The day stretched on, and the sun began its descent, casting hues of gold and crimson across the sky. As nightfall approached, the horizon seemed to blaze, welcoming the dark with a spectacular sundown. Muso engaged in a quiet discussion with one of the Grey Hunters. The Hunter mentioned that they were unsure which beach along the central continent they would reach, but once they made landfall, the Hunters would part ways and return to the Northern Snow region.
Their conversation was interrupted when Roderick approached, greeting them cheerfully. He handed Muso two maps: one of the known world, the land of Sajar, and another of the City of Crown. Muso raised a brow at the second map.
"How do you have a map of the City of Crown?" he asked, his tone tinged with suspicion.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Roderick chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Well... that's the city where I boarded the wrong ship and ended up in the Northern Snow region," he admitted, his voice laced with embarrassment.
Muso's expression froze in utter disbelief. "You're telling me... you accidentally boarded the wrong ship and traveled all the way to the Northern Snow without realizing it?"
For a long moment, Muso simply stared at him, his face a mix of shock and exasperation. Finally, he sighed, shaking his head. "Unbelievable," he muttered.
Meanwhile, the Hunter took the map of Sajar, nodding gratefully. Roderick hesitated, clearly wanting to ask for the map back, but ultimately decided against it. He stood there awkwardly until Muso patted him on the shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't let it bother you. At least now they won't get lost."
As the night deepened, the Hunter returned to speak with Muso and Roderick. "By early morning," he said, "we'll reach the beaches near House Tall's territory. From there, you can follow the Deepwood path. It'll take you straight to the City of Crown."
Dawn broke, the sky streaked with soft hues of gold and blue. A knock at their doors stirred Muso and Roderick from their rest. The Grey Hunter, as promised, had come to wake them. Rising quickly, the two men stepped onto the deck and were greeted by the sight of a sandy coastline stretching out before them. The beaches of House Tall gleamed faintly in the morning light.
"We've arrived," the hunter said, his voice even as he extended a hand in farewell.
Muso clasped his forearm in thanks. "Your aid will not be forgotten. May the snows welcome your return."
Roderick echoed the sentiment, albeit with less formality, and the hunters departed, their cloaks vanishing into the mist like shadows retreating from the dawn.
Standing alone on the beach, Muso turned to Roderick. "Where are we?"
Roderick squinted at their surroundings, the faint outline of rolling hills to the north giving him pause. "I'm not exactly sure which beach this is, but judging by the landmarks, we're somewhere in the northern reaches of House Tall's territory. There should be a city nearby."
