Chapter 6 – The journey continues

  After traveling for ten days, Viktor and Kaavi arrived at a small valley. The sight of a quaint vilge nestled amidst the greenery gave a sense of relief to both. The vilge, surrounded by lush green fields and rustic homes, seemed like an oasis to Viktor after their recent troubles.

  Kaavi scanned the surroundings, his sharp eyes assessing the vilge carefully. He trusted the peace of the pce, but his instincts never let him fully rex. He was always alert. After a moment, he turned to Viktor, who stood gazing at the vilge with wide, curious eyes.

  Kaavi: "We’ll rest here for a while. The vilgers are generally welcoming, but stay alert. We don't know how much longer we can remain unnoticed."

  Viktor nodded; his expression serious. Despite the tension, he couldn’t help the sense of relief that washed over him. "Okay."

  They walked down the gentle slope toward the vilge, each step taking them closer to the comforting hum of rural life. The children pyed near the well, their carefree ughter echoing across the fields. Women tended to gardens, the smell of fresh earth and blooming flowers filling the air. The men worked in the fields; their bodies bent in the bour of the nd. The simplicity of it all was a sharp contrast to the unease they had left behind.

  As they entered the vilge, a few vilgers paused, casting curious gnces in their direction. Their eyes were filled with suspicion, but also an underlying kindness—something that spoke of a community accustomed to outsiders, but one that remained cautious nonetheless. An elderly woman, her face weathered by the years of hard work, approached them.

  Elderly Woman: "Greetings, travellers. You look weary. What brings you to our vilge?"

  Kaavi bowed slightly, his voice calm but measured. "We are on a journey north. We seek rest and provisions."

  The woman studied them for a moment, her gaze lingering on Kaavi with the subtle wisdom that only comes from age. She nodded, a small smile breaking through her stoic features.

  Elderly Woman: "Few travel this time of year, especially with the bandits growing more aggressive. But for some reason, they seem to avoid this vilge."

  Kaavi’s gaze hardened for a split second, a flicker of recognition passing through his eyes. The bandits—he knew they were after him. They would stop at nothing to capture him and force him to use his powers. He had suspected it the moment they crossed paths with the first group. They had targeted his family, hoping to use them as leverage to draw him out. And now, it seemed, they were after Viktor too. They needed to stay ahead of them.

  Kaavi: “We’ve seen some bandits on our way here. Thankfully, we were not spotted.”

  Elderly Woman: "They've grown bolder of te. You’re safe here, for now."

  Kaavi: “Is there a pce where we can rest and find food?”

  Elderly Woman: “Yes, there’s an inn down the street. The food’s good, and their apple pies are famous.”

  Kaavi gave a polite nod, his thoughts already moving toward the next step. They needed rest and information. The inn would serve both purposes.

  After a short walk, they arrived at the modest inn, where the smell of roasted meats and hearty stews filled the air. The crackling fire in the hearth added warmth to the otherwise simple, rustic interior. A stout innkeeper, with a jovial demeanour, greeted them warmly.

  Innkeeper: "Welcome! Welcome! Have a seat by the fire. I’ll get you something to eat and drink."

  Kaavi led Viktor to a table near the hearth. As they settled in, Viktor gnced around the room, absorbing every detail. His eyes sparkled with curiosity. But Kaavi, ever vigint, kept his attention on the room’s occupants, listening intently to the vilgers' conversations.

  After a while, Kaavi leaned closer to Viktor, his voice low but deliberate.

  Kaavi: "I need to learn more about what's happening here. Stay here, listen to the vilgers. You’d be surprised what you can pick up if you pay attention."

  Viktor nodded, his eyes already scanning the room. He felt the weight of the task, understanding that his role was not just to observe, but to learn.

  Kaavi stood and made his way to the innkeeper, engaging him in casual conversation. Viktor, meanwhile, strained to hear the murmurs of nearby vilgers.

  Kaavi: "This vilge seems peaceful enough. But have you had any trouble with bandits tely?"

  Innkeeper: *Sighing* "More than we’d like. It’s not something that usually happens here, but these days, they’ve been bolder. We’re a small vilge. There’s not much of value here, but they still cause trouble."

  Kaavi: "That’s concerning. What are the vilgers doing to protect themselves?"

  Innkeeper: "We keep to ourselves, mostly. We’ve set up watchmen during the night. Some people think there's a reason the bandits avoid us, but others say it’s just luck. Still, better safe than sorry."

  Kaavi: "Have you heard anything about why the bandits have been growing more aggressive?"

  The innkeeper gnced around before lowering his voice.

  Innkeeper: "There’s talk of a new leader among them. A ruthless one. They say he’s looking for someone—two someone, actually. There have been rumours that they’re searching for a man and a child traveling north. And sometimes, they come here to check the inns. It’s been dangerous to even step outside the vilge tely."

  Kaavi: “Thank you for the information. We’ll stay alert.”

  Meanwhile, Viktor, listening carefully, overheard a conversation between two vilgers nearby.

  Vilger 1: "The bandits have a new leader now, and they’re after some child and a man traveling north."

  Vilger 2: "I’ve heard the same. That’s why they’ve been so much more aggressive. Their new leader must be someone ruthless."

  Vilger 1: "Did you hear about the massacre at the southern pass? Nine dead bodies. Some say it was a group of mercenaries, but others say it was a lone warrior seeking revenge."

  Vilger 2: "Either way, it’s made things even worse for everyone. The bandits are more dangerous now."

  Vilger 1: “They’ve already been bothering us about some old man and a child. And now this... We can’t get a moment of peace.”

  Viktor’s stomach tightened as he heard this. He gnced at Kaavi, who was returning to their table. Viktor met his eyes, his expression serious.

  Viktor: “I overheard them talking about a massacre at the southern pass. They mentioned a new leader—someone ruthless, looking for us. It’s probably connected.”

  Kaavi’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed this. His suspicions had been confirmed. The bandits weren’t just after any travellers—they were targeting him, and by extension, Viktor.

  Kaavi: "It’s worse than I thought. They’ll stop at nothing to capture us, to force me out of hiding. We need to be careful."

  Viktor: "What do we do now?"

  Kaavi paused, considering their options. His pn was already taking shape. They needed to find a way to handle the situation without drawing too much attention.

  Kaavi: "There’s a vilge to the north, just a day’s travel from here. I have an old friend there, a colleague from my past. He can help us. We’ll meet him, get the help we need, and pn our next move."

  Viktor nodded, his eyes reflecting both curiosity and concern. "Alright. Let’s go then."

  Kaavi smiled slightly, though it was more of a grimace than anything else.

  Kaavi: "Rest for tonight. Tomorrow, we move out. We’ll need all the strength we can muster."

  As night fell, they retired to their room. Kaavi’s mind raced with the implications of the new information. This new leader of the bandits—he was dangerous, and he was growing more desperate. Kaavi had to stay one step ahead. His powers were the key to everything, and he would never surrender them—not to these bandits, not to anyone.

  They y in silence, each lost in their thoughts. The journey ahead would be long and fraught with danger, but Kaavi knew they had no other choice. They were already on the path, and now, they had to see it through.

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