Occasionally you’ll wake up too early and go out your front door, look up the sky and the stars will just be there twinkling for you. But in this world, there are no stars in sight.

The embers from the bonfire are flickering. Quinn busied himself by tending the two Guise Turtle that will pull the 8 carriages. These types of turtles are slower than a horse but faster than a running human and their size is massive, according to the books they are rank 2 monsters that change their shell adapting to the environment they’re at.

Some Guise Turtle can reach up to 9’ in height 8’ feet in width and 18 ft in length and could weigh about 2 tons.

The two turtles have a rocky shell that resembles miniature hills, and they adjusted the color of their skin like mud, in the farmlands they will have a green exterior and a grassy shell and use it as a camouflage to eat whatever’s planted on the field. Although they are convenient to use it’s hard to tame them because they are very stubborn and will not stay at one place for a long time.

Quinn scratched his head in confusion, every time he thought he knew what was going on he will be surprised time and time again, but he understood best not to ask something that’s out of his payroll.

They connected the carriages using a drawbar, you can connect eight of them together. But they divide it into two and connect 4 carriages on each Guise Turtle by clamping it on their shells.

Rus called out Emy and the twins and gave them a pin that is shaped like a padlock that signifies that they are tamed monsters, he didn’t need to give one for Semira because she looks like an Elf-child.

“One day you’ll be able to walk around freely without those pins, but for now make do with it.”

When you reach 3rd Rank-Professional with a Steel Badge, you’ll be allowed to bring tamed monsters and creatures with similar threat level or lower and it will be a proof that those wearing the pins is not a danger to the public inside a city or a town.

“Everyone, tidy up we will set out as soon as the sun rises.”

The albino twins went back to their carriage and tidied things up, Emy invited Semira to have tea, and Bathel is drying the ink on his diary. He skimmed through the diary he’s holding in his hands and smelled the old paper and ink that wafted to the air reminding him of his past.

***

Bathel’s Diary:

Year 1413 A.W -

Finally got out of prison and lost everything! Money, reputation, my loved ones, my two legs and even my lifetimes research as a doctor is gone. Those people that looked at me like a freak while I use my hands to move around makes me feel disgusted about myself.

My daughter should be a stunning lady by now, she never visited even once I hope she remembers her daddy.

Year 1414 A.W -

I lived in the slums for a year, the people here are crooks, but they are crooks at face value, I earn a petty genny while being here. The people in the higher district just don’t trust a doctor that has been denounced by the Doctors Guild; the people at the slums are hard to convince when you told them you’re a doctor that doesn’t have legs and proper clothing.

It’s nearing the end of the year I somehow earn a little to buy wooden prosthetic legs and crutches, decent enough clothes to wear outside and some daily necessities. Finally, life isn’t so gloomy anymore.

Year 1415 A.W -

After a year of searching, I found my ex-wife’s location, she remarried a mogul in the noble’s circle which sells supplies for medicine in the whole empire. I can’t blame her for finding a new man I was gone for 8 whole years.

Even though she’s the stepmother of my child they have been getting along well and she took care of her like her own child.

I gathered my courage to ask the manors guard, told them my name and requested for a meeting with my ex-wife and my daughter. The guards have an odd look in their face, after a few minutes a servant came and whispered something to the guard, they told me that the Madam and my daughter doesn’t want to see me and refused to let me in.

I refuse to give up and shouted in front of the manor, hoping that either of them could hear me, but the guards beat me up I came back home in the slums with broken crutches and hurting body.

I was relentless and my longing to see my daughter is stronger than ever. Once a week I would go in front of the manor and shout, get beaten up, went home and repeat.

I even tried to follow the carriages that went out of the manor, but a crippled guy can only do so much.

Year 1416 A.W -

A kid with a sleepy and uninterested look in his eyes came knocking on my door. I don’t want to forget the words that came out of his mouth the first time we meet so here I am jotting it down.

“Are you Dr. Bathel Grayfield?”

I told him I was busy and don’t have the crayons or the time to humor him cause I’m about to do some light stalking in the noble’s manor.

I slammed the door and walked past him, but even if his voice was low, I could hear it rumble inside my mind.

“Sweet strawberry ice cream tiddies! I need a personal doctor in exchange the devil’s horn will fuck your pie hole, I’ll let you meet your daughter!”

Such vulgar words came out of this lads’ mouth, he told me it’s a sickness. I didn’t buy it at first but seeing parts of his body twitch as we speak and being a doctor to the core, my curiosity got the best of me.

