The settlement we arrived at just as night fell was called Bereka.

  It didn’t differ much from Apelfaund, except that birches grew around it instead of apple trees, and the town itself was a bit larger. Bereka also stood by a river, though here it was about ten times wider, and even now, locals were still fishing. In the moonlight, you could spot a couple of boats drifting lazily in the distance. Perhaps some fish could only be caught at night.

  There were no lanterns in the town, but the street was decently lit by the glow from the windows of the houses. We made our way to the loudest, brightest place - the tavern.

  Bann entered first, after which a man came out to us and led the horses to the stable.

  The tavern greeted us with a thick smell of fish, spilled ale, and damp wood. It was cramped inside but nearly empty - five men sat at two roughly hewn tables. They drank, chatting animatedly, their laughter echoing against the low ceiling. One of them lifted his head, glanced at us briefly, and returned his attention to his mug. Behind the counter stood a sweating, bloated pitcher, but there was no sign of the innkeeper. However, noises came from the basement, so he was probably fetching a new batch of booze.

  As we took a seat at an empty table, Bann pulled out a pouch of colorful stones and started counting them.

  In Apelfaund, there had been a pagoda where they had sheltered us for free and even fed us. Here we’d have to pay for everything.

  “Why stones?” I asked.

  “What?” the bald man replied, puzzled.

  I wasn’t used to seeing anything other than coins used for transactions, and since they had no alternative currency, my question seemed odd to him.

  “I mean, why are these stones valuable? What makes them currency?”

  “How should I know?”

  Taking a closer look, I noticed that all the stones were roughly the same faceted shape. Their sizes varied, though. Someone out there was actually cutting every edge on these things. That’s one job I wouldn’t want.

  “What’s the lowest-value stone?” I asked.

  “Ten red bato equals one green. A hundred green equals one blue. And it takes a thousand blue bato to make one gold. But I’ve never seen a gold one in my life.”

  One gold - that’s, what, a million red? I could already picture some rich guy walking into a bank with a tiny stone and leaving with fifty bags full.

  The door to the basement opened, and that’s when we saw the innkeeper for the first time. His entrance wasn’t exactly impressive - he got stuck in the doorway due to his size. Fortunately, his slick, fish-like skin helped him squeeze through quickly. Once he secured a barrel to the wall, he stepped behind the counter.

  To put it bluntly, he looked like a humanoid catfish. Same eyes, same whiskers, and the same enormous, terrifying mouth. He wasn’t tall but was impressively wide. A dirty, worn apron stretched over his bloated, gray belly, and while his hands looked swollen, they seemed muscular on closer inspection.

  Belching grotesquely, he noticed us.

  “Guests?!” His tiny eyes bulged, and he jumped in surprise, knocking several empty mugs to the floor. “Sorry, I didn’t see you right away.”

  He shuffled over to our table, ready to take our order.

  “What’s on the menu?” the old man asked.

  “Not much to choose from. Fried crucian carp with boiled potatoes or eels soaked in vinegar with pickled onions. Caught them myself, by the way!” He stuck out a long tongue, showing burn marks on it.

  What was that supposed to mean? The eel electrocuted him? Wait, does that mean he catches fish by swallowing them whole? I wonder if he just holds them in his mouth or if he actually swallows them and spits them back up.

  Even imagining it didn’t kill my appetite. I’d had worse things in my mouth.

  The monk glanced at me and the girl.

  “Crucian carp with potatoes and pickled onions,” I said first, a hint of hesitation in my voice.

  Chao-Ri nodded, agreeing to the same.

  “I won’t stand out; I’ll join the youngsters,” the old man said, casting a sidelong glance at the barrel the innkeeper had brought up earlier. “And three mugs of fish beer.”

  As the catfish turned his back to us, I noticed he had a tiny tail. It wagged in the funniest way.

