//Silversouls are a possessive species and as such will seldom share their prey with others of their kind. As the ancient law states that life energy can never be taken by force, the Silversouls must convince their chosen prey that it’s advantageous to give up their life energy. It would be much more difficult to convince their prey if other individuals in the vicinity have died of depleted life essence. For some reason is it not as appealing to offer up your energy to a lovely creature, when reminded that it would cause instant death. This is why Silversouls are inclined to haunt locations that no other of their kind are. So if you come upon a location with multiple Silversouls it is likely that an Unbound is nearby, since they don’t die in a confrontation with a starving Silversoul. For it is only in the presence of an Unbound that Silversouls can stand the company of their own kind. Who doesn’t want a portable, neverending lunch box available?//

- The encyclopedia of magical myths and dangers, chapter 14, page 645

Cealine felt like they had walked forever when they finally reached the gates of city T.

Cal may have been good company during their walk but she must admit that Cals company wasn’t enough to stave off her exhaustion. She had to admit that she had had enough fresh air and sunny weather to last her a lifetime.

It hadn’t taken a long time to get out of the forest itself, maybe around 90 minutes, but once they were out there was only hills as far as the eye could see. It was this part that had frayed on Cealine’s patience. Too strong of a sun with on breeze and their goal nowhere in sight.

All this would’ve been all right hadn’t it been for her traveling companion, who looked completely unaffected. The heat did not seem to bother Cal at all. She looked as beautiful as always and not a drop of sweat as far as Cealine could see. Cealine envied Cals composure, but didn’t have the heart to take out her frustrations out on Cal. It wasn’t Cal’s fault that Cealine sweated like a pig while she looked like a goddess. Cal even tried to cheer her up with tales about the world around them. So it came to no one's surprise that Cealine let out a moan of relief when city T came into view.

Her first thought when she saw the city was that it looked like a donut. Well, after being relieved that their journey was almost over. And the thought of a warm bath. So the donut comparison have been her third of fourth thought, but it was nonetheless somewhat true. The city had high walls with a deep moat all around it i a perfect circle. It had four gates out of the city, one in each quarter, similar to compass directions. The houses were built along the wall in a circle with the marketplace in the middle. Cealine thought the city was perfect. A little medieval but absolutely perfect for an adventure in another world.

As they began to approach the city gates, Cealine saw that the queue to enter the city was very long, but she didn’t mind all that much as there were a lot of exciting new things to observe. Merchants with their goods, farmers and their vegetables loaded in carts and visitors with exotic looking clothing. However, there was something a lot more interesting than that, that captured her attention. In the midst of all the farmers and merchants were a couple of people that wore robes in different kinds of quality with different crests on their backs. The robes may have looked a little bit funny, but what was so fascinating was that all of them had a companion of some sort. the companions varied in size, species and they seemed to exist in all the colors of the rainbow. But it wasn’t just animals who were the robe-clad peoples companions. There were also a few people who had different color coordinated looks. The reason that Cealine could assume that they were companions was that all creatures and the color coordinated people wore the same type of band, often as a necklace, that had the same kind of crest that the robes had on their backs. It seemed as if the crests were individual to each of the robe-clad people. Cealine had to admit that she felt very entertained just looking at the different kind of creatures. She was sure that at some point she managed to see a stallion that had fur in every conceivable shade of purple.

However she noticed something strange after a while. The majority of people who saw Cal paled and looked scared. The others flushed and got a glazed look in their eyes as if entranced by her beauty. This worried Cealine a bit. How will the reception be for entry into the city if everyone reacts so weird towards her friend? She turned to Cal and put her hand on her arm to catch the other woman’s attention.

“Cal, Have you noticed anything strange? Most of these people seem afraid of you. Will this affect our entry into the city?” Cal turned her eyes towards Cealie and smiled reassuringly.

