The Journey to the Convergence

  They departed Redemption three days later, having recovered sufficiently from both their dungeon ordeal and their celebratory hangover. The town gave them a hero's send-off, with many citizens lining the main street to watch them ride eastward on fresh horses purchased with a minuscule fraction of their newfound wealth.

  "Think we'll ever come back?" Zen asked as they crested a hill that offered a final view of the frontier settlement.

  Billy adjusted his hat against the morning sun. "Maybe. The West has its charms, rough as they are. But we've got bigger horizons now, partner."

  Their journey to the Convergence took them across the varied landscapes of the continent. They traversed the windswept prairies of the Republic's eastern territories, where herds of thunder-bison moved like living storms across the grasslands. They navigated the treacherous passes of the Spine Mountains, where gravity itself seemed to wobble and shift due to ancient magic wars that had forever altered the fabric of reality in the region.

  As they traveled, they refined their plans, debating everything from architectural styles to security systems during long evenings beside campfires.

  "The thing about magical defenses," Zen explained one night as they camped along a crystal-clear stream, "is that they need to be layered and redundant. Any skilled mage can eventually unravel a single ward, no matter how complex."

  Billy nodded, whittling a stick with his hunting knife. "Like having multiple lines of defense in a fort. If they breach the walls, you've still got the inner bailey."

  "Exactly," Zen confirmed, impressed by the apt comparison. "And the same principles apply to physical security. Multiple entrances and exits, secret passages, reinforced structures."

  "We should have a watchtower," Billy suggested. "Something that gives us a view of the surrounding area. Hard to ambush someone who can see you coming from miles away."

  Their conversations often drifted to more personal topics as well, the prolonged journey providing opportunities to learn about each other beyond their combat capabilities.

  "So this Scholar's Enclave," Billy began during a rest stop on their seventh day of travel. "What's it like? Never heard of a place dedicated just to learning."

  Zen's expression softened with nostalgia. "It's... unique. Imagine a city where knowledge is the currency. Libraries taller than most castles, laboratories burrowing deep into the earth, observatories that can track the movements of stars no one else has named yet. Every citizen dedicated to the pursuit of understanding in one form or another."

  "Sounds boring as hell," Billy remarked, though his tone was teasing rather than dismissive.

  Zen shrugged. "It has its moments of excitement. Experimental magic gone wrong, interdimensional breaches, the occasional elder horror summoned by an overly ambitious undergraduate."

  Billy stared at him. "You're serious."

  "Knowledge has its risks," Zen replied simply.

  As they approached the border of the Imperial Federation, the eastern neighbor of the Republic, the landscape transformed dramatically. Carefully managed forests replaced wild plains, and the roads became smoother and better maintained. Patrol posts appeared at regular intervals, the Imperial guards in their distinctive emerald uniforms watching travelers with professional scrutiny.

  Their passage through the Federation was unremarkable, though they attracted occasional stares from locals unused to seeing a gunslinger and a mage traveling together. The odd pairing usually elicited curious glances rather than hostility—the Federation prided itself on being a melting pot of cultures and professions.

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  It was as they entered the neutral zone that preceded the Convergence that they began to encounter other adventurers and treasure-seekers. The area had become something of an unofficial gathering place for those who made their living exploring dungeons and completing quests, owing to its central location and lack of formal governance.

  "Starting to seem like a popular spot," Billy observed as they passed the third encampment of adventurers within an hour's ride.

  Zen nodded thoughtfully. "All the more reason to secure our claim quickly. Land values here will only increase as word of the dungeon conquests spreads."

  Their destination came into view on the fifteenth day of their journey—a sprawling settlement that had sprung up organically at the Convergence, lacking the planned layout of established cities but vibrant with the energy of opportunity. Tents and hastily constructed wooden structures dominated the landscape, interspersed with more permanent stone buildings belonging to enterprising merchants and services catering to the adventurer population.

  "Welcome to Crossroads," announced a cheerful half-elf woman who intercepted them at the settlement's unofficial entrance. "First time visitors? I'd be happy to guide you to accommodations, suppliers, or—" she paused, her keen eyes noting the quality of their equipment and the confidence in their bearing, "—perhaps the land registry office, for gentlemen of your obvious accomplishment."

  Billy and Zen exchanged bemused glances. "Land registry it is," Billy confirmed, slipping the woman a gold coin that made her eyes widen.

  "Right this way, sirs," she responded with a deep bow, leading them through the bustling pathways of Crossroads.

  The settlement pulsed with diverse activity. Merchants hawked exotic goods from colorful stalls, adventuring parties negotiated contracts with quest brokers, and crafters of various disciplines plied their trades in open-air workshops. The air was filled with a dozen languages and the scents of cuisines from across the world.

  The land registry office occupied one of the few stone buildings, an indication of its importance in a settlement built on the promise of opportunity. Inside, a harried-looking gnome managed a complex system of maps and documentation with remarkable efficiency despite the constant stream of inquiries.

  "Looking to stake a claim, are you?" the gnome asked without looking up from his ledger when they approached his desk. "Most of the prime locations within five miles have been spoken for, but I've got some promising parcels further out. What's your purpose? Mining? Farming? Trading post?"

  "Residential," Zen replied. "Something substantial but private. At least a thousand acres, preferably with varied terrain."

  The gnome's bushy eyebrows shot up, and he finally raised his gaze to study them properly. "A thousand acres? That's no homestead, gentlemen, that's an estate." He pulled out a more detailed map, spreading it across his desk. "Might I interest you in this parcel southeast of Crossroads? It borders the Kingdom of Dunwich, but isn't subject to their laws. Has a lovely river running through it, some wooded areas, and a small rise that would provide a commanding view."

  Billy leaned in to examine the map. "What's the catch? Seems too perfect."

  The gnome hesitated. "Well, there have been... reports. Nothing confirmed, mind you, but travelers speak of unusual phenomena in the area. Lights in the sky, strange sounds on certain nights. The local farmers have a superstition about the place."

  Zen and Billy exchanged glances that communicated volumes. After what they'd faced in the dungeon, some local superstitions hardly registered as concerning.

  "We'll take it," Zen decided. "Provided the price is reasonable."

  The gnome named a figure that would have bankrupted most adventuring parties several times over. Billy didn't even blink, counting out the required gold onto the gnome's desk with a casualness that caused the registry official to stammer in surprise.

  By midday, they had completed the necessary paperwork and were the proud owners of 1,280 acres of prime Convergence land. The gnome provided them with detailed boundary markers and official documentation, along with directions to their new property.

  "Congratulations, gentlemen," he said as they prepared to leave. "May I ask what you intend to build? The Convergence has no building codes to speak of, but we do appreciate being informed of significant developments."

  "Just a modest home," Billy replied with a grin that suggested anything but modesty.

  "With some facilities for our professional interests," Zen added cryptically.

  The gnome looked between them, curiosity evident, but recognized the polite rebuff for what it was. "Of course. Should you require construction services, Crossroads has several excellent contractors."

  "Thank you, but we'll manage on our own," Zen assured him.

  They departed the registry office and made their final preparations in Crossroads, purchasing supplies and gathering information about their new neighborhood. By late afternoon, they were on their way to inspect their property in person.