Everyone that came from the slums keeps finding ways to get a free diagnosis or medicine, I encountered all types of scam already this kid can’t be any better. But when it came to my daughter, I was vulnerable, no matter how obvious the lie is.

He asked me to follow him, a few miles from the slums there’s a dumpsite and there are people here and there scavenging for things that could make them a little money. I’ve also been here a few times and just beyond the dumpsite is a small forest that hasn’t been filled up because of the tall hill blocking the wagons that carried trash.

I had an ominous feeling, this place is what they call the nameless graveyard, we went up to the hill and stopped at a piled-up stone, the kid threw a shovel in front of me as if he had prepared it in advance.

I told myself that this is a big prank that this devil of a child brewed up, but my hands were shaking, slumped on the ground picked up the shovel and dug through the soil. The kid is just standing there staring at me with no intention of moving.

I dug and dug until it’s noon and my hands are numb, I saw bones of a human being, put the shovel to the side and used my hands to carefully remove the dirt. My eyes were red, and tears just won’t stop flowing out.

The skull I held in my hands is unmistakably my daughters the missing tooth when she was eight, the height of the remains and the pendant I gave her in her eight birthdays.

Year 1426 A.W -

10 years I’ve accompanied that kid, even without guidance he grew up to be a splendid man. He’s been chipping away their resources every time he got a chance, and this will be the 20th and the last time before their downfall.

The treasures he bought back this time was from my ex-wife’s husband’s treasury their business must be dwindling now and I can’t be happier.

They stole all the research I had and sold unfinished products to the professionals in the field. Ok, I can live with that. But what I can’t forgive is they let my only daughter die an unreasonable death.

Soon they will grovel at my feet begging for forgiveness for the atrocities they did to my daughter.

Even though I don’t have any feet he he! Oh well, no one can read my personal diary, anyway.

***

Bethel shut his diary and tightly packed his things inside the carriage securing the books inside the shelves, putting everything that can fall inside the drawer of the desk. He has done this countless of times he already mastered the craft.

All of them are ready for departure, with a loud whistle the Guise Turtles moved forward going east.

The first batch of carriages that are connected is being manned by Rus and the other driver was Quinn. The steps of the turtles are heavy only the empires metal chariots are qualified to be pulled by them, but they equip the wooden carriages with suspensions that are currently unknown to the empire.

After a few hours, they left the Hundred Fang mountains. In one carriage Semira was peeking at the window, she had never been outside the territory of her tribe.

At first, there was barely anything in sight but sand and rocks, as they go forward, she witnessed a lot of things. A traveling group of nobles with their carriages glittering with gold and silver, merchants that were being protected by mercenaries, adventurers with a large wagon being pulled by a horned beast.

There are also those that left an impression on her, settlers that are carrying pieces of luggage and children that’s almost just skin and bones. There are also different species like elves, humans, fluffy creatures, scaled creatures, Halflings that are bounded by metal chains in their hands and neck. Most of them are being whipped and forced to move forward.

She looked back inside the carriage and compared it to the scene outside. A deep sadness came out of nowhere, she sat on the bed staring at the empty floor.

If I could turn back time and hug my mom a million times over, if I could say I love you a million times over, if I could just have been a good girl.

The many ifs filled her head while the caravan is nearing the City.

A huge gate that’s in the middle of the brick wall was preventing the crowd from entering rapidly.

The guards are inspecting the people that pass through the gates and sometimes you can see gennies being flung by merchants and nobles for letting them pass easily.

It’s their turn to be inspected, Rus showed his swordsman badge, and the guards asked them to open the doors of the carriages.

Bathels carriage passed without a hitch, but with Emy’s carriage the guards pulled out their sword by the threatening sight they saw.

A High-Orc is never to be treated lightly. Her large fangs are menacing from a human’s point of view, a huge figure that barely fit the door of the carriage, bulging hard rock muscles that can squeeze your head in their armpit and worse of all she’s wearing a sleeveless pink dress.

She pointed at the pin that Rus gave her. They all look at the direction of the first carriage, their faces say it all.

Just like the time your best friend told everyone your fetish. That was the face they are making. In human years she’s still 10 years old, but in Orc years she’s already capable of being a mother and should have dozens of children by now.

Emeralda is in search of a mate. Growing up with Rus, Bethel, and Korpic, all she knew are human customs when it comes to interacting with the opposite sex. The 3 would always describe to her what a lady should be. These pieces of advice screwed up with her head regarding a relationship.

