The journey toward the fields of Nerathis began without too many complications.
Draven and Taliah had left the capital of Fernus that morning, carrying the necessary provisions for several days.
Thanks to Zenash’s authorization, they had no trouble passing through the military checkpoints that protected the areas near the border.
The royal permit had also allowed them to carry weapons, potions, and other materials without the soldiers questioning their presence too much.
Even so, Draven could not help thinking about the conditions Zenash had imposed, and he sighed.
’I think I accepted too quickly.’
"How much farther?"
Taliah asked the question for the third time that afternoon, and Draven looked at the road ahead of them.
"If we keep this pace, we’ll reach the village before nightfall."
Taliah let out a sigh, and Draven smiled slightly.
They were both already used to those conversations.
The road continued for several hours.
The landscape began to change as they moved farther from the inhabited areas. The buildings gradually disappeared, and the trees grew more numerous.
The vegetation also started to grow in a disordered way, making the path increasingly difficult.
Finally, they arrived at a small village situated relatively close to the fields of Nerathis.
It was not a large settlement.
There were a few main streets, houses built of stone and wood, a small square, and several establishments meant for travelers heading toward the rural zones.
Draven recognized the place.
He did not remember its exact name because in the videogame it had barely mattered.
However, he did remember that it was one of the last safe points before entering the fields of Nerathis.
Taliah looked at the houses.
"I expected something bigger."
"We’re close to a dangerous area."
"That’s exactly why I expected something bigger."
Draven set down the luggage.
"We’ll stay here tonight."
Taliah looked at him.
"Have you been here before?"
"No."
The answer came out too quickly, so Draven cleared his throat.
"But I studied the region before coming."
Taliah watched him for a few seconds.
"I see."
Draven felt that the girl had not completely believed him.
’I need to stop answering so fast.’
They managed to get a room each in a small inn and, after leaving their belongings, went downstairs to have dinner.
The place was fairly quiet. There were a few merchants, travelers, and local workers, but most of them spoke in low voices while they ate.
Taliah sat across from Draven.
"Are you sure the demonic vocier is in this area?"
"That’s right."
"How can you be so sure?"
Draven took a sip of water before answering.
"Because large creatures need territories where they can find enough food. Besides, the hunters’ reports indicate that animals have been disappearing near this zone."
That was true; he had only omitted the important part.
In the game, the fields of Nerathis were one of the zones where the demonic vocier could appear.
Its appearance was not completely guaranteed, but there was a specific region where the probability was considerably higher, and Draven knew that region exactly.
"And if it doesn’t show up?"
"Then we’ll have to look for it."
Taliah rested her arms on the table.
"And if something worse appears?"
"Then we’ll run."
She let out a small laugh.
"Until you said something sensible."
"I always say sensible things."
Taliah smiled.
"Definitely not."
Draven shook his head and, after finishing dinner, both of them returned to their rooms.
Draven spent part of the night checking his equipment, which included several potions, food, and camping materials.
However, there was something else he wanted to use.
He raised his arm and looked at the bracelet Zenash had given him years ago.
’The number of objects that woman has given me over these years is ridiculous.’
Draven touched the bracelet, and a small amount of mana flowed through the object, causing the storage space to open in front of him.
Inside there were several items, but Draven selected two, and the weapons appeared in his hands.
They were two completely black daggers, with red details running along the blades and the hilts. The surfaces seemed to absorb part of the light inside the room.
Draven observed them with a satisfied expression.
’The Shadows of the Forgotten.’
In the video game, that pair were S-rarity weapons, and obtaining them was not easy.
They were guarded by an extremely powerful demon boss, and the player had to defeat it to get them.
The battle was difficult even for high-level characters, and most players obtained other weapons before facing it.
But Draven had obtained them in a far less heroic way: Zenash had appeared in front of him a year earlier with an unusually serious expression.
"Draven."
"Yes?"
"Is there anything you want for your birthday?"
Draven had thought for a few seconds and then remembered the two daggers.
"Yes, there is something I want."
Zenash had waited for his answer with an expression of enormous interest.
"What do you want?"
"There are some daggers called the Shadows of the Forgotten, so I’d like those daggers."
Zenash had fallen silent.
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Don’t you want anything else?"
"Ah... No?"
Zenash had smiled.
"Then you’ll have them."
Draven had obtained the daggers without having to face the boss.
He had taken advantage of the fact that Zenash was willing to give him anything and had asked for exactly what he wanted as a gift.
’It wasn’t my most honorable moment.’
But he didn’t regret it either.
He put the daggers away again, since he would need them the next day.
He did not know exactly what had changed in this world compared to the videogame, and he did not intend to enter dangerous territory carrying only an ordinary sword.