A Long Walk Forward

He opened his eyes, feeling refreshed after some time of sleeping.

Stepping out, he looked at the window, nighttime, the moon was in full view rising upwards in the sky.

"A good rest, but time to head out though, even in this risky time." He thought to himself.

He descended downstairs, leaving the room and arriving back at the entrance.

"Thank you, but i will be leaving earlier than expected." He said to the woman, still sitting behind her desk with her book.

"Very well, best of luck in your travel." She bid him farewell.

Outside, there was little chatter and noise, only a few people were walking around while lanterns and torches lit up the street on the sides. Down another stairwell he stepped on the dirt ground. Putting the hood above his head, Venator began walking, on the road once more. To the shrine he asked about.

Leaving the town, he looked around, forests lay in the distance while the area around the road was just dark grass. Stars illuminated the light sky as the moon began shining down onto the world. Cold winds breeze through him while he

While the walk went on, Venator abruptly stopped, he felt something press against his back, something pointed.

"Hand over your valuables, or else this road will be stained with your blood." The figure behind him asked.

Venator turned around, a cloaked figure behind him was pointing a knife to him.

"I don't have any." Venator spoke. The knife pressed now to his tunic, pushing more than earlier.

"You have coins I'm sure of it, and this sword here that you have looks rather valuable." Venator sighed.

"I suggest you go on your way, so we both may leave without issue." The figure was taken aback as Venator replied without fear.

"Your blood will work well on the ground." In a split second, the figure lunged with his knife.

Venator grabbed his sheathe, stepping to the side quickly. Causing the sword to merely slice the air. With a steady and quick hand, he sent his blade down upon the attacker. Blood streaked across the dirt. Blood began forming a line on the bandit's chest while he looked at Venator with a pale face of shock, falling to the ground shortly after.

"That's one less bandit for that man to worry about, a foolish one at that. At least it's bandit blood and not civilian blood." Venator spoke in disgust and disappointment, cleaning his blade, sheathing it after.

Without a second thought, he continued on his way, leaving the bandit dead on the side.

The walk went on in the silent night, with no more obstacles while Venator observed the twilight earth around him.

Hours passed while the journey went on, farther and farther from the town he once rested in.

The road seemed to go on forever and bore little to no sign of another town or that capital he was told of, feeling a sense of frustration while his boots continued stepping on the ground.

"Wonder what power the god here has." He asked himself.

"Fire? Wealth? Protection?" He continued.

"Whatever power that god has, i need to find a better way to get to places, this walking is just exhausting." He complained, soon his mind returned to quietness.

The gleam of morning sunshine reigned upon the horizon after hours of walking on a seemingly infinite road, the darkened path now became lit up in an orange tint by the sun, Venator faced it, his face, one bearing a burn mark and a scar was illuminated, he flashed a small grin while staring at the bright light of the sun

"Finally, some light." He continued on his stroll.

Far ahead, the light revealed buildings of different sizes. Venator started walking faster while the sun slowly rose up.

"By the time i get there i doubt they'll let me in, gate's most likely shut and seeing a single person approaching a wall doesn't seem to normal. Need another way in." He thought to himself, planning an alternate route inside.

He heard neighs of horses in the distance. Looking to the source of the noise, a wagon with 2 horses was going forward on another route. Heading to the castle as well.

He began walking on the field towards the wagon, running through it towards them.

As he got nearer, he slowed down, now beginning to creep up behind the wagon. The wagon was carrying wheat and barley on it.

Now behind the wagon, he slowly climbed up and hid himself inside the cargo, making as little noise as possible. The wagon kept on moving, the person on the wagon seemingly oblivious.

Venator stayed motionless as the wagon wobbled up and down on the road.

The wagon kept moving with no stop, moving closer and closer to the destination. A large city, the capital with large stone walls on all sides, towers on all corners with guards patrolling on and below the walls, all in fine armor and well crafted weapons. A rich capital.

The wagon stopped upon arriving at the front of the gate.

Venator stayed inside, trying to stay as silent as possible. Outside, the rider talked with the guard, their voices muffled by the wheat pile.

After a few seconds, the wagon began moving again. From hitting the dirt ground, it began moving on the stone roads of the capital.

Venator peeked through a gap in the wheat pile. Seeing the back of the gate, people walking around going about their daily lives. He turned to the right and peeked through another gap, peering out and trying to see if anyone was walking to escape the wagon.

Now far enough from the gate and with an empty road side, Venator quickly exited out of the wagon, only leaving a rustling noise.

The rider kept moving, not noticing what has happened. Venator began walking through another path, leaving the area. Through a smaller pathway, he arrived at a busier route. The roads were packed, marketplaces selling different things were scattered about, from food to luxuries.

The buildings were well built of stone among other stronger material, far different from the town before. Venator looked around, walking forward and seeing every building and every stall.

"Whichever god these people serve, it made them rich. Wonder if they even have an issue with magic users?" He thought to himself.