When the sun rose over the rooftops of the village, the caravan was already prepared to depart. The morning air carried the earthy scent of damp grass, mixed with the faint odor of sweat from the pack animals. Kael sat near the back of the second wagon, the canvas above softening the daylight.
The wooden wheels began to creak, and the small village was left behind—first the rooftops, then the last scattered houses, until only the dirt road and the endless green fields remained.
The road wasn't particularly dangerous, but walking alone would have been exhausting and moderately risky. Kael knew it was far wiser to travel with the caravan. A small caravan meant safety: any lone traveler could be easy prey for bandits or wild beasts.
Inside the wagon, there were four other travelers. Two of them, young men carrying spears, kept a wary eye on the surroundings without posing any real danger. The other two—a middle-aged man and a woman calmly sewing—remained silent, absorbed in their own matters, uninterested in conversation.
The scenery slowly shifted from open plains to patches of forest. Birds crossed the sky, and in the distance, the faint howl of a wolf cut through the stillness. Kael stayed quiet, concerned with nothing but reaching his destination.
The journey continued steadily. Thanks to the drivers' experience and the caravan's stability, the trip took only a full day. When night finally began to settle, they were already nearing the city.
Upon seeing the towering walls, Kael felt something strange. Neither he nor the former owner of this body had ever been here before. It was truly unique to witness something that, in his world, could only be called medieval: tall towers, massive wooden gates reinforced with iron, and the flicker of fire-lit lamps casting warm glows along the battlements.
At the city gates, a small line of travelers waited for the guards to check papers and collect the entry toll. One man ahead began shouting aggressively:
"I'm not paying!" he roared, slamming his hand against the wooden gate.
"The toll is mandatory, sir. No exceptions," the guard replied firmly.
"This is robbery! I'll enter whether you like it or not!"
"Then you'll have to wait… or face the consequences."
The man continued shouting, stepping closer in defiance. Suddenly, one of the guards drew his sword in a swift, practiced motion. With a single brutal strike, he severed the man's arm. The scream that followed tore through the night air.
A few people in line recoiled in fear, but most merely shifted slightly, accustomed to the brutality of this world. Another guard approached without hesitation, grabbing the bleeding, writhing body and dragging it toward some unseen ditch beyond the torchlight. Then he returned to his post, as if nothing had happened.
When it was finally the caravan's turn, the merchant handed over the documents and paid the fee. Without incident, the wagon passed through the gates, and Kael stepped into the city.
The streets beyond were dim, lit only by scattered oil lamps casting trembling shadows against stone walls.
As Kael stepped down from the wagon, the merchant's voice called out.
"Hey, stranger," he said, his tone carrying a hint of business-like warmth. "You look capable with that sword at your side. I'm short one guard for my next trip—interested in earning some coin?"
Kael shook his head without hesitation. "Not interested."
The merchant narrowed his eyes slightly, forcing a polite smile. "Suit yourself."
As Kael turned and began walking away, the man's expression soured for just a moment, the corner of his mouth curling with faint disdain.
' Probably just another fool heading for the guild,' he thought, before turning his attention back to his caravan.
Kael kept walking. The air felt heavy, damp, carrying the scent of smoke, cheap food, and the ever-present trace of violence lingering in the corners. His boots echoed lightly on the cobblestone as he searched for a place to rest. The city's shadows seemed alive, shifting and swallowing the light from the oil lamps. Somewhere in this darkness, a tavern waited him.