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  It must be nearby, the sound was getting louder.

  "Merlin, do you think they’ll let us in?" I asked nervously.

  "[Maybe you. I’m not sure about me. Just to be safe, I’ll camouflage myself. But we won’t be able to talk normally, I’ll use [Psychic Order] to communicate.]"

  Merlin vanished, leaving behind only a faint shimmer. I positioned myself behind a half-frozen tree, keeping my eyes on the direction of the sound. Soon, a carriage pulled by two sturdy horses emerged from the mist. The driver, a middle-aged man, was bundled in thick woolen blankets. Beside him sat a heavily armored guard.

  The carriage came to a halt. The guard jumped down, holding a lantern and looking around, clearly alert.

  "Who’s there?" he called out, hand on the hilt of his sword.

  I took a deep breath and slowly stepped out from behind the tree, trying to look as harmless as possible.

  "Please, help me. I’m lost... and freezing."

  My voice trembled, more from nervousness than the cold.

  The guard narrowed his eyes and raised the lantern to get a better look. I felt a chill, hoping he wouldn't use Appraisal. But he must have seen my torn and bloodied clothes.

  "What are you doing out here alone, kid?" the guard asked, suspicion clear in his tone.

  "I got separated from my group a few kilometers back. I’ve been trying to reach the city," I replied, trying hard to sound desperate.

  The guard exchanged a glance with the driver, who simply shrugged.

  "Let him in, Julian. We can’t leave him to freeze out here," the driver said in a raspy but kind voice.

  Julian, the guard, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He opened the carriage door and gestured for me to enter.

  "Come on. But stay in your place and don’t try anything funny."

  I climbed into the carriage, instantly surrounded by warmth. Inside was a merchant family, a man and a woman in their middle years, dressed simply, their faces weathered by hard work. Sitting with them was a girl around ten years old, who stared at me curiously. They were wrapped in blankets, trying to stay warm.

  "Oh my goodness!" the woman exclaimed. "You must be freezing in that outfit! Come, sit here and warm up."

  She offered me a spot next to her, where an extra blanket was laid out. I sat down, gratefully accepting it.

  "Thank you so much," I said, my voice now a little steadier. "My name is Victor."

  "We’re merchants from Cirgo," the man said, extending his hand. "I’m Thom, this is my wife, Eliza, and our daughter, Lilia."

  "Nice to meet you," I replied, shaking his hand as gently as I could.

  The carriage began moving again, swaying slightly as it continued down the snowy trail. I looked out the window, trying to stay calm and figure out what to do once we reached the city.

  "So what were you doing alone in such a dangerous place, Victor?" Eliza asked, clearly concerned.

  "I was separated from my group during an expedition. I’m just trying to make my way to the nearest city, which ended up being Cirgo," I explained, keeping my story simple.

  Thom nodded, looking at me with sympathy.

  "Cirgo can be harsh on travelers. Stick with us until we get there. You might find help once we arrive."

  I nodded, pulling the blanket tighter around me. ‘I need to come up with a plan to get into the city without raising suspicion.’

  So far, so good.

  Lilia watched me with curious eyes as I was brought back to reality. Naturally, I covered myself better to hide the blood on my clothes.

  "Are you an adventurer?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.

  I smiled, trying to look relaxed.

  "You could say that. Exploring new places is what I do."

  She seemed enchanted by the answer, while Eliza and Thom exchanged worried looks. Clearly, they didn’t want their daughter to have dangerous ideas. Which made me wonder what an "adventurer" really meant in this world, maybe it’s not something so well regarded? Or is it simply a very dangerous profession?

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "Well, adventurer or not, you’re safe with us," Thom said, with an encouraging smile.

  As the carriage moved forward, I began to plan what to do when we arrived. I needed to find a way to get information and resources without revealing my true identity.

  It didn’t take long before we reached the city, descending the hill leading to the entrance gates. The city was huge, with giant walls surrounding it, offering a majestic view, completely white from the snow accumulated over the houses and rustic structures, imposing towers, and rivers flowing calmly between the buildings. I had never seen a view like that before.

  Far in the distance, a castle rose atop another hill, dominating the horizon. It was probably the structure I had seen from afar, but now I could see it clearly in all its grandeur.

  "Incredible…" I said, amazed.

  "Welcome to Cirgo," Eliza said with a gentle smile, noticing my reaction.

  "Do you have money with you?" Thom asked, concern evident in his voice.

  "Oh, no, I lost everything. I have nothing but these old clothes," I answered, looking at my worn garments.

  Looking at it that way, if I were human and not a monster, I’d be dead in this cold.

  Thom nodded, thoughtful. He exchanged a look with Eliza, who looked equally worried.

  "Well, we don’t have much, but we can offer some food and temporary shelter," Thom said kindly.

  "Really?! Thank you so much!" I exclaimed, truly grateful.

