Kardenon is really an impressive guy, although he does seem like strange person every now and then. Sometimes I wonder where does his... thirst for grandiosity, for lack of a better descriptor, come from. It's like he likes being able to do impressive things that few other people can, then he likes to act as if what he has just done was easy. He is a good man. Shortly after we crossed the gate he had made with his ability we had to rest. As expected, he used up a lot of mana to do that.

It didn't take long for him to recover enough to walk, so we still kept going. Unfortunately, we ended up deciding to camp before nightfall anyway. That's because of a strange fog that was covering the pass. It's really strange, I read multiple books about these mountains and nowhere did I read about there being a fog that covers the place. Even though I do have a magic item in the Treasury that would help us deal with it, it expends a considerable amount of mana. Therefore, considering that Kardenon is already not exactly in top shape should we be attacked by bandits, it's better if we take it slow.

As there is quite a lot of time before we have to sleep, the three of us exchange what we know about the cities of Nemiria.

“Most trade vessels that came to the two ports of Tharaz Eron came from one of the cities in Nemiria, to say that they are the trade hub of this continent would not be an exaggeration. Also, now that I think about it, the beans I use for this potion come from Asren, through vessels of Toragan if I remember correctly. Now I have a really good reason to want to go to Asren, hehe.”

I read that they were prosperous merchant cities, but not to that extent. I suppose that the books I read about them were more like travel logs, rather than necessarily a detailed study about them, but really they do seem impressive, the more I think about them. Even though they don't really have a nobility.

“Huh, you really are moved by that thing. But why would you want to go then? Can't you buy these anyway? Although I suppose they would be cheaper in Toragan, if we go there. Here or in Asren there shouldn't be much of a difference, right?”

Kardenon shook his head at Helena.

“I see you really don't know anything about this potion, do you? There are many different beans that can be used for brewing this potion and they result in slightly different flavors, not all kinds make their way to Tharaz Eron. Besides, there is a matter of freshness, I'm sure that I can drink the highest quality potion if I can get all the way to its origin!”

There it is, one of the strange parts of Kardenon. He really loves that black potion of his, even though it's just a drink, although it does make you more alert, I have to admit. I still don't see how he likes the taste of it, honestly.

“Hmm, that's a good idea I guess. Having some idea of where we want to go helps us in keeping ourselves focused. Sure, we really should try to go to the place that these beans come from then.”

Kardenon was elated.

“Oh! Alexius my good friend, even though you can't properly appreciate the taste, will you still help me seek the place that has produced such a miraculous thing? I thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

How dramatic. But I don't really mind doing it. It's not like I have a particular place I want to go to. All I want to find is myself really. After this quite good conversation, we retired for the night to sleep. Me and Helena in the tent, Kardenon in a small shelter he constructed for himself with magic.

After we had woken up the next day, the fog was still there. There was something very strange going on. It made me start thinking about the possibility that perhaps this fog was not natural. Considering the fact that these mountains were not exactly know for their safety from outlaws, it was hard to think of a reason why someone might create a fog. But then again, this pass was blocked by a landslide, why would a group of bandits create a fog in a pass that people can't use?

When I gave my opinion on that to Kardenon and Helena, they both agreed that something weird was going on. So, after taking the Vision Lantern, a magic item that would allow us to see quite clearly even in the fog without giving our position, out of the Treasury Sack, we set off at a fairly crisp pace. Due to the high usage of mana by the lantern, we took turns in carrying it.

The first day we didn't see anything and nothing happened. The second day in the pass we kept at the same pace. This time, we walked into quite a disturbing scene. There were bodies scattered all around, like the remnants of a battle. Most of them were gnomes. Helena preferred to stay by herself in a corner while me and Kardenon investigated what might have happened. I was shaking my head as I asked Kardenon.

“So, what do you think? I really want to think that I am wrong here.”

Kardenon couldn't supress a sigh as he answered.

“I don't think you are, because considering your face, you're probably thinking the same horrific things I am. These soldiers and mages were protecting something or someone quite important and they were attacked by... members of the Broken Wheel, who took this something or someone for their nefarious rituals.”

That's exactly what I thought. The Broken Wheel, what a terrible thing to have their attention focused on you. They didn't even have the decency to bury their own, which at least made it easy to identify the perpetrator of this atrocity.

“Damn... The Broken Wheel. I'd have preferred to deal with some bandits, honestly. Also, weren't they supposed to have been mostly wiped out by Teldarion? What a sick joke.”

After taking our conclusions to Helena, she pitched in her own opinion.

“Now we know why there was a landslide and why there is this strange fog. They probably used the first to trap whoever they wanted to attack in this pass, they probably used the fog to slow them down and make an ambush easier to achieve. So what are we going to do? Are we going to keep on this road even though we might bump into the Broken Wheel?”

For a moment I remembered Arlendir and the Vampires we fought against in Ravensguard. I might be trying to feed my own need to prove myself, but was it really so bad if it ended up that I chose to do the right thing? Even the Broken Wheel was not as bad as Vampires. I declined to pursue the later, I would be a coward if I repeated the choice.

“We are going to overtake them and punish them for their crimes, we will take from them whoever or whatever they took here. Virtue will not suffer to see walking the world those who only seek destruction and mayhem as the Broken Wheel does.”