Emily walked ahead, her tail swaying faintly beneath her cloak, while Alferno followed at a comfortable distance behind her.
"First things first," she said, glancing back with a grin. "You better buy me some useful stuff for our little journey."
Alferno tilted his helmet slightly. "You do realize I haven't even gotten a job yet, right?"
She stopped mid-step and turned toward him, staring blankly.
"Oh… right."
Reaching into her cloak pocket, she rummaged around before pulling out a small pouch. She opened it to reveal three silver coins and six bronze ones.
Alferno looked inside. "Wow. You're just as broke as me, huh?"
"Of course!" Emily huffed. "What, you thought I was rich?" She sighed, then shoved the pouch into his hand. "Here. I trust you. Just… don't waste it."
A faint sigh beneath Alferno's helmet. "Right. Let's go buy our useful stuff, then."
They wove through the bustling marketplace, where stalls overflowed with goods and merchants called out to passing customers. Among the beastfolk, a few humans tended their shops as well, their voices blending into the noise.
"Huh," Alferno said. "I thought beastfolk hated humans."
"Some do," Emily replied, glancing at him. "But the mayor allowed human merchants and adventurers into town to help the economy. It keeps things running smoothly."
"Interesting…" He paused. "Then what was up with those drunken guys earlier?"
Emily chuckled and shot him a teasing look. "I mean, look at you. Full armor, helmet and all. You practically scream royal knight. They probably thought you were some noble from the capital."
"Tch." Alferno crossed his arms. "So I get mistaken for a stuck-up noble just because I prefer keeping my organs inside my body?"
She laughed. "Exactly!"
He sighed and shook his head as they continued browsing.
As they walked, Alferno opened the pouch and examined the coins more closely. Each one bore the engraved landmarks of the Belinis Kingdom—familiar, almost nostalgic.
"Hey, hey!" Emily suddenly said, her eyes lighting up as she spotted a food stall. "Can we buy this?"
She hurried over, pressing her hands together in a dramatic plea.
Alferno glanced at the food, then shook his head. "No. We need to save up for important things." His gaze shifted to a nearby weapon stand. "Come on. Let's go there instead."
Emily pouted, casting one last longing look at the stall before giving the old woman running it a small, exaggerated wave.
The weapon merchant greeted them eagerly. "Welcome! Take your time—browse as much as you like!"
Alferno scanned the display and picked up a simple but sturdy steel sword. As he inspected the blade, his gaze lingered on an engraving etched near the hilt—words written in dwarven script.
"Our rule will survive…" he muttered under his breath.
Intrigued, he kept hold of the sword and turned to Emily. "Find anything?"
"Yes, yes!" she said brightly, holding up a dagger. It was affordable, but the craftsmanship was unmistakable—fine balance, clean edges. "Look at this!"
Alferno recognized it immediately. Rua Alsio craftsmanship. The neighboring ally of Belinis was famous for its blacksmiths.
"Not bad," he said.
The merchant nodded approvingly. "That'll be three silver coins."
Without hesitation, Alferno handed over all of them.
As they walked away, Emily stared at her dagger with a mix of pride and regret. "There goes all our money…"
"We still have six bronze coins."
She groaned. "That won't even get us a decent meal. Maybe two cheap ones at best."
"Then we better make them count."
Despite her exaggerated sigh, she smiled as they continued through the food stalls, carefully selecting supplies meant to last. By the time they were done, only a single bronze coin remained.
Alferno examined the near-empty pouch. "Great. We used all of them."
"At least we're geared up," Emily said cheerfully. "Ready for our little adventure."
He adjusted the sword at his side. "Yeah. Let's keep moving."
They headed toward the town gate. The streets buzzed with life—beastfolk chatting, merchants calling out deals, children darting between stalls. Bathed in warm afternoon light, the town felt peaceful. Almost unreal.
"It's a quiet place," Alferno said.
Emily nodded proudly. "That's because we made the right choice—by not letting humans live with us!"
He glanced at her. "I see… What's going on?"
"Huh?" She blinked. "You don't know what's happening between humans and beastfolk?"
Alferno shrugged. "Guess I live under a rock."
She rolled her eyes. "Figures. Alright. The peace agreement broke down after the new leaders of Belinis took power."
"What do you mean?"
As they neared the gate, she hesitated before continuing.
"The Blessing from the Gods hero group overthrew our king," she said quietly. "Now… beastfolk, elves, dwarves, dragons—anyone who isn't human—they're being enslaved. All because of the Blessing Flowers."
Alferno noticed the shift in her voice. He let the topic drop, though the weight of her words lingered.
"I see," he said at last. "Thanks for telling me."
"Of course," she replied, folding her arms.
At the south gate, they showed their adventurer cards to the guards. After a brief inspection, they were allowed through.
As Emily stepped beyond the town walls—leaving her home with someone walking beside her for the first time—excitement fluttered in her chest.
"I can't believe this day finally came!" Emily said, practically bouncing as they walked. "I've waited so long to go on adventures!"
"Glad I could help," Alferno replied.
"You didn't just help me—you saved me from dying of boredom," she added with a chuckle.
"Adventuring is exciting," he said evenly. "Just remember, there's plenty of danger out here too."
"Don't think I don't know that!" Emily shot back. "Of course I do."
They continued along the dirt road, carriages occasionally passing by on their way toward town while the two of them headed farther away from it.
