In the dimly lit tavern, the aroma of smoke and burning wood mingled with the alluring scent of delicious cooking. Candlelight illuminated the faces of the customers seated at rough wooden tables, laughing and joking loudly. In the corner of the room, a musician played the harp, his cheerful melody filling the air.
A simple-clad waitress brought plates filled with savory dishes: warm bread, fragrant roasted meats, and a colorful vegetable stew. The patrons eagerly devoured their meals, savoring the rich flavors and hearty textures. Between bites, they exchanged stories of their day, sharing the latest gossip from the village or town.
The atmosphere in the tavern was warm and friendly, brimming with camaraderie and happiness. People from all walks of life gathered here, enjoying food and fellowship. Outside the tavern, the night had arrived, and the sky was adorned with sparkling stars. This tavern felt like a small oasis amidst the harshness of life, a place where people could forget their troubles for a while and enjoy beautiful moments of togetherness.
The tavern grew busier with each passing minute. From the wide open double doors, more people entered than left, making the space even more crowded. The noise became louder and more chaotic, which made our meeting less than ideal. It seemed we had chosen the wrong time and place.
At present, I sat with Dimas, Shella, Vian, and Vani, having a meeting. These were the only ones present, as we were the last remaining souls in Glafelden. The rest, mostly men, had enlisted in the royal army in the capital or become assistants to traveling merchants.
We had just finished eating, leaving dirty plates on the long table. I had gathered them here to share information I had received a few days ago about the Soul Crystal. I also mentioned the two solutions given by Almira and asked for their opinions.
"This is incredibly dangerous, Anggi! Sneaking into the capital of the Western Elvian Kingdom is something no one has even considered, not even Grussel. Who knows, we could be arrested the moment we set foot in their city," Dimas was the first to protest, speaking without a second thought.
"It's not 'we.' It's me," I insisted. My voice nearly got swallowed by the uproar of the tavern, but I was sure they could still hear me.
"I'm even more against this. What could a foolish hunter like you possibly do? I'm sure you'll get tempted by that white rabbit again and cause chaos," Dimas continued.
"That's impossible. No one repeats a mistake except a fool," I retorted.
"The fool is you!" Dimas shot back.
If it had been just the two of us, I would have already struck the bastard. But I held back. I didn't want to start a fight in public, especially with a friend. That would be foolish—exactly as Dimas had said.
"Enough, Anggi, Dimas! Stop fighting like this!" Shella intervened. Then she threw a glance at me. She stared at me silently for a moment. "I also don't agree with you, Anggi. A risky solution like this is not the answer."
"Opportunities like this don't come twice. Maybe the Elvians could open their borders and welcome humans with open arms. But when? It could be decades or even hundreds of years from now. Or maybe it will never happen until this world is destroyed. Don't you want to go home?"
Shella suddenly went silent. Hearing my last words seemed to leave her speechless. She became mute, her eyelids closing, pretending not to care. I turned to the twins.
"What about you two? Surely you want to go home too, right?"
They exchanged a brief glance. Then they both nodded.
"Of course. But what Shella and Dimas said is true. We can't act without a solid plan," Vani, the more cheerful one, spoke up.
"I know you want to try, Anggi. But this isn't a good idea. The forest is dangerous, and we don't know what awaits us there," Vian, usually quiet, added.
"That's why I'm asking for your help now. Help me come up with a great plan so I can infiltrate the Elvian capital."
Smack!
A moment later, the back of my head felt a sharp pain. I groaned quietly, holding my head, and shot a sharp glare at Dimas, who was sitting beside me.
"What are you doing, you fool?"
Before I could protest further, Dimas spoke first. "Can you stop being so stubborn? Calm down a bit and think clearly. Don't you realize how dangerous this is? We're here not because we want to be. Of course, we want to go home."
"Each of us surely misses our parents, relatives, or friends from our world. But this isn't the way. Forcing ourselves into danger is foolish. Whether it's me, Shella, Vian, Vani, or anyone else, we don't want any of us to be at risk. What if you don't come back?"
"But... if not now—"
Smack!
Once again, Dimas smacked my forehead. The heat lingered there. I was sure my forehead was bright red now.
"Fool! Don't you understand? We're worried about you! Is that how you treat friends who care about your safety? Acting stubborn like a child? Don't you think about how we feel when you're in danger?"
