We headed for Pemisor early the following day. The road was very straight and passed through rge stretches of forest. Tall, old trees twisted their s above us to create a green tunnel on both sides. Sunlight gng through the leaves formed a pattern on the road. I could hear far-off sounds of forest birds, and the air smelled like wood and mud.

  The se ged as we tinued driving. Rolling hills began to climb and desd in the distance, mixing lush forests and pastures. The hills created a lovely background, and their mild slopes gave the view fluidity. Occasionally, I’d glimpse a valley below through a break irees. The ground there appeared to tinue endlessly.

  After three hours of driving, we crossed a river and drove through a small town. The road cut the town in the middle with colorful turies-old houses on both sides. The windows had boxes with bright flowers. Between the boxes with the flowers and the colorful homes, the whole pce looked like an explosion of color. It was very vibrant and cheerful. As we passed by, the residents waved and smiled.

  After awo hours of driving, we reached aown. Though smaller, the sed town had great appeal. It was at the base of a hill near a pond with a lovely old mill. Children pying in the pond filled the air with their ughter. Added to the rustic appeal of the towhe well-kept gardens and the charming inn with a thatched roof. We stopped there for lunch, and when we left the inn, a big group of people stood around our bikes and the ATV, staring at them.

  “Where did you get those strange traptions?” one of them asked, gesturing toward our bikes.

  “Lotam,” Mahya replied fidently.

  I opehe Map and checked. Lotam was one of the two smaller tis and was in the northeast—a good choice. It was so far away that the ce of these people having any tact with it was minimal.

  The onlookers murmured among themselves, exging curious gnces. Without waiting for further questions, we mounted our bikes and rode away, leaving a trail of dust and bewildered faces behind us.

  As we tinued our journey, we passed through two more towns in Lumis, each with its own unique charm and picturesque beauty. With their one-of-a-kind architecture and appearahe towns looked like they belonged in a fantasy story from 200 years ago.

  Towards evening, we reached a retively sparse forest area. We got off the road and walked into the forest. After an hour of walking, we reached a clearing big enough for my house.

  “ you go around and make sure there are lements or people nearby?” I asked Mahya.

  She nodded and ran into the forest. After twenty minutes, she returned. “All clear.”

  After pg the core, I instructed it to open the house in a smaller figuration. I got my inal house, but wider. I cooked us a dinner of crab bisque and fresh rolls, and then we kicked ba the porch with a drink. Rue and I settled for beer, but Mahya and Al went for stronger alcohol. The pce was so peaceful. I pyed a bit on my guitar—nothing special, just notes for fun—and we went to sleep.

  The day, we didn’t feel like driving again. I was retively okay, but I think Mahya’s and Al’s butts hurt after hours of riding a motorcycle, even though they said nothing. We stayed in the clearing for another day. I mostly sat on the pord read a book. Rue explored the forest aurned after a few hours, covered in thorns and brambles but thrilled. Mahya started dismantling the first jet ski, and Al helped her. I didn’t feel like w today—I just wao sit and enjoy the peace.

  During the night, it began to rain. We didn’t want to get wet, so we stayed home another day. The rain didn’t stop until the evening, so this time, I joined Mahya and Al in disassembling the jet skis, and by evening, we had finished disassembling it. Mahya had fihe initial blueprint, whily depicted the parts and their corresponding locations. She took out an enormous sheet of paper and started sketg the main blueprint and pnning where to put runes, and I went to cook. Al used this opportunity to care for his mushrooms in the greenhouse. Towards the evening, the rain stopped, and we all crossed our fingers, hoping it wouldn’t start again tomorrow.

  During dinner, Mahya ented, “Maybe I should have started not with the motorcycles but with the jeep. If we had a closed jeep, the rain wouldn’t have been a problem.”

  “Why? Are you in a hurry somewhere?” I asked, turning towards her.

  “Nah, but acc to the locals, it snows here in winter, especially in the south. The more north we go, the less heavy the snow will be,” she said, tapping her fork oe.

