Dante sat upon a stone bench attached to a fountain, resting his journal in his p and writing into it, logging his encounter with the hollows from yesterday. As Dante detailed their behaviors and appearance, Ireishil walked by, Dante looking up from his journal and addressing her. “Oh, hello. Do we have any work for today?” He asked, Ireishil shaking her head. “No. The Guild has no jobs avaible at the moment.” “So… we have the day off, then?” Dante prodded, Ireishil crossing her arms while she answered. “I suppose so.” Dante looked up at Ireishil examining their sack of thrones, leaning back as he let his untied hair brush against the flowing water in the fountain. “What are some activities we can do around here, then?” He asked, her shrugging while she sat beside him on the bench, watching all the people walking around them. Dante’s eyes scoured across the visible town, before being set on a nearby library. “Hey! How about we go get some more books?” He asked, Ireishil turning her head towards him while she rested the sack in her p. “Alright.” Was her answer, her getting up and following Dante over to the building, a rge font reading just “Mauyonne Library” written on a wooden sign in front of it. Dante walked in, seeing not very many people inside, but quite a few books to make up for such. The shelves seemed lined with information about the geography and ecosystems of Hospuria and its surrounding areas. Deciding to try and find something he wouldn’t know about the pce he lived his whole life, he picked up a book with the title “Hospuria’s Borders”. Flipping it open, he saw a short passage that vividly described Hospuria’s neighbors.

  “Hospuria is situated along the western coast of Nimouervil, leaving it to be a popur area for commerce by sea, and for rge concentrations of Amia tribes to make their home. To the north of Hospuria is Jianc, the border between the two of them being patrolled by various Decci militias. The Decci consider Jianc and its many vilges to be nds that are respective only to themselves, as it was here that they retreated from their culling.”

  “Culling?” Dante though. Now curious, Dante flipped to the next page, skipping over Jianc’s southern geography and seeing nothing more about the Decci, instead it being a passage about Heiwan.

  “The mountainous regions of Heiwan are to the northeast of Hospuria, where it also touches Tsiuc’s and Yiz Guo’s border. Heiwan was once an uncivilized region of zahnei tribes that rested along the peak of various mountains, but roughly 250 years ago, traveling kyvernite families settled there, where their influence reigned until the War of Gods.

  Yiz Guo is directly beside Heiwan, resting above Hospuria and Tsiuc’s border. Yiz Guo is the home of the Nitlie and their ‘Berserker’ tribes, given their names from their nomadic and often violent natures, as well as the retively more civilized Yaena. Prior to the War of Gods, this area was a constant struggle for power, as the Kyvernite families failed to stabilize the constant warring between the Nitlie and Yaena that lived in the area. Yiz Guo is a smaller region, with a small entrance to the sea splitting halfway into it. However, due to the hostile nature of the feral Nitlie nomads, and the fiercely territorial Yaena tribes, greater civilization still holds no presence there.”

  Dante read through it feeling intrigued, feeling a bit more understanding of the rather hostile interactions he sees between the two races. He looked over across the table as Ireishil, who seemed to simply be reading what looked like some sort of short Idolist narrative about a farmer and the Force of Harvest. Trying not to be intrusive, he brought his eyes back to his own book, flipping the page and seeing Tsiuc in all its glory.

  “To the very east of Hospuria is Tsiuc, the rgest region in Nimouervil. It houses both the remnants of Kyvernite empires and the many cities that spread the word of Idolism. The sect of Idolism followed here is the most common within Nimouervil, with the Force of Order being the primary deity worshiped.

  The Stygian Desert lies to the Southeast of Hospuria, once a region with countless seaports and beachside cities, that also was known for its rge entertainment industry. However, a forbidden ritual had led to the rapid spreading of the Darkness across its nds, where it took over many cities and converted its many inhabitants into hollows. It is said that it were the Othikeans and their crave for power and talent that led to the corrupting influence of the Darkness. But it did not matter in the end, for an elite squadron of vinnan mages had cast fire to the region, leaving most of it into a bitter desert, and the many hordes of hollows into a tiny, scattered remnant of what it once was.”

