The dark elf was finally alone and he could now do what he came out for. After climbing into the back section of the wagon, he made some space between the junk they hoarded in there. He put his hand on the floor, blue threads of arcana snaking along the wooden surface to form the runic circle of transmutation. It would stay there for as long as he wished, and he near immediately began to put different pieces of useless items in there. Most of them were ordinary household items, such as bronze reinforced wooden boxes, or kitchen tools, horse riding equipment and the likes.

Regis recycled whatever he found unnecessary to have around, leaving only a set of cast iron pots and their campfire frame behind, along with wooden bowls and cutlery. He turned the torn cloths into a single roll which could be used as a tent while the rest of the recycled items were turned into ingots and blocks he neatly stacked up. Now they had plenty of space in the wagon. ‘Time to get a bath I guess.’ The spell weaver sighed as he headed back to the inn. When he got close enough to the counter, the innkeeper called out to him.

“Your friends mentioned you would be returning a bit late. The bath is over there in the corner room. There’s still some warm water left.”

“Thank you.” Regis nodded as he walked over to the aforementioned room, knocking on its door.

When no answer came, he opened the door and entered. After taking down with armour and clothes, the dark elf got into the large wooden tub that was filled with warm water and began to scrub off the dirt of the day. A slight knock on the door snapped him out of his relaxation, a gentle voice catching his attention.

“Do you need any help sire?” A young woman’s voice resounded from the other side of the door, making the spell weaver sigh.

“There’s no need miss,” he answered loudly. “It won’t take too long.”

“Oh,” a somewhat dejected hum could be heard from the unknown woman. “I shall leave you to it then sire.”

Regis shook his head as he could hear the stranger walk away. A few minutes later he was out of the tub, clean and dried. He cast lesser mending what is clothes and his equipment, making use of its peculiar side effect of cleaning any item it was cast on. ‘I should really get a few more sets spare clothing.’ He mused as he got dressed. Once he got out of the room, he saw the innkeeper pointing at the stair while a pretty young woman stood not far behind the man, giving him a somewhat glum look. The dark elf followed the man’s suggestion and headed upstairs, finding Quentin standing not far ahead in the hallway.

“Took you long enough,” the paladin said as he waved him closer. “This is our room here. Don’t worry, it has two separate beds.”

“I’m used to sleeping on the floor.” Regis shrugged as he followed his companion into the small yet cosy looking room.

“Did you manage to recycle the surplus stuff we had?”

“I did,” he nodded. “I also managed to find three children with a talent for magic.”

“For real?” Quentin looked at him surprised. “How did that happen?”

“It started with me catching a bunch of kids circling around our wagon. They then got all doe eyed once they found out that I’m a spell caster.”

“And they asked you to teach them magic?”

“Pretty much. Hopefully they will make it to a spell casters’ guild once things settle down a bit.”

“Did you already have a bath?”

“Are you trying to tell me that I stink or something?”

“No, I...”

“Relax,” the dark elf laughed as he watched his friend get slightly flustered. “I already had a bath.”

“Did she also want to help you?”

“You mean the girl that works for the innkeeper?” Regis asked back after realising that Quentin had an experience similar to his own.

“I’m pretty sure that she’s his daughter.”

“And here I thought I was special,” he sighed. “Did you let her help?”

“No. Did you?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“Damn. Poor girl got rejected four times in a row.”

“It’s not like we asked her to be so overeager.”

“We didn’t have to,” the paladin sat down on his bed. “After helping them get rid of the fallen, we pretty much became something akin to heroes in their eyes. I’m sure you’ve read at least one or two historic novels, so you know how it goes.”

“Yeah,” Regis sighed. “It’s almost a cliche how the local peasant girl wants to find herself a knight to whisk her away from all this shit.”

“She kind of ran out of luck with us though.”

“I mean, we do have two knights so to speak, although I really don’t now what she saw in me.”

“I’m pretty sure she was impressed by your exotic charms. Plus, a strong spell caster has just as much appeal to ordinary people as knights would.”

“Sure,” the dark elf rolled his eyes. “Anyway; we should get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

After saying that, Regis took off his armour and lay down on the simple yet comfortable bed. Not even five minutes later he was already asleep. The night slipped by without anyone disturbing them, a slight knock on the door waking up the two when the morning arrived.

“Time to wake up boys!” Valerie’s voice could be heard from the other side of the door.

“Fuck.” Quentin cursed in an elongated yawning way as he crawled out of his bed while the dark elf only let out a few grumbles.

“So much about getting some proper sleep.” Regis said as he began to put on his armour.

“I don’t want to sound like a sloth, but I could have really used a few more hours.” The paladin noted.

“You can sleep in the back of the wagon.”

“Not while it's moving,” Quentin shook his head while pulling on his breastplate. “That thing shakes like crazy, even after you enchanted it.

“I’m an enchanter Quentin, not a miracle worker.” Regis said with a mock hurt, earning a slight laugh from this companion.

“Alright, let’s get going. Hopefully we’ll get some farewell breakfast or something.”

The two of them left the room after collecting their things, heading downstairs where the rest of the group was already sitting by a table that was filled with freshly made breakfast.

“Ask and it shall be given to you.” The dark elf joked, taking one of the empty seats.

“Good morning everyone!” Quentin said to the others as he began to shamelessly pile food on his plate.

“Morning.” The rest of the outlanders returned the greeting.

“Did you guys manage to get some sleep?” Sophie asked as she looked at the still tired expression of the dark elf and the paladin.

“We did,” Quentin nodded between two bites. “Just not nearly enough.”