  “Is it the other way around here? The South cold, and the North hot?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

  Mahya shrugged, “I’m not sure. The isnd we were on is in the south, and it was scorg hot. So, I don’t think it’s reversed pority. It probably has more to do with mana.”

  “Well, that’s not a problem,” I said, leaning ba my chair. “If it snows and we ’t go anywhere, we’ll find a good spot for the house and ride out the snow season. I’m sure we’ll find something to do, and we have enough food for years.”

  Mahya and Al nodded in agreement and tio eat, the k of utensils filling the fortable silence.

  The day, the nice weather held, so we tinued. We passed through ndscapes and towns simir to those on our first day of driving. We stopped in a shady and picturesque spot for lund tinued driving. Towards evening, we drove up a very high hill or even a low and wide mountain. After climbing to the top of the hill, Pemisor spread oher side. As the su down, the city’s beauty lit up by the setting sun amazed me.

  A river flowed through the city, dividing it with colorful buildings on both sides. In the distaood a magnifit castle, taller than anything else. The towers were sht that they felt like they were glowing when you looked at them, catg the st bit of sunlight.

  There were many bridges over the river, and their lights sparkled as the su down. The river iy looked like liquid gold. I spotted a ribbon in the ke that mirrored the colors of the su.

  The experience of looking at the buildings was genuinely incredible. There were small homes with lively wooden frames and rge buildings with multiple stories and stunning facades. Window boxes and small gardens filled with bright flowers made the city seem more vibrant.

  As darkness approached, the ey lit up. Several windows along the meandering fgstoreamed pleasant light, plemented by the glow of street mps. It appeared as if many fireflies had overtakey, creating a whimsical and fantasy-like ambiance.

  Above all else, the sky was a show. Because it was low in the sky, the moon made the area look magical because it seemed much bigger than it was. The thin clouds above turned red and purple as the su down. I could see the shape of another celestial body in the sky. I took out my camera and snapped some pictures to remember this view.

  I could hear people talking, horse hooves, and water running against a riverbank in the distahere was a light buzz of movement in the air. The smell of flowers, newly baked bread, and the deep, earthy smell of the nearby forests made for a cool and refreshing breeze.

  When I stood there and looked at the beautiful sery, I couldn’t help but feel excited and amazed. Pemisor was more than just a city; it was a work of art that looked alive.

  We drove down into the city, and after asking two people, one of them directed us to an inn. We found a dark er he inn, verified we were alone, and stored the motorcycles and ATV. Mahya, of course, took the lead and paid for rooms for the night. This inn had no suites, so we each got a separate room. The rooms were quite simple: a single bed, a rge trunk with a key at the foot of the bed, a table with a chair, a pitcher of water and a bowl oable, and a chamber pot uhe bed. In the m, I woke up feeling like every muscle rotesting. Sleeping on a straw mattress had not been kind to me.

  At breakfast, I turo Mahya and said, “We o find a better inn first thing today. I ’t keep waking up with my body grumbling every m.”

  She looked up from her meal, her expressioermined. “I want to go find the Adventurer’s Guild right away.”

  I sighed, sidering her point. “Alright,” I ceded. “Let’s find the Adventurer’s Guild first, and then we’ll look for a quality inn nearby.”

  She nodded, satisfied with the promise. “Sounds like a pn.”

  After breakfast, roached the innkeeper. He looked up from his work, wiping his hands on his apron.

  “Excuse me,” I said. “Could you tell us how to get to the Adventurers’ Guild?”

  He nodded and smiled. “Of course. It’s not far from here. Head out the main door and take a left. Follow the street until you reach the market square, then turn right. You’ll see a rge building with a sign of crossed swords and a shield. That’s the Guild.”

  “Thank you,” Mahya said, giving him a grateful nod.

  “You’re wele,” he replied, returning to his tasks.

