We walked a bit through its paths until we stopped in front of a medium-sized building.
An inn, not luxurious enough to be striking… nor dilapidated enough to cause concern.
A simple building, with sturdy walls and windows lit with a warm light, suggesting comfort more than luxury.
The employer raised his hand, and we all stopped.
Then he said:
"So… we will stay here for the night, since it is late."
He paused for a moment, then added:
"And tomorrow… we will continue our journey and leave the village."
I didn't hear the rest of the words clearly, because only one thought filled my head—
Finally… we will rest.
...
We finally entered the inn…
Walking had exhausted us to the point where it felt as if the ground had been pulled from under our feet.
We dispersed into the rooms, one after another, without any mentionable conversation. None of us had the energy to speak… or even to think.
As for me—
As soon as I closed the door of the room behind me, I rushed toward the bed… as if I were running away from something chasing me.
I fell onto it without resistance, and I felt nothing after that.
...
The night passed, and morning came… without preamble.
We woke up, left the village, and the journey returned to swallow us once again.
And so—
The days began to look alike.
The third day…
Walking.
Fatigue.
Food.
Water.
Rest.
The fourth day…
Walking.
Fatigue.
Food.
Water.
Rest.
As if time itself… had decided to repeat itself.
Nothing changes—
Except for the increasing weight in our bodies… and the silence that became heavier than the steps.
Until—
The seventh day arrived.
I was walking in silence, watching the road stretching endlessly before me,
When that silence was broken by Vesper's voice:
"So… in your opinion, how much is left until we reach Storn?"
I cast a side glance toward him, then said with light sarcasm:
"How should I know? Do I look like a walking map to you?"
He sighed, then said with an enthusiasm that hadn't dimmed despite the fatigue:
"I'm really excited to see Storn… I wonder how advanced it is compared to these villages."
I paused for a moment… then said:
"Yes…"
A short silence.
"I wonder if they have… electricity."
The idea itself was strange… but, for some reason, I had a faint hope.
...
Time passed.
One hour…
Two hours…
Then—
Five full hours of continuous walking.
Until—
The night swallowed everything.
The employer stopped suddenly, then said in a decisive tone:
"We will stay here tonight."
I raised my head and looked around.
Barren land, stretching dirt, and not a single tree to break this void.
I frowned slightly.
We're staying… here?
As if he heard my question before I uttered it, he said:
"Prepare your tents."
...
Tents?
I stopped for a moment.
This… was the first time.
The first time I would sleep outside an inn since leaving the village, and the first time… I would deal with a tent.
Everyone moved immediately toward the cart as if it were a given. As for me… I stepped forward slowly, took my tent—
Then—
I froze.
"Wait…"
I looked at what was in my hand, then around me, then back at the tent.
"I… don't know how to pitch it."
I slowly raised my head.
Everyone... was pitching their tents, quietly, smoothly, as if they had done this a thousand times.
...
"Okay…"
I breathed slowly.
"I can't be the only one… right?"
And indeed—
I wasn't.
Vesper was standing not far from me, holding his tent the same way I held mine and looking at it… as if it were a complex puzzle.
Our eyes met, and then he said:
"Don't tell me… that you're in the same trouble?"
I answered him without hesitation:
"Unfortunately… yes."
Together, we looked toward the rest.
Even—Aunt Melissa.
She was pitching her tent quietly… and professionally.
I went silent, and then Vesper said:
"So… what's the solution?"
I hesitated for a moment, then said:
"It seems… we have no choice."
I sighed.
"We have to ask for help."
...
I started watching everyone, one by one—
Until I could find my suitable victim.
The first—
Luxian. He finished his tent and stood up, dusting off his hands with confidence.
Vesper said immediately:
"This one! Let's go to him!"
I said quickly:
"Forget it."
He looked at me with surprise, so I added coldly:
"If we ask for his help… he will remind us of it for the rest of our lives."
He went silent, then nodded.
"Persuasive."
...
The second—
Knox.
He finished quickly and quietly.
Vesper said:
"And this one? He's nice."
I looked at him for seconds, then said firmly:
"Impossible."
"Why?"
"I won't ask someone younger than me to teach me how to pitch a tent."
...
The third—
The employer.
He finished… as if it wasn't worth mentioning.
Vesper said, this time in a tone of victory:
"No excuses now."
