Divine Tears - Chp.2

The sun hasn't rise up, when Cyl and Atos left the town, equipped with bags. They didn't had enough many to travel with horses or a carriage to the far north, so they were walking in direction of the next big town.

It wasn't the safest way to travel, but Cyl and Atos were both able to use magic, though Atos was more experienced, while his sister was the strong one of them. "Okay Atos, I was aware that it would be a harsh way to the north without much money, but this is ridiculous! We will take years to arrive!" she grumbled.

"I'm quite aware that we are too far away from our destination to travel by foot. I got another idea. Enom himself isn't allowed to help us in our quest, but there is magic, which can help us to travel there in no time. I'm talking about teleportation. In Melas is a connection point, which can allow us to travel faster. However, we can't go to Magrien itself, since they isolated themselves from the other connection points. But at the border, we may find some rebels, since it's a good strategy to hide where they can't search you." Atos responded in a very optimistic way."

They walked a few hours along the trail. They met a few deers and birds on their way, which ran away, when they saw them. When the sun reached the top of the sky, they went beside the trail and Atos took a blanket from his bag and put it on the ground and they both sat down and to take a break.

"You know, there a few inns on our way. If it's getting dark we can rest there. I still have enough money for our stays." Atos said.

"At least we will arrive there, before we are old. But I could need a break." She responded.

They both rested for a while. Atos checked the map to make sure, they are on their way, while Cyl dozed. Atos just put away his map, when he heard a strange sound from the bushes. "Cyl, stay up!" he shouted and Cyl stood up as fast as she could and exposed a dagger, she kept with her.

The sounds came closer and a dark shape jumped out of the bush. It's mouth featured long and sharp teethes, it's shape was similar to a hairless rat, which had quite muscular forelegs. The beast jumped at them with a red glimmer in it's soul-less eyes.

Atos and Cyl evaded the attack by jumping aside. Atos used the chance and formed a sign with his hands. Suddenly the beast was hit by a strong wind and blown away from them. But now it was really angry a rushed forwards to Atos.

But Cyl took advantage from it's blind fury and attacked it with her dagger. The creature dissolved into shadows, when Cyl's cut went through it's body. Only a small piece of skin was left behind.

"Damn, I didn't expect to meet a shadowborn on our way. Thank goodness that it was a weaker one. Those beasts are quite dangerous." Atos said.

Cyl sheathed her dagger and took a look around her. "It doesn't seem that there are any other of those around. I guess, we should go further now." She said.

They continued their journey and it became evening, when they first saw the shape of a few buildings. "Seems to be an Inn with a staple for horses. I guess we can rest there for tonight. Bandits could become a greater problem, when we travel tonight." Atos told his sister.
They reached the place and entered the inn. A few people sat on the chairs and ate some of the food, which was served by a young woman.

Atos went to the inn keeper, who looked like a young man, who recently got adult. His ears were pointed and not round. His hair was even brighter than that of Atos and Cyl. "Can I help you?" asked the elf.

"We could need a room for tonight, two beds." replied Atos.
"Alright, that's 10 silver coins." answered the elf.

Atos put the money on the shelter and went back to Cyl. "I still have some money for food and drinks, if you are hungry or thirsty. Come, let us take this table over there." he told her.

******

Later that night, when they both were sleeping, outside the inn footsteps were heard. They belonged to a person, who was hiding his big shape under a robe. The person opened the door to the inn, in which a few men were still drinking beer and mead. He didn't showed any interest to them and went directly to an empty chair in the edge of the room and took the chair opposite the wall, which made it impossible to see his face, no matter if he was drinking or eating.

The young waitress went to him and asked him in a friendly matter "Welcome to our inn. What can we do for you today?"

"A beer and some beef or ham." he said with his deep voice, without looking at her.

She ignored his repellent behavior and returned only a couple of minutes later with his a mug of beer and some ham. "This makes 4 silver co..." she recognized the 20 silver coins on the table, which probably belonged to the man.

