Bowaria

A few days have passed, and I left the Neverian mainland, its suburbs, and eventually its outskirts.

My current plan was to get out of Acolatum and travel to a neighboring country.

On my way there, I was going to ask around about Gyorn.

You never know, maybe someone else saw him.

I crossed forests, mountains, and fields, ending up in a town called Bowaria.

While walking past strangers, I heard that this was the last remaining big city in Acolatum because all the main ones, including Neveria, were concentrated in the center – everything from this point onwards was going to be small villages.

All of my travelling in the past few days made me remember Saples, its long winding roads, its houses, and its inhabitants.

Having disappeared from them for so long, I decided to write them a letter as well.

...

How are you, Aunt Rauna? What about the others?

Is our village doing alright?

You probably received news about grandpa’s death, and my dire situation a while ago.

The world government is trying to spin their own narrative on everything happening around here.

Grandpa never killed anyone. The only felony he committed was helping me escape my imminent death.

As for me, I ask that you believe in me after us having shared so many experiences and years together.

I never did anything to deserve that ridiculous bounty…

Please trust me.

That said, I am probably never going to return back to Acolatum, let alone Saples where I could endanger all of you, so for better or worse we will likely never see each other again…

I hope one day everything will go back to normal.

I wish you all the best,

Zenzo.

...

I arrived in the city.

It wasn’t as big as Neveria, but it felt massive regardless.

Within seconds, I saw my own face on the brick walls. If my wanted posters are here, then I wouldn’t be surprised if even villages started having them.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it made sense.

Sometimes, I forget that I am the most wanted criminal on our continent now. But that is my depressing reality.

I just want a little peace to myself...

The only advantage I have in this struggle is that I look too young to even be considered a criminal. Some people can’t take the bounty seriously because the boy’s face they see on it is a weak, 12-year-old child.

I thought sending the letter to Saples was going to be challenging, but it went smoothly. As expected of a big city.

I found an inconspicuous, grassy area near the edge of the town to spend the night and started planning for tomorrow.

Currently, my biggest problem was my wandering.

I got this far already, but I couldn’t possibly continue blindly walking around.

One wrong passage and I could be inadvertently heading back to Neveria.

Therefore, the solution was obvious – I will need a map going forward.

…

I woke up to the sound of some screeching bird.

By the looks of it, it was probably 5 o’clock in the morning.

The loud creature continued hollering and it seemed like it was only audible to me.

Was this town built with fortified walls?

I groggily stood up and started walking along the city.

It was quiet and empty on the street, with the morning fog adding to the eerie atmosphere.

I kept walking, until a voice out of nowhere caught me off guard.

“…hey… boy… need a map?” the stranger hissed.

Everyone was supposed to be sleeping, but this person wasn’t.

And then how did he even know I needed a map…

Even his contorted face rang alarm bells. There was nothing about him that looked human…

This person was too suspicious to approach, so I decided to keep my distance.

“No thanks,” I said leaving.

“Now! Don’t be so hasty…” the stranger lunged forward, grabbing my arm with his slimy hand and yanking me backwards.

My eyes widening, I couldn’t believe this thing’s nerve.

“…if you want to keep this arm, let go…” I warned him.

“…tsk… don’t you need a map dumbass…?” he said irritably, releasing me.

“…not from you…” I snapped back, leaving the place.

It seemed that going out into town, this early in the morning was a mistake.

I circled around the city, walking back to the area I spent the night in using a different route.

“…hey… boy… need a map?”

Freezing in place and cold sweat running down my spine, I got chills from its sudden, repulsive whisper.

I turned around, frantically trying to find the source.

I wasn’t in the same place as I was last time, so how was it near me again.

Was this scumbag following me all this time?

“…what do you want from me? I already told you that I don’t need your shitty map…” I said.

“Why, you must be mistaken… this is our first meeting… I am just trying to help and provide you with a map…” it hissed in the same disgusting voice.

“…help someone else…”

“…no need to be so on guard…” it wheezed.

The sound was echoing around the walls. I couldn’t tell where this thing was at.

I started running in the direction of the city exit.

I was feeling progressively more tired, the longer I ran.

“…don’t be in such a rush… you are forgetting the map…” it whispered in my ear.

I jerked away from the voice, sending a big fireball in the direction it was in, partially destroying someone’s house.

My heart racing, I started hearing it from all sides.

Out of nowhere, I felt something touching my ear and I woke up.

A rainbow centipede was crawling across my face.

“UUUGGHGGHHH” I exclaimed as I threw it away, wiping my face.

It lives in these areas too?

I better cut some thyme next time I see a bunch and bring it with me.

Who knows what will happen next time I try to sleep...

It was early morning and the blazing sun greeted me, shining brightly in the clear blue sky.

A dream…

This is the first dream I have ever had that is different from the usual nightmares about grandpa.

At least I had some variety now…

I gathered my things and quietly entered the city.

As expected from one of this size, it was already busy with the usual city-like affairs. There were big crowds, so it wasn’t hard to conceal my identity.

I came up to a food stall and tried to buy myself something to eat.

“I don’t have any money… can you accept this instead?” I said to the shopkeeper, offering him a small crystal I found on my journey here.

“…we don’t really accept barter as payment…” he said skeptically.

“…please…” I pleaded.

“…”

“…alright kid, take the food and get out of here…”

“…thank you very much… do you, by any chance, happen to know where I can buy a map of the continent?”

“Huh? Why would a kid like you need a map? What are you, some kind of scholar?” he asked.

“No sir, just travelling, but I don’t know where I am going without it,” I replied.

He sighed.

“Dunno where your parents are at, but try the edge of the city… that direction,” he pointed.

“Thank you!” I bowed.

I went back to the area I slept in, ate the scorching hot food I bought from the kind shopkeeper and gathered all my belongings.

I didn’t want to stay here for more than I had to, so I decided that I would buy the map and head for the neighboring country right away.

As I reached the edge of the city, I saw an old, ragged shop.

I knocked on the door, and an old woman came out, “Hm? What do you want, child?”

“I am looking for a map of our continent. If you have one, can you sell it to me?” I asked.

She looked at me with a piercing gaze.

“We don’t make maps anymore… don’t you see the state of the shop?”

“What…? Then… can you tell me where I can get one?” I asked.

“…do you work for the world government?” she asked seriously.

It took me a second to fully grasp what she just asked me.

“No… I do not…” I replied.

“Prove it…” she said.

“How…?”

“I don’t know… up to you. Until you do that, I don’t want you anywhere near my shop…” she said coldly, shutting the door in my face.

I walked back, thinking about this peculiar old grandma. It seemed like she was wary of Zepsis. Did she know their true nature?

I was strolling through an alleyway and stumbled upon my own handsome face.

This is it!

I tore down the poster and sprinted back to the shop.

But before my enthusiasm could truly settle in, I was stopping dead in my tracks, with dread replacing all other emotions.

“…hey… boy… need a map?”