Somehow, losing the handle of my first ax hurt more than I had realized it would. At least I learned from the second try. Although it didn't come in rapid bursts, my strength kept increasing, and the weight of my ax needed to keep up. I had made the ax blade a little larger again and thicker in the middle with that in mind. I would need to find another material fast, though, any bigger and it would become unwieldy. As it was, the blade spanned the breadth of my shoulders. I had also decided against the butterfly blades, instead making a more angular blade. Using Barry's claw instead of the elven knife made carving it difficult even after making the claw as dense as I could.

A soft ping came from my status, and I blinked in surprise as my hand stilled. I hadn't even consciously decided it was ready yet, but I nodded in agreement as I inspected the blade and handle. It was good, simple yet effective, and it would hopefully last me longer than the previous one.

If I don't have to throw it away again, I thought.

Shaking my head at the memory of my ax embedded in some Preyatar follower, I summoned my status.

> You have created a high-grade piece of weaponry!

> High-grade weapon crafting bonus

> Well-balanced: Your knowledge of your craft and ax's have combined into a weapon of exquisite simplicity

> Woodcrafting increased by 1

Woodcrafting to four!

I clenched my fist in victory before raising my new ax to see what the well-balanced attribute was all about. My eyes closed, I felt how it lay in my hand, the weight seeming perfectly distributed. Getting up, I began walking the forms I had learned. It felt like the first time in months, even though it wasn't actually that long ago, but I wasn't the least bit rusty. The ax swished and sang through the air, and I could feel my movements sharpen the longer I continued.

When I finally stopped, I was sweating, and my stomach rumbled loudly.

Shit, food, I cursed myself for being an idiot.

I had totally forgotten I needed food, and although Rathica had fixed what ailed me, she hadn't filled my belly.

Looking at Barry's remains, I knew I didn't have the time left to make myself new throwing axes. With a quick motion, I chopped off a front limb. Barry wouldn't need it anymore, and the exit of the cave systems was barely large enough for me, let alone for the massive woodcarving. My eyes lingered on the massive piece of wood, and I wished I had the time to create a few smaller carvings to bring along in case I needed backup.

No time. I turned to the cave's exit, a narrow stone-paved tunnel that had partially collapsed, and promised myself the first order of business after food would be to create more weapons, preferably ranged.

My shoulders almost touched the sides of the tunnel, but the ceiling was high enough for me to grow another head taller.

I wonder who uses these. Must be stick figures, I thought with a grin. The tunnel wound around, the many side entrances I came across blocked by rubble, and only a single path possible. It wasn't obvious if it was cleared after or if it just hadn't collapsed yet. Looking around the grey-shaded world, I wondered how hard things would have been if I didn't have night-vision.

Ten minutes later, I began hearing soft sounds-muted speech, footsteps, and a general hubbub that I associated with a busy street. Turning another corner, I arrived at a ten meter wide, circular room. Four massive channels filled with filthy water moved away in other directions, and light filtered down a grate in the ceiling beside the wall. A small, rusty metal ladder led up, and I could see people move above. They wore colorful robes, red, gold, and green seeming the most common.

I couldn't understand anything, the soft words and odd syllables flowing together, half sung, half spoken.

Where the crap did Barry lead me? I thought, getting a sinking suspicion who they were walking above. I looked around and quickly moved to one of the other sewer tunnels. Staring into the distance, I saw another ladder and moved towards it. There was a much smaller grate above this one and less light. There were also no people moving about, although I could still hear them.

As I climbed up, the noise got louder as I got higher. When I pushed my hand against the grate, I felt it give a bit. With some effort, I shoved it aside, wincing at the loud scraping sound. Sticking my head out, I looked around a small shadowy alley. One way led to more shadowy paths, but when I turned to the other side, I knew my guess was right.

Moving past the small entrance, I saw a stream of Elves walk by. Mostly men, they were different from the one I had seen with the caravan. These had overly sharp features, slightly too high foreheads, and oddly curved eyebrows that reminded me of caricatures or resembled plastic surgery experiments gone wrong. The fact that their eyes sparkled like stone with gold particles didn't help either.

Perhaps a sub-species?

