After gathering the herbs and tending to his injuries, Quin sat down to meditate. Although he did not want to sleep -- being afraid what the egg would do --, at some time his sleepiness won out. Fortunately for him, the morning did not bring any kind of unwanted surprise.

Alright, it’s morning and it’s time to finally continue my journey. I don’t even know how many days have passed since I left Crows’ Road...

Though he had a general idea about his location it still took him three days to find the road again. During this period he spent most of his time by traveling, but at night he meditated at least as much as he slept. It made him more relaxed and also made suppressing the egg inside his mind easier. Even though it had just been three days, thanks to the herbal treatment, his body condition had already improved and getting accustomed to his missing fingers was not that difficult either. He had been mostly using his left hand even before, and for the majority of things that needed two hands, he could make do with his three remaining fingers.

Fortunately, after about ten kilometers he came across of a road sign which told him where he was currently at. It turned out that he was already past halfway to his destination, with only two weeks of traveling left ahead of him. Now the only question is how much time has passed since then?

Quin had been back on the road for more than a day now, yet that did not mean that he had encountered any humans. This region was a rural one, and although at the left side of the road he could see vast fields used for agriculture, these were ones which may not be visited by the farmers for even a month at this time of the year. Quin came prepared, however, so he had a decent knowledge regarding the various landmarks and towns along the road and knew that the next smaller settlement should be within another day’s travel.

Quin had no idea where his horse could be as when he gave into his instincts he just left it somewhere on the road. Despite this fact, he was not worried at all because he simply did not need one. After realizing that his pain would lessen while he was doing physical exercises he did as much as he could and thus most of the times he was not walking, but running or at least jogging. Although this way he felt a lot less pain, he was constantly tired instead, but that was something he could cope with. He was reminded the exhaustion of the past when he had often trained for the whole day. However, this line of thought made him realize something.

Damn, why is it that it is only now that I realize how much I’d changed? I loved training for so many years and was totally focused on it, yet in the previous few years, I neglected it. I did train daily, but nowhere near that I had used to. Maybe... Maybe if I didn’t neglect it then things would have turned out differently. Maybe I’d have been stronger and faster, I could’ve killed those Shriekers more easily and wouldn’t have had to lose my cultivation... Damn, I shouldn’t always dwell on the past, those things have already happened, what good does it do me to whine about wasted possibilities when I can’t change them? I’ve already lost those things but what I still have is my future.

Quin put these thoughts away and continued his journey. It was late in the afternoon next day when he reached the settlement he had previously thought about. It was a small town, or maybe even just a village with only about a thousand residents living there. Most of them were simple farmers working on the surrounding plots, cultivating various crops.

Although Quin did not remember the name of the village completely -- as it had quite a strange and long one -- he was able to find it out right at the entrance of the town thanks to a somewhat worn sign stating it. So it’s called the Second Fal of U at the Ashen Hai? Damn, what’s wrong with these people? I just can’t imagine as someone goes to found a town and thinks that the best idea would be to call it the Second Fal of U at the Ashen Hai! Were they crazy or what? Does it even have a meaning at all? He shook his head, unable to believe that someone would actually do something like this. Anyways, I still hope that they’ve got at least an inn or something like that, I haven’t been able to sleep for um, for how long? Right, I have to also ask someone what date is it.

The settlement indeed had an inn, somewhere in the town center and although it naturally could not compare to the ones in the capital -- not even to the worse ones --, Quin did not expect otherwise. Besides, the place looked quite friendly just like the townspeople.

Quin entered the building and walked to the counter where the innkeeper stood with a rag in one hand and a plate in his other.

“Good day, sir,” Quin greeted him.

“Day, huh? Well, I’d rather say it’s already in the evening, but good evening to you as well,” said the innkeeper. For a moment Quin thought that the man was just mocking him, but after a bit longer inspection Quin found his expression and tone to be actually quite friendly. “What can I help you with?”

“Do you have a free room for the night?” Quin asked and the man simply nodded. “And do you serve food here?” The innkeeper nodded again and pointed with his finger on a wooden sign hanging just above Quin, which listed the meals available. “Then I would like to order what’s on the menu for today’s dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast please,” he said.

“That’ll be tw--” the innkeeper started to say how much Quin had to pay but stopped when he saw Quin taking out his bronze badge. “Oh, a bronze badge, huh? Then it doesn’t seem like we’ll have to bother with money,” he said laughing. Paying with the bronze badge did not mean that he would not get paid, only that he would have to later go to the town’s hall with a certificate -- stating the amount and bearing the badge’s seal -- to get reimbursed. Thus the innkeeper had no resentment toward Quin, furthermore, he knew that only important people would be in the possession of a bronze badge. “Take a seat, your meal should be ready within half an hour.”

“Thanks,” Quin said and sat down at one of the tables.

The inn itself could not be called small, but surprisingly to Quin, it was not that easy to find an empty table. It seems like many locals frequent this place, he thought.

“Hey, lad!” some shouted, but Quin did not pay much attention to it. “You, with that badge!” This time, Quin realized they were talking to him and turned around. Behind him stood a bigger table, surrounded by at least a dozen of big bulky men.

“Yes?” He asked back.

“Come here for a bit!” one of the men said in a loud voice. Quin stood up and observed them. Do they want some trouble just because of that badge? “How about joining our table? It looks so sad to see someone eating alone, and besides you ain’t from here, am I right? Maybe you can tell us a few interesting stories, huh?”

Damn, the first thing I thought of was that they wanted to attack me. I was only focused that they were speaking so loud and it didn’t even register to my mind that they were talking while smiling! And here I was trying to measure their strengths and the fastest way I could take them down. He felt a tug at his mind, and he was instantly reminded of the parasitic resident of his mind. That damn thing! I have to be a lot more careful in the future.

“Hey, boy, you deaf or something?” asked one the men interrupting his thoughts.

“Hm? No, I was just thinking where to sit as the table looks completely full,” he said after quickly finding an excuse.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff! Here, look we’ve already got one place for you!” one of the men said, and moved his and his neighbor’s seat so that another chair would be able to fit in.

“Alright,” Quin said smiling and put his own chair between those two’s. “My name is Quin, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he introduced himself.

At least half of the crowd burst out into laughter. “Boy, no need for such formalities here, we’re simple men, it’s enough to tell us your name. My name is Zhang and well, the others will tell theirs, though, I doubt you’ll remember half of it,” Zhang told him with a hearty laugh.