This looked more like a rural village than a duchy.
"This is my first time in the Hermes Kingdom," Julian said carefully, watching Skreek's reaction.
The change was immediate.
Skreek's expression hardened noticeably. His yellow eyes narrowed, losing their friendly gleam. His tail, which had been swishing happily stopped.
"An outsider," he said flatly. "You're from outside Hermes Kingdom."
The atmosphere changed dramatically. The crocodile-man took a small step backward, creating distance between them. His hand moved subtly toward something concealed in his vest—possibly a weapon, possibly some kind of alarm.
"That's... that's not possible," Skreek said slowly, suspicion clear in his voice. "The borders have been sealed for ages. No one gets in. No one gets out. The magical barriers prevent it. So how could you possibly be—"
