The guide's chapter open on the table did not mention or indicate towards Regda.
It had an interesting title, aptly named 'Beyond the horizon.'
Anaphol settling back down didn't blink once he saw it. He expected this chapter to include something that possibly did not point back to Tarna or Regda.
Thus his reading began.
"The discovered world of ours only includes the continents Regda and Southern Regda. Anything beyond is totally speculative and based on tales from voyagers with suspicious natures and sources."
His right hand's forefinger went to console his lips.
"But it is also true that we cannot treat them as merely rumours for the knowledge of the continent Southern Regda was kept a secret from the general public for more than 32 centuries."
'Wait, what?!' His mind screamed within. He read on.
"Near the end of the previous era in Regda, the knowledge of the continent Southern Regda was made aware first to the general public in the then Kingdom of Scimptaril, which went on to become the foundation of the current Southern empire of Regda. The changes brought by the news were drastic. It resulted in the total overhaul of the political and state boundaries of the continent. Thus, now any news of a new continent is treated with the same urgency and premonition of change."
Naph considered what he read. Moving further into the chapter.
"Thereby any new continent to be found is the next horizon to be explored and assimilated into the current wealth of the people of Regda. Which may not sound right, however we have done the same with utmost respect and care to the people inhabiting the continent of Southern Regda."
'Is this ever going to reach anything?' He rubbed his right palm on his chin.
"Till now we have found temperate climate islands in the north, east and north west of Regda. Which primarily does not indicate presence of a continent or unexplored larger landmasses, however the flora of those islands were distinct and not found on Regda indicating either they originated from those islands or they migrated from there."
"Hmm," Naph nodded.
"There is a precedence with the discovery of Southern Regda. Wherein the islands found on the south eastern direction off the southern coast of Regda led to the final first discovery of an unexplored patch of landmass of the continent Southern Regda. Following this, recent adventurers have tried finding new continents in the direction of north and east since they indicate heavily of the presence of another continent."
Standing up, he slammed his hands next to the book, "And that's enough reading. Maybe I should have followed Shrik's advice."
Thinking back on the message, he considered again to read more of the guide or other books. But he felt the urgency to see whether Bulwark is still there or not. He could not let her be out of his mind, it felt the same as he felt about the word cata.
Taking a few steps out of the reading side hall, he glanced back once at the pile of books Ennet had given him.
"Should I?"
Shaking his head, he turned back to the direction of the reception and walked over to it. Finding Ennet sitting there, he asked her.
"Is it fine if I leave for a bit and then come back to read the rest of the books?"
Ennet looked up from her magazine. "Oh, sure. Just pay for the time you have read till now, I think it's around 20 Tarna." She gave a fleeting smile.
Bobbing his head to the right, he took a 20 Tarna note from his jacket's pocket and put it on the table. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
Naph stepped out and heard the shop bell announce his departure.
The message by Extea ran under his mind. Bumping into the thoughts that came to him.
Ennet in the meantime, stood up from her seat and went to the window that opened slightly near Anaphol. She closed it.
Sighing she let out a whisper, "He won't come. Too bad, my team would have taken him much safely."
Looking up, she said to apparently no one, but the wind in the room moved differently.
"I think we will have to find him faster than trouble finds him."
The wind died at the last syllable.
Bulwark was safely tugged inside the white tarp as Naph checked on her, and his bags. Satisfied, he grabbed the handles of his ride and pulled back the same way he came into the alleyway. Stepping back into the main road, closer to the school advertised by that barker.
The night hadn't begun but the evening had taken a stronger hold of the sky and the wind.
Central Monite, new to him, was seemingly becoming familiar. He walked away into the next crossroad and then the next. Never changing into another lane.
He did not recognize the streets and yet he felt them familiar. The shape and distance felt as if he had walked in similar places.
Stares fell upon him. His ride was an oddity but so was covering it with a white tarp. Some bystanders wanted to approach him and ask what was he carrying in it.
Before one could step or choose even, Naph always turned towards them and raised his eyebrows for them to see. He had felt their presence and he let them know he knew.
Yet, what he didn't feel was the presence of a pursuer. He thought he had one.
'Why can't I seem to feel the gaze of a pursuer? What is happening?' Questions raised within.
And a thought clashed into it. 'Cross the ocean.'
The words, a grave reminder of the task in front of him.
Shaking his head, "No, Shrik's advice is one option that was known to him. I can't choose that. If I can feel that, then couldn't there be someone who could listen his words?" His mind ran through the possibility.
The sky was deep red and crying dark blue in the horizon. 'Which horizon should I cross and how?' Naph reconsidered his options.
However, a few buildings away in the southern direction from him. Two figures dressed in plain familiar clothing of Central Monite kept glancing in the direction Naph stood. Both kept staring into the walls for their own reasons.