Terraya

It took another 24 hours to get to Terraya, which could be seen from a distance and looked much like any other island. The anchor was dropped onto the ocean floor as the ship neared, and there were numerous seamen at the dock. The ship came to a stop as a result of the tight chains holding it in place. Terraya didn't appear to be a kingdom or a free state of any type; rather, it resembled a refuge where traveling ships could stop to resupply or refuel. Near the coast, there were a lot of shops and stalls as well as a massive tower that appeared to be a commercial building that dealt with the passing ships. The quartermaster and the captain came upon a man on the deck wearing a white tunic who appeared to be the port master. The captain received the slip and gave him some cash in return. The boat needed to be checked for any repairs, so the quartermaster instructed the passengers to evacuate. The people on board began to scamper off to the market off shore slowly.

Hermes was waiting for Alaric on the deck when he emerged carrying a bag. They both walked toward the shore by blending in with the crowd. " After all these days, it's great to be back on solid ground." Hermes rang out.

"Let's make the most of these days, here." As they made their way to the market, Hermes inspected the stalls and markets. There were several vendors, selling anything from seafood to clothing to accessories. "I think we should look for a place to rest. "We have two days before we return to the water." Alaric nodded as he followed Hermes' lead. Alaric remained silent throughout and only spoke when Hermes prompted him. Hermes surmised that something was exhausting him.

They eventually found one that was vacant after traveling quite a distance and stopping at several inns. All of the inns around the sea were filled because the passengers decided to stay close to the shore. Even though Alaric and Hermes located the inn in the island's center, it had a beautiful outlook and allowed them to do some little exploring. "Alaric, you freshen up and rest here, and I'll grab us some dinner in the meantime." Hermes was ready to walk out the door when Alaric stopped him.

"I'll accompany you. Perhaps a distraction would be useful."

It was almost dusk, and the glowing lights were lovely. There was a lot of activity on the street. The sounds of people conversing and laughing, the clinking of beer glasses, and the aroma of sizzling steak filled the air. After purchasing dinner, Alaric and Hermes wandered the market. Alaric stated while he was chowing down on his bread roll, "I'm feeling much better now."

"I'm glad."

They strolled for a while, exchanging tales of their travels and the distance they had come. Hermes was pleased to observe the improvement and was relieved that Alaric was now fine. He reassured him that he would always be by his side no matter where the roads led them. Alaric abruptly came to a stop as his gaze became fixated on something. When Hermes turned around after realizing Alaric was not walking with him, he discovered him staring intently at some store. Hermes approached him and enquired as to what might be wrong. "I don't remember seeing this library here before." Hermes followed his look to the bookstore.

"Do you fancy some books?" A young woman was standing close by. They retreated after being shocked by the abrupt voice. The woman laughed and stepped in front of the shop, suggesting that she was the owner.

"We were just passing by and saw this store that I thought wasn't here this morning." Alaric mumbled a little. "Perhaps we were not paying attention. We apologize." Alaric and Hermes bowed before advancing. Alaric peered over his shoulders to see the woman looking at them. They moved swiftly in the direction of the inn where they were staying. As soon as they entered the room, Alaric inhaled deeply, and Hermes slammed the door shut. "That was odd; there was a flower shop this morning, and there was a man there."

Hermes sat down in the chair next to the bed, "I don't know, maybe they take shifts for their shops."

"I can tell this place has a certain atmosphere."

"These are only two days; it would be best if we don't intervene and these two days go by without any trouble." Hermes spoke up. His statements were spoken out of worry. He only wanted to find the warlock because the past six years had not been the greatest for them. He was aware that the king will attempt to check the bookshop or the flower shop tomorrow since he knew the king.

And as anticipated, Alaric and Hermes were heading in the direction of the bookstore they had seen the previous evening. Hermes was opposed to the plan, but Alaric was certain that something was odd and that he needed to move on in order to find out what it was. In contrast to the night, when they appeared frantic and excited, the streets were peaceful and cheery in the morning. Their eyes expanded as they approached the specific location. A man was pruning leaves from rose stems in a floral shop. Hermes agreed, "Let's check," and they went up to the store.

"Greetings, gentlemen. For any occasion, perhaps for a loved one, do you desire flowers?" Alaric and Hermes walked over to the man at the flower shop and were greeted with a flurry of questions and cheery greetings.

"No, no that's alright." Hermes replied, "We came here because we saw there was a bookstore here last night."

"Oh, that's my sister's bookshop. She likes to read, and I manage this flower shop in the morning. In the afternoon, we switch shifts, and she runs the bookshop in the evening." The man responded with joy. " You can look at the books inside, but if you want to buy one, you'll have to wait for my sister." He added.

Alaric approached him and inquired whether they have factual literature about magic after pausing to consider for a while. The man nodded his head and offered for them to come inside. "This place is magical all by itself. Why don't we sit down and talk then?"

A long table for reading was located inside the store between a few book racks that contained a variety of genres. Additionally, the store's inside was filled with plants and flowers. The man invited them to take a seat and brought them to the table. "By the way, my name is Gerald, and my sister, Gia, operates the bookshop at night."

"He's Hermes, and I'm Mikael."

"What do you want to know about magic, then? Nice names." The man asked and then handed them a drink of water.

"We were curious about the warlock; are you familiar with him?"

"No." Hermes and Alaric exchanged glances. "We know about him, but I don't know him." Alaric and Hermes were now interested in the man's statement, and they waited for him to continue. "We are all travelers in this place that he created; yet, some of us were captivated by the place and chose to stay; my sister and I currently reside upstairs." There was a staircase nearby that most likely led to their house. Gerald got to his feet and searched the book rack with his fingers for a particular title. As soon as he discovered a book with a yellow cover, he made a pleasing sound. It was a large book that even seemed out of form and hefty. He carefully set the book on the table before sitting across from them once more. " This, my friend, is the actual book that the sages and elementals themselves wrote."

"Elementals?"

"There seem to be a lot of things that you two should be aware of." He spoke while grinning. "We do have time, though."