The steady creak of the caravan’s wheels and the soft chirping of distant birds filtered through Kaiser’s mind as he stirred awake. For a moment, he laid there, his body heavy from the deep, dreamless sleep he’d fallen into. His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the warm light pouring in through the small windows of the caravan.

  Even though the bed was cozy, he quickly realized it wasn't the spot he'd dozed off in. He looked about and rubbed his temples, his mind drifting, trying to recall what happened last night, but Aria’s light and cheerful voice drew his attention to the front of the caravan the second he heard it.

  As he sat up, the cozy covers drifted off him and he realized that this was the same bed Aria had been resting in before.

  Taking his time and stretching, he slowly approached the front of the caravan. Aria was seated on the bench beside Glunko as he approached the front; where she was talking passionately and gesturing toward the horizon. With a subtle grin on his face, Glunko nodded while holding the reins with one hand.

  Kaiser stopped just behind them, unseen for the moment, and took a second to soak in the sight. Aria’s energy was infectious, her pink hair bouncing as she talked, her excitement enough to fill the small space.

  “…and then, when the sun came up, it was all shiny and glowing! I really think the trees are magical," she said with excitement, gesturing toward the sparkling forest they were passing by.

  Glunko chuckled, his tone warm and tender. “Everything appears enchanting to someone experiencing it for the first time. The trees aren’t glowing kid, they’re just reflecting the light.”

  "But they look enchanted," Aria said with a hint of frustration, her face showing her disappointment.

  “They do,” Kaiser said, his voice interrupting the moment and catching them both off guard.

  Aria yelped and spun around, her eyes wide before her face broke into a bright smile. Dio, you’re awake!”

  He nodded, stepping fully into their view and sitting between the two. “What’s this all about magic threes?”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that!” Aria smiled playfully, leaning in closer to him as if she were about to share a delightful secret. “Guess what Glunko did this morning?”

  Kaiser raised an eyebrow, looking over at Glunko, who let out a big sigh, clearly expecting what was coming next. “Did anything happen while I was sleeping?”

  Aria smiled brightly. “He lifted you into the caravan like a princess!”

  Kaiser cringed, his face quickly shifting to show a blend of embarrassment and disbelief.

  “...Huh?”

  “Like a princess," Aria repeated with delight, obviously enjoying in his response. "You were totally out of it! He said he couldn’t just leave you slumped by the fire all night, so he—”

  “Alright, that’s enough,” Glunko cut in, his tone exasperated but amused. “I wasn’t about to leave you there snoring like some old warhorse, so yes, I carried you inside. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

  “A princess, Glunko,” Aria said, unable to stop giggling. “You said he was so peaceful you didn’t want to wake him up. That’s what you said!”

  As a hand ran down his face, Kaiser let out a grunt. “I don’t snore,” he muttered, choosing to latch onto the least humiliating part of the story.

  "Oh, you do," Glunko grinned and confirmed. "Loud enough to scare off an army of men, I would even say that if some poor souls traveled near us while you were asleep, a new legend would have been born last night."

  Aria drooped to her knees and giggled, clutching her sides. Kaiser sighed, his ears burning. “You two are unbearable.”

  Kaiser felt an unexpected sense of peace. He couldn't remember the last time he had acted this freely around people he still considered strangers. The ease with which he let his guard down, especially after what had happened last night, struck him as strange.

  Kaiser glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if testing for something. “It’s strange,” he said softly, almost to himself.

  “What is?” Aria tilted her head, her laughter fading as she noticed the change in his tone.

  “I don’t feel... anything,” Kaiser admitted, his voice tinged with confusion. “No tension, no restlessness. Last night, it was like a storm in my head, but now… it’s just gone.”

  Glunko gave him a curious look. “And that’s not normal for you?”

  Kaiser shook his head. “Not at all. I’ve never felt this... calm. It doesn’t make sense.”

  Finally, Glunko leaned back, his tone lighter again. “Well, maybe it’s the magic trees,” he said with a shrug. “Or maybe you’ve just realized how lucky you are to have such considerate travel companions.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Aria grinned. “Especially ones who carry you like a princess!”

  “You two are a dangerous combination," Kaiser said, shaking his head. "I don’t know if I’ll survive this journey with my dignity intact."

  Aria looked back to him, her pink hair rippling as she cackled. "Oh, come on, Kaiser. Don't be such a grumpy—" she stopped short of finishing the sentence, her skin turning to a ghastly white as she realized what she had just said. Her eyes went wild searching for Kaiser in panic, and she backed up as fast as she could. "I-I mean, Dio! I mean... Kaiser! I mean, sir Dio—oh no, I didn’t mean to—"

  Both Kaiser and Glunko burst into laughter, the sound startling her. Kaiser raised a hand, his chuckling deep and genuine, a sound she hadn’t heard from him before.

  Kaiser wiped a tear of laughter from his eye, "It's all right, Aria. His tone was gentler than before. "He already knew my name wasn’t Dio. You don't need to act anymore.”

  Blinking, Aria's face displayed a combination of relief and shame. "He knew?"

  Glunko snorted, pulling gently on the reins as he leaned back in the seat. "Kid, the way you hesitated every time you said 'Dio' made it pretty obvious."

  Aria smiled shyly when the tension finally went away. However, when the conversation was about to return to its typical playful tone, Aria again hesitated for a moment, and a moment later, her fingers tugged at the strap of a small pouch she had hidden by her side.