  "You’re welcome." Thom replied.

  The carriage passed through the city gates, and soon we were navigating the busy streets. Despite the cold, there was a vibrant energy in the air. People rushing through their daily tasks, vendors calling out their products, and children playing in the snow.

  We stopped at a small wooden house near the central market. It was modest but looked cozy.

  "We’ve arrived," he said, stepping down from the carriage and helping Eliza and Lilia down as well.

  I followed them to the door, where Eliza opened it and invited us inside. The interior was cozy, with a fireplace and some simple but well-kept furniture.

  "Make yourself at home," Eliza said, while Lilia ran to the kitchen to get something.

  "I really appreciate your hospitality," I said, feeling a little more relaxed.

  "It’s alright," Thom replied.

  Eliza went to light the fireplace, saying it was so everyone could stay warm, and then went upstairs to the second floor.

  Lilia returned from the kitchen with a plate of hot soup a few minutes later, which she handed me with a shy smile.

  "Thank you…" I said, accepting the plate.

  While I ate, Merlin communicated silently with me.

  “[Everything went very well. Shall we explore the city later?]”

  I nodded slightly, agreeing with Merlin.

  "So, Victor, you mentioned you were separated from your group. What do you plan to do now?" Thom asked, sitting down at the table with me.

  "First, I need to find a job to get some money. Then, maybe try to locate my group, if they’re still around," I lied partially.

  "Maybe we can help you with that later," Eliza said.

  She came back holding a set of clothes: a dark blue coat with fur lining from the neck to the waist, lighter black pants matching the fur’s color, and a pair of velvet boots, also dark blue.

  "Are these for me?" I asked, surprised by their generosity.

  "Yes! They were mine when I was younger, I didn’t wear them much, so they’re like new. You can go change upstairs," Eliza said with a kind smile.

  I thanked them again, left the empty soup plate on the table, and went upstairs to a small room where I could change. The clothes were a bit loose but comfortable and offered good protection against the cold.

  I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn’t help but smile. The dark blue coat contrasted perfectly with my hair and eyes, giving me an almost noble appearance.

  “I think I look good in this…” I murmured to myself, adjusting the fur around my neck.

  Then I made a peace-and-love smile and pose, even playing a little with my facial expression. With this, I’m sure the blue really suits me.

  I went down the stairs and found Lilia waiting at the bottom, her eyes wide with admiration. She looked a bit shy, but curiosity was obvious on her face.

  "You look like a hero from the stories my father tells!" she said, her voice full of restrained enthusiasm.

  I smiled at her, grateful for the compliment. "Thank you. I hope I can live up to the look."

  "Ready to explore the city?" Thom asked, putting on a thick coat. "Let’s see what we can find for you."

  I nodded, feeling more confident in the new clothes. Eliza and Lilia accompanied us to the door, wishing us luck.

  The city of Cirgo was even more impressive up close. The stone streets were full of people, and the shops and stalls were alive with activity, despite the biting cold. We walked to one of the bridges crossing the city’s rivers, offering a stunning view of the castle in the distance.

  I stopped for a moment, admiring the imposing structure on top of the hill. The tall towers and reinforced walls exuded an air of power.

  "It’s impressive, isn’t it?" Thom said, stopping beside me. "The castle of Cirgo is one of the greatest fortresses in the kingdom."

  "It really is. It looks impenetrable," I commented, imagining the secrets and stories that place might hold.

  As I watched, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension. I would need to be clever and cautious to survive here; walking a tightrope all the time terrifies me.

  Thom touched my shoulder, bringing my attention back to reality.

  "Let’s check out some job opportunities. I know some people in the market who might be able to help."

  I stayed there a little longer, watching the castle in the distance. The fortress’s grandeur seemed to draw my attention almost hypnotically. Merlin even appeared floating by my side, displaying a sleepy emoji.

  As I admired the structure, I began to feel something strange. The temperature around me seemed to drop gradually, making the air even colder and more biting.

  It feels colder the closer we get to the castle… Am I imagining things? I thought, trying to shake off the discomfort.

  Merlin looked at me with a curious expression, noticing my unease.

  “[What’s wrong, Victor? Do you feel something strange?]”

  "It’s just… this feeling," I murmured, more to myself. "Like the cold is coming from the castle."

  The idea seemed absurd, but I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that something was wrong. It was as if the castle was wrapped in a strange aura.

  “[Maybe it’s just your imagination, but it’s worth staying alert]” Merlin advised.

  I nodded, deciding to keep my instincts sharp. I couldn’t ignore any clue or feeling, no matter how strange it seemed. Being in Cirgo was an opportunity, but it also meant diving into an environment full of possible dangers.

  Thom waved to get my attention back to the present, making Merlin immediately camouflage.

  "Shall we? We have a long day ahead."

  I took one last look at the castle before following Thom.

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