Finally out of the cave, Violet and Nainai found themselves standing before a vast, open countryside.
In the distance, windmills turned lazily, and a dirt path cut through the fields.
The sun was high, and as the pair took in the view before them, they gladly welcomed the cool breeze carrying the sharp scent of trees and dry straw.
"We did it, Nainai!!!"
Violet stretched her arms wide, letting the invigorating wind and the gentle landscape wash over her. They began descending the small hill where the cave's exit was hidden.
Once they reached the dirt road—flat, well-trod, orderly—they followed it onward. Around them stretched fields, barns, and farther away a few sheep grazing peacefully, utterly indifferent to their presence.
"According to this map, there should be a big human city nearby!"
Violet kept walking, following the map's directions, heading down the dirt lanes lined with trees.
Farther ahead, sitting under the shade of an old windmill, she spotted a man.
"Maybe he can tell us which way to go!"
Violet took the path leading to the mill and approached the farmer.
Even sitting down, Violet could tell he wasn't very tall. He wore a wide straw hat, and his hands were folded over a walking stick, head lowered and hidden.
"Excuse me…"
The man, deeply asleep, did not respond.
"…Excuse me!"
Still no reaction.
Violet lifted her staff and struck the fence with a loud crack.
"EXCUSE ME!!!"
The man jolted awake with a start.
"Who??? What???"
The old farmer jumped to his feet, looking around in a panic.
"No, Gerta! I—I'll bring the firewood inside right away! I swear!"
Then his eyes finally landed on Violet.
"…You're not Gerta."
"…No."
Violet stared at him, raising an eyebrow.
The old man wasn't human, but some kind of therianthrope whose species Violet couldn't quite identify. The only clue was the long tail swaying behind him.
After a moment of confusion, realizing he was in front of a young woman, the man removed his hat and scratched his head, revealing two small, dark, pointed ears sticking up through his hair.
"…How can I help you, miss?"
Violet stepped forward, still holding the map in her hands.
"Yes, well… I need some information. I've been following the directions on this map, but it doesn't seem very accurate. Isn't there supposed to be a large city nearby?"
The man looked at her, puzzled, absent-mindedly rubbing the top of his head.
"A large city, miss?" he repeated, brow furrowing.
"Well, there's Ostelria not far from here… but I wouldn't exactly call it a large city!"
From the fields, a few sheep had wandered over, drawn by the voices. They were now staring directly into Nainai's eyes—who happened to be exactly at sheep-eye level.
"That's impossible…" Violet muttered, glaring at the map.
"It's clearly marked right here!"
We've been walking for almost three days… Can this map really be that useless?
The farmer, awkwardly shuffling closer, leaned in to examine the place Violet was pointing to.
"And where are you coming from, miss?"
"Giltown!" Violet snapped.
"Mmmhh… Giltown, you say… Let me think. Ah—of course!"
The man's expression suddenly grew serious.
"Miss, Giltown is much farther north than where we are. Northwest, to be precise. May I take a look at that map?"
With an annoyed huff, Violet shoved the map into his hands, continuing to grumble under her breath.
The old man held it up, studying it carefully.
There was a long moment of silence.
"Mmmhh… Mhm… Ah!"
Violet's eyes lit up with hope.
The farmer looked back at her—eyes wide, utterly bewildered.
"Miss!" he exclaimed, flipping the map around.
"You were holding the map upside down!"
The man burst into loud, rolling laughter, pointing straight at Violet—who, in response to his reaction, had turned as red as a tomato from sheer embarrassment.
"Come on, Nainai, let's get out of here!"
Yanking the rope, she dragged the dwarf along, desperate to get away as fast as possible.
Once they were back on the road and she had stuffed the map deep inside her robes, the pair walked far enough that the farmer's laughter no longer reached them.
Cursed map, cursed journey. Cursed me!
Violet marched ahead at a fast, furious pace, paying no attention whatsoever to her surroundings.
They passed an elderly raccoon-man sitting under a large tree, resting in the shade.
He watched them the way anyone might watch a girl sprinting past while dragging behind her an old dwarf tied to her waist with a rope.
"People sure get stranger and stranger…"
Violet didn't even glance at him.
Then, suddenly, further down the road—some wagons. Several of them, all travelling in an orderly line. Looking more carefully, Violet realized they were a merchant caravan.
"If there are merchants, then there must be a settlement nearby!"
The thought of finally finding a village gave her new energy.
They followed the wagons from a distance for quite a while.
And at last, before them—walls.