I looked at him slowly, then said:
"Have you lost your mind?"
I stepped closer and said in a low voice:
"Ask for help from my employer… in pitching a tent?"
I shook my head.
"I'll look… pathetic."
Vesper sighed deeply, as if he was starting to lose hope.
Then my eyes fell on the fourth person.
Sirion. He finished his tent with his usual calmness, standing straight as if he hadn't exerted any effort.
I watched him for seconds, then said:
"This is the one."
Vesper looked at me as if the light had returned to him:
"Finally!"
I nodded.
"Let's go."
...
And so—
We headed toward him, our steps slow… but decisive.
And for the first time since the start of the journey, the problem wasn't fatigue…
Nor the distance…
But—
A tent.
As soon as we approached, Sirion raised his gaze toward us, as if he were aware of our presence before we uttered a single word.
I stopped in front of him, then said in a tone I tried to make sound natural:
"Hello, Sirion… can you help me and Vesper pitch our tents?"
He didn't hesitate, he wasn't surprised; he just answered with his usual calmness:
"Of course."
I don't know why—
But his answer was strangely comforting.
I smiled slightly and said:
"Thank you."
He nodded his head, then turned directly toward Vesper.
"Let's start with your tent."
...
The work began.
His hands moved steadily… without haste, and without hesitation.
Every step seemed as if it were calculated in advance,
As if the tent wasn't something to be assembled… but something he was so used to that it had become part of his memory.
I watched in silence.
Watching the small details…
The way of driving the stakes, tightening the ropes, securing the corners—
Everything.
Minutes passed.
Then—
"We're finished."
He said it simply.
Vesper looked at his tent as if he couldn't believe it, then said with sincere admiration:
"That fast…?"
But Sirion didn't comment; instead, he turned toward me.
"Now… your turn."
I nodded and took a step forward.
He began again, the same calmness, the same precision, the same silence that makes every movement seem more important than it is.
But I didn't settle for just watching this time.
I was analyzing, memorizing, linking each step to the next…
as if I feared embarrassing myself once more.
Time passed slowly.
Then—
It was done.
I stood looking at the tent in front of me.
My tent.
Which, only minutes ago… I didn't even know where to start with.
I breathed deeply, then said:
"Thank you… again."
And before he could answer—
A strong voice pierced the stillness of the place:
"Has everyone finished pitching their tents?"
It was the employer. We all looked around—
Then the response came, nearly unified:
"Yes!"
I contemplated the scene.
Rows of tents… organized… stable… as if they had suddenly appeared in the heart of this barren void.
The employer continued, in a more serious tone:
"Good… then listen to me carefully."
Silence prevailed; even the wind… seemed as if it had stopped.
"Since we will stay here, in the open…"
He paused for a moment, then added:
"It is possible that we might face danger."
Brief glances were exchanged between everyone.
"Bandits… or anything else."
A hidden weight fell upon the place.
He continued:
"Therefore… we will take turns on guard duty."
Then he added:
"Every two people will take over the guard for an hour."
He stopped, then said in a decisive tone:
"And the women… are exempt from that, understood?"
The response this time was more disciplined:
"Understood!"
"Good."
He said it, then looked among us.
"Who will volunteer first?"
Moments of silence—
Then two hands rose.
Knox.
And Tyros.
The employer nodded immediately:
"It's settled. You two first."
Then he began to distribute the roles, his voice steady… without hesitation:
"Cairo and Marcus second."
He added, saying:
"Nilot and Calstier third."
I paused for a moment:
"Me… third."
"Vesper and Zairos fourth, Luxian and Sirion fifth."
Then—
He stopped.
"Reagan and Doctor Velor sixth."
Then he looked at us all.
"And finally… me."
Silence prevailed.
But this time—
It wasn't a silence of rest, but a silence of waiting.
"That is all."
He finally said it.
"The rest of you go to sleep… except for Nox and Tyros."
And slowly—
Everyone began to move.
Quiet steps… exhausted bodies…
And minds that perhaps began to think of what might happen in this open darkness.
As for me—
I headed toward my tent, lifted the flap, leaned in slightly, then entered. I sat down, then lay back.
But—
I didn't sleep.
I looked at the ceiling of the tent… and took a slow breath.
"In two hours…"
I closed my eyes.
"It will be my turn."
It seems—
That this night…
Will not be as quiet as I hope.