My heart sank. His words struck me directly in the chest, leaving a hole. I had never considered that. When I looked at the other three, they all nodded in agreement. I never knew they were all so worried about me. It made me feel embarrassed. Because all I had been thinking about was myself.
I lowered my gaze to the table, smiling. "You're all really kind. I thought you would keep blaming me for bringing us all into this world."
Shella quickly grabbed my hand and held it tightly. "How many times do I have to tell you, Anggi? We don't think of you like that. And stop blaming yourself. We live in this world together. We've shared meals and sleep. We're in this together. That's why we need to look out for each other, care for each other, and love each other. I'm sure, one day, we'll find a way to return without endangering ourselves."
I couldn't bear to look at the sincerity in her eyes, which were like precious gems. My head bowed down. From the deepest part of my heart, I was grateful to have friends like them.
"Now, promise me you won't do anything dangerous! Forget that crazy idea of sneaking into the Elvian capital. It's better to wait for an opportunity that may come later."
I immediately turned to Dimas.
"You're usually hard to convince. That's why I want you to promise."
I nodded slowly and sighed. "Alright, I promise!"
Everyone smiled widely, relieved that this issue had been resolved. I too felt happiness from the strength of everyone's bond. Maybe with this friendship, I could truly understand the meaning of life.
Days passed without my realizing it. It had been nearly a week since Grussel's punishment—being kicked out of the base—had ended. Tomorrow night would be the hunt. The Dark Night group would be back in action. From what I heard from Dimas, our target was a creature resembling a large tiger called Orska. I had only heard of it. From the illustration he showed me, it was a large beast, almost as tall as an adult human. They were hunted for their long fangs. It looked similar to the prehistoric animal Smilodon or the saber-toothed tiger. This hunt seemed challenging, especially after spending a few days idle at Aunt Saantya's clinic.
I stepped out of the kitchen after helping the clinic staff wash the dirty dishes. The sun was still warm. It was the perfect time for daily activities. I had been to the library several times lately. Almira's house had been visited so often that the owner might chase me away the moment she saw my face at the door. Now, I wasn't sure what to do.
I was bored.
Half an hour passed as I sat in silence on a bench in the city park. Motionless, like a stone. I stared blankly at a group of squirrels gnawing on walnuts that had fallen beneath a tree.
Suddenly, my instincts told me someone was behind me. Before I could turn, the person gently tugged at my hood, as if curious about what was hidden beneath it. I quickly stopped them with my hand and moved away, standing five steps from them and shooting a sharp glare.
The man grinned.
"Why are you daydreaming here?"
"Goodness, Dimas! Can you stop scaring me like that?" I snapped, frustrated. If he had really pulled off my hood, my long ears would have been the center of attention in the crowd. That wouldn't be something to joke about.
"You're the one spacing out." He shrugged casually. Then he sat on the bench and handed me a bundle of flatbread he had been carrying. "Want some?"
I sat down with Dimas and ate the snack. I recognized it. This flatbread was made from wheat, barley, or oats cooked on a flat pan. It was sold beside the city library. I often bought it after reading there all day. It was crispy and savory. They also had other flavors, like salt, pepper, and other seasonings.
Lucky for me, Dimas brought me this treat. My finances had run low after nearly a week without any income. For me, currently unemployed, this flatbread costing ten bronze coins was a luxury.
"It's so good!" I exclaimed. "You're the best!"
"Since you fed me this, I've started liking it."
"Told you! Once you try it, you'll get hooked."
Dimas smiled. We stayed in the park until we finished all the bread. I looked up at the sky, gazing at the clear blue sky with no clouds. The wind blew gently, refreshing my face before starting the day's activities.
On that bench, we spoke of the daily life of the Dark Night when I was not there. The man said that nothing had really changed at all. As if I had never been there at all.
Before I began to grumble and curse Grussel for his troublesome ways, Dimas had already explained that the old bastard did indeed care about me. From time to time, he asked about my well-being. "Where is she now?" "Is she causing trouble at Saantya's place?" "I hope she's getting wiser now that she's staying there." Such words could never truly be considered an inquiry into one's well-being. It seemed clear that he never genuinely meant to ask about me.
"It's not that he doesn't care. It's just that's the extent of attention he can give. Nothing more. If he were to be too concerned, his fierce and authoritative image would crumble before his own men," Dimas explained. "Try to imagine this: what if Grussel were overly concerned? What if he smiled at you warmly, speaking gently, always asking how you're doing and how your day went?"
