Amukelo: The Burdened Path

The next day. As the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, Amukelo and his companions pressed forward. The winding dirt road led them through scattered groves of trees and past gentle slopes until, after several hours of steady travel, the sight of Llyn finally came into view.

They stood at the crest of a small ridge, gazing down at the town nestled between the hills. It had sturdy stone walls that surrounded the town.

Watchtowers jutted out at intervals, and guards patrolled the perimeter. Inside the walls, the buildings rose higher than he thought possible, not mere huts or single-level homes but multi-story structures with sloped rooftops and banners hanging from wooden beams. Chimneys released thin plumes of smoke into the sky, carrying the scent of cooked food and burning wood even from a distance.

The others took in the view with quiet satisfaction, but Amukelo was the only one who stood in open awe.

He had imagined towns before, based on his mother's stories—bustling places filled with people, trade, and opportunity. But standing here now, seeing it with his own eyes, he realized he had severely underestimated just how different the outside world was from his small village.

"Finally," Bral said, stretching his arms above his head. "We're almost there."

Bao nodded, rolling her shoulders. "Let's not drag this out. We're almost at an inn and a real bed."

No one disagreed. With renewed energy, they began their descent toward the gates. The road widened as they neared the entrance, with other travelers, merchants, and adventurers gathering near the gates. Some were on horseback, others carried carts filled with goods, and a few looked just as road-worn as Amukelo and his group.

Two heavily armored guards stood at the entrance. They held their spears upright, their expressions firm but not overly hostile. As Amukelo and his companions approached, one of the guards stepped forward, raising a hand.

"Halt. State your names and purpose."

Bral casually pulled a small badge from his belt and held it up. "We're adventurers. Just travelers passing through. We plan to stay in Llyn for a while."

The guard narrowed his eyes slightly, scanning the group before glancing at his fellow guard. Then, with a nod, he said, "Show your badges."

One by one, the others produced similar badges—small, metallic tokens that gleamed in the light. Amukelo, however, felt his stomach tighten.

Badges? What badges?

His mind raced. He had never seen those before, let alone owned one. He tensed slightly, feeling the scrutiny of the guards as he hesitated. Just as he was about to say something, Bral spoke up.

"Oh, about him," Bral said casually, gesturing toward Amukelo. "He doesn't have a badge. We met him on the road, but he's one of us."

The guard studied Amukelo for a moment, his eyes flickering through his cloak from the top to the bottom. Amukelo held his breath.

Finally, the guard exhaled through his nose and gave a small nod. "Fine. Go in."

Amukelo blinked, caught off guard.

He had expected resistance, maybe even questioning. But just like that, they let him through.

As they walked past the guards and through the massive wooden gates, Amukelo still couldn't shake the mix of disbelief and gratitude swelling in his chest.

He turned to Bral, his voice quiet but sincere. "Tha… thanks for that."

Bral raised a brow at him, his lips curling into an amused smirk. "Of course. You're one of us."

Amukelo's chest tightened. He had never heard those words before, at least not from someone outside his village. He wanted to believe it, but deep down, he knew it wouldn't last.

As they moved deeper into town, his gaze wandered. The streets were alive with activity. Vendors called out, peddling goods ranging from fresh produce to finely crafted weapons. Horses clopped against the cobblestone roads, carts rattled by, and children wove through the crowd, laughing as they played. The sheer volume of voices and movement was overwhelming.

Everything here felt so different. So new.

But no matter how grand it seemed, it still carried one undeniable truth.

Their journey together was coming to an end.

His head lowered slightly, his thoughts weighing heavily. After everything they had been through this was where they parted.

He sighed softly and muttered, "Well, I guess this is the end of our travel. I enjoyed it."

The otherfell in silence as they slowed their steps, looking at him. Their expressions shifted—Bral's usual amusement faded, Bao's sharp eyes softened, Idin glanced away as if thinking. Even Pao, who had been admiring the sights, turned her gaze toward him.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Amukelo didn't know why, but the silence made his chest feel even heavier.

Bral grinned, his usual confidence laced with amusement. "Haha… Haven't I said it already? You're one of us."

Amukelo lifted his head, still caught in disbelief. Bral met his eyes and smirked. "What's with that look? I said it. Now, the decision is on you. Do you want to join our guild?"

