Chapter 42: A Wider World

"What's this?" Mr. Bobby asked as he inspected the little stone ward I had given him.

It was in the shape of a miniature warrior, clad in armor and armed with spear and shield. Made from light stone, it was lightweight and would easily fit into any pocket.

"Keep it on you at all times," I said, "If ever your life is in danger, it will summon one of my sentinels to help you."

The halfling raised a brow at me as he placed the ward inside a pocket on his apron. "Sentinels? Sounds violent."

I smirked, "They specialize in mindful, oftentimes choreographed violence."

Mr. Bobby was not one to quickly accept any and all gifts given to him. His futile attempt to separate my head from my neck lingered in mind.

Behind the stubborn, blunt, and gruff exterior was a soldier who not only lost everything dear to him, but was also betrayed by someone close.

Those eyes of his as he cried on his knees reflected a sorrow that only a soldier could endure. Until they could not anymore.

"It was... a pleasure doing business with ya, Lance Viduri." Mr. Bobby offered me a scarred hand.

After shaking his hand, I bid the halfling farewell as Zeal and I walked out the front door.

It was morning and the sun was just rising from the west, basking the land in warm, fuzzy light. The crooked street where the tavern stood was still empty, but the sounds of a waking city echoed all around.

As we headed out, I noticed Zeal walking over a burnt patch of cobblestone where I had the bodies burned to a crisp.

Thankfully her innocence prevented her from noticing the ashes of the dead underneath her boots.

Speaking of Zeal, the little beastkin spent the entire night sound asleep. I had cast a spell to prevent any sounds in the dining room from leaking, but there were still a few bumps and quakes that would have surely interrupted her sleep.

Alas, the beastkin could not be bothered. There was also nothing for me to worry about. The ward I had placed inside her room would have alerted me to any intruders trying to break into her room.

And even if it did, any assassin or kidnapper would need to bypass the invisible webs of death strung around and about.

But, if the vampires had wanted to kill her, they would have easily done so using a ranged attack. A blood dagger would have ended her life from a distance.

I shivered at this thought, berating myself in my mind for not taking a ranged attack into account. Next time, I would make sure to place at least two defense wards. An area defense ward and a barrier ward.

That should do it. Yes. I am an idiot.

Walking down the cobblestone streets was not a terrible experience. In fact, the morning air was as fresh as it could be as a cool breeze brushed against my skin.

Zeal held my hand as we walked. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at the halflings opening their shops, setting up their stalls, and beginning their day in earnest.

The smell of a thousand breakfasts filled the air, causing the little beastkin's tummy to rumble.

She had eaten breakfast back in the tavern. I had come to the conclusion that she was, in fact, just a very hungry kid.

But still, she needed to maintain physical fitness and health. Walking was a good way at keeping oneself in shape.

However, she was still a child. Maybe I was being a bit too harsh with my thinking and worries.

Also, she did not need any training. She merely needed to learn and grow.

I had spent barely a month traveling and rediscovering the world and already I had a beastkin child under my care, the interest of a vampire king, and an odd acquaintance whose name was Mr. Bobby.

Not to mention the adventurers. They were the reason why all of this happened in the first place.

Well, it was still my decision to go out.

I decided against spending more time here in Ylvalil. There was nothing important left for me to do here.

Zeal and I needed to explore the world, unlock its secrets, and discover the dangers and adventure waiting for us ahead.

Adventure....

Back when the world was young and untamed, I was among the lucky few to be called an adventurer. Discovering new lands, unlocking treasures, and fending off monsters wherever they arose.

The memories I made with those I shared the journey with were my proudest and another source for my agony.

However, it would be unfair for me to not allow Zeal the chance to make her own memories.

When she lost her family to those wretched little green demons, everyone around her and herself included thought that her life had ended.

They were wrong in thinking that her story would end in tragedy and despair.

I said I did not, would not, and should not care. But I guess, deep inside the void of my despair, I still cared.

To fight injustice, I tried to enact justice. Would it hurt to do so again? Even if the world did not deserve it?

Well, the world so far did not deserve it. But I could already count a few people with my fingers who could make me consider.

Zeal's grip around my hand tightened and I looked to see what was wrong. The little beastkin had a smile on her face, a small yet genuine reflection of whatever small amount of happiness she was beginning to feel.

Oddly enough, I felt... proud. She was healing slowly and that was good. It would be a long journey, full of uncertain decisions and painful memories. I hoped that, in the end, she would find peace.

If she could find peace, then maybe I would as well.

I snorted. This was not me at all. Where did all this hopefulness and positivity come from?

It felt good, so I complained no further.

When we eventually reached the western gate overlooking the left fork of the river, there was already a bit of traffic.

Carts and wagons of all shapes and sizes were entering and leaving, causing a bit of a jam as guards shouted at the people to keep on going.

It was a direct opposite of the eastern gate where neither a wagon or cart would pass through its hanging portcullis. Unless they were an adventurer's party.

There was a small crowd gathered on our side of the gate. They seemed to be lined up and talking with a few guards before being let through. An inspection maybe?

Did we need any papers? The adventurers and Mr. Bobby never mentioned any papers. To be fair, I did not ask them.

Maybe it was wiser and faster if I just teleported ourselves outside.

No. Bad idea. My masking spell was already at its limit and begging for me to cast another one to replace it.

So I did what any responsible and law-abiding citizen of Ylvalil would do.

Waited in line.

Zeal was, for the most part, apprehensive of the people around us and, at the same time, bored out of our mind.

Reminder to self, give her a toy to play with. Preferably something that could relieve stress and expend energy.

Making her walk all the way here from the tavern had surely used up most of her energy. Not to mention it took like thirty minutes.

Ylvalil was a relatively small town compared to the cities and towns I was used to, but it was still a large place.

Was it welcoming? Not so much, but not overtly hostile.

Excluding the vampires.

I found myself looking at the looming stone walls as we finally reached the gatehouse. A few guards were standing inside and only one of them was doing the talking.

Tempted to use my enhanced senses to listen in on the conversations they were having, I decided that a surprise wouldn't hurt.

Besides, what was the worst that could happen?

"You look familiar." I looked what now?

I stared at the guard standing before me in full plate for a good few seconds before he eventually explained himself.

"Yeah," He nodded to himself, "You were with the adventurers who came back yesterday. A supposed hermit."

I stayed silent.

"The beast kid?" He suddenly asked, looking down on Zeal who was clinging tightly to my leg.

The way his eyes frowned in disgust as he looked at her made my blood boil.

"With me." I said, matter-of-factly.

The guard looked at me up and down. His eyes were pondering whether or not he should escalate this and cause a problem or let me pass.

"Eh. Okay then," He said, sounding annoyed, "Be careful out there. The trail down south is infested with monsters and bandits. Nothing's been the same since disasters."

He sounded annoyed and yet told us to be careful. I was unsure if it was a genuine reminder to keep safe or a indirect threat that the road ahead was dangerous.

Either way, it didn't matter, and we headed out. As we walked over the stone bridge, I took in the sound of the rushing river below. A chaotic yet calming rush.

What other towns and cities were waiting for us to explore? What treacherous lands would we need to tread?

As the town shrank behind us, Zeal was beginning to get tired. With her permission, I took her up and carried her on my back.

Soon enough, she would fall asleep. And the rest of our journey continued.