“You can always sleep in the back of the wagon.” Osmond noted absent-mindedly.

“Pass,” the paladin answered swiftly. “Are you ready for today’s journey? We have to reach that fishing outpost before sunset.”

“It will be a shaky ride,” Cruz joined into the conversation. “But we should make it well before dusk.”

“I just hope that the locals are about as welcoming as these people were.” Amanda sighed.

“The rest of the path will be more troublesome,” Fabien chugged down something that seemed to be the local equivalent of tea. “Are we really going to trek all the way to the vale on foot?”

“Unless you’d rather be rowing upstream once again, then yes.” Regis nodded.

“It shouldn’t be too bad if we follow the river, right? I mean we can walk along the shore.” Letty suggested.

“That would be the best option unless there’s an actual road leading up there, but I highly doubt it.” Valerie agreed.

“When do we head out?” Amanda asked the important question.

“As soon as we finish breakfast,” Regis stated. “The sooner we head out the better.”

“Are you planning to leave so early?” The innkeeper walked closer to the group.

“We have an important task of our own,” Quentin explained. “Hopefully we’ll be able to visit after things settle down a bit though.”

“I guess you lot really are busy with all these horrors running about. Either way; best of luck to you!”

“And to you as well. And also thank you for your hospitality!” The paladin nodded the others joining in.

The rest of the breakfast wrapped up pretty fast, five minutes being just enough for them to clear the table of any food.

“Take care of yourselves!” The innkeeper’s wife spoke from behind the counter as the group said their goodbyes and left.

After a short walk to the wagon in the still hazy town, they began to prepare for the day’s travel. Osmond summoned his skeletal horse puppets so that Cruz could get the wagon moving. Before they could have rolled far, an aged voice stopped them in their tracks.

“I didn’t expect our heroes to leave without so much as a farewell,” mother Delcine spoke as she walked towards them. “Were you trying to leave without gathering too much attention?”

“That was the plan,” Quentin nodded. “We have a long journey ahead of us, so it’s best if we leave early.”

“I see,” the old woman sighed. “In that case, I wish you a safe journey!”

“Thank you and farewell.” The outlanders said as one.

The wagon began to move again, the guards hurriedly opening the gate for them. As they left the village, golden words flared up in front of the dark elf’s eyes.

{Your act of aiding the small town of Escroft during its Fallen siege and leaving without any true reward did not go unnoticed. Your deed has been recorded and you have received 250 renown points.}

{You have gained a total of 4500 renown on the Amaranthine lands and thus your caste was elevated from commoner to landless lesser noble.}

{Renown necessary towards caste elevation: 5328}

{You have gained a total of 500 reputation with the small town of Escroft and thus your standing was elevated from unknown to known.}

“Did you guys…”

“Yes.” The curt answer came as the dark elf mused absent mindedly.

After the wagon rolled across the bridge, Cruz pulled on the reins to make the puppets take a left turn at the nearest road that followed along the river.

“Onward we go.” She said as she made the horse puppets pick up some speed.

The wagon was shaking a bit, but it wasn’t too much of a hindrance in exchange for the speedy travel.

“Just wake me up if something happens.” Regis said as he pulled the hood of his cloak on his head.

Despite the shaky vehicle, he fell asleep quite fast, not waking up until Amanda forcefully shook him awake.

“What?” He asked, instinctively reaching for his staff.

“We’re getting close,” the tall woman answered. “Cruz said she spotted the outpost in the distance.”

“Already,” the dark elf mumbled. “How long was I asleep?”

“About four or five hours,” Letty answered as she looked at his flustered face. “Did you even sleep last night?”

“I did.”

“I guess all the shit that’s been happening lately must have caught up to you.” Fabien sighed as the spell weaver sat up properly, taking off his hood.

Regis moved to the front part of the wagon, pushing aside the tarp so that he could see outside.

“Look who decided to finally wake up,” Cruz greeted him. “I think that’s the outpost we’re looking for.”

As she pointed forward, the young spell weaver could see a wall made out of wooden poles, some parts switched into proper stone. A couple of small huts were outside the wooden wall, fishing racks and nets hanging around. Several people moved about busily on the shore, most of them casting nets into the river or pulling them out of it. As they heard the commotion of the wagon getting close, the people turned towards them, only to turn tails and run to the direction of the keep.

“So much about the warm welcome.” Quentin sighed.

“Well,” Cruz sighed. “We are riding a wagon that’s pulled by a pair of skeletal horses. This kind of reaction is pretty much to be expected.”

“Halt!” A soldier yelled from atop a small post on the wooden wall with a shaky voice. “Go no further! There’s no place for your...”

“I am a paladin of Saintess Elora,” Quentin cut into the man’s stuttering. “Our journey leads upwards this section of the river. We wish no harm to your people, only to ask about the path further in and trade for food if possible.”

“Turn around and leave,” another voice could be heard as a man wearing somewhat decent looking armour appeared along with a well dressed, shady looking figure. “This outpost belongs to Lord Vidal Godoy. If you so much as take a single step further, you will be executed where you stand!”

“As I said, we wish no harm for your people,” the paladin raised his voice a bit out of frustration. “We can circle around your outpost if you don’t wish to trade. We only ask for information regarding the forest behind your settlement.”

“What part of turn around didn’t you understand,” the greasy haired man said with an outraged tone as he stared at the outlanders. “This outpost and the forest around it belongs to Lord Vidal. We don’t need strangers like you loitering around here. Turn around and get lost before our soldiers slaughter you where you stand!”