A vague idea

Cint stood at a distance, watching the guards, their armor shining in the dim light. He wanted to ask them about the world beyond Yunt, and about the legendary city of Ionr. But the guards looked threathaning, he was scared of being scolded for getting too close.After a long moment of indecision, Cint took a deep breath. He tought to himself, This might be my only chance. He gathered his courage and stepped forward, walking slowly toward a guard standing by the entry of the camp, a man with a scar across his eye and a large sword strapped to his back. Cint’s heart pounded as he approached. The guard glanced down at him, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Cint almost turned back, but he forced himself to talk to the guard.

"Excuse me, sir," Cint said, his voice trembling slightly. "Can I ask you something?" The guard raised an eyebrow but remained still, his gaze steady on Cint. "What do you want, boy?" His voice was tough, but not unkind. Cint swallowed, gathering his thoughts. "I... I just wanted to know where you and the noble are headed. And what’s out there, beyond our village?" The guard studied Cint for a moment, as if deciding whether to answer. Finally, he spoke.

"We’re traveling north, to the city of Jothmund. It’s a long way from here, one of the strongest nations in the far north."

Cint’s eyes widened. "Jothmund? Is it anything like Ionr?"

The guard’s expression shifted slightly. "Ionr? That's a different place altogether. I’ve heard it has a mild climate unlike jothmund. Do you wish to find that city?"

Cint’s enthusiasticaly said . "Yes! Do you have any idea where it might be?" 

The guard paused, thinking. "I might have a guess. I believe it's somewhere to the west."

Cint’s heart leaped at the thought of a clue, even tough it was vague. To the west... he thought. It wasn’t much, but it was more than he’d had before.

“Do you really think it’s out there?” Cint asked, his voice full of hope. “In the west?”

The guard shrugged. “I’ve never been there myself, but the west is mostly covered by vast forests, including the sacred forest where most of the elves live. They guard it, and humans aren’t exactly welcome. Still, if Ionr exists, it could be hidden deep within those woods.”

Cint’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, sir. One day, I’ll find it. I know I will.”

The guard gave a slight nod. “You’ve got spirit, kid. Just be careful if you go looking, and try to avoid the elves, though that won’t be easy.”

The guard gave a slight nod. “You’ve got spirit, kid. Just be careful if you go looking, and try to avoid the elves, though that won’t be easy.”

Cint only heard of elves only in stories , mysterious beings with magic and knowledge far beyond that of humans. The idea that Ionr might be hidden in their forest only made the city seem more magical. “I’ll be careful,” Cint promised, his heart still pounding with excitement.

The guard smirked. “You’d better be. The elves don’t take kindly to intruders in their lands.”

With that, the guard turned back to his post, leaving Cint standing there with his thoughts spinning. He had a direction now, west. Not just a vague idea, but a real possibility and elves living there made that guess even more believable. As Cint made his way back to his home, the village was settling down for the night. The noble and his entourage were already inside the gathering hall, resting for their journey. He had learned something important, some bits and pieces of the world outside Yunt and it was vast. That night, as he lay in bed, Cint stared up at the ceiling thinking about images of towering trees, shadowy forests. The idea of adventure seemed closer than ever now. One day, he would head west and he would find Ionr and learn its secrets.