  ******

  This was the first delicious meal I’d tasted in this world. The beer, though… Its foul, black appearance turned out to be a spot-on preview of its even worse taste. As I drank it, I learned how it was made. In short, it’s a fermented sludge produced by crushing fish eyes. The muck is strained, mixed with water and some kind of fungi, and voilà - a hellish concoction is ready. After a couple of sips, I handed it over to the old man, who graciously accepted my “generosity” without a second thought. Though, to be fair, he was the one footing the bill, so calling it generosity would be a stretch.

  I’m itching to reach a larger town to find some work. The road ahead is long, and I don’t want Bann to keep covering all the expenses.

  After we finished eating, the catfish joined us. Over my lifetime, I’ve seen plenty of unbelievable things. The fact that the wooden chair held up under this guy definitely ranks in my personal top 10. By the way, people like him are called seiras. They even have their own settlements. Those who want to socialize and form relationships with other races move to land and build villages along rivers. The more solitary types stay underwater in lakes.

  “Well, how was it?”

  “It was tasty,” I replied.

  It was really only the fish that tasted good. I still find the taste of local vegetables disgusting.

  “Agreed,” the monk said, folding his hands in a respectful nod. He then pulled out his purse, ready to pay.

  “Hold your horses,” the catfish said, surprising us. “Missy, you’re a bard, right?” He was staring intently at Chao-Ri.

  “What, planning a duel?” Bann interjected, knowing full well she wasn’t going to answer.

  “Yes. I and that bearded guy over there,” he gestured with a fin-like finger toward a man at a nearby table, “have been at it for months without resolution. We need an epic duel to put an end to this once and for all.”

  “He’s strong enough to match you? Doesn’t look like it,” I remarked, giving the bearded man an appraising glance.

  I didn’t envy him. Going head-to-head with this hulking mass? One wrong move, and you could lose an arm.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” seira said, smiling as he stroked his wiggling whiskers. “So, will you help us?”

  “It’s late. Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”

  “Old man, don’t worry about it. The neighbors are used to our nighttime scuffles.”

  “A bard’s services don’t come cheap,” I cut in, deciding to negotiate.

  “How much? A room for three, plus your meal. I can even throw in something for the road.”

  “Don’t forget about the horses,” I added.

  “Deal?” Despite negotiating with us, he extended his hand to the bard as the final decision rested with her.

  Noticing her hesitation, he wiped his damp hand on his apron.

  In the end, a weary Chao-Ri reluctantly shook his hand.

  ******

  If this is meant to be a final duel, I assume they’ll fight to the death. Which means… digging another grave? Yeah, I’m definitely rooting for seira. If he loses, we’ll have to drag his bulk to the cemetery. Nope, not doing that. I’d bury him right in the road and not give a damn what anyone thinks.

  At the innkeeper’s request, the bard was supposed to play her lute. Out of her three instruments, only the lute could add the necessary “epic” touch to their clash.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Well then, bring it on!” the catfish bellowed, belching loudly.

  The innkeeper’s assistant went behind the counter - presumably for weapons? Meanwhile, the bearded man started rubbing his hands together.

  “You’re doing this right here?” Bann asked, surprised.

  “Where else would we? The street?”

  The monk’s expression plainly read, “Everywhere,” but when the assistant pulled out a game board and cards from behind the counter, that expression vanished.

  “So you’re playing cards?” I asked.

  “What, you thought we’d fight? Ha-ha-ha!” the catfish chuckled, twirling his whiskers. “One fart from me would knock the poor guy out cold,” he said, glancing at the bearded man. “In Bereka, we settle disputes over the game board.”

  “And why do you need a bard for that?”

  “We’re playing the blitz version.”

  “And how does that change anything?”

  “Changes everything. You’ll see.”

  ******

  And so, to the lively sounds of a lute, the two of them began their card game, occasionally moving pieces on the board. In the twenty minutes the game lasted, I never figured out the rules - except that in the blitz version, turns were timed. But I have to admit, it looked genuinely epic. In the heat of the match, the catfish inexplicably yawned often. I half-expected him to swallow his opponent whole.

  For the record, they still couldn’t determine a winner.

  ******

  Since the city of Okan wasn’t far, we decided not to linger in this village.