  Leaving the library, Dante felt a little more confident in what he knew about the world around him, Ireishil following him looking generally uninterested. As the two left, they were met by Pryderi, Rorburn following closely behind him. “Oh, there you two are. Me and Fernsoar here were looking for you, was wondering what we had to do today.” “The Guild said we had no work today.” Dante replied. Rorburn crossed his arms, looking down while kicking the floor as Pryderi looked down at him, doing sort of a “I told you so” gesture to the nitlie, Rorburn’s tail stiffening while he squinted his eyes. “What?! You people can’t just leave me in the dark. I like actually scheduling my shit, unlike you all, apparently.” Rorburn spat, looking over at Ireishil. “...no offense.” “It’s fine.” Ireishil replied. Dante looked between the group, gaining the courage to speak when all 3 looked towards him. “Well, uh… is there anything you all would like to do for our little break today?” “Wanna go to the brothel?” Rorburn asked, Dante scoffing at him at the thought. “No! That’s disgusting! I mean like, something we can do together. Like hunting or reading.” “I can go hunting with ya, Pildel.” Pryderi answered. Rorburn grinned while he looked over at Ireishil, who didn’t appear to agree with Dante’s idea. “Well? I didn’t hear a no from you.” Rorburn said, Ireishil shrugging while she began to walk away from Dante and Pryderi, following Rorburn to the brothel. “Eugh… I can’t believe they’re doing that.” Dante thought out loud, Pryderi ughing while he pyfully hit Dante in the shoulder. “Well, two’s plenty for a hunt. Or maybe we can go fishing, I’ve heard from the locals there’s a good pond just outside the city.” Dante nodded, ughing in return before he responded. “Sure. Do you already have bait and rods at our room?” “Course. Always gotta come prepared.”

