Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

Durin rode on Lady Vielda's dragon for three hours and arrived at the capital of the Elven Territory where the Central Mage Tower stood, meeting Anta at the gate of the tower.


With that realization, Durin, who had just jumped off the dragon's back, undid the button of his cold-weather coat and spread his arms to embrace the young girl running towards him.


It was colder here than in Lublin, and the girl in front of him was lightly dressed, missing one of her gloves.


Behind her, countless peers were staring wide-eyed at this scene, and Durin noticed one young lad with a bruised face.


"Well done, you took my advice from last time," Durin knew what the girl before him had done, and he was very happy because she had heeded his counsel.


"I'm quite obedient, you know," the girl in Durin's arms said with a voice tinged with a sob, "I've already heard about what happened to Fabien."


Chapter 3: Today I Shall Journey Afar