"That would be absolutely disgusting," I responded, my body instantly shuddering as if haunted by a nightmare.
"Exactly, right? You need to be more perceptive! Pay attention to the little things around you."
"Do whatever you like!" I snapped in frustration.
"Oh yes, Anggi! Before the hunt tomorrow evening, the boss has given permission for you to return. So, you should probably say goodbye to Shella and Aunt Saantya today."
I muttered quietly. "Is that so? Perhaps I should buy them something as a token of my gratitude. I feel like I've been bothering them for a week now."
"You are a bother! Finally realizing that, huh?"
His grin and laughter, which were far from pleasant, made me throw an empty flatbread wrapper at his face. He dodged it deftly and continued laughing at me. Not one to take it lying down, I threw a punch at his side, but he dodged that as well. This was our usual routine when we "fought." It wasn't so much a fight as it was playful banter. We never really got into serious quarrels.
The entire day passed with us wandering the city together. We spent countless hours exploring the many fascinating places throughout Glafelden. I learned that there was a large, lush flower garden to the east of the city, as well as a pond with artificial rivers to the south.
This city was quite large. The gates that protected it were almost circular, with a diameter spanning from twenty to thirty kilometers. Since my arrival, I hadn't yet made a full circle of the city's boundaries. This would be my first time.
By the day's end, when the sun began to dip below the western horizon, we made our way to a tower near the southern gate. It was part of an ancient and long-abandoned structure. This tower stood high, its peak far above the surrounding city gates, affording a clear view of the land. As we reached the tower, it became apparent that very few visited this place, as it was distant from any inhabited buildings.
We sat there for a while, resting and gazing at the sunset from the tower. The view was perfect. The sky was painted with streaks of gold, orange, and purple as the sun sank lower and lower.
"You know?" I said, my gaze fixed on the horizon. "The sunsets in this world are the best I've ever seen. Whenever I have the chance, I always watch them."
"Why do you like sunsets so much? Aren't they the same as in our world?" Dimas asked, raising an eyebrow.
I briefly turned to glance at him before returning my gaze to the setting sun. "Yes, but here, you can see the vast expanse of stars when night falls. Look above! They're already visible, aren't they?"
As each second passed, the sun slid further down, and the sky darkened. It seemed as though the heavens themselves split between day and night, light and dark. The stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky.
Dimas whistled. "That's true. Here we can see the stars and cosmic dust clearly with the naked eye, unlike in our city where there's so much light pollution."
We fell silent for a moment, absorbed in the breathtaking scene above. Eventually, my eyes were drawn to something.
"Dimas, look at that!" I exclaimed, excited.
I pointed to the sky, where six of the brightest stars were visible. If you drew a line connecting them, it would form a shape resembling an arrow, ready to be released from a bow.
"What is that?" Dimas asked, looking closely.
"That's the constellation Celebrus. It's the brightest constellation that can be clearly seen as night approaches. If you ever get lost in the forest, look for the direction of that arrow. It will guide you westward, though only during certain lunar periods."
"You know a lot about constellations in this world, don't you?"
"Indeed," I answered proudly. "I've learned many fascinating things from books in the library, including astronomy."
"That's amazing!" Dimas praised. He smiled, showing his white teeth. "Maybe during the hunt tomorrow, I can rely on you."
I gave him a wry smile. I wasn't sure if he was being serious or mocking me. I still remembered when, just a few days ago, he had called me a foolish hunter. But this time, I didn't sense any teasing in his words, for he did not continue to joke. Sometimes, the man had an honesty that was hard to predict.
After a few moments, the mighty sun finally slipped behind the western horizon. The twilight sky resembled a giant canvas, splashed with colorful paint. Golden-orange streaks blended with hues of pale purple, creating a breathtaking panorama. The soft breeze carried the scent of wet earth and fallen leaves, adding a dramatic touch to the evening. In the distance, the silhouette of the mountains loomed high, as though reaching out to embrace the sky filled with vibrant colors.
"Shall we head back?" Dimas asked, preparing to descend the tower's stairs.
"I still have something I want to do."
"What's that?"
I purposely didn't answer his question immediately, waiting for his confused expression to show. "I want to hunt."