The port town of Adriested laid inside a bay, protected by strong fortifications on either side of its mouth. The city itself was ringed with high walls and a very busy mercantile city. The bay was filled to the brim with ships. Stacks wares were moved hastily around while tax inspectors bickered with sailors over imports. In the sky, above soared gulls, waiting for the fishers to turn their back to their wares for a split second.

Mariel and her friends could not see or hear it, but as their ship appeared on the horizon, a silence fell over the docks as crowds began to form. The arrival had been announced ahead of time by a courier bird sent to the local administration. People began lining up, even a few fell into the sea from the pushing and sheer curiosity. Another cargo vessel hurriedly set sail and cleared an opening for the ship and its cargo to dock with haste.

As soon as the ropes held the ship and a gang plank had been lowered, a group of the city guard, some clergy and some administrators all boarded the ship and went below deck to inspect the dead. Soon, the bodies were brought out of the hold on stretchers covered with black blankets. After this followed the clergy, carrying the boxes containing the crystals of those whose bodies had been burned to cinders. Last appeared the administrators, which immediately began to collect witness statements from the crew and passengers.

Mariel and Siravin stood on deck together, watching the torches of the city light up the place like a thousand fireflies. Soon, Tizare, Saya and Casindire approached them.

“You know what Mariel? Despite me being a little bit against leaving you here with Siravin, I think this’ll work out just fine.”

“I hope so… Just stay safe out there…”

“It’s fine Mariel, we can hide in the nearby forest just fine.” Saya nodded. “We used to do it a lot, and we’ll keep an eye out for the demon hunters too.”

“Please… Solid ground. Soon.” Casindire’s tired mumbling earned her sympathy from the others, to which she flashed a worn smile.

“Still, you’d be outside the walls and everything…”

“A whole lot safer to be outside these walls… Not so many of your kin to go around out there.” Tizare then turned to Siravin: “Are you ready?”

No reply came, but he immediately gestured to the small row boat already prepared along the side of the ship. He threw down a ladder and all four descended rapidly and quietly. Soon, the sound of the oars meeting the water disappeared into the night, and Mariel was left standing alone on deck.

“Are they safely away?” The boat master approached her while filling a large wooden pipe with some strange leaves.

“Yes… Thanks a lot for all your help... Though I don’t really understand why you agreed to help us?”

The boat master leaned against the railing and lit his pipe. Soon he blew grey puffs of smoke into the air, creating some perfectly formed rings for show.

“I used to serve with the navy. Unfortunately for us, the demon fleets were always coming up short in terms of tactics and experience. I was captured.”

“What happened to you? Did they torture you?” Her question made him smile.

“I can see why you think so, and our history books paint no pretty pictures. No. They treated us well, and soon let us return home.”

“You didn’t answer my question though…”

“For the money of course. Did you think I had suddenly changed?” The boat master smiled and revealed a sizeable leather pouch in his hand. “Borrow a boat, no questions asked, never saw or heard anything about the passengers.”

Mariel sighed and threw her hands up. “Money isn’t everything though…”

“I know, that’s why I agreed. Your human friends deserve a chance, and I’ll abide by the treaty we signed with humankind.”

The boat master finished his pipe and turned to head below deck. Mariel stopped him, reminding him of the payment they had earned for their help on shore. Grudgingly, the boat master handed her a handful of silver coins, and bid her good luck.

Mariel waited on the ship until Siravin returned alone. He climbed back up and jumped onto the deck.

“Welcome back… Did they get into the forest safely?” Her question was met with an affirmative nod.

“I still don’t agree with the level of trust you grant them… But I’ll ask you later, let’s focus on the plan… We should buy the necessary equipment and supplies and continue on our way…”

“Sure, but first, you and me both, need a bath…”

They shared meaningful nods and turned away from the docks and towards the city proper. The streets were largely deserted save for some merchants closing their stalls and securing their stock in the many warehouses surrounding the market plaza. A few patrols of guards went past, breaking the silence with their perfectly synchronized footsteps.