I shoved the grate further away and crawled out of the sewer entrance, keeping my eyes on the passing elves. Halfway out of the hole, an elf snapped his head around and looked straight at me. His eyes skimmed me quickly, a look of distaste coming to his face, then he passed the alley.

I waited, holding my breath and ready to jump back down, but seconds passed, then a minute and nothing happened.

I guess they don't care, I thought and pulled the grate back over the opening.

Turning around towards the darker area, and for a moment I contemplated going there. I had no idea where I was, and I didn't want to stick out too much...still, the elf hadn't seemed bothered by me, and the guards weren't running my way yet. Rathica hadn't seemed afraid of where I was either.

Taking a deep breath, I lay my ax across my shoulder and moved towards the illuminated exit, keeping a close eye on the elves. Most of the elves glanced my way, but besides the universal look of distaste, they didn't respond, strengthening my feeling they didn't care I was here.

When I stepped into the light, I was standing on a massive square with stalls and colorful tents cluttering the center and blocking my view. The elves moving along the edge of the square moved around me in a wide circle, and one of them snorted.

"Get back to your own district, four-arm! You're smelling up the place!"

The remark got a loud agreement from the elves that walked around. They either laughed or said things in their own language that sounded like insults.

I held down my anger at being laughed at and ridiculed, deciding it wasn't worth the effort.

"Sure…but I'm a bit lost, a rough night with your women and all... You know how it is, right? How about you tell me what way it is?"

Okay, fine, perhaps I didn't manage to hold back my anger completely. Then again, I had just almost died a few times, was on a quest to save some ancient deity, and still had to worry about all of humanity. I might be a bit on edge.

Two elves almost tripped while the others stopped laughing, glaring at me with ominous eyes. I heard the rattling of arms behind me.

A loud, clattering laugh filled the area, and two female elves moved from between a few colorful tents, arm in arm. Where the men were odd, and unlike the ones I had seen before, these were exactly like the elves I remembered. Very much so! I recognized one of them from the caravan. Eristin, she was called by the others, unless I was mistaken. Remembering how they had left the rest of us to die on our own, my eyes narrowed, and I involuntarily stepped forward as I held Eristin's eyes.

The women stopped, and their laughter quickly died down. From the corner of my eyes, I saw some of the men reach for daggers and long thin swords.

"Calm down," Eristin said, releasing the other elf and making soothing gestures towards the men. "He is just a bit upset from a previous altercation, nothing serious. I am sure we can work it out!"

She turned to me, and although she was smiling, I saw a warning in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the anger away and faked a smile.

"Of course, we can work it out," I said, the tension slowly leaving me. The men gazed at us a while longer before a few began putting away drawn weapons.

"Right! I need to speak with my friend here. I'll come by the inn later today. Perhaps some of you are interested in a chat then?" she smiled all around, and the men seemed stunned before they began nodding fervently. "Good, off you go," Eristin said, and immediately the elven men began dispersing while Eristin beckoned me between the tents. I followed her, and within a few seconds, we were lost in the crowded marketplace.

As I followed Eristin, I gazed around in wonder. Just a few hours ago, I was still in the middle of some deity's broken down realm, fighting for my life. Now I was in a cozy marketplace, in some bustling city.

Moving around an oval red tent, Eristin moved through an opening behind a massive table, littered with both wooden and metallic spoons, plates, and what looked like scissors. My eyes narrowed when I took a cursory glance at the wood carvings amongst them. Even with my limited knowledge, I could see the quality ranged from impressive to pathetic. Cards on small ropes looped around the items, but I couldn't read the markings on them. They could be prices or names for all I knew.

Moving inside the tent, I stopped and looked around. Slowly my eyes widened, and I swallowed. Dozens of scantily dressed female elves lay on sofas, their gazes now locked on me. Plates of food and ornate wooden cups stood on salon tables, and a sweet aroma lingered in the air.

What the hell did I stumble on now? I thought.

I heard a soft whistle and saw Eristin beckoning me from a table in the corner. I quickly moved towards her, and a soft, song-like chatter filled the tent. Although I didn't understand a word, I got a distinct feeling I was the topic of the conversations.

I lowered myself on the bench across from Eristin. What the hell was I even doing here? I needed to get out of... wherever here was, and find my way back to the Harrowing Hills.

