Chapter 4: Long Road

Isz boarded his train, which was scheduled to depart shortly.                                                                     "Sir, this dog cannot travel with the passengers," the conductor stated. Isz looked down at Cerberus, and the hound let out a loud bark. "Easy, boy," Isz said gently before turning back to the conductor.                                                                                                                                                                "How is my dog supposed to travel with me then?" "Well... he can ride in the cargo car," the conductor replied. "He will frighten the passengers less in there." Isz pulled out his official identification, but it proved useless. Suddenly, Edward arrived, greeting Isz and mentioning that he was taking the same train. He requested that the conductor clear a special compartment for the two of them, and the conductor complied immediately. The two sat together while Cerberus made himself comfortable on the adjacent seat. The compartment was reserved specifically for military personnel and realm officials.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The sound of the train engine starting resonated through the air, puffing clouds of smoke as they set off toward their destination. "It has been a while, Isz," Edward remarked. "What have you been up to? You disappeared out of nowhere, and now you are causing trouble again." "I was training," Isz replied. "Now the king has assigned me a mission that seems important. What about you? What are you doing here?" "Same as you," Edward answered. "I received orders to inspect a vessel." "I see. Are we heading to the same destination?" Isz asked. "I do not know," Edward said. "Are you meeting up with the other scouts? I am heading to Tirus, the port near the commercial city." "There are other scouts?" Isz asked, surprised.

 "I was not aware of that." "Yes," Edward explained. "After you disappeared, the king assembled a team of scouts. Overall, things are going well, though one scout returned with strange reports. Have you heard any news about Irineia?" Isz shook his head negatively, replying that he was heading to a village inside the marsh called Livran. "Livran?" Edward questioned. "Why would you be going there? Alone?" "Yes," Isz confirmed. "We believe a new cult has emerged, performing mysterious healings. It might be connected to what Irineia was doing." Edward nodded in agreement. Isz mentioned that he was going to take a nap, asking Edward to wake him when they reached the first station. Isz woke up during the stop and went to a local restaurant for lunch. Upon returning to the train, Edward noted that the marsh was located near where he and the scouts had fought during the Volny War. The train would stop there, and Isz would continue the rest of the journey on foot. Reaching his stop, Isz bade farewell to Edward. "That was not so bad, was it, boy?" Isz said.

 Cerberus growled softly, and the two began walking through the arrival area. A gentle breeze blew through Isz's hair. He offered a faint smile. A place that was once a bloody battlefield had now transformed into a vibrant little town. The grey, desolate fields had become lush, green grassy meadows. Isz approached a roadside vendor and asked how long it would take to reach the marsh village of Livran. "Are you a resident there?" the vendor inquired. "No, I am an army scout," Isz replied. "That explains it," the vendor noted. "Though aside from the colors, your uniform does not look much like the standard military gear, so you should not run into any trouble there." "What do you mean?" Isz asked. "Well, the people in the marsh are not particularly fond of the army," the vendor explained. "They say they were neglected by the king and his men. Ever since that priest arrived, their resentment has grown even stronger." "I will try not to cause any trouble," Isz said. "I am just here to help." "Fair enough," the vendor nodded. "Livran lies to the north of here, about a twenty-minute walk." "Thank you," Isz said. "My dog and I will head over slowly. This area turned out quite beautiful. It is good to see people living here." "What are you talking about?" the vendor asked. "Have you been here before?" "Forgive me," Isz smiled. "I was just thinking out loud. Goodbye." "Goodbye! Good luck with your mission!" the vendor called out. Isz stopped by a store to purchase supplies before heading toward the marsh. 

 As they entered the marshland, the sky darkened, and a heavy rain began to fall. "Come on, Cerberus," Isz said. "Let us take shelter under that hollow tree trunk." Suddenly, Isz heard a piercing scream and rushed toward the sound. Upon arriving, he found a fisherman under attack by a giant crocodile. "Help me!" the fisherman cried out. Isz drew his sword, concentrated his energy, and struck the crocodile, severing its head. Immediately, two new heads sprouted from the neck. "What on earth is this?" Isz muttered. "That is alchemy," the Lightning Beast spoke in his mind. "But not from this world." "What?" Isz asked. Cerberus attacked, using a burst of fire from his jaw to scorch the crocodile's eyes. Isz leaped forward, unleashing a blast of energy through his blade, and defeated the creature. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" the fisherman gasped, terrified. "Are you alright?" Isz asked. "Yes," the fisherman panted. "I am Rocco. It is a pleasure to meet you. You are truly a divine soul sent to rescue me, just as the priest always says." "Right..." Isz replied. "Who is this priest?" "It is Father Argus," Rocco answered. Isz glanced at Cerberus while the Lightning Beast noted that the energy in this region was exceptionally powerful. "Who are you talking to, sir?" Rocco asked, confused. "My apologies," Isz said. "I was just thinking to myself." "Do you have a place to stay?" Rocco offered. "You are clearly not from around here." "No," Isz admitted. "I would appreciate a place to get out of this rain." "Stay at my home," Rocco said. "It is not far from here, near our temple. You can come meet Father Argus and receive his blessing." "I appreciate the shelter," Isz said, "but I am not much for prayers, and I am somewhat traumatized by churches." "Were you part of one?" Rocco asked. "Something like that," Isz replied. "I believe in God, but the church I was involved with was run by false people." "Rest assured," Rocco said warmly. "Father Argus's temple is full of magic and blessings for everyone." They walked together to Rocco's house. "I am back!" Rocco called out as they entered. "Sorry for the delay, my dear. I nearly died, but a charitable soul saved me, along with his strange dog." They stepped inside, where Rocco's pregnant wife, Elisa, greeted them with a warm smile, expressing her gratitude to Isz and Cerberus. Isz thanked them for their hospitality, and they showed him the accommodations. "Elisa and I are a young couple," Rocco explained. "My wife always struggled to conceive, but with Father Argus's blessing, she is now pregnant with our first child." Elisa smiled and gently caressed her belly, mentioning she was two weeks pregnant. "Congratulations," Isz said. "This Argus must be quite important." "What do you do for a living, Mr. Isz?" Elisa asked. "I... I am an army scout," Isz replied. Elisa's smiling expression instantly hardened into a stern, glare-filled gaze, while Rocco stared intently at Isz. "Well..." Rocco began slowly, "Father Argus teaches us to be friendly toward everyone, so I do not hate you, even though I despise the army." "I heard about the rumors," Isz said softly. "I am sorry, but I am just a scout. I can serve as a messenger,any request you have, I can deliver to the realm." "No need," Rocco replied. "Ever since Father Argus arrived here, everything has been wonderful." "Even two-headed giant crocodiles?" Isz questioned. Rocco chuckled, stating that such creatures had never existed in the marsh before, though it was indeed strange. "Father Argus's fairies bless us," Rocco added. "They protect everyone from danger. You were likely guided here to save me." "Fairies?" Isz asked. "Yes," Elisa chimed in. "They fly everywhere,tiny women who drop magical pollen. 

All the crops grow quickly, and the children adore them." *What kind of place is this?* Isz thought to himself. "Well," Isz said, "the rain is coming down quite hard. May I head to my room?" "Of course," Rocco replied. "Thank you again for your help." Isz took his leave and went with Cerberus to a small room built atop a tree structure. Once inside, Isz conversed with the Lightning Beast and Cerberus about the village and recent events, all while feeling the overwhelming energy surging throughout the area.