Strax''s sigh of relief echoed through the group, everyone sharing the same sense of relief as they finally left the cursed forest behind. They moved toward the light, revealing a small town nestled at the foot of the hill.


    "It''s quite small..." Beatrice murmured, mentallyparing the vige to her hometown, Steinhartd, which seemed enormous inparison.


    "Not all ces are like the ones you''ve seen, many ces go through different situations. This vige is called Lariaen. It''s a connection point; many people stay here overnight," Carlos exined, while Samira added, "It''s quitemon for small connection towns like this to exist, especially between major cities like the Duchy of Vorah and Eldoria."


    "I see..." Beatrice murmured, absorbing the new information.


    "Let''s keep going. We have much to do," Strax said, taking the lead and pulling the mares ahead.


    They began descending the hill, heading toward the small vige. As they approached, Lariaen''s features became clearer. The wooden houses with thatched roofs exuded a cozy and rustic charm. Small gardens around the houses indicated a self-sufficientmunity, where each family grew their own vegetables and herbs.


    The main street was dirt, illuminated by torches andnterns hanging from wooden posts. Small shops and workshops lined the street, offering basic goods and services simr to Vorah''smercial zone. The local forge emitted rhythmic sounds of hammers striking metal, while the bakery exuded a tempting aroma of freshly baked bread.


    In the center of the vige, a small square with a stone well served as a meeting point for the vigers. Wooden benches around the well offered a ce for rest and conversation. Children ran and yed, theirughter echoing through the air, while adults attended to their daily tasks.


    "It seems quite weing..." Monica murmured as she walked alongside Strax. Beatricemented, "Despite appearing poor, I haven''t seen a single crooked smile..." She said, confirming something she had been thinking. "Common towns like this usually have the highest rate of satisfied people. People move easily; after all, Vorah is four hours away, so opportunities are plentiful.


    Those who stay do so because they love the ce." She smiled, watching some children ying ball almost in the middle of the street. "It''s quite peaceful..." Monica murmured.


    Strax smiled, seeing that the women were starting to interact more with each other. He had feared they might feel ufortable around each other, but it was quite the opposite. He could already sense a sisterhood forming among them, even though a pair were mother and daughter.


    "Let''s find a carpenter to fix the carriage wheel, preferably quickly," Strax suggested, leading the way alongside the two mares that had previously pulled the carriage. "We need to resolve this quickly before continuing, but I think we''ll have to find a ce to stay for the night."


    "Give me these two, I''ll follow you," Carlos said, and Strax nodded, "Let''s go ahead then."


    A short timeter... ~


    Monica took charge of asking the locals about a carpenter. They were soon directed to a small workshop at the end of the main street, where they found an elderly man with calloused hands and experienced eyes.


    "Good afternoon, sir. We have a problem with our carriage wheel," exined Monica, who was the most experienced in talking to people. "Can you help us? Of course, we''ll pay for the service once it''spleted."


    The carpenter turned and looked at the group. Monica was in front while Samira and Beatrice stood behind, and Strax leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, looking at him nonchntly. Just then, the carriage began to approach and stopped at the entrance.


    The carpenter looked at the broken wheel and nodded. "I can fix this, but it will take some time. Maybe two or three hours. I assume you''ll be spending the night here, right? You might want to pay for lodging; there''s a tavern at the end of the street, right on the corner."


    "Hm... thank you, we''ll take a look," Monica said, bowing in respect, being as polite as she could be. But before she could leave... "You were a maid, weren''t you? You don''t need to bow to anyone; we''re justmon vigers." He said, standing up and picking up his hammer, "We''re all in the same boat." He spoke, smiling kindly at her... Well, that was enough for something...


    Strax''s eyes became two ck holes in a split second. The girls noticed this quickly, and Monica acted, "Yes, I was a maid, but I married the best man in the world!" She said and ran to grab Strax''s arm, which calmed him down immediately. "So possessive..." Samira murmured, seeing that he could actually attack the carpenter just for saying... Normal things?


    "I''m not going to run away, stop acting like that, you silly," Monica murmured just for him to hear.


    "Take it easy, it will be ready by tomorrow morning," hemented, and the women nodded, with Monica and Strax leaving first. "Apocalypse, go with Carlos to the stable, and don''t kill the other two," he ordered. "Hiii-hhiii," "Obey, tomorrow you''ll be with me all day," he said, as if negotiating with the mare. "Hiihihii!" She responded as if agreeing, and he understood what she meant...


    "Alright, just two," he said, and she agreed.


    "You... canmunicate with her? I mean, it seems like you really talk to her..." Monicamented, she had never seen anyone talk to a mare and get responses almost immediately and as if she understood... "Believe me, I don''t know either... I just know what she wants, like a feeling," Strax said, but the exnation couldn''t sound more absurd than that... I mean, it was already absurd enough.


    "Let''s go to the tavern, meet us there. We''ll rent some rooms..." Strax said, and Carlos nodded, "I''ll be there soon, I''ll try to send a carrier pigeon letter to Cristine to make sure she knows we''re heading there," he finished and went ahead.


    "So... how many rooms will we get?" Samira asked, after all, there were three women and one man. "You and Beatrice will share one, and I''ll stay with Monica tonight," Strax said, and the women looked at him... in this case, Samira and Beatrice who understood immediately.


    "It''s her turn, you''ve already had yours," Strax said, smiling, and Monica blushed... she had been expecting this in some way.