No Favour? No Shelter.

Karyan's upper lip lifted and frowned, "three golden coins? But you said I will be able to stay here for free!" 

"Well, I've changed my plans now, three golden coins or sleep somewhere else." 

"But I only have two…" 

"Well, is it my problem?" Theron made a statement, with a sarcastic tone. 

"No, but you could at least pretend that you care…" 

"Why should I? A favor in return for a favour." 

"Tttsssch, fuck it," Karyan placed his cloak's top on the head and walked out.

"You could still sleep here for free if you were planning to save my daugh-"

"If I meet a demon, I will send them to your place, home or whatever you call it," Karyan waved his hand as he closed the door.

"That rascal!" 

"Sshhh…" 

"You're finally awake?" 

"Ssshhh…" 

"Go back to sleep, it will be a long night…"

"Ssshh…" Sera wrapped herself around his neck like a necklace.

As he looked up at the sky, he noticed the sky getting darker, "damn it!" He bit his lip, "if only I could find a place somewhere to stay." 

He rolled his eyes and let out a long sigh, "well, at least it's not raining…" 

In a stunning twist of fate, the heavens decided to showcase their sense of irony right on cue, as the raindrops gracefully descended. How fortunate!

"Gods really hate me…" Karyan put his hands on his cloak and started running into the town.

As Karyan ran back into the town, the rain poured down heavily, each drop hitting the ground with force, sending up tiny splashes of mud. 

The dirt turned to thick, slippery mud under his feet, making every step a struggle.

 The raindrops felt like cold needles against his skin, and the wind whipped through the streets, adding to the chaos.

Strangely, as he made his way through the downpour, Karyan noticed the townspeople acting oddly. 

They hurriedly closed their doors and windows, locking themselves inside their homes. It was as if they were trying to shut out the world, as if the town itself didn't even exist. 

The usual warm glow of candlelight that usually should spill from the windows was extinguished, leaving the town in an eerie darkness.

Confused and drenched, Karyan pressed on, trying to make sense of the strange behavior. 

"What is going on?" 

"Ssshh…"

"…I know, it's strange for me also." 

He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over the town like a heavy blanket. 

As he splashed through the muddy streets, he couldn't help but wonder what could have caused such a sudden shift in the townspeople's strange acting.

Despite the chill in the air and the growing sense of foreboding, Karyan's will to

The sky above grew heavy with dark clouds, like a vast cloak of shadow drawn across the heavens. Night seemed to rush in, eager to swallow the last of the day's light, wrapping the world in a thick, dark blanket.

Karyan trudged on, his boots sinking into the now sodden earth. The rain hammered down harder, if that were possible, and the wind howled like a pack of wild wolves on the prowl. 

He gentle placed his hand on Sera, to make sure she was still there, "I'm sorry," he whispered to her.

The streets of the town emptied; doors banged shut, windows slammed closed. 

Light after light blinked out, as if the people inside were snuffing out the candles and fires in a hurry, hiding from something more than just the storm.

He needed shelter, and fast.

The town's outskirts came into view, with the wild countryside stretching out beyond. Karyan's eyes searched desperately for any kind of refuge. 

And then, just as he was about to give up hope, he saw it—a massive rock formation, a short distance from the town, its broad, flat underside offering a promise of dry land.

"Finally!" His eyes widened in excitement.

He stumbled toward it, his steps heavy with mud and fatigue. The wind was a relentless force, pushing against him as if trying to keep him from his goal. 

But Karyan was ready to face anything to reach it, so he fought his way forward, one stubborn step at a time.

Reaching the rock, he ducked beneath its overhang, the sudden absence of rain on his skin feeling almost as strange as the cold had felt. 

The rock was like a giant's hand, cupped and turned to the sky, and Karyan huddled in the shadow of its palm.

It was darker here, the night felt like it took a complete victory over the land. Karyan sat back against the cool stone, his breath misting in the air before him.

"Until tomorrow, until tomorrow…" 

He was soaked to the bone, his cloak heavy with water, but at least he was out of the rain.

From his rocky shelter, Karyan could just make out the outline of the town. It seemed different now, hostile even, full of secrets and closed doors. 

He wondered what had driven the townspeople to such fear, but the thought was distant, muted by his own immediate discomfort and the relentless drumming of the rain.

"Ssshhh…" 

"We'll figure it out tomorrow, continue resting," he patted the snake on its head.

As the storm raged on, Karyan closed his eyes, letting the sound of the rain and the howling wind lull him into a restless doze. 

Here, under the rock, he was safe for now, hidden from the world and its troubles. 

But the question of what the morning would bring was in the back of his mind, as dark and uncertain as the night itself…

"I…I…smell fresh blood…"