Half a dozen guards stood at the base of the watchtower. They were nowhere as clean or tidy as those of any city. However, what they lacked in appearance, they made up with skill and experience. One look was enough for Dallion to tell that these weren’t the sort of people to mess with. All of them were double digits, with a few likely reaching his level. Standing on top of the watchtower, a trio with crossbows kept an eye on the area, ready to let all hell rain down, given an excuse.

“Hey,” Dallion said as he went up to the guards.

“Business?” the man said, not wasting time with niceties. Thanks to his music skills, Dallion could see that he was vigilant.

“Meeting up with a group of hunters in Halburn,” Dallion went directly to the point as well. “After that, depends on the jobs.”

“You’re a hunter?” A spark of interest appeared within the guard.

“Trainee. My group might have passed through here a week ago.” There was a slight pause. None of the guards were willing to volunteer information, waiting to check whether Dallion’s story was valid. “There was a gorgon among them.”

This piece of information was enough to get some of the guards to relax. On the outside nothing changed, but Dallion could see they had pretty much made up their minds to let him pass without issue.

“Lots of hunters gathering here lately,” the guard said. It didn’t seem he was testing Dallion. “Anything special going on?”

“Not that I know. Might be related to what happened in Nerosal.”

Behind one of the guards swore and spat on the ground. The latest events were all fun and games for the cities in the heart of the empire. All border territories, however, were on high alert. Places that had remained calm for centuries now had to face the prospect of war even if it was likely to be one-sided. From the few glimpses Dallion had seen of Aspion’s memories, war wasn’t particularly fun for either side, no matter how powerful a person was.

“Go on, and don’t cause trouble,” the guard waved for Dallion to continue, which he did.

Not the friendliest lot, the armadil shield said. They must have seen all sorts here.

They’re probably tense because of current events.

I doubt that. I think it has more to do with the hunters gathering. Come to think of it, are you sure there isn’t anything special going on?

Guards always tend to be suspicious, Dallion replied, but deep inside he was asking himself the same questions. Maybe there was some sort of gathering, or convention, or whatever the equivalent in this world was. It would also explain how Jiroh had found someone to sell her information on something that had eluded her for years.

The town itself was an hour’s walk from the tower—enough for it to prepare in case of a warning from its watchtowers. The outer walls seemed crude, though massive. In some aspects, they reminded Dallion of the crackling village he had seen in the sword realm.

Did Euryale tell you exactly where to meet? Nil asked. The echo knew perfectly well she hadn’t, but this was his subtle way of voicing his disapproval on the matter. Even now, after everything, Nil had remained slightly disapproving of Dallion’s choice of girlfriend.

Somewhere in the city, Dallion replied. How difficult can it be to find a gorgon hunter?

Once inside, Dallion felt like he wanted to eat his words. This was the first time he had been to Halburn, and it showed. What was worse, every scammer and two-bit merchant seemed to see it as well and flocked to him like flies to honey. Barely a few steps in, and already Dallion had been offered ten “uniquely rare” artifacts, half a dozen maps, seven “uniquely good” inns to stay at, an assortment of suspicious foods, and clothes he wouldn’t be caught dead wearing. His music skills helped him see that all of the offers were bull crap, but that didn’t discourage people from trying. Even most of the innkeepers were less than honest, assuring him that there was a gorgon staying at their inn. Dallion saying that he was a hunter, only made things worse. In nearly all cases, Dallion felt the desire for profit balloon within them at the prospect of having him as a guest.

I guess I’ll have to rely only on my eyes, Dallion thought. Like him, Euryale came from another world, which would allow him to see her shimmering in the crowd.

Most hunters are otherworlders, Nil reminded.

It’s better than the alternative, Nil.

That’s what happens when people don’t exchange echoes. Honestly, dear boy, it’s completely unnatural. There’s a reason the Moons gave awakened the power to create echoes—that way we could stay in touch with others through huge distances. Being superstitious doesn’t suit you.

Dallion sighed mentally. While Nil was right and an echo of Eury would have been helpful right now, the gorgon absolutely refused having or making them. Most of the time she even spent with a blocker ring on, so that no echoes or guardians could sense her. At first Dallion thought that this was a hunter’s quirk, but after meeting the rest of the Nerosal group, he had found that it was unique to the gorgon alone.

I’ve seen a gorgon, a voice yelled from a nearby stall.

Glancing in the direction, Dallion saw an old woman selling finely crafted wooden bowls. However, it wasn’t the woman who had offered to help, but rather one of the bowls.

Buy me and I’ll tell you where she went, the bowl continued.

Even the items in this town are scammers. Dallion sighed.

Then you know exactly why I want to get out of here, the item persisted.

“How much for the bowl?” Dallion pointed at the item in question.

“Twenty silvers,” the old woman said without blinking. The price was high, but she seemed determined that it would be bought. Despite her looks, she had better instincts than anyone Dallion had seen in the city so far, mostly because he could tell that she was an awakened.

Without even bothering to haggle, Dallion counted the coins from his pouch and put them on her stand. Then, he picked up the bowl.

“It has a dryad guardian,” the woman said. “A bit perky for my taste, but I’ve seen worse.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Dallion nodded. “Hunter?”

“Just an old woman who’s come here for her retirement. It’s easier to make money off youngsters like you.”