After about sixteen minutes of walking, they reached a wide river spanned by a long wooden bridge. The water flowed steadily beneath it, fish gliding just below the surface. Overhanging branches leaned so far out that they looked ready to fall in at any moment. The sun was beginning to set, bathing the land in golden light. Birds sang softly, and small animals rested near the riverbank.
The scene was breathtaking.
"Wow…" Emily murmured, her eyes wide. "Everything's so beautiful."
"Danger hides behind beauty," Alferno said.
She rolled her eyes. "At least let me enjoy the moment before you start ruining it."
As the sun dipped lower and darkness crept in, they decided it was too risky to keep traveling. Beneath a large tree, they stopped to make camp.
"Go gather some firewood," Alferno said. "We'll need light."
She gave him a playful salute. "Yes, mister!"
Then she skipped off, her tail swaying with each step.
He sighed. "She's way too excited for this…"
While Emily was gone, he prepared the camp. When she returned with an armful of firewood and dropped it onto the ground, Alferno knelt and struck a stone against a stick, working patiently to create a spark.
"So," Emily said casually, "neither of us can really use magic, huh?"
"I know the basics," he replied.
After a few moments, a small flame flickered to life. It caught onto the wood, slowly growing into a steady fire that cast warm light around them.
"That's awesome!" Emily said, eyes wide. "I don't even know the basics…"
Her voice trailed off, embarrassed, as she picked up a stick and began drawing random shapes in the dirt.
"I see," Alferno said. "Maybe one day, I can teach you a few things."
Her eyes lit up instantly. "Really? I'd love that!"
Night fully settled in, the fire crackling softly as it pushed back the cool air.
"So," Emily said after a moment, "can I ask where you're from?"
Alferno paused, choosing his words carefully. "Northern Asda."
Her ears perked up. "Asda? That's really far from the Belinis Kingdom."
"Yeah. I was born there. But after the kingdom fell into civil war, I moved to Belinis."
She blinked. "Wow… then why become a mercenary knight?"
He hesitated, then offered a half-truth. "Personal issues. I was lost. Didn't have much money to survive."
The real reason—his journey, his curse, the truth beneath his armor—remained unspoken. Emily didn't suspect a thing.
"I see…" she said quietly.
Only the fire and distant owl calls filled the silence.
"What about you?" Alferno asked. "Did you grow up in Beasts Town?"
"I wish," she replied. "But no."
He nodded. "Then where?"
She stared into the fire for a long moment before speaking.
"Ferland. The capital of Belinis. After the kingdom was overthrown… humans finally gained the right to abuse beastfolk—and anyone who isn't human." She sighed. "We couldn't do anything. Not with the Blessing Flowers involved."
"Blessing Flowers…" Alferno murmured. "I've heard they hold great power."
"Yes," she said with a bitter smile. "Great power. And even greater greed."
Silence fell again.
"I'm going to sleep," Emily said eventually. "You'll watch out for danger, right?"
"Nope."
She raised an eyebrow. "I don't want to wake up and find us being eaten by something."
He chuckled. "I'm kidding. I'll keep watch."
Morning came softly.
Emily stretched lazily, her tail swaying as she opened her eyes. The fire had dwindled to faint embers. Alferno was still there, sitting exactly where he had been.
"You finally woke up," he said. "Good morning, sleepy cat."
"Hey!" she snapped playfully. "Watch that tone or I'll kick your butt all the way to the sky."
"Yeah, right." He stood. "Come on."
She groaned as she packed her things. "At least let me wash my face!"
"No. You already look fine."
Her face warmed. "Don't flatter me—I'm dirty!"
"We need to keep moving."
Without waiting, he started walking. She pulled her cloak tighter and followed, clearly annoyed—but not truly angry.
"You're so stubborn," she muttered.
"Yep. Stubborn."
She yawned, rubbed her eyes… then paused.
"Where are we heading?"
"North Glory. Then the second-largest capital of Belinis."
Her eyes widened slightly. "North Glory? Why there?"
"I need to update my adventurer card—like Fiona told me. Then we'll take a job before heading to another city."
"That makes sense," she said with a nod.
They walked on, the forest alive with sound—leaves rustling, birds calling, the wind humming softly.
"It's cozy," Emily said, glancing around. "But I don't like the idea of getting lost."
"We won't," Alferno said calmly. "Even if we do, I'll find a way out."
"I trust you," she teased.
They rested briefly, then continued—until the path changed. The road grew uneven and unfamiliar.
Soon, ruins came into view.
A village—or what was left of one.
Charred buildings. Broken stone. Ash everywhere.
"What happened here…?" Emily whispered.
"An attack," Alferno said, scanning the area.
Among the wreckage lay shattered statues of beastfolk gods. Broken. Discarded.
An illegal village. Hidden. Destroyed.
Her fists clenched. "That was a beastfolk village… How dare they?"
"Easy," Alferno said calmly. "Let's not jump to conclusions. Keep moving."
"I can't just forget this," she murmured.
After a long silence, she spoke again.
"I think North Glory did this."
Alferno nodded grimly. "Yeah… I think so too."
The forest thinned. The land flattened. Green faded into dry, empty stretches.
Then—North Glory appeared.
Massive. Towering. Far larger than Beasts Town.
At first glance, it looked magnificent. But the land around it told another story.
Burned carts. Broken siege equipment. Smoke on the horizon.
A city shaped by war.
"This isn't what I imagined," Emily said softly. "It's bigger… but it's falling apart."
"It's all a front," Alferno said. "They call it peace. But everything around it is broken."
They walked closer, the weight of the city pressing down on them both.