  The streets were brightly lit and bustling with people, so we decided walking would be easier than expining about a strange Iory skill, or our transportation. The st of baked goods from nearby bakeries filled the air, mixing with the earthy aroma of the cobblestoreets that the m dew had washed . The chatter of townsfolk and the occasional ctter of horse-drawn carriages created a lively backdrop.

  The guild building stood tall and imposing, made of sturdy stoh ivy creeping up its sides. Large, arched windows allowed light into the building, and a sign with crossed swords and a shield swuly above the entrahe wooden doors, reinforced with iron, looked like they could withstand a siege.

  Before entering, Mahya turo me, her eyes serious. “What does your personal information show?”

  I g my profile and replied, “It shows bard.”

  She nodded decisively. “ge to a healer. Al, switch to a heavy warrior. I’ll ge to a bde singer.”

  We all adjusted our profiles accly and stepped ihe interior was bustling with activity. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes filled the rge hall, their versations blending into a stant hum. The air smelled of leather, metal, and the faint st of sweat.

  On the right side, we spotted a rge table with a womaed behind it and a line of people waiting their turn. ons and maps covered the walls, and a massive unlit firepce was on the left.

  We waited patiently in line, the various adventurers around us. When it was our turn, roached the woman at the table. She had a keen look in her eyes that softened as they went out of focus for a moment. Then she smiled at us.

  “You have the base of a strong team,” she remarked. “Are you looking for a ranged fighter and a mage?”

  We exged gnces, and Mahya shook her head. “No, we’re good.”

  She seemed surprised and leaned forward slightly. “If you take a ranged fighter and a mage, you’ll have an optimal group structure, especially with a healer on your team.”

  “reciate the offer,” I said, “but we prefer to stick with our curreup.”

  “Please show me your personal information,” she said in a businesslike tone.

  I showed her mine, which dispyed only my name—my real name, John Rue, for a ge—and my css as Healer, Level 12. She entered our names into the registry and then looked up.

  “That’ll be one silver for each of you tister.”

  After we paid, she handed us copper badges. “These badges correspond to the level of tasks you take. As copper, you only accept jobs from the copper boards.”

  Rue pced his paws on the ter aally yelled, “Rue is adveoo! Rue want badge, too!”

  We all wi the volume, including the clerk, who raised an eyebrow in surprise.

  “Familiar?” she asked.

  I nodded. “Yes, mine.”

  She smiled and offered, “I make a tag for him.”

  After paying another silver, she handed us a tag with a hoop, perfect for attag to Rue’s colr. As we left the ter, Rue wagged his tail a huimes a sed and walked with his nose held high. I doubted it was out of pride—he just wanted everyoo see his new badge.

  Mahya turo Al and me, her eyes sing the bustling room. “Alright, you two, check out the boards and see if there’s any information about monster sightings or activity. I’ll mih the adventurers and gather more intel from the locals.”

  We nodded and walked to the rge bulletin boards lining the guildhall’s side. Various notices covered the boards, each detailing differes and requests. The st of part and ink filled the air, mingling with the more robust smells of leather and sweat.

  “Let us see what is avaible to us,” Al muttered, eyes sing the board. His fingers brushed over the papers, occasionally reading a notice more closely.

  I stood beside him, doing the same. The boards had ses based oype of information. We trated on the monster activity se, where they dispyed reports of sightings, attacks, and other relevant information. Eaotice had detailed descriptions, locations, and any special notes.

  “Hey, this one looks iing,” I said, pointing to a report about increased sightings of giant spiders he eastern forest. “Looks like they’ve been causing trouble for local travelers.”

  Al nodded, sidering it. “Certainly a matter worth expl. Let us explore what else is avaible in this area.”

  As we tio s the board, I couldn’t help but notice the variety of reports avaible. From small critters causing nuisao more dangerous creatures threatening townsfolk, the guild kept a prehensive record of monster activities.

