‘Goodbye, Ma. I love you very much’.

I pat the remaining dirt over her grave and straighten out her makeshift tombstone. It’s a small, humble grave on the very northwest corner of Kralbed forest, a great distance away from where the fight occurred. A great cedar provides shade from the hot rays of the sun, ensuring a comfortable resting place. Considering our history here, I wouldn’t have had her buried any other place.

I don’t set any flowers on her grave. She wouldn’t have wanted that. She wasn't too fond of traditional practices like that, and always wanted something a little more personal.

(When I die, don’t give me flowers. Give me something that I really enjoyed in life.)

I know just the thing.

I reach into the pink pack and pull out a calf. That was always her favorite part to eat. Whether it was because it was the easiest to eat or the part she thought tastiest, I didn’t know.

I should’ve asked.

I lay the calf above her grave and rise from my kneel.

I know I can’t stay for much longer. I heard the Kralbed guild patrol pass by the wreckage of the forest, so they know that something big has happened. It’s only a matter of time before they comb the entirety of it, so I had better leave soon.

I decide to make for Ochseid, a mountainside town to the north. They probably have somewhere I can stay. I can’t even recall the last time I slept on a real bed. It’s been sheets and dirt for the past few centuries.

I wouldn’t have minded a couple more. At least then I’d have some sense of direction.

My reason to live is pretty much gone now. All my life has been spent protecting Ma, and now that she’s not here, what am I going to even do at Ochseid?

Centuries are a real long time. Too long to remember everything that happened within them, and I spent nearly four with her. Three hundred and eighty-four to be exact.

Honestly, thinking about it now, if Ma hadn’t left me with such a vague statement as, “it’s up to you now”, what would I be doing? Would I have barreled into Kralbed, killing everything until I myself had died? Probably.

Maybe that was her last act of kindness before she left me. She’d probably do something like that to keep me from offing myself.

Regardless, I can’t die quite yet, not until her last wish has been fulfilled.

(Our legacy, huh?)

I check my pink pack for the small wooden chest. It hasn’t budged since I’d last returned it to its resting place. I pluck it from the bag, shifting its weight around in my palm. The stone clacks against the wood as it slides from wall to wall. This rock is the only remaining thing I have of her, and I don’t even know how to use it.

I put the chest back before I remember anything else that could make my mood even worse. After making sure the rest of the bags I could carry were secure, I begin my progression to Ochseid with haste. I have something important to do, I just don’t know what it is yet.

Upon leaving the forest, I was once again met with the King’s Street.

‘King’s Street must be incredibly long’, I think to myself.

If this was the main road leading north as well as south, then it’s likely to carry on throughout the country as well. Kralbed to Ochseid was already a quarter of the distance that Aohan spanned.

‘No wonder merchants only use this one road, it’s the only one that they need’.

Pushing these unneeded thoughts into the back of my head, I continue to run at a reasonable pace. Cucuy don’t really tire like humans do in terms of basic stamina. Sure, we can overexert our bodies, but so long as we don’t pass a certain threshold we can run pretty much indefinitely. I’m fairly certain that some gifted humans have this potential as well, though.

At least they don’t all have it.

I run for about 14 hours straight, and then decide to take a break to eat and rest up. This was certainly long overdue. I veer off the side of the road and dig a me-sized hole into the ground. After shaving the sides down enough, I create ample space to move around in.

I would prefer to not be too cramped while I eat, but I also don’t want anyone seeing what my diet consists of. That could prove to be bad. Some of the travelers on this road move pretty fast, so there’s a small possibility that a rather speedy passerby could spot me on accident. Not a risk I’m willing to take.

I enjoy my meal in the silence of my hole and pass out.

__________________________

I wake up and resume my rather lengthy roll.

Starting to pass unknown territory, I begin to spot things that I’ve never seen before.

Before I mention anything, though, I would like to note that I’m beginning to thank the King and his Street for guidance. After I had left the forest, there was a brief clearing, so I assumed that the road was going to be significantly less green upon my departure.

I was very wrong.

I can’t spot anything but smidgeons of the sky above from beneath the increasing size of these pine trees. That must mean I’m getting close to the city. I’ve heard that this is what it’s supposed to look like from my mother.

I’ve never seen so many trees in such a concentrated place. In Kralbed forest, the trees were pretty spread apart, but the branches were long and thick enough to allow for movement through them. Ironically, despite the close proximity of each tree in this particular forest, it looks like movement among the trees is actually impossible. Their branches are extremely thin, barely thick enough for a small bird to perch on.

Another thing to note would be the massive difference in species of monster roaming around. In the time that I’ve been here, I’ve already seen a various assortment of somewhat docile bird-monsters, each sporting their own unique set of colors. One of my favorites was the drillbeak: a small red, white, and black bird. Its main tactic for catching prey was basically just drilling holes into trees and pulling out small insects with the occasional rodent. Needless to say, their beaks could very well be used to defend themselves as well. They made for great entertainment while I sprinted along the main road.

Other than birds, there have been numerous kitsune, giant tortoises, and the occasional naga.

Naga are half-snake, half-human monsters that hold at least the same degree of intelligence and social reliance as humans do. If there's one lurking around in these woods, chances are there's a tribe.

They seem to be minding their own business, though, and quickly retreat to the depths of the forest if spotted.

‘I feel you. It’s a rough life being a forest monster’, I think to myself.

(Oh please, those guys have it way worse than you. At least you look like a human.)

I skid to a stop as a feminine voice sounds out in my head, and I kick up a sizable amount of dirt due to my speed. I remove my short bow from my back and notch an arrow. I survey my surroundings, checking for any hint of intelligent life.

I don’t see anything.

Could it have been the Naga? Probably not, considering that they didn’t want to interact with me at all. I don’t recall seeing any other monsters that could speak the mother tongue, though. Having checked the area around me, I slowly lower my bow. The voice does not speak again. I begin to worry.

I’m very close to Ochseid, so I really should just get going. I can’t be stopped here when I’m so close. I begin to race along the road at my top speed, effectively abandoning whatever voice had made contact with me.

I don’t have time to waste here. I have adventurers to kill.