  Taking a short departure from the city, Dante and Pryderi walked alongside a dirt road dug from one of its gates, bringing 2 rugs, 2 rods, and a bucket full of meat chunks as they made their way near the pond, only a few other groups of people trying to catch fish spread out around them. The both of them id down their rugs, Dante sitting down and readying his rod while Pryderi stood up, looking over the giant body of water, fully taking in the view. His slouch hat was left at the room, his mostly shaved, curly bck hair now fully visible. Dante looked up at him, prodding a chunk of meat on the hook. “Does it look like we’ll have any luck?” Dante asked, Pryderi chuckling while he sat down, starting to tie together his rod as well. “Maybe, heh. After all this death, seeing this kind of untouched nature’s a nice change of pace.” Dante nodded his head, casting his rod and resting the handle of it in his hands while he replied. “I suppose so. It’s a… little hard for me to grasp, though, the effects those wars had on our nds.” Dante began, Pryderi looking over at Dante, listening as the tovron expined further. “I… very rarely left my home as a child, often only to settlements hardly a mile away. I only knew of the war because my grandfather Arrios served in it, and he told me stories about fighting on the kyvernite’s behalf.” “Heh. Yeah, my grandparents fought in the war, too. Wasn’t necessarily on either the Idolist or Atharot side, though. They were just trying to keep the destruction to a minimum.” Pryderi shrugged his shoulders, reeling his rod back and slowly pulling a colorfully scaled fish back up onto the shore. “It was a pretty bad look from what I was told. It seemed like Nimouervil would never recover right after the war ended. But…” Pryderi smiled, mercy killing the fish and pcing it in a wooden crate. “I’d like to think we’ve done a pretty good job so far. Sure, there’s still a lot of suffering out there, but we’re whittling away at it. And some progress is better than nothing.” “You’re absolutely right, Pryderi. Maybe one day we can bring things back to the way they were all those years ago.” Dante said, Pryderi cocking his head and pursing his lips. “Hmm… I dunno, Pildel. Maybe there’s a silver lining to that war. Sure, a lot of people died ‘n lost their homes, but…” Pryderi shrugged. “Life wasn’t exactly perfect under the kyvernites, either. They kept order with a ruthless iron fist, a lot of innocent people suffered at their hands. And I’m no Athorist, I’m a firm believer in the Forces, but…” Pryderi looked out onto the water, thinking for a moment before he continued. “Think they kinda had a point. Sure, a lot of athorists these days are zealots who are pretty fond of chopping people’s limbs off, but back then, they were all about equality. All about brotherhood, all about striving to be your best self.” Dante nodded his head. “I suppose they could have been admirable at first. But they certainly changed as of recent years.” Dante replied, Pryderi chuckling. “They sure have. While me and the Wolves were over in Tsiuc, it was too common of a sight to see athorist gangs grabbing people in the night and harvesting their bodies.” “That’s… that’s horrible. Killing innocent people for their twisted grafting.” “Mhm. But I think together with the Guild, we’re gonna put an end to all of this. And we’ll do it together, Pildel.” Pryderi assured, patting his hand on Dante’s shoulder. The optimistic thought brought a smile to Dante’s face, him sitting back down with a flopping cod in front of him as he reattached another bit of meat, his feet kicked out in front of him while he simply fished in a peaceful silence alongside Pryderi. It wasn’t long after that they finished their activity, the cleric and archer heading back into town, a bucket with a couple meat bits in it, alongside about a dozen caught fish. Pryderi pnned on cooking up each of the fish and having a feast for the entire party, Dante happy with the idea while he stepped inside of their room. Ireishil and Rorburn were nowhere in sight, Dante exhaling deeply as he looked over at Pryderi. “Do you think they’re still, uhm… having their sessions?” He asked, Pryderi nodding as he prepared to enter the building. “I’m gonna go have these gutted ‘n cooked. I know it’s not really your thing, but if you’re worried about them, I’d go looking for them.” Dante nodded, leaving the room to Pryderi at his lonesome while he went on his brothel-bound journey. A pout grew on his face while he walked along the paved road leading to the house of sin. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but the thought of sex was strangely repulsive to him, a chill running up his spine at the sight of the barely clothed people exiting the building. He immediately ran into Rorburn, him standing out the entrance with a lit roll of herbs in his mouth. Dante’s presence was quickly noticed, the nitlie letting out a chuckle while stepping over towards him, taking a puff before he spoke. “Well? It took ya long enough to stop being a wuss.” “No, no. I’m not here for… any of that. Have you seen Ireishil anywhere?” “She’s still in there.” Dante recoiled. “Huh? What could she possibly be doing in there?” He questioned, Rorburn ughing as he finished his smoke, tossing the burnt remains to the ground and snuffing it with the tip of his shoe. “Getting her money’s worth. She ordered a fine looking broad, then a fine looking fel. She’s been in a private room with them since.” Dante grimaced, slowing down to work his nerve up for a moment while he slowly walked over to the entrance. “Me and Pryderi got some fish, we’re gonna try and have a feast. I really want all of us to be together.” Rorburn shrugged, ughing a little as he began his next wisecrack. “I think she’s filled plenty in there. Or she’s filling someone plenty. Eith - ” “Can you stop?” Dante blurted out, going a little red in the face as Rorburn simply nodded, walking away. “I’m gonna go over to your pce for some of that fish. Have fun pacing outside waiting for her like some fuckin’ lovesick weirdo.” Dante cleared his throat, bouncing in pce for a moment. He half-contempted going inside for a moment, peering past the door, only to see general debauchery and what he found to be filth. Standing alongside the wall, Dante crossed his arms, furrowing his brow as he looked down towards the ground beneath him. Not very much time passed before Dante was noticed by one of the brothel’s workers, a heavy-set kyvernite stepping out from the entrance, a curious look on his face as he stepped over towards Dante, towering over the much shorter tovron while the gems in his forehead and bare chest shone in the sunlight. “Hey. Ain’t you one of them Guild sellswords?” The kyvernite asked, Dante flinching, a somewhat flustered look forming on his face from the rge man wearing little more than a set of leather pants and boots stood across from him. “Well… y - yes, I am.” “What, you comin’ here for some work?” Dante was too shocked to answer for a moment, only listening in disbelief while the kyvernite continued. “Pretty cute looking for a tovron. Got that slim build, long hair, soft features, light brown skin, think the girls’ll like you a lot. And some of the guys as well.” “N - No, I’m… I - I’m not here to work as a prostitute, I’m just… waiting for someone.” The kyvernite chuckled. “Waiting for someone, huh? Look, I know you tovrons are big on that whole… monogamy thing, but you can’t be grabbing any of my workers to take ‘em for yourself.” “That’s - that’s not why I’m here, I - ” “Don’t droneshit me, man. There’s no shame in it. It’s all a fantasy here, and you ain’t the first one to get a little too immersed.” Before the conversation could continue any further, Ireishil stepped out from the entrance, her raising an eyebrow as she looked over at Dante. She wore only a robe wrapped around her, fastening it as the kyvernite turned to her. “He’s with me.” Ireishil stated, the kyvernite nodding, stepping past her and going back into the brothel. “What are you doing here?” She asked, Dante stammering for a moment as he looked her up and down. “I’m - I just came here to tell you that… we - we uh… we’re having a feast back at our abode.” Ireishil nodded, holding her arms around her chest as she inhaled from the pipe, exhaling some smoke before she replied. “Okay. I’ll be there in only a moment.” Dante gave her a thumbs up, before turning around and heading back towards their room, his walk turning more into a sprint as he realized just how far he traveled from it.

