard's expression didn't change, until Veronica stopped whispering and stepped away from him, the two staring at each other seriously.
But suddenly the guard burst out laughing loudly, then began to speak in a friendly, relaxed tone.
"So you finally got married, huh? I never would've imagined it. Our lioness has really matured, helping the man who broke her heart, HA HA HA," said the bearded guard, and immediately the other guards, the ones wearing helmets, started laughing with him.
"Oh, shut up, I told you not to laugh, idiot" said Veronica as her cat ears twitched inward in discomfort.
"Owwww, don't get like that. Your uncle isn't mocking you, my little lioness. I'm laughing out of joy, ha ha ha" said the guard as he patted the cat girl on the back.
"Whatever, we're leaving now, and don't you dare ask anything!" Veronica shouted before storming through the stone gate in a rage, though her cat ears betrayed her, drooping in embarrassment.
"Ha ha ha, always so proud," the bearded man said. He looked at Lucian and, wiping the smile off his face, crossed his arms as he stepped aside to let the group pass. "You'd better take care of her. That girl has suffered too much since you left her… Lucian."
"I will… Thanks for your support, Jareth" said the elf, then he adjusted his hood and crossed the stone threshold, keeping his face lowered with a look of regret, as if it were wrong to accept that man's help.
Ebony didn't fully understand what was happening, but she didn't care much either, so she kept walking.
That stone gate, made of multiple stones stacked together to form an arch, had a rune carved into each one that glowed whenever someone passed through. It was large enough for even a wagon to fit.
However, the dirt road beyond the gate split into two opposite directions, avoiding the forest that lay straight ahead.
With the group now on the other side of the border, they followed Veronica as she left the road and entered the forest. She kept several steps of distance from the group, not wanting to talk to any of them.
"Hey Lucian, why did the cat give us those passports if they didn't even ask for them?" Ebony asked as they walked deeper into the forest beyond the border.
"Sometimes the king sends inspectors to keep an eye on the guards, to make sure they don't take bribes or that they follow the rules. That's also why we crossed so early, before peak hours," Lucian replied.
"Passport?" Cristofer asked while scratching his chin, a question that left Ebony and Lucian silent for a few seconds.
"(Shit, that's right, I forgot they don't call it that here… hiding that I come from another world is way too complicated)" Ebony thought as she stared at the forest.
"T-That's what they call it in other countries. I'm sure you haven't left that pigsty since you were born, so you wouldn't know" replied the blonde, crossing her arms.
"Screw you, of course I've been out! Another thing is that you come from some freak country where everything has a different name!" Cristofer shot back at Ebony, the two of them starting to argue, an act that drew a faint smile from Lucian.
.
.
.
By the afternoon, as the sun began to hide behind the western mountains, the group arrived at a two-story house in the middle of the forest.
At the door, Veronica stopped before entering the place, looked at the group of three, and signaled with her finger for them to stay quiet.
When she opened the door, the wood creaked from how old it was. Inside, everything looked abandoned, except for a wooden counter in one corner of the lobby.
Behind the counter was a hooded figure like any receptionist. When it noticed the group, it turned its head, and a gloomy yet friendly voice emerged from the darkness where its face should have been.
"Gentlemen, ladies, welcome to the Midnight Inn. How may I help you?" said the figure as the group walked up to stand in front of the reception desk.
"We're looking for shelter for the night," Veronica said.
"Perfect. Twelve gold coins, three per life," said the figure, while Ebony tried to make out its face, something impossible in the darkness of the place, which didn't have a single candle lit.
"Ummm, well… I wasn't joking about not having money," Lucian said with a guilty smile.
"Uh-huh, right, well then I wish you luck sleeping outdoors. See you," said the cat woman in a mocking tone as she dropped three gold coins onto the counter.
"Oh come on, you know that's crazy… Lend us some money, don't be like that," the elf pleaded with a worried look, a look that began to worry Ebony herself.
"(This big-eared guy is scared?)" the girl thought before swallowing hard.
"You should've thought better before spending so much money," Veronica said as she headed for the stairs. "See you tomorrow, if you manage to survive, that is."
"What the hell is she talking about?" Ebony said with a trembling voice as she tugged on Lucian's arm.
"It doesn't matter, let's go. Before night falls any further, we need to make a campfire," Lucian said as he led his companions out of the place, his expression troubled, and Ebony knew it.
The blonde took one last look at the hooded figure, which raised its hand in a guiding gesture as a farewell, but the hand lacked flesh or nerves—it was a skeleton.
"Okay, okay, okay… What the hell was all that? Hey, ears, was that guy an undead? I thought they were extin—" Ebony was abruptly cut off by one of Lucian's coughing fits.
"This stupid cough that never goes away. If only you'd stop talking so much," Lucian said, glancing sideways at Ebony with a serious look. "But yes… that was a skeleton. It's part of an inn chain run by a necromancer."
"A necromancer? Then why were we going to stay there? Those bastards are cowards, we could've died!" Cristofer asked as they walked farther away from the inn.
"I guess you haven't traveled much outside of Lithany… Look, I'll explain it to both of you," said the elf as he hurriedly gathered branches.
"Our continent is divided into hexagons whose lines are magical borders. Countries govern the interior of one or more of these hexagons, where they impose Sacred Laws…" As he spoke, he began lighting the campfire using a pile of stones and an iron rod.
"But outside the countries, there are ownerless hexagons, the Unruled Territories. We're in one of those right now. Here, no matter what crime we commit, nothing will happen. We're free… But—" When he finished lighting the fire, the light illuminated the dark forest.
At that moment, shadows began to stalk the group. Ebony could feel lifeless presences hiding from the fire.
"That's what makes this place a favorite for monsters to thrive and devour any brave soul who dares to enter."