Amukelo hesitated, his gaze shifting between them. No one objected. Pao offered an enthusiastic nod, Bao crossed her arms with a slight smirk, and Idin simply watched with an easygoing expression.

"Well," Amukelo finally said, still uncertain, "I would love to. But why?"

Idin let out a small chuckle. "We figured that as a wild animal, you wouldn't do that well in a town. And since you helped us in the wilderness, why wouldn't we help you in civilization?"

Bao nodded. "Yeah, and I think you proved you're worth the trust."

Pao said with a wide smile as she nodded, "Yeah, we would love to have you in our guild."

Amukelo felt something warm settle in his chest. It was a feeling unfamiliar to him—acceptance, a genuine sense of belonging. His lips curled into a rare, bright smile as he nodded.

Bral clapped his hands together. "Well, we'll take care of that later. First, let's find a place to stay. Some cheap inn should do."

They moved deeper into Llyn, and Amukelo's senses were overwhelmed. The sheer number of people, the blend of scents—cooked meat, freshly baked bread, the faint scent of damp stone, and the lingering smoke from forges, it was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

Some buildings had wooden signs hanging above their doors, depicting symbols of their trade—a hammer for a blacksmith, a bundle of herbs for an apothecary, a tankard for a tavern. The stone roads, though uneven, were nothing like the dirt paths he was used to. Every few feet, there were intersections where the roads branched into alleys, some leading to quieter residential areas while others led to even busier districts.

Amukelo's head turned constantly, trying to take everything in.

Everything here felt bigger, busier, louder. Even the buildings—though nowhere near the grandeur of castles or palaces he had heard about in stories—were massive compared to the simple wooden huts of his village.

He wasn't even sure what fascinated him the most. Was it the organized chaos of the town square, where people bartered loudly over prices? Was it the strange clothes people wore, so different from the simple garments of his childhood? Or maybe it was the rows of food stalls, filled with things he had never seen before?

For Bral and the others, this was just another town. But for Amukelo, it was a whole new world.

They continued walking, Bral leading the way, but every so often, they would glance at Amukelo, clearly amused by his reactions.

"Look at him," Idin murmured under his breath.

"He's like a kid seeing the world for the first time," Bao added with a small chuckle.

Pao smiled warmly, watching Amukelo's wide-eyed wonder.

After a short walk, they arrived at a modest-looking inn tucked between two larger buildings. A faded wooden sign swayed gently in the breeze above the door, depicting a simple bed with the name 'The Rusted Lantern' carved below it.

Just as they were about to enter, Bral stopped mid-step and turned. "Hey, Amukelo, come on. Otherwise, we'll leave you behind."

Amukelo, who had been staring at a group of blacksmiths unloading crates of metal ingots nearby, snapped back to reality and hurried after them. "Ahh, right, right."

Inside, the inn was warm and smelled of roasted meat and aged wood. The common area was filled with weary travelers enjoying their meals, and the wooden floor creaked slightly underfoot. Behind the counter, a middle-aged man with a thick beard and an apron was busy polishing mugs.

Bral approached the counter and leaned against it casually. "Two rooms. One for two people, one for three. We'll start with a week, but we'll likely extend that."

The innkeeper barely spared them a glance before nodding and reaching under the counter. A few coins exchanged hands, and then he handed Bral two simple brass keys.

Bral turned back to the group, tossing one of the keys to Bao. "Alright, let's rest today. Tomorrow, we'll explore Llyn a bit, maybe introduce Amukelo to civilization properly."

Pao and Bao chuckled, clearly enjoying the idea.

They made their way up a narrow wooden staircase to their rooms. The hallway was simple, with a few sconces lighting the way. Their rooms were equally modest—wooden floors, a small table in the corner, and just enough beds for them to sleep comfortably. Nothing extravagant, but far better than sleeping on the ground.

Amukelo stepped inside and immediately felt the difference. A roof over his head. A bed. Walls protecting him from the outside. It was a level of comfort he hadn't experienced in months.

Without hesitation, he threw himself onto the bed and exhaled loudly. "Ahhh… I can't remember the last time I laid on something this comfortable."

Idin, who was already settling into his own bed, smirked. "Well, you'll have to get used to it."

Amukelo sank into the mattress, his body relaxing instantly.

"I think I already got used to it," he muttered, eyes half-lidded, feeling the exhaustion of the journey finally catch up to him.