The blue glow of the screen faded, leaving Zayne with more questions than answers. That thing… had appeared before him without warning, as if it were part of the world itself. Yet no one around him seemed to react. Was he the only one who could see it?

  He rubbed his temples, trying to rationalize. No panic. Before jumping to conclusions, he needed to understand where he was.

  He resumed walking along the path, paying attention to every small detail. The forest around him gradually thinned out, giving way to a dirt road. That was when the sound of wheels on the ground made him turn.

  A cart drawn by two horses advanced leisurely, raising a light cloud of dust. At the reins, a man with a weathered appearance: a well-groomed beard, finely made but travel-worn clothes, and a watchful expression, as if scrutinizing the world with a critical eye.

  Zayne stepped forward, raising a hand in greeting. The merchant slowed the horses, observing him with curiosity.

  “A stranger in the middle of the road… No weapons, no supplies. And wearing rather unusual clothes. Interesting.” His voice was calm, but not entirely friendly.

  Zayne remained impassive. Those words confirmed his fears: his appearance was out of place. If he wanted to avoid unwanted attention, he would need to get suitable clothing and figure out how to move without drawing suspicion. “I was trying to get my bearings.”

  The merchant smirked. “Then you’ve picked the right place. You’re on the only road that connects the Etheris Forest to Ravenhold.”

  Zayne caught the information quickly. “Ravenhold? Is it a city?”

  “Obviously. The nearest one, about a day’s walk. Depends on how good your legs are.” The merchant loosened his grip on the reins and studied him more closely. “And you? You don’t look like just any traveler.”

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  Zayne ignored the question. The more information he gathered, the better. “If I wanted to sell goods, where should I go?”

  The merchant chuckled softly. “The marketplace, where else? But be careful, boy. Here, it’s not just about what you sell, but how much of your earnings you can hold onto. Merchants can sniff out rookies from a mile away.”

  A subtle warning. That meant the city wasn’t a welcoming place for the naive. Zayne took note of the advice, storing it in his mind.

  “And to buy something? What currency is used?”

  The man narrowed his eyes, almost amused by the barrage of questions. “Imperial Silver. That’s what we use here. But if you travel to richer lands, you’ll find gold coins as well. The poor, on the other hand, trade in copper.”

  Zayne nodded. So the economy functioned similarly to many fantasy worlds he knew. He absolutely needed to get money, but he had no idea how. Selling something might be the quickest solution.

  “I see… and all of this belongs to the same kingdom?”

  “Kingdom?” The merchant scoffed. “You’re in the Veldarion Empire, not just any kingdom. A place with strict rules and people willing to do anything for power. But if you plan to travel, know that to the east lies the Xandria Empire, and to the south, the Kingdom of Eldoria, famous for magic and trade.”

  Zayne took a moment to reflect. Three great powers… a classic setup for political conflicts and intrigue. He needed to learn more about these places to avoid getting caught up in dangerous situations without realizing it.

  Only then did he decide to ask the most important question. “Have you ever heard of people who see… floating screens?”

  For the first time since the conversation began, the merchant’s playful demeanor cracked for an instant. Not enough for an untrained eye to notice, but Zayne didn’t miss the detail.

  Varek shrugged nonchalantly. “Meh… adventurers’ tales. Nothing I’ve ever cared about.”

  A vague answer. Too vague.

  Zayne didn’t press further but stored the information in his mind. If the merchant had reacted that way, there was definitely something behind it.

  After a brief farewell, he resumed his journey toward Ravenhold. He felt the weight of the information he had gathered, but he knew it was just the beginning. The world around him was still a mystery to unravel, and every step brought him closer to the truth behind the strange cryptic letter he had received.