  The door swung open, Dante looking in as Rorburn and Pryderi sat alongside one another, Pryderi still preparing the fish as Rorburn poured some gsses of mead. “Well! Look who’s back from the whorehouse!” Rorburn cheered, Pryderi chuckling as Dante stomped his foot, frowning as he walked over to them. “I - I didn't do anything there!” He barked out defensively, Rorburn smirking as he id back on the floor. “I only talked to Ireishil, and she told me she was almost done.” Rorburn sat down as the cups were poured, helping himself to one of the cuts of cod as he sit down. “Man. I was pnning on just being in and out of there, but she’s really making memories.” Pryderi looked between the both of them, a quick ugh leaving him as he skinned another fish. “I hate to reduce a woman to her… sexual performance, but… she’s a lot more enduring under a sheet than a lotta the deviants back in the Wolves.” “Can you both not be doing this!” Pryderi squinted up at Dante, turning his head as he finished skinning the st fish. “What’s the matter, Pildel? This got you a lot more worked up than I expected.” Pryderi asked. Dante rubbed at his own elbow, huffing and puffing while he sat down by the windowsill. “It’s just… not something I’m used to. Where I'm from, that… sex stuff, it’s treated more, er… sacredly.” “C’mon, Dante. She’s got her own wants ‘n needs. Not everyone follows your tovron monarchy bullshit.” Rorburn remarked. “I think it’s called monogamy, Fernsoar.” Pryderi corrected, Rorburn shrugging in response. Dante sighed before he sipped at a cup of mead, holding both of his hands around the cup as he spoke. “Well. I - I guess you’re right, maybe I shouldn’t be so worked up about it.” Pryderi patted Dante on the shoulder, chuckling again as Rorburn picked up a raw fish with his hands, sinking his teeth into it. The rest of the fish were just about ready, Dante and Pryderi waiting for everyone to get here as Rorburn started to nibble at his 2nd fish.

  It wasn’t long before Ireishil entered through the door and immediately gained the attention of the room. “Well? How was it?” Rorburn asked, a wide grin on his face as Ireishil sat across the 3 on the round table, getting a pte of fish and sweet corn as she answered. “It was alright.” She responded, Rorburn cackling as he looked between Dante and Ireishil. “Droneshit! You were in there all day! You were giving those two the bed rocking of their lives!” Ireishil shrugged, eating off the cob as she slouched back in her seat, keeping a neutral expression while Rorburn continued to tease her. “Yeah, you can do your whole unemotional bit all you want. I’m a nitlie, I know how nitlies work. That nitlie gal you were with was panting. She should’ve been paying you.” “Stop!” Dante yelled, Ireishil shooting a look towards Rorburn, him getting the message as he rested his head on his hand, his ears perked up as Dante inhaled. “S - Sorry. I need to go to bed, I’m…” He muttered, getting up as he pushed his pte up the table, Rorburn looking over at him as he walked out the room. “Are you gonna finish that?” He asked, Dante shaking his head as Dante immediately pulled his pte towards him and devoured the half of a fish he had left. Ireishil then got up, pushing her pte to Rorburn. “You following him?” Pryderi asked, her sighing as she answered. “Yes. There’s something I should tell him.” Pryderi chose not to try and intrude, him just finishing his pte as Ireishil closed the door behind her.