  Meanwhile, Mahya was weaving her way through the crowded hall, striking up versations with various adventurers. Her posture was rexed but purposeful, and her voice carried a friendly yet inquisitive tone as she gathered information. I watched her momentarily, admiring her ability to ect with people so effortlessly.

  She approached a group of seasoned adventurers, their armor bearing the marks of many battles. They gestured animatedly, clearly sharing valuable insights and local knowledge. Mahya’s eyes sparkled with i, and she nodded appreciatively as they spoke.

  Al touched my shoulder. I turned, and he poi o. “Please direct your attention to this particur ohere have been sightings of a sizable, uified creature in close proximity to the northern hills. The report mentions peculiar tracks and unon noal sounds.”

  I g the notid nodded. Just then, Mahya returned with a satisfied smile.

  “Gather any useful information?” she asked, gng between us.

  “We found a couple of iis,” I replied. “There are giant spiders he eastern forest and a rge, uified creature he northern hills.”

  Mahya nodded. “Good finds, but I have somethier. I found out about a pce called The ed Ge of Unyielding Monsters, northwest of the city. Although it’s in the opposite dire from the s, it sounds like the most suitable spot for our pns. It’s a huge ge full of monsters. There are no iing resources there, so few people go there. Only gold-rank adventurers clear it occasionally to prevent the monsters from attag the popution.”

  “Where exactly is it?” I asked.

  “They say it’s about three days from the city in the northwest dire. With the motorcycles, I don’t think it will take us more than two or three hours to get there.”

  I opehe Map and looked. At first, I saw nothing, but I spotted a bck line on the Map after zooming towards the northwest.

  “Is that the bck line on the Map?” I asked Mahya.

  “Acc to their description, I think so. It’s annoying that no names are on the Map until a Traveler reaches a certain pce.”

  I chuckled. “Ha! I’m not the only one who pined about the Guidance.”

  After sulting with Al and Mahya, we skipped looking for an inn iy and headed straight to The ed Ge of Unyielding Monsters. If needed, we could always use my house for rest.

  We agreed to walk until we reached the city limits before taking out the motorcycles. It took us almost three hours to reach the st houses iy, and I took some more pictures. Some people gave me strange looks, but I didn’t care. After aen minutes of walking, and after a ve bend in the road, we had to wait another hour until no one was in sight before we could take out the motorbikes and start riding.

  The road ahead stretched out uhe bright noon sun, a ribbon of dusty path fnked by verdant fields and patches of dense forest. The air was warm, filled with the earthy st of freshly tilled soil and blooming wildflowers. As we rode, the noise from the tires on the dirt blended with the distant chirping of birds and the occasional rustle of small animals in the underbrush.

  The sery icturesque. Rolling hills unduted oher side of the road, their slopes dotted with clusters of trees and the occasional farmhouse. We passed through patches where the forest opy formed a cool, shaded tunnel, a brief respite from the sun’s gre.

  We crossed a small stone bridge over a sparkling brook, the water babbling as it meahrough the ndscape. Occasionally, we saw other people—farmers with their carts, vilgers walking to nearby towns—each a wave or a nod as we passed.

  After nearly two hours of driving, the ndscape ged. Instead of lush greenery, the ndscape became med. The ground grew rockier, and the trees sparser, repced by hardy shrubs and patches of wild grass.

  As roached our destination, the silhouette of The ed Ge of Unyielding Monsters came into view. Even from a kilometer away, it was an imposing sight. The ge was a vast, jagged chasm, its rocky cliffs rising sharply from the ground. Dark shadows pooled within its depths, giving it an air of mystery and dahe occasional screech rowl echoed from the ge, a reminder of the creatures that lurked within.

  Mahya suggested we stay at the house a for the night, starting our mission in the m. Al and I both agreed. I found a secluded spot hidden from the road, led between a cluster of trees. The area was just big enough for the house. We spent a peaceful afternoon and evening at home, with a nice dinner and a strategy discussion.

  Tomorrow—monster hunting.