She winked at the guards that were staring at her, this sends shivers down their spine and immediately move to the next carriage.

Opening the door, the guards saw two white-skinned goblins they have blood in their hands and mouth and the smell coming out inside their carriage is horrid. Goblins are omnivore, but their preferred diet is still raw meat.

The Goblins, Geal and Byal smiled at the same time with blood still on their teeth.

Both pointed at the pin on their chest in unison and at this moment the guards can’t fathom why this adventurer is harboring such dangerous creatures.

Moving to the other the door squeaked open, there is no smell, no muscular monsters, and everything seems normal.

The guards looked inside, and in the corner is a girl with long black hair sitting on the floor. The girl slowly looked at them and it sent chills down their spine. The guards backed away slowly.

They have never felt such a gloomy vibe in the colorful city of Inedge. The other carriage they checked is empty. They breathe a sigh of relief as they inspect the last two carriages, that’s filled with potato, and at last a normal inspection.

The city guards didn’t even bother with Rus anymore and just want to send him away.

Located at the edge of Red Dragon Empire, Inedge City is a place where trading of weapons between kingdoms at the border occur.

The city itself looks flamboyant, the houses are made with stones with the color of sand. The streets are wide for 6 carriages to pass through, you can see Vendors and Peddlers shouting on the streets selling their goods, bards are singing the latest and old news.

When the afternoon sun is added to the mix along with the people trying to attract customers here and there, you could never tell that this city is at the forefront of the war.

Rus and Co. went to the city square where a bazaar is always held 24/7.

Quinn asked Rus to visit his family since he lives near the area and submit a report in the adventurer’s guild.

Their large carriages combined with the guise turtles attracted people’s attention, the turtles hid inside their shell and the change in the color and texture of their shell is noticeable by the naked eye.

A short guy around his 30s was approaching their caravan, he’s wearing a noble’s attire with red hair, short beard and carrying luggage. Rus recognize the guy, at first sight, the one who always gathers information and handles all the paperwork for him. Korpic Hugel.

“Boss, the things you told me to get are all here.”

“Korpic, have you contacted the Sydian spies? The plan will begin 3 days from now.”

“About that, they said that your offer is too good to be true. They told me you might be double-crossing them.”

“I’ll give them a visit. We also have a new member, look at her background and a porter that’s named Quinn Pateli.”

“Got it boss and here is the thing you asked me to be made it’s expensive and the style is odd.”

“Remember Korpic a man isn’t measured on how he earns, but how he spends his money.”

Rus went back to his carriage to change. Meanwhile, the members of his family are setting up their tents with signboards on the side.

Dr. Grayfield’s Clinic:

Affordable diagnostic and Medicine.

Children below 12 yrs. old and below

is free of charge.

Twin’s Dice Game:

Multiply your hard-earned money.

Our motto is honesty and fairness.

Emeralda’s Love Booth:

Heartbroken? Cannot find a partner?

Want to get back your ex?

Come inside and get a professional

relationship advise!

Semira was staring at the booths the other members of the family have.

She asked Emeralda and told her she needed to earn money and give some of those to the family, so it can grow.

She was lost in thought, aside from casting magic and playing with her friends she realized she can’t do anything at all.

Bethel approached Semira and gave her a frilly white dress.

“Wear that really really really cute dress and stand in that empty area. I put money in this box, so it will look like someone paid it already.”

He handed Semira something that looks like a picture book and a tarp to set up.

“When people put money on the box copy, one of these random poses don’t forget to smile, do it in about 5 seconds then stop moving again.”

This will be one of the darkest chapters of Semira’s life and the start of her fame throughout the entire world.

Rus got out of the carriage the members of the Family looked at him from top to bottom. This was the first time they saw the clothing he’s wearing. A sleek black suit paired with a dark red tie and leather shoes, finishing it off he wore the fedora with the same color as his suit and a gray band around it.

Grabbing his sword and smoking his medicine, he gave off a vibe that he will not stop for anyone.

“We will have a meeting tonight! I’ll be going off for business and will be back for dinner.”

The flawless plan he had in mind didn’t come to fruition, the Sydians of Togoah Desert just won’t cooperate. He went to the red-light district where they live to give them a different kind of deal.

Semira stared at Rus wide back while she set up a tarp, she can feel gazes going in her direction and it sent chills down her spine.

But if she could see Bethels smile that reach the ear, she would never have agreed to this.