Traveler

Arcadia, nation located not-so-far-away from Koria kingdom, is the southernmost country. Because it has a long border with the sea, it is often called fishing nation. It is one of the biggest exporters of sea foods and other goods that you can find in the ocean in general. It is surrounded by neutral or friendly nations, so no major conflicts occur near its borders.

One of the cities within its borders is known as "Underwater adventurer's paradise." Its true name is Uruk, a city very close to the beach and ocean. Overall, it's big, prosperous city that is also clear and quite peaceful. There's also a guile located there. One of the receptionists there is called Marche.

Adventurer's guild serves as gathering point, destination for selling materials from monsters and other valuables. You can pick up requests and submit already done ones. You can get basic info about monsters living in nearby area as well as which places are the most dangerous. Another type of info that you can acquire there is a map of whole continent. If you don't want to buy, then you can also ask one of the staff members to just show one to you.

One particular day, Marche was working as usual, making reports about done requests and other basic stuff that her job requires her to do. Nothing foreshadowed events and chat that will begin here in a few moments. Chat so ubelievable and mysterious that even the most knowledgeable ones wouldn't understand.

She heard creaking of large metal-reinforced doors and looked at the person coming to the guild.

"Good morning. Can I help you somehow?"

That sentence was memorized and standard question to everyone that crossed the doors of this building.

"Nothing in particular." – answered manly, yet calm and reassuring voice coming out from under the cape covering entire face of the traveler - "It's just, you see… I'm looking for a friend."

Marche was dumbfounded for a short while. She didn't expect such answer. She thought that this person is here to report the end of a request.

"A friend, huh… Could you tell me something more about your comrade?"

Nothing can be done without proper information in that type of situation.

"He's a dwarf, he is supposed to be making some weapons right now. I know his supposed location, so with the help of a map, I could easily tell where his supposed whereabouts' place is."

Marche took out huge map and showed it to the traveler.

"Here. East." – Traveler pointed his finger at the ruins of once great kingdom. – "I'm sure that this is place where I should go."

Marche was shocked with his answer. How could he say 'East', when this kingdom was destroyed centuries ago?

"I'm sorry, but you must be mistaking. This place is long gone, nothing remained from its demise centuries ago. You must have heard him wrong."

Traveler stopped for a moment and started thinking.

"There's no way that this is true. He definitely said 'East'. Or maybe I am just late?"

Marche once again didn't know what to say. Late for what? Who really is this person?

"If it's okay with you, could you tell me , from where did you come?"

Receptionist asked politely, but also with slight confusion on her face. Traveler didn't know how to reply for a while, but finally started talking.

"Me? I'm from far away, from the South. I just came here, to the North because I heard that my friend called for me. I guess he messed something up while explaining."

Now Marche was in complete shock. What South? They were already on the southernmost part of the whole continent. And what North did he talk about? Too many questions and no answers.

"I… I'm sorry sir…" – Girl asked with uncertainty in her voice – "Could you tell me something more about the place from where you came from?"

"Hmmm… There's nothing too much to talk about to be honest. If I were to say something, it would definitely be about dragons as here they worship Sun, while from where I am, they worship Moon. Anyway, I think I will be going on a journey to find my friend."

"Y-Yeah, good luck with meeting you friend."

When traveler was moving away from the reception, Marche saw for a split of seconds as his pupils changed their color from ocean-blue to magenta-purple.

That's how ordinary receptionist found herself in strange situation that she couldn't explain and if she ever told anybody about it, she would be considered as a mentally ill.