  Dante sat at the base of the stairs, his legs up to his chest as the darkness of the night began to set in. Ireishil walk over and sit next to him, looking down at him as she slowly took a step down. “Dante.” Dante looked up at her, jumping in his seat in surprise. “Ah - oh. H - Hey. Sorry, I know I’m acting foolish, I’ll come back in a second.” “I want you to know that you are always welcome to ask me anything.” Dante sighed, repositioning his body slightly more towards her as he leaned up against the staircase. “There’s nothing I really want to ask you. It’s only that… I wasn’t really exposed to all that kind of stuff at home. This whole culture, it’s so alien to me.” “Do you feel some sort of way towards me, Dante?” “Well… I see you as a good friend, Ireishil. We’ve worked together for some time now, and I feel like we’ve gotten to know one another. Even if it does feel like there’s a lot I still don’t know about you.” Dante answered, Ireishil exhaling deeply, sitting down beside Dante as she spoke. “There’s something I want you to know, Dante.” Dante looked up at her, his mind racing as to what she was going to say. “Hmm?” He hummed, her sighing before going to expin. “I was born in a city of mutants, as one who is not. While I was a child, I knew a boy there, much younger than I. He was adventurous, energetic, and ignorant to the negative situations our vilge faced. But he was… he was like a brother to me.” He looked down, starting to connect the dots as he then squinted, feeling slightly offended as he realized that she was subtly calling him naive. “Huh? Do I… remind you of him?” He asked, her nodding as she held her arms against her chest. “Well, what happened to him? Do you two still talk?” She shook her head, looking down as she inhaled shakily. “He’s gone.” She said weakly, Dante inching closer to her as he started fidgeting with his nails in a bit of anxiousness. “Oh. I’m - I’m sorry.” He responded, Ireishil looking him up and down as she turned her body towards him. “You really do remind me of him. No matter how hard I try to push down these feelings. It’s… been a long time since I’ve cared for anyone else, and seeing you upset, it… it made me feel things I haven’t felt in decades.” Dante shook his head, trying to give her a reassuring look while he gently spoke. “It’s okay, Ireishil. It isn’t wrong to show your emotions, and I’m… I - I’m honored that you care like that about my well-being. I care for you, too.” Ireishil’s expression softened, her breathing slowly while she let her braided ponytail rest down her back. “And I’m sorry about the one you lost, I’m sure he’s in a much better pce now.” Dante struggled a little to speak further, him unsure to gauge Ireishil’s constant indifferent expression. “I want you to know that I see you as a close friend of mine. You’re a good person, Ireishil. I don’t think anyone else would have the patience for someone like me.” Dante said a little jokingly, chuckling quietly while Ireishil shared his gaze. Her eyes blinked rapidly while she let out a slight whimper. “You… you’re too sweet, Dante.” She spoke, sitting up more straight as Dante scooted closer to her. “Let us look forward to a better future, one that we will share. Alright?” He asked, smiling as he extended a hand towards her for a handshake. Instead, Ireishil brought her arms under his and took him in a hug, him yipping as she stood up and effortlessly carried him off the floor. “Heh. Alright.” Ireishil cooed. Dante’s eyes flicked wide open as she dropped him. Being grabbed like that wasn’t a very pleasant sensation for Dante, but to see Ireishil made happier did strike him with a sense of relief, this feeling staying with him as the two returned to their room.