“That looks good.” She pointed to a big building where an apprentice was covering up the outside furnishings with sheets.

“I think we should look around a bit more… Let’s not jump to conclusions…” His words fell flat as she had gone ahead to ask.

“Hi! Is this an inn?” She asked. Startled, the apprentice flew around like a cat about to lose two lives.

“O-oh! Sorry, right sure it is! We’ve got plenty of well-kept rooms and other facilities… Please go on inside and talk to the manager.”

The surroundings which met them once they stepped inside met Mariel’s expectations, and even Siravin felt compelled to look around with some amazement. The design spoke of well-considered choices, with economic solutions where possible and liberal use of paint and panelling.

“Welcome to the Weary Walrus! Would you like to stay? I have both double and single rooms and offer a variety of services for comfort and entertainment!” The manager threw his arms out in a welcoming gesture before proceeding to throw open his ledger to present them with options.

“Thank you, we’d like two ro…” Mariel was about to place her order when Siravin interrupted her.

“We should share.”

“What? No. We’re not close enough to hug, and you expect me to share a room with you… Sorry, but no.”

“It’ll save us precious money… And isn’t it unfair to the rest of the group that we splurge on comfort while they sleep in the woods?” Despite her best efforts, she felt herself unable to contain the guilt building up inside.

“That’s… Unusual, coming from you who don’t really see the others as anything but threats…” She retorted.

“I bet it’s cold out there about now, and they’ll have to take turns keeping watch in case wolves attack them at night…”

“Tizare taught me a thing or two about wolves… He insisted on that part where wolves can be other things than animals…”

Siravin, after much internal debate, finally relented and they placed an order for two separate rooms.

“Well you two certainly make for a fine couple! Or are you perhaps here as tourists together? Either way, here are your separate keys, and the payment is two silver coins a room, and one extra for each if you’d like a bath tub, soap and a solid breakfast.”

They paid up for the full package after justifying their decision to the other, and followed the direction they were given to their respective rooms. The manager shouted for his assistant to begin preparing bath water.

Upon entering, Mariel was struck by how strangely familiar the room felt. While sparsely furnished with the typical desk, bed, closet and provided with a tub and some soap, it felt very homely. As soon as she had put away her things and settled in, there was a knock on the door and the assistant entered with her bath water. After a thorough scrubbing down she sat down in the tub and relaxed. The warm water felt nice to her and she almost began to drift off into a slumber but managed to remain awake. Her subconscious reach for the end of her braid was only met with water and emptiness. It had taken her a while to come to terms with the swift separation from most of her hair, leaving her with a shaggy, uneven and rather ugly hairdo, but the real pain laid in what her parents would think of her. She glanced over at her uniform and thought for a second to drop it in the tub after she finished, but stopped. It dawned upon her that this was the adventure she had secretly wished for. She was far from home, as a short-haired adventurer, wearing her first set of proper armour that did not for a second look particularly beautiful but, rather practical and sleek. Despite all her feelings of excitement over finally being on her own adventure, deep down she felt her uncertainty bloom. It would be dangerous, many might still die, and there was no telling when the sky might open and send another shower of death and despair raining down, nor how her parents were doing. She threw a handful of water at her face and shook away the drops. To strike out for herself, to make her own journey. It all felt strangely exciting.

She was rather rudely pulled out of her ruminations by knocking on the door.

“Hey Mariel! Can I borrow your soap?”

“No! Go buy one!”

“I would, but you’ve got all the money… I’m broke after renting that boat…”

“Oh for… Fine! Turn around, face against the opposite wall, and if you peek, I’ll murder you!”

She hurriedly made herself decent, and peeked outside the door, Siravin stood next to the opening, his head turned to face the opposite wall. She handed him the soap and shut the door firmly behind her.

“Thanks... Listen. I don’t know what you think, but I’m going to bring you home.” He said to her through the door.

“I’m sure I’ll get home just fine on my own, but I am glad you’ll be coming along.”

“Yeah, see you in the morning?”

“Sure thing.”

She listened to his footsteps until they disappeared, and then sat back down in the tub.