It took nearly a day on the road to reach the town of Korwin.
While the distance wasn’t great, the land’s harsh terrain made the trek long and difficult.
The green fields of Emelka were no more, becoming replaced with steep hills and deep ravines where hardly anything grew.
If that wasn’t enough, the road became little more than an uneven trail eroded by time and neglect, making an already difficult hike into a hellish one.
Despite the difficulties, the group pushed on with determination.
They had an important mission to complete.
If Ruel’s information was right, in this town they could find a magical map capable of revealing the location of the legendary Isle of Oma.
While Eva still doubted if the story was even true, the prospect of a clear goal lifted the group’s spirits so much that she kept her objections to herself.
Time, as always, would decide who was right.
Yugo was the first to spot the settlement.
The town of Korwin seemed to have a similar size and appearance to Emelka, being surrounded by a wooden palisade that stood as a modest but sturdy defense against the threats of the outside world.
In these wild lands crawling with monsters and bandits, a wall could be the difference between life and death.
As they approached it, they could see that the only visible entrance was a large gate guarded by a pair of watchful guards.
Before reaching the gate, Ruel did something that no one expected.
Without warning, he glanced nervously around, and, after searching in his bag, pulled out a wide-brimmed hat and put it on, covering his face almost completely.
“What are you doing, Ruel?” Yugo asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
“How do I put this…” he muttered as he stroked his beard.
“Let’s just say… I’m not exactly welcome in this town.
If they saw who I was, those guards would grab me and kick me straight off the mountain.”
Eva stopped in her tracks when she heard that.
Looks like, as always, she thought, there has to be a catch.
“And you’re telling us this now?” she asked, her arms crossed in frustration.
“What the hell did you do to earn that honor?”
Ruel shrugged with feigned innocence.
“When you’ve had as many adventures as me, you’re bound to get into trouble in more than a few places.
But, as long as you stay quiet and don’t reveal who I am, there won’t be any problems.
Understood?”
Eva let out a weary sigh.
She didn’t like surprises of this kind, and her gut was already warning her this could only end badly.
Nevertheless, she kept going with the hope that, for once, her instinct was wrong.
Once they reached the gate, the guards noticed their presence and stood firm.
Though they wore the same breastplates and a helmet, they couldn’t have looked more different to each other.
The first was a short man with neatly combed brown hair and a perfectly trimmed goatee.
His partner, on the other hand, was tall, thin and had his black hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Despite their differences, their pointed ears and tanned skin revealed they were both Fecas, members of a people known for their discipline and lack of humor.
Ruel frowned when he recognized the guards’ race.
Not a good sign, he thought.
Everything would’ve been much easier if they were Iops.
He turned to the group and told them in a low voice:
“Let me do the talking.
Just stay quiet and don’t look suspicious.
If this works out, we’ll be through in no time.”
Everyone nodded.
I doubt they’ll listen, the old man thought as his eyes moved to Yugo and Percedal, but at least I tried my best to warn them.
I just hope the Gods are on my side this time.
When they reached the gate, the tall guard stepped forward and, after having a good look at them, gave them a polite smile.
“Welcome to Korwin, travelers.
Who are you and what brings you here?”
Yugo, impatient as always, smiled back and, before he could open his mouth and talk, Ruel placed a hand on his shoulder and cut him off.
Now, it was time to put his persuasive skills to work.
“I’m a humble merchant who’s come to make a few purchases,” he declared with a convincing smile.
“These young adventurers are my escort.
Nothing more, nothing less.”
The second guard, who’d remained silent until now, raised an eyebrow in suspicion and asked an uncomfortable question.
“A merchant, huh?” his voice was full of suspicion.
“And you expect us to buy that when you’re dressed like a beggar?
We’re not as stupid as we look.”
Ruel froze for a moment, his mind racing in search of a good answer.
And then, a great idea hit him.
With a carefully rehearsed gesture, he raised his voice and started shouting in a convincingly fake outrage.
“How dare you say such things about my clothes, you ignorant hick?!
I’ll have you know my cloak represents the peak of high fashion in Bonta!
The richest of the rich are fighting to dress like this!” He shouted as he flapped the tunic’s filthy fabric.
“This robe cost me ten thousand kamas.
Ten thousand!
That’s much more than your life!”
“I see, I see…” the first guard interrupted as he gave an elbow jab at his partner. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“He didn’t mean to offend you, sir.
Out here we’re not exactly up to date on the big city’s latest trends.”
The other just grunted.
He clearly didn’t buy it and kept watching them with suspicion.
Eva did the same, listening in as he muttered to himself.
“Rich people keep getting weirder…”
Better wrap this up quickly, the Cra thought.
Best not give this Feca an excuse to arrest us.
After an uncomfortable silence, the friendly guard spoke again in a calm and relaxed tone.
“That said, I have to admit you chose your outfit well.
No bandit would ever waste their time attacking you.
Welcome to…”
He didn’t even get to finish.
Percedal, who until now was hardly paying attention, focused intensely on the guard once he heard the word “bandit”.
Now, it was his duty to learn more.
“Good sir,” he interrupted, his eyes shining with determination, “are there bandits in this region?
Because, if so, allow me to introduce myself properly.
I am Sir Percedal of Sadlygrove, knight of the Order of the Shushus and vanquisher of evil in all its forms.
If your town is being threatened, rest assured I will be there to protect it!”
The guard let out a short laugh at the extravagant knight.
His partner just grunted again.
Iops…
Eva thought as she facepalmed.
If something can go wrong, it will…
“Of course, sir knight,” replied the friendly guard.
“There’s one particularly dangerous one who’s been wreaking havoc across the entire region.
He calls himself…”
He paused theatrically, making Percedal lean forward and tremble with excitement.