“Yes, many fear my kind, but it should not pose a problem for our entry into the city. We just need to report our names and the reasons for our visit. Then it is just to go inside. I have done this many times before. Do not worry.” Cealine felt more secure with the knowledge that Cal had done this before and tried not to think about the looks they got anymore

It felt like an eternity had passed before the line thinned out and they began to approach the city gates. Cealine was finally able to see what was going on to create such a long queue. It was a pair of guards. They inspected visitors papers, filled out forms and received payments before letting people in and repeating the procedures on the next one in line. Cealine suddenly realized two disastrous things. Things that could affect the whole adventure. The language and the currency was different that back home. And she had neither of them. Cealine couldn’t understand a word of what was said and how could she have gotten the local currency? Under a tree root? By the moon and stars, I had completely forgotten that I can’t understand the native language since Cal speak my language so well. What am I going to do? Should I ask Cal for help? Can I request more from her than she has already done? Not only did she lead me out of the forest, she also helped me forage for food. Cealine started to feel a bit unsure. It felt wrong to ask any more from Cal but what choice did she have? I have no money and can’t speak even a word of the local language. What am I supposed to do? She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. She faced Cal to share her troubles.

“Ehm, Cal?” Cal turned towards Cealine and smiled gently towards her. Oh, I really don’t want to be a burden.

“Yes, Cealine. What is it?”

“I understand if this is something bothersome and I truly apologise in advance. But I really need your help. You see I’ve realize that I’ve a bit of a problem. Or more like two of them really.” Cal started to look a little bit worried.

“What’s wrong? Is it about what we just talked about? I can assure you that that won’t be a problem. I will have no trouble to enter the city.” Cealine shook her head from side to side.

“No, no. It’s not about that. I trust you about that. No, this is something different…” She squirmed a bit and felt very uncomfortable. Cal looked relieved but still had a worried crease between her eyebrows.

“Well, what is it that bother you? You can tell me anything.” Cealine felt how her face heated. Oh, thi is so awkward. I really don’t want seem obtrusive, but I’m desperate. Gather your courage, Cealine. There’s no turning back. Think about your wish.

“This is a bit embarrassing but I have just realized that I have no money so I am unsure if I can gain entry without paying.”

“Oh? Was it just that? That is no trouble, I have no problem paying for the both of us.” Cal answered with a warm smile. Cealine felt how her eyes watered and her flush deepen.

“No.” She said in a small voice. “No, there’s another problem. I..”

Cal looked patiently at her and waited for her to continue speaking. Cealine squared her shoulders and gathered her fraying courage.

“I don’t know if you realized it. But when we first met you noticed that few people spoke with as little accent as I did. The reason for that is that it’s my native language. I didn’t think about why you would say that, but I realize now that it was because it was spoken by few people. I have to confess that I.. That I-I speak no other language than this. So I am unable to speak with the guards, or an innkeeper or anyone else for that matter. I don’t know what I’m going to do!” Cealine’s voice gradually grew louder until the last sentence when her voice broke.

She burst into tears in humiliation and the crushed realization that her wish would only take her this far. Cal’s eyes widened at her confession and looked very concerned when Cealine burst into tears. Cal put her hand on Cealines shoulder and murmured soft, comforting words.

“Hush, hush. It is alright, Cealine. I am here. I am going nowhere without you. Do not worry,

I will translate for you. This is not the end of the world. I will accompany you, do not fear. you will not be left alone.” Cal murmured, comforting Cealine.

Cealine looked up with tearstained eyes and smiled a trembling smile.

“Really? Do you really mean it?” Cal reached for her cheek and wiped gently away her tears with her thumb.

“Of course I mean it. You are not alone, Cealine. I will stay with you.” Cal reassured her.

Cealine smiled in gratitude and rubbed away the rest of the tear stains. She reached forward and hugged Cal.

“Thank you so much. This truly means a lot for me.”

What Cealine didn’t notice was the smug light that filled Cal’s eyes as she hugged Cealine back.