  But before we reached the city, we stumbled upon a truly bizarre place.

  A lake - completely filled with white liquid.

  “It’s not on my map,” Bann noted.

  The lake’s surface was littered with animal bones. While Chao-Ri stepped away for a bathroom break, the old man and I stayed alone by the shore. Driven by curiosity, I lightly touched the water’s surface to check if it was acidic. Realizing there was no danger, I went further, plunging my hand in this time. I felt something like an electric current, slowly spreading from my fingertips through my body. Surprisingly pleasant.

  Scooping up some sediment, I examined it closely. Thick and slippery, but it left no residue as it dripped away.

  It reminded me of something.

  Slapping the water’s surface, I met resistance. Just as I thought. This entire lake was made of non-Newtonian fluid. Move slowly, and it lets you in. Add sudden force, and it resists. No wonder there were so many bones here. This liquid was a perfect trap for foolish animals. One wrong step, and it starts swallowing you. Panic makes escape impossible.

  “Am I seeing things, or is there something out there?” Bann asked, squinting at the center of the lake.

  From beneath the water, tentacles protruded. From this distance, it was impossible to make out any details.

  Looking at it from another angle, the whole situation was just insane. White liquid and tentacles… I knew a couple of guys who’d appreciate this combo.

  “An entire lake transported here by a dimensional rift?” I asked the monk, though the answer seemed obvious.

  “I can’t see another explanation. And it probably happened recently. My map is dated to 989. Twelve years ago, this was just an ordinary plain.”

  Oh, so it’s 1001 now? What a beautiful number! Though it's a shame I didn’t arrive here for the Millennium Celebration.

  ******

  And so, finally, we approached the city. It was still a couple of kilometers away, but the tall wooden walls were already visible from here. There were even tall towers, and it seemed they were made of stone, which was rare for this place.

  At last, our journey would slow down. Only in fairy tales, where tedious moments are skipped for the sake of the plot, does traveling seem like something fun. Constant pain in the ass and groin from uneven roads. Scenery so repetitive it’s only occasionally broken up by something genuinely interesting. Hardly any conversation because the wind’s always in your face, and let’s not forget the risk of biting your tongue.

  In short, we were ready to settle down for a while, primarily to make some money. It’s not every day you find free lodging, and a financial cushion was essential.

  At a crossroads, we stumbled upon yet another curious sight. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people had gathered on a meadow near the main road. They’d spread out blankets and food everywhere, like they were having some massive picnic. The sheer number of them made our horses slow to a cautious pace.

  “Wait!” A plump middle-aged woman called out as we passed the crowd. “I wouldn’t recommend heading to the city right now!”

  “What’s the matter?” Bann asked.

  “The Champion is arriving soon!” she replied, her voice brimming with excitement.

  The monk didn’t share her enthusiasm. His brows shot up, and he seemed momentarily lost for words.

  “What Champion?” I whispered to Chao-Ri.

  “You haven’t heard of that either?” she whispered back.

  “As you can see, no.”

  “Ask Bann. I don’t feel like explaining,” she said, deliberately turning away to avoid my eager gaze.

  “Hey… hey…”

  “One drunkard insulted the King, and another recited a poem. And now here we are,” the woman interrupted, gesturing toward a spot where her large family was sitting. “Join us if you’d like. I can share some food with you.”

  “Thank you for the invitation, but we’ll have to decline,” Bann replied, forcing a polite smile.

  We moved off the road and dismounted our horses.

  “Hey, Bann, what’s going on?”

  “Lower your voice,” he said without even looking at me.

  I was already speaking quietly. Or was I supposed to whisper? Something strange is going on. Even during the anomaly battle, he hadn’t seemed this tense.

  “I’ll explain this once, and once only. Don’t bring it up again. Got it?”

  “Yeah…” I scratched the back of my head.

  “Never - and I mean never - speak ill of the King. No, scratch that. Don’t mention him at all. Understand?”

  “Got it.”

  “He rules the world. The one and only absolute.”

  “The King of Velisatia rules the world?” I asked, incredulous.

