While passing through the forest, Veyric and Vera's heads were glued to the map.

  "Wait… Are we going the wrong way?" Veyric questioned.

  "Nope, this is the right way… We have to head northeast to get out of The Silent Expanse. Also, why didn't we get horses? My legs are already getting tired." Vera said.

  "Horses cost money, which is something I don't have," Veyric replied.

  "Are you kidding? If there are locals around here that need help, you could easily do it for some Aegium!" Vera added.

  "Absolutely not. You want to help locals when there are people after you?" Veyric said.

  "It could help you in the long run! What if Leviara doesn't have anything you want to know? Well, guess you're going on another trip!" She said

  "I don't see any locals crying for help, do you? Locals would rather deal with their issues themselves instead of relying on a person in a hood and a short, sassy girl." He said.

  "Short? Yeah. Sassy? No!" Vera stammered out.

  "Back in Phithia, you said we should just keep to ourselves, so that's what I intend for us to do. Getting involved in other people's business is not our job." He said."That's fair… But I'm just hungry. We haven't eaten in two days, and I'm starting to get a little irritated." Vera explained.

  "Just say you're starving, then." He added.

  "I'll probably be starving for a while because we don't have any money!" She snapped at him, and for several minutes, silence filled the air.

  "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you…" Vera apologized.

  "No, it's okay… I know how it feels in your shoes. If there's someplace nearby, we'll take a break." He said.

  It felt like they were circling the same trails for minutes, until they encountered a small hut. They approached the hut, and in front of it was a feeble old man meditating.

  "Excuse me, sorry to interrupt your meditation," Vera said.

  The old man's eyes opened, and he looked up at them.

  "Mmmh… Travelers." He muttered to himself.

  "What can I do for you two?" He said.

  "We're trying to get to Leviara, and we're just wondering if there are any villages or towns on the way there?" Vera asked.

  "You're in luck, travelers, there's a village just up ahead. Make sure not to overstay your welcome," The old man said.

  "Why?" Vera questioned.

  "Because the bandits in the area have been terrorizing the villagers. There's no real authority around these parts, and because of that, anything goes. The villagers also may not like your hooded friend, young lady." The old man said.

  "That's okay, it's only a rest stop. Thank you for the help." Vera said.

  Vera and Veyric continued down the trails of the forest. In the near distance, they saw a wooden sign embedded in the ground. The sign's letters were fading from age, and it vaguely tilted out from the soil. They walked into the village, Vera reaching up to pull Veyric's hood down over his horns. The town wasn't spiraling with well-articulated architecture or eloquent materials. It was all wooden, dingy, and borderline flimsy. Veyric looked around and noticed people eyeing them from within their wooden homes, the shopkeepers trying to put away their most valuable wares, and women running inside their homes with their children. Vera was speechless, daydreaming for a moment. Veyric looked around and also said nothing. The bravest of the villagers approached them and stopped them in their tracks, holding pitchforks.

  "Get out of our village! You've already taken everything we have!" An angry man said, tightly clutching his pitchfork and threateningly thrusting it at Veyric.

  "Hey, hey! We're not bandits, and we're not here to take anything from you. We were searching for a place to rest…" Vera explained. The man's pitchfork was aimed dangerously close to Vera.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Easy with your weapon there," Veyric said.

  "This is our village, and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure everyone's safe!" The man replied, the gruffness in his voice increasing.

  "If you want me to believe this isn't a trap, take off your hood, now!" He pointed his pitchfork back at Veyric.

  "That's steep," Veyric said.

  "Too damn bad. That's the price you gotta pay if you want to rest here!" The man replied.

  "Okay, how about this! We help you, you help us?" Vera butted in.

  "Shut your damn mouth!" The man gripped the handle of his pitchfork to the point where it might snap. One of the villagers came up behind him.

  "Reed, maybe we should hear them out. The bandits never come in such a nonviolent manner." The woman said.

  "Just calm down…" The woman lowered his pitchfork, but Reed's gaze intensified towards Veyric. After, the woman approached them.

  "Greetings, my name is Penelope, and this is Reed." Penelope's hair was dark, and she wore villager garbs like the rest, but what stood out the most was the burn scar stretching across the right side of her face.

  "Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Vera, and this is Veyric." Vera said.

  "Vera and Veyric? That's sweet, are you two siblings?" Penelope asked.

  "Um, w—" Veyric was taken aback by the question.

  "Mhm, he's my older brother!" Vera replied, nudging Veyric's arm.

  "Aww, isn't that just sweet. Two siblings traveling this crazy world together." Penelope said. All eyes were on them, and a sense of hope washed over the villagers.

  "So, did you really mean it, young lady? Can you really help us?" Penelope asked.

  "You bet we can! We're not rich, but… My brother here packs a punch like no other." Vera stated.

  "Oh, dear… I'm afraid one single person can't handle that pack of bandits. They are ruthless and are willing to do anything to squeeze out whatever aegium we have left. We've tried to appeal in Leviara. Each time we do, the great council says they're going to send help, and no one arrives. We don't have any more money to reserve an audience with them either, so we've just been putting up with the bandits. But their antics are getting out of control." Penelope said.

  "Wait, you're saying you went to Leviara, and they basically ignored you?" Vera questioned, and Penelope responded with a hopeless nod.

  "When do they usually come to collect their payment?" Vera followed up.

  "Every morning. Our shopkeepers are the only ones who can afford to pay up by using their wares." Penelope answered.

  "What do you think, Veyric?" Vera said.

  Veyric let out a grumbling sigh.

  "Who's the leader? Once I deal with them, everything should fall back into place."

  "The leader?... He's dangerous. We have no way of defending ourselves because he killed our protectors. Our village is still grieving their deaths, and the deaths of others."

  "Who else was killed?" Veyric asked.

  "Reed's family. He stood up to them the most even after our village guardians were killed." Penelope said.

  "I see…" Veyric replied.

  "I suppose that's enough of that. Is there anything we can do for you two?" Penelope asked.

  "I don't need anything, but I'd appreciate it if you could get her a warm meal." Veyric nodded his head towards Vera.

  "Oh, absolutely, that we can do! I'll make sure that she's well fed, and we'll prepare a room for you two." Penelope smiled at them before turning. A flame was rekindled inside the village, and those who were hidden from unease found themselves drawn towards Vera and Veyric—but especially Veyric.