“I guess.” Dallion looked about. “Do you have a backpack?”

“Ten silvers,” the woman said without hesitation. And as before, Dallion instantly paid. “It’s not a good idea to go through the wilderness without a backpack… or a good emblem.”

“I’m traveling with a hunter’s party,” Dallion explained. “I just need something in the meantime.”

“It’s your life.” The woman shrugged.

Most likely she’s had her name erased, Nil said.

Why not go to Nerosal, then? Dallion asked. There are lots of guilds that would take her in if her skills are half decent.

Only if she’s from the empire, dear boy. Remember, there are two sides of a border.

“Have you seen a gorgon pass by?” Dallion asked as he put the bowl in his newly purchased backpack. Like everything else in the city, it was rough but sturdy. The woman must have maintained its quality by mending it often.

“Five Eyes Tavern,” the woman replied. “Go to the palace square, then continue to the other side of town. You’ll know it when you see it.”

What she said, the bowl guardian shouted from within the backpack. As most guardian items it had the ability to cast its voice further away, in part because it had the empathy stat as well.

“Thanks,” Dallion said. “Take care.”

You really have to stop picking up strays, the armadil said in somewhat joking fashion. You’ve filled half of Eury’s workshop with useless items.

Hey! The bowl shouted. She wasn’t particularly happy with the description. For your information, I’m extremely good at what I do!

And what’s that?

Poison tasting!

You’re both extremely useful, Dallion said, putting a quick end to the argument. Now just give me some peace, okay?

No one said a word.

Thanks. Dallion walked on.

The “town palace” ended up being more a fort than an actual palace. Apparently, the word was used loosely to mean the place where the city noble lived. Two barracks were placed on both sides of the square, replacing the usual inns and merchant shops. That didn’t stop people from doing trades in the square itself, or maybe that was the point.

Nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live here, Dallion thought.

So far, the only types of people he’d seen were merchants, soldiers, and travelers like him. It gave the feeling of the place being quite transitory. According to its past, the settlement had started as a trade stop, where caravans could take a rest before moving east or west. An awakened with a good eye for profit had improved the area several times until it had become the town it was today. The only difference was that it wasn’t only used by merchants anymore.

The further Dallion went from the palace square, the more hunters he came across. There was a certain unmistakable air about them, that separated them from ordinary people of even awakened. Euryale liked to joke that hunters were merely non-sheltered awakened, and in a way she was right. The average awakened didn’t risk their lives during their jobs, hunters risked them every day.

While walking, Dallion caught a glimpse of someone with an otherworldly shimmer. It wasn’t Euryale or Jiroh, but rather a human. Large as a bear, the man had noticed Dallion as well. The two kept looking at each other, each continuing in their own direction. No one stopped or said a word. A simple nod was all the acknowledgement necessary.

There was a time back in Dherma when Dallion would have given everything to meet someone back from Earth. Now, he found that he didn’t care much. After all, he had already gotten to know the world to the point he could consider himself a local. There was no point in talking about a place that was, especially since there was no going back.

You could have said hello, at least, Nil said.

Maybe next time.

The Five Eye Tavern turned out to be an inn frequented by hunters. Like all establishments for awakened, it was impeccably kept, although judging by the smell, there was a bit to be desired when it came to food. A girl still in her teens was at the bar, rearranging the shelves with exotic looking bottles. However, she was doing it while sitting down, for the simple reason that she was a fury.

“Hey,” Dallion said, walking up to her. “I’m looking for a gorgon.”

“You’re Eury’s boyfriend?” The girl glanced him all over. Dallion’s music skills told him she was curious, though also not impressed.

“That’s what I’d like to think.” Dallion smiled. “I take it she’s here.”

“Yes and no.” A glass and bottle made their way from a shelf to the bar plot. Unlike Jiroh, this girl wasn’t shy about using her innate ability. “There was a beast sighting, so most of the crowd left to get a piece of the action. She should be back by evening.”

“That explains why the place is empty.”

“The place is always empty,” the girl smirked. “Hunters only come here to sleep or deal. Both those happen in the evening.”

“Oh well. I guess this isn’t the morning sort of town,” Dallion said. The joke wasn’t too good, but it earned him a chuckle, along with a passing grade. “How much for whatever that is?” Dallion pointed at the red liquid that was being poured in his glass.

“Ten silver,” the fury replied. “Comes with your room.”

“You mean Eury didn’t pay for me?”

The girl laughed again.

“That’s a good one,” she said.

This isn’t that sort of inn, dear boy. Rooms are shared between all. By “your room,” she means your bed.

I know, Nil…

Oh.

“You running the place on your own?” Dallion asked and took a sip of his drink. It tasted like strawberries and chilly peppers.

“It’s my place,” the girl replied. To Dallion’s surprise, she wasn’t lying.

“Your place? That’s impressive. When I was your age, all I had was a set of clothes. How’d you get it?”

“The person who had it before, died, so I got to keep it. Hunters' rules.”

“You’re a hunter?”

“No, she isn’t,” a familiar voice said next to Dallion. Looking to his left, he saw that Jiroh had appeared and was now sitting next to him. “She just takes care of it for one. Hi, Dal. I’d like you to meet my sister Diroh.”