It took a few more days for Leon and the caravan to arrive at their destination after running into Rodius and his men. Balder had been expecting to ride into a wasteland that was dominated by dead vegetation and ruined buildings, so when he saw the white walled town, he was completely taken aback.
'Did the Demons do this?!' His first thoughts were those of panic, but he soon calmed his mind. Balder was no fresh blood. He had acquired many useful skills that were particularly relevant to his trade. Although they were pretty much useless in a fight, they were still useful in the right circumstances.
A skill that gave him a calm, rational mind activated, and his hasty thoughts were instantly calmed. He was able to look at things from a much more rational point of view now. And he instantly doused that flame of panic that was trying to bury itself within his heart.