Vander decided to make his way directly to Pentru-calatori. Shortly after leaving, the sun had sunk below the horizon, leaving Vander to make his virgin journey under the stars. Luckily, his eyes were well attuned for the dark, being able to see almost as well as he could during the day. He was thankful that the shield that Hemly gave him was light, as he had about a day's journey ahead of him. However, knowing how valuable the shield was, he kept it covered and wore it on his back. Many of the adventurers that he had seen pass through Oras-pietruit, had donned shields on their back, so he had hoped that a covered shield wouldn't draw too much attention. Without a weapon, or much knowledge in combat, he wasn't too willing to enter conflict.
The forest around him was surprisingly alive. Creatures of the night called out, reporting either danger or food nearby. Branches creaked and leaves rustled as the tall Batranuli seemed to breathe. The forest's symphony was hypnotic. The sky was another wonder. Countless stars pierced through the black veil depicting heroes of old. The moon, beginning to wane, was still bright, illuminating much of the world below.
Vander felt at peace, appreciating the cool light of the moon and the sounds of the forest. He felt the love of the Goddess all around him, in this moment. Time seemed to dilate, as he walked, passing slower than usual. Despite his calm demeanor, he felt hyper aware, feeling small shifts in the wind, hearing small rustles in the forest just off the path, and noticing scents of different animals passing by. It all felt surreal.
After twelve hours of walking, the sun was beginning to rise. Vander decided to take a brief rest against a younger looking Batranuli, taking off his shield and knapsack. He had guessed that the tree was no more than a couple hundred years old as its bark had yet to turn white; though, its trunk was still quite large, measuring about fifteen feet in diameter at the base. Reaching into his sack, Vander pulled out some bread that was supplied to him by the church, ripping a small loaf into two halves. He loved to take his time with the tear, appreciating the crunch of the crust and the sponginess of the crumb. After about an hour of digesting, Vander decided to carry on, hoping to reach Pentru-calatori before needing to sleep.
Walking during the day was at least a bit more exciting than walking at night as passerbys were making their way to wherever they were going. Merchants riding on wagons being pulled by hulking horses, other adventurers walking or riding their chosen form of steed, and small bands of soldiers patrolling were all common sights. As Vander had hoped, people didn't pay him much attention, busy with their thoughts and conversations.
As the sun was setting, Vander could see his destination in the distance and began to quicken his pace. As he neared the front gates, he admired just how much bigger Pentru-calatori was compared to Oras-pietruit. The city walls had to be at least 30 feet tall made with precisely cut stones and mortar, with black, iron gates that altogether gave the feeling that the town was practically impregnable in times of attack. Vander could also see a grand bell tower peeking well above the wall that was erected in the center of the city. Though excitement was rushing through his veins, his exhaustion was starting to catch up to him. He wanted to sleep, but first he had to wait in line with the rest of the travellers currently going through the city's security check. After what seemed to be a pitch-drop, Vander finally was at the gate.
"Halt," said a guard, "What brings you to our fair city?"
"I'm on my way to the Adventurer's Guild," Vander explained calmly, "I've travelled all the way from Oras-pietruit."
"Ah, I see. You've just completed your ceremony, I presume," the guard said cautiously.
"Yes, that is correct," Vander confirmed. "I practically left as soon as the ceremony ended."
"Well…welcome. I apologize for the stiff greeting. Not many of your kind around."
"Quite all right," Vander reassured.
"Anyway… keep your act clean and follow the law and we'll get on merrily," the guard warned lightly.
"Of course."
The guard gave Vander one final up and down, then gave an indicating nod to continue on.
Once inside the city, the streets were beginning to die down as the common folk were all either heading to their homes or the taverns. Feeling the weight of his journey, Vander craved nothing more than a warm bed. Luckily, there was an inn not too far from the gates that Vander could see. The building itself wasn't anything spectacular, which gave Vander some hope that the prices would be reasonable, as he hadn't much coin saved up. He decided to enter, not wanting to search further.
Inside the inn was a relatively simple layout. A few tables with matching chairs spread out and then a counter next to a set of stairs. Behind said counter, a small, frail woman was reading a book, following her progress with her hand, through a pair of golden, half-moon glasses that were secured not only by the arms of the glasses, but also by a small gold chain that hung around the neck.
"Welcome to the Cozy Haystack," the woman greeted without enthusiasm. "Will you be needing a room or would you like to continue standing in the doorway?"
Vander quickly made his way to the counter, embarrassed that he had been awkwardly standing at the inn's entrance. "I would like a room for the night please. How much will it be," he asked.
"Do you require food and drink," the woman prodded, wetting her finger with her tongue before turning the page.
"No, just the room please," Vander replied.
"Very well. Three copper."
Vander retrieved the coins from his sack and set them on the counter. The woman then provided him a key that she had retrieved from behind the counter, all the while not looking up from her book. Vander thanked her, took his key and began up the stairs. Curiosity, however, called to him. He stole a glance from the higher vantage point to see if he could tell what she was reading. To his surprise, the pages were blank. How queer Vander thought to himself. He then continued to the door that matched the symbol on the key's tag, his curiosity now satisfied. His body ached with his calves twitching uncontrollably. Without taking the time to undress, he put his gear on the floor and fell into the shabby looking bed. The sheets smelled clean and felt soft. It didn't matter though, at this point, he would have slept in an actual haystack and would have been content. Another thought was unable to penetrate his mind as his eyelids finally gave way.
Fire filled Vander's dreams. Burning smoke choked his lungs and screams surrounded him from a distance. He could feel the flames as they licked his scales. Panic began to stick in his throat, rendering him unable to scream.