Once he had his attention, he whispered a name in the most sinister voice he could.
“‘The Black Crow.'”
The knight’s eyes blazed with determination and, without waiting even a second, he launched into his next question:
“How strong is he?”
“You have no idea,” the guard replied and began to make exaggerated gestures as he told his tale.
“Rumor has it he rides a giant metal crow that breathes fire and lightning.
He attacks every caravan that crosses these roads, taking all he can and leaving without a trace.
They say many brave adventurers have tried to hunt him down…
but none have ever returned.
Some even say the crow is a powerful demon that feeds on the souls of its victims…”
Before he could keep sharing his tale, the grumpy guard smacked him on the back with the butt of his spear.
“C’mon, buddy.
Stop scaring the travelers with your stories.
You know that stuff like that is the reason most tourists stay away from our town.”
“Well said,” Ruel chimed in as he glared at Percedal.
“We don’t have time for any pointless side quests, so if you don’t mind could you please let us through?
I have important business to attend to.”
The grumpy guard nodded and, after giving everyone in the group a serious look, stepped aside and opened the gate.
“You’ve got permission to enter.
Don’t cause any trouble.”
These words were music to Ruel’s ears.
His face turned to a smile and, after wiping the sweat from his brow, nodded with visible relief.
“Thanks so much, good man,” he replied.
“We’re just going to pop in, make our purchase, and leave.
That’s all.
Nothing to worry about!”
“Glad to hear it,” the guard responded with a voice lacking any kind of enthusiasm.
“Enjoy your stay in Korwin.”
Before they crossed the gate and left this uncomfortable situation behind, the friendly guard called after them:
“And watch out for the Black Crow…”
Once the group passed the gate and got into town, the two guards returned to their usual positions.
The strict one stood up straight while his companion leaned lazily against the palisade and let out a long yawn.
He had a long day ahead and, if there weren’t any more travelers to chat with, it would be extremely boring.
Suddenly, a shadow advanced toward the entrance.
Another traveler had arrived.
Following protocol, the grumpy guard stepped forward and, as before, demanded a name and intentions.
But, this time, the stranger didn’t answer.
The guard raised his spear, ready to make that strange man see sense.
Unfortunately, he had no idea who he was dealing with.
In the blink of an eye, the traveler drew a sinister-looking pistol and aimed it straight at the guard’s face.
The barrel exhaled dark smoke tinged with cursed energy and a strange eye embedded in the grip seemed to stare at both of them.
The guard’s face went completely white with fear.
His companion, quick to react, raised his spear and ordered.
“Put that thing down or you’ll regret it.
I’m warning you!”
The stranger just let out a sinister smile.
“Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?
Choose your words carefully…
as they might be your last.”
After these words, he produced a metal badge from his coat and showed it to both guards, making both of them stop in their tracks and gulp in fear.
After that, both guards lowered their weapons and let him through without a word.
Now that the gate was open, the stranger crossed it, holstered his weapon and pulled out a cigar from his inner pocket, lighting it calmly and exhaling a cloud of thick, dark smoke.
A new threat had arrived in Korwin.
The town of Korwin bore an undeniable resemblance to Emelka.
It also mostly consisted of wood and stone houses and had farm animals roaming freely along the dirt paths.
The group headed toward the central square where the only notable building stood: a run-down tavern called The Flying Gobble and a shop that, at first glance, clashed with everything around it.
The shop was a two-story building made of fine wood and exotic stones.
On the ground floor, a glass display case showcased a variety of curious artifacts.
Weapons, potions, ancient relics, and other objects whose purpose was difficult to guess.
One thing was for certain: this had to be the place where they could find the magical map.
Meanwhile, Ruel’s gaze drifted to the shop’s sign, which displayed “Kabrok and Miranda’s Emporium.” Once he had a closer look, it was clear something wasn’t right with the inscription.
The words “and Miranda” had been painted recently in an ugly white color and looked jarring compared to the rest of the sign.
Oh, Kabrok…
Ruel thought with a touch of melancholy.
How things have changed…
Without a second thought, Yugo dashed into the shop ready to find as many cool items as he could, quickly followed by his loyal companion Az.
When the boy arrived, his eyes opened wide once he saw mountains of magical artifacts along the shop’s display cases.
There, he could find everything he needed to be a real adventurer.
“Whoa!” he murmured, eyes wide.
“This place is incredible!”
Ruel, concerned at how this could go, raised his voice in an attempt to rein the boy in.
“Yugo, wait a moment!”
His pleas were useless.
Curiosity had taken complete control of Yugo, who in an instant darted into the shop without looking back.
The old Enutrof huffed.
“Here we go again…
nobody ever listens to poor old me.”
Suddenly, before the others could join Yugo in the shop, Ruel raised his hand and gave a serious announcement.
“Listen up.
While we’re inside…
NEVER refer to me as Ruel.
Call me anything you want, but not my name.
If things go smoothly, we’ll handle this in a flash.”
“How about…
Shickelgruber?” Amalia suggested playfully.
“It suits you, honestly.”
“What kind of name is that?!” the Enutrof shot back, visibly offended.
“It makes me sound like a greedy old man!”
“That just makes it the right one, Mr.
Shickelgruber…”
Amalia let out a teasing giggle that made the old man even angrier.
After that, she turned to her best friend and grabbed her arm in excitement.
“Come on, Eva.
It’s been ages since we went shopping!
Let’s go!”
“It has.
But remember, we don’t really have money to spare,” she said in a measured tone.
“The most important thing is getting that map.”
“Yeah, yeah…” She answered as she crossed the door.
“I’m sure there won’t be that much to…”
Once she saw what was inside the shop, the words became stuck in her mouth and her eyes widened in surprise.
This shop was far beyond anything she could ever expect.