I walked along the trail, surrounded by hills, fields, and forests. Time flowed like water. Empty, I looked down, hoping I would reach something soon. Suddenly I heard a noise behind me and turned around. A horse-drawn wagon appeared in the distance. I started waving my arms to get the coachman's attention. He noticed me and stopped.
- Where are you going? - I asked.
- The town of Greenhaven. Why? - replied a young coachman in insulated leather clothing.
- Could you give me a ride?
- Sit down," he said, moving over to give me a seat.
I got into the wagon next to the coachman. The horse started, the wagon shook, and we started on our way. It was the first time in my two lives that I had been in a wagon-not the most comfortable transportation, but it was what it was. The coachman spoke to me:
- So, where are you from and why are you heading into town?
A little hesitant, I still answered, though I would have preferred to spend the trip in silence:
- I'm from the village of Ealdor, and I'm coming to the city for a new life. I'm tired of living in the village.
- I understand. I, too, came up from the backwoods and now I'm moving goods. My father gave me all his savings and I used it to buy a horse and wagon.
- Interesting job you have," I replied with a bit of satire.
We drove on in awkward silence, which was to my advantage. I didn't like to talk. The coachman was the same age as Klim and wore beautiful leather clothes. Compared to my rags, they shone. I think when I earn some money, I'll buy new clothes.
The scenery that opened before us was breathtaking. The hills with green slopes stretched to the horizon, covered with a carpet of colorful flowers. In the mornings they were gently embraced by the mist, giving everything around a magical look. The fields filled with golden ears of wheat swayed slightly in the wind like a sea of gold. In the distance could be seen the forests, thick and dark, as if they held ancient secrets in their depths. Tall pine trees stretched to the sky, their tops almost touching the clouds, and flocks of birds fluttered around them, their songs filling the air with the melodies of nature.
Sometimes we passed small rivers and streams. The water in them was crystal clear, reflecting the blue of the sky and the green of the banks. The splashing of the water was soothing, adding harmony to the world around us. On the banks of these rivers herds of animals like deer and roe deer grazed, paying no attention to the passing wagon. On the road we sometimes came across travelers like me, striving for new horizons.
Halfway through the journey, I suddenly felt uneasy, a bad feeling. It didn't go away after an hour, but I decided to ignore it, thinking I hadn't eaten. We continued to ride, the rhythmic tapping of hooves and the occasional lurching from the rocks on the road making me sleepy. Suddenly something skipped in front of me. I looked at the coachman and saw that he had a long arrow sticking out of his chest. At first I didn't understand what was happening, but when the horse suddenly fell and the wagon with it, I realized everything.
I quickly looked around: six armed men were hiding behind the trees. One archer and five with swords and other dangerous weapons. I hit my head on the edge of the wagon on impact, which threw me off a bit, but I recovered quickly and grabbed the dagger hidden in my belt. Turning my head, I saw the coachman who had fallen out of the wagon had his neck sliced open. He was decapitated, his head rolling and hitting the wagon.
A man approached me from my left, clearly intending to do the same to me. Realizing I couldn't do it with a dagger alone, I created a magic orb full of mana and fired it at the attacking brigand. He was torn apart and the blood slashed at me, blinding me. I wiped my eyes and immediately prepared my next charge. The second bandit, standing behind the first, was stunned and froze. An easy target. A moment later, he too was reduced to bloody shreds. Four more charges, and the bandits were nothing but bloody pieces.
I sat down by the tree and sighed loudly. I rested for a moment and began to clean up the aftermath. The only more or less clean clothes were the coachman's, though they had greasy bloodstains on them, but that was nothing compared to my completely bloody appearance. I changed into his clothes and wiped my face and hands with my shirt. After twenty minutes of scrubbing, I looked more or less tidy.
If I got attacked that often, my light brown hair would soon turn maroon. I took the belt from the bandits and put it on. There was a sword sheath on the belt, and I slid the sword that was now mine. I went through the coachman's pockets and found a bag of coins. I scraped up another 20 silver coins from the bandits. In total, I had 2 gold coins, 30 silver coins and 13 copper coins. I didn't know the value of money, but I think it's a good stockpile.
The horse, which had been trying to get up all this time, finally broke free of the wagon and galloped away, covered in the blood of the bandits. Was it afraid of me?
I looked around the overturned wagon. There were crates, barrels and sacks full of things. I found grain, broken wine, fruits and vegetables, and sacks of flour. I gathered some fruits and vegetables and stuffed them into a backpack. With a stuffed backpack, updated clothes and weapons, I decided to move on. I looked at the coachman's body and thought I should bury it, but without a shovel it was impossible. I left it as it was, even though the scene was horrible, I went unnoticed.
I continued down the road, hoping it would lead me to Greenhaven.
...
The high walls blurred my vision. The stone gates towered above the ground, almost piercing the sky. These massive walls were built of rough gray stones, covered with moss and the marks of time. Each stone in this masonry seemed to be a giant that held the history of the ages. To me, accustomed to simple village buildings, these walls looked immutable, majestic, awe-inspiring and admirable.
A small crowd of people and one wagon were gathered around the gate. I approached, hoping to enter the city, and heard part of the conversation:
- I swear to Saul, I had a permit! I just dropped it on the road, please let me through. I need to get these goods through or I'll be punished!
- No permission, no passage," the guard replied coldly, not showing the least bit of sympathy.
I approached the guard and asked nervously:
- Can I go into town?
I tried to press with my hands the parts of my clothes that had bloodstains on them that wouldn't rub off, hoping the guard wouldn't notice them.
- Of course, your purpose for being in the city? - The guard asked, scrutinizing me.
- Job search," I answered, trying to look confident.
The guard examined my face for a moment, but apparently deciding that I was not a threat, he let me through the small gate. As soon as I entered, I was struck by the sight of the vibrant city. A multitude of people with a variety of clothing, armor, and builds flowed through the roads of the city like a stream. The stone streets were covered with mud and straw, and the sounds of thousands of voices blended into an unintelligible hum.
The buildings in the town were tall and dense, standing so close together that they seemed to be holding hands. Houses of wood and stone, roofs covered with tiles and thatch. The streets were narrow and winding, littered with shops, taverns, and workshops. Each sign on the buildings tried to outshout the other, bright colors and intricate designs inviting passersby in.
Crowds of people in motley clothes filled the streets. Peasants in simple robes, knights in shining armor, merchants in expensive capes, and vagabonds in tattered clothes were all here, creating a continuous flow of life. The smells of spices, fresh bread, smoke from forges, and human sweat mingled to create the unforgettable aroma of the city.
I was confused, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. A multitude of sounds and images made my head spin. An information overdose. I started to feel short of breath, and I stopped for a moment, trying to cope with the sudden panic. When I looked around, I saw the face of a child smiling at me, and that calmed me down a little.
I ventured on through the city, looking at the buildings, shops, and signs. In a marketplace full of different foods and things, the stalls offered a wide variety of goods, from fresh fruits and vegetables to exotic spices and rare fabrics. The shopkeepers competed with each other and shouted about their wares, trying to attract customers. My eyes darted around, and I felt the world take over more and more.
I tried to read the signs on the buildings, but I couldn't read Arcanian, so I focused on signs and pictures. As I passed a tavern, I caught the smell of roasting meat and bread, which made me hungry. One of the signs had a beer mug and a piece of meat painted on it, inviting travelers to come in and eat.
Finally, I found one with a sign with crossed swords painted on it and ventured in there.