  “I, um…" She suddenly said, in a quieter voice, "I wasn't really asleep last night."

  Both Kaiser and Glunko turned to her, their expressions curious.

  "I—uh—I mean, I tried to sleep, but I couldn't." She fidgeted with the pouch and stammered "I was working on something, so I stayed up." She took a neatly folded stack of shimmering fabric that seemed to shift colors as the sunlight touched it. Blues turned to purples, and purples to greens in a mesmerizing, fluid motion.

  Glunko froze, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto the fabric with an expression of utter shock. "By the stars... what is that?"

  Aria glanced at him nervously, holding the fabric out. "It’s just... silk. I wanted to make something as a thank you for all the help you’ve given us. I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you do, and—"

  Glunko held up a hand, cutting her off. He didn’t take the silk but instead leaned closer, his jaw slack. "That’s not just silk, girl. That’s... I’ve never even seen anything like it before. It’s... alive."

  Kaiser tilted his head and looked at the fabric with a fresh sense of curiosity. The colors moved like liquid light, and he could almost feel a slight warmth coming from them. "How did you even come across something like this?"

  Aria smiled nervously. "It’s not important. I just thought you might like it."

  Glunko finally took the fabric, his hands trembling slightly as he unfolded it to see the full extent of its beauty. He let out a low whistle. "I can’t accept this. Do you have any idea how valuable this is? This isn’t a thank-you gift; this is something nobles would kill for."

  Aria frowned, her expression falling. "But I wanted to—"

  Glunko replied with a firm "No" but his tone was soft. He took a small bag of golden coins that made a jingling sound when he took them out of his pouch, and then forced it into her hands. "Take this. It’s not nearly enough for something like that, but I can’t take it without giving you something in return."

  Aria's expression was torn as she looked at the pouch forced into her hands. "But I wanted it to be a gift..."

  "And it’s a beautiful one," Glunko added in his usual warm tone. "But this... this is unlike anything I have ever seen before. It wouldn't feel right if I just took it without giving something in return. If it makes you feel better, you can now officially call us even, for both the ride and all the kralak you ate before.”

  Aria looked at the coins, then at Glunko, and nodded. "Okay… but only because you insist."

  Glunko cleared his throat. "When we reach Arkhold, you’ll need that for food and shelter," he said, nodding toward the pouch of gold. “If there is no family to support you, it's likely to be your only safety net.”

  Kaiser, sitting with his arms crossed perked up at Glunko’s comment. "Tell me about this city, what’s it like there?"

  Before Glunko could answer, Aria perked up, leaning forward with excitement. "Oh, I know this one! Arkhold is known as the ‘City on the edge of the World.’ It's the place where the coolest retailers come to get the rarest stuff for the best price. They buy everything there and sell it elsewhere for a fortune.".

  Kaiser blinked, caught off guard by her enthusiasm. "The 'end of the world'? That’s quite the name."

  "It’s because so many mythical places are nearby!" Aria explained, her voice bright with excitement.

  "Like this forest made of glass! People come from everywhere to gather rare goods you can only find here. If you want something unique, you go to Arkhold. It’s... kind of a rule, really."

  Glunko turned his head slightly, smirking at Aria. "Well done, girl. That’s exactly right."

  The compliment made Aria beam with pride. She sat up straighter, practically glowing as she hugged the pouch of gold to her chest. "I’ve read about it a lot," she said, grinning.

  Glunko chuckled. "Clearly. Maybe you should be the one leading us, you seem to know more about Arkhold than most who have actual been there."

  The ego boost seemed to energize Aria even more, and she shot Kaiser a triumphant look, as if daring him to challenge her knowledge. Kaiser merely rolled his eyes with a faint smile, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit lighter seeing her mood.

  Then Glunko’s tone shifted, turning more serious. "But Arkhold isn’t all magic and wonder," he said, glancing back at Kaiser and Aria. "I’m looking for a specific item there—something my boss sent me to retrieve. But let me warn you both: Arkhold is a city where you can buy anything."

  Aria tilted her head, confused. "Anything? That should be a good thing… right?"

  Glunko shook his head firmly. "It’s not." His voice was low and deliberate now, each word carrying weight. "You can buy things there that shouldn’t be bought. And people sell things they shouldn’t be selling. There’s a reason Arkhold has the reputation it does. It’s dangerous, especially for people like you two who don’t know its rules.".

  Aria blinked, her cheerful expression faltering. "I-I don’t understand…"

  Kaiser, however, caught the gravity in Glunko’s tone. He leaned forward, his expression darkening. "You’re saying it’s not just regular merchants and markets. There’s more to it, isn’t there?"

  Glunko nodded grimly. "A lot more. Folks imagine they will be alright—explore the places, make the purchases, walk off. But Arkhold doesn’t let go of people easily. The less time you spend there, the better."

  Kaiser’s jaw tightened. “So we stay for as little as we need to.”

  "What?!" Aria cried out, her voice filled with dismay. "No! We can’t just rush through! I’ve always wanted to see Arkhold! There’s so much to explore!"

  Glunko ignored her complaint and walked over to Kaiser, who smiled and nodded approvingly. "Smart. You understand the risks."

  "But—!" Aria started to argue, but one look from Glunko silenced her. She slumped back into her seat, pouting. “It can't be that bad," she mumbled