  Isn't that giving him too much credit?

  “Velisatia has nothing to do with it. The kingdoms are ruled by princes and princesses, but in truth, they’re powerless. If the King wishes, no one will even remember their existence by tomorrow. From his golden fortress, he silently observes everything happening below. The world as we know it exists only because it pleases him.”

  Wait… the fortress with the floating manta rays?

  “Look! The Champion is here!” someone from the crowd shouted, pointing to the sky.

  Speak of the devil...

  Slicing through the clouds, a manta ray zipped through the air at astonishing speed.

  “And who are the Champions?” I asked my final question.

  “Those who earned a place in the heavens through their strength. To summon them, you recite a special poem.”

  “Did you tie that bastard’s ropes tightly enough?” I overheard a snippet of conversation in the crowd.

  “Afraid the criminal might escape? Don’t worry. Even if he somehow gets free, there’s no avoiding heavenly punishment.”

  “He jumped! He jumped!” one of the Champion’s fans squealed with joy, practically beside himself with excitement.

  Jumped from where? Oh, so the Champions ride manta rays? Cool. But did he really jump? I couldn’t see anything. How could anyone spot something at that distance?

  A wave of applause swept across the meadow.

  “I love you, Champ!”

  “Give me your autograph!”

  “I want to have kids with you!”

  “Fool, he won't hear you!”

  Amid the roaring cheers, the city of Okan was wiped off the face of the earth.

  The shockwave from the Champion’s landing leveled the entire city, leaving nothing but rubble.

  A deathly silence swept over the plain. Not everyone believed their eyes at first.

  “Huh?”

  “What?”

  “That can’t be!”

  “AAAAAA!”

  “My father! He’s still in the city!”

  “Why?”

  “There were still people there!”

  “Mom! Mommy!”

  The locals’ excitement turned to agony in an instant. None of them had expected this outcome. They’d gathered for a spectacle and ended up losing everything.

  The rising mushroom cloud of dust reminded me of the day I first died. The day I learned that the life of an ordinary person was worthless.

  “Fucking bastards.”

  Shit… I let my emotions get the better of me. I hadn’t meant to say it out loud. Luckily, with all the noise, no one seemed to hear me.

  At least, that’s what I thought.

  Moments later, I saw a shadow moving toward us. Before I could even react, the Champion's fist was in my face. It was the last thing I saw before the contents of my skull splattered across the meadow.

  ******

  AAAAAA!

  God! It hurts!

  I’ve never felt anything like this before!

  It’s as if every nerve in my body was ripped out and slowly, excruciatingly wound onto a knife!

  But I’m just a consciousness! How is this possible?!

  Why does it hurt so much?!

  My soul is literally being torn apart! No physical pain compares to this!

  AAAAAA!

  Enough! I beg you!

  My essence is breaking into billions of pieces! I feel the pain of each one! Then they start to come back together, and it repeats over and over again.

  ******

  When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t close them again. A strange hum filled my ears. My whole body shook, and even breathing became nearly impossible.

  Thankfully, the fear dissipated quickly. But just thinking about that bastard’s fist made my back break out in goosebumps.

  So… where am I? Why is it night already? Regrowing a head shouldn’t have taken this long.

  Gradually, my eyes adjusted to the darkness, and I noticed that most of my body was buried in the ground.

  A handful of dry soil fell onto my chest. I was being buried alive.

  I could hear two voices, but I couldn’t make out their words - my ears were still ringing.

  It makes sense to assume it’s Bann and Chao-Ri. Unless they’ve been killed too? I hope not. I want to keep traveling with them. If it really is them, then I’ll need to confess. Tell them about my immortality, but I don’t know how to justify it. Would I have to admit I’m an anomaly?

  Am I ready for this? Do I trust them that much?

  Screw it! Let’s do this!

  But before I could utter a single word, a migraine overtook me, so intense it felt like something inside my skull was swelling…

  And then… bursting.

  I died again before I could warn my companions.

  ******

  In the end, I was buried alive.