"How did you make it away from the caravan? When we returned, we found only bodies and a single missing wagon," Eristin whispered. Her bright green eyes were a few feet from mine, and I could smell the scent of pine cones on her breath.

"You mean after all of you left us to die?!" I snapped, surprised at my own anger at the betrayal. It had been a while ago, and I survived, but for some reason it still galled me immensely.

Eristin smiled crookedly, and I saw some pain in her eyes. "I am sorry for that, but we are a dying breed. Any dead pure-blooded elf has the same impact on the total remaining as a thousand dead Grablons do," she said, making it sound like that made it all alright.

I sniffed and shook my head. "Isn't that partially your own fault?" I said, raising an eyebrow as I stared at her intently.

We quietly stared at each other for a bit, Eristin's face unreadable now. Then she sniffed, and took a few cups, and poured a crystal clear liquid in them.

"I am not here to debate elf societal problems with you, nor explain the intricate details involved in elven procreation. I saved you from the anger you yourself caused because I feel bad for leaving you behind, but this only goes so far. Either you accept my apology and have a drink with me, or you can go back outside and find your way."

Her words were cold and distant, and she pushed one of the filled cups across the table, the other raised to her lips. Then she waited.

I looked at her for a moment, pondering if I should just get up and walk away. But walk to where? Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, exhaled, and took the cup in a single motion.

"Fine," I said, sniffing the sweet, pinecone scented drink in the cup. "What's this?"

Slowly a smile returned to her face, although her eyes remained dispassionate. "Don't act coy. That's just regular Farlon fruit juice. It's not spiked or drugged if that is what you mean."

Sure lady, I thought and raised an eyebrow at her.

She sniffed before taking a swig from the drink, causing my eyes to widen. I'd expected her to take a small sip, not drink like a mineworker.

"Trust me now?" she said.

Not answering her, I took a small sip. It tasted unlike anything I'd ever had before. Obviously a fruit juice and slightly bitter, its flavor reminded me a little of cold coffee with lots of sugar. But whereas cold coffee usually made me want to spit it out, I took a second, bigger swallow of the juice and relished it as it coolly went down.

"Nice," I said, ignoring a confused look from Eristin.

"So, I got here due to some deific mixup," I said, placing the now empty cup back on the table.

Eristin's eyes snapped to me, her slightly upset look disappearing to be replaced by a look of incredulity. "A deity brought you to the sewer?"

I shrugged and couldn't stop from grinning. "If you say it like that…"

After a moment, she smiled, and this time it did reach her eyes. "I didn't know Grablons were such jokesters. Call me tutored!"

Seeing she didn't believe me, I shrugged, recalling the talk of me going back to my own district.

"Just humor me then. What city are we in, and how do I get to the Grablon district?"

Eristin looked at me for a while, her humor slowly fading when she realized I was serious. She finally sighed, placing the half drained cup on the table.

"You are in Melsio, the border city, and you can follow the Elder Ring road until you exit the elf district. Follow the ring through the Graz district and along the center trading district. The next district will be the Grablon district."

"Now… as you prefer to make jokes, I would suggest you stay in the Graz district for a while. I've helped you, and you've accepted my apology, so here our paths split." Eristin got up, and I could tell from her curt dismissal that I had overstayed my welcome.

When I got up, Eristin moved back to the tent's entrance, and I followed her, trying and failing to keep my eyes from a few choice pieces of skin the elven women were showcasing. Just before I stepped out, my eyes crossed a ruddy skinned elf, her hair-leaves orange and yellow like a tree in fall. She winked at me, a sultry smile around her lips.

Feeling myself grow warm, I quickly stepped outside.

“The Elder Ring road is along this path, just go that way in a straight line until you reach a road paved in black stone. Go left on it and you will be fine if you follow my directions,” Eristin was pointing to the right of us, towards a dense area of tents.

When I nodded, she took one more look at me, about to step back inside when she faltered.

"I feel like I've tricked you somehow, so I will give you one more piece of advice. While in this district, keep your jokes to yourself. Our men tend to hate them…" She gave me a last warning glance as if she meant far more than she said. Then she stepped back into the tent, the red flap falling closed behind her.

At least I got a free drink, I thought. Taking a quick look around, I headed in the direction Eristin had pointed, wondering why I didn't just ask her for directions to the Harrowing Hills.