"Take your money and a few coins as your tip." he said to her. She took 7 coins and went to the kitchen.

After he was sure that he wont be disturbed, he took the beer and drank it slowly, still hiding his face. He wasn't thirsty, but he hadn't drank anything but water in the last weeks. The beer was a welcome variety. He also took the meat and ripped a piece of.

The three adventurers on the other side of the room were laughing loudly. "Yeah I saw that little brat. I never thought that a young girl could beat Viland like punching bag." the first of them said.

"I'm sure she used a trick. Viland has muscles where she doesn't even something." the second guy said.

"Well, if she can beat someone up that hard, I fell sorry for the guy, who becomes her husband." the third guy replied and all three started laughing again.

On the other side of the room, the person continued eating and ignored the laughing men. He was only satisfied to have some food and a cold beer. Hunger was his follower for a week now and he only had water to drink. He was longing for his meal for quite a while now and heartily enjoyed it, though he barely chewed it. The mug of beer was already empty and only a few moments later, he also finished his meat and went to the door.

"Hey, you guy there in the rope!" one of the adventurers shouted from the other side of the room with a inebriated voice. "Why do wear this stupid rope. You look like one of those puny wizards!" The men started laughing.

"It's not your business, idiot." He said in an annoyed tone.

"What did you say? No one calls me an idiot!" The man crushed his mug on the table and stood up. He run towards the man in the rope and suddenly felt a pain on his face.

Even with the bad view he had with the rope, the roped man managed to knock his opponent out with a single punch. Now, his hand was exposed to the view of the other people in the room and they could see that it wasn't a human's or elf's hand. It was covered in fur and equipped with sharp claws.

"I must ask you to leave now. I don't want further trouble in my inn, I'm sorry." the inn keeper said to him.

"I have planed to. Good ham, by the way." he replied and opened the door.

The man who insulted him managed to get up and went back to his chair. He tried to stop the bleeding of his nose with a piece of cloth, he had with him and told to the others "Damn, I simply thought he was a huge guy. But not that he would be a beast man."

The sounds of the inn faded slowly away while the roped man went to the road. He was sure that he would stay hidden from anybodies view and lifted his hood, exposing his canine head. His fur colors were white and a mix of gray and brown. He looked with his amber eyes into the sky and breathed the cold air, suppressing his desire to howl. It would probably be better if he doesn't get the attention of anybody or anything. His shape faded slowly from the sight of the inn and he disappeared into the woods.

******

The next morning Atos awoke with the first glimmer of the sunlight. Cyl was still sleeping peacefully on the other side of the room. He stood up and went to the door, opening it carefully and stepping out as quite he could. His eyes searching carefully for weak spots on the ground.
A minute later he stood in the main room of the inn's dining room in front of the shelter. "Good morning. I just wanted to give you my key back. My sister will come later and give you hers." he said to the inn keeper and put his key on the desk.

Shortly afterward, Cyl came down and put her key on the desk as well. "Did you enjoy staying in our inn?" The inn keeper asked.

"Well, the rooms were comfortable, but I think I heard something yesterday." Cyl replied.

"A guest was beaten down, but that was it." the inn keeper explained.

The sunlight was already glimmering through the trees, when they both came out of the inn and went to the road. Birds were singing, while they were wandering along the path.

"As far as I can say, we will reach Melas in about three days, if we keep it up." Atos said to Cyl. "If you want, we can also buy some better equipment there, before we continue."

Cyl nodded and replied "Couldn't hurt. A dagger is nice, but I think a sword should fit me better. You could also need some supplies for your magic skills. A staff for example."

Atos chuckled at her words. "Just don't make me poor. My money could only be enough for two single-handed or a two-handed sword." he said to her. "Weapons are quite expensive, because they take some time to be made."

"Don't worry, I will be moderate with my decision." Cyl answered her brother. "I guess a single-handed sword and a shield would be enough for now."

"Fine with me." Atos responded and they both walked further the road, forward to the town of Melas.