Chapter 5

Nick followed Renn through the narrow, cobblestone streets of the village, the warmth of the sun contrasting with the cool breeze that swept through the alleys. Silas trailed behind, his sharp eyes scanning every corner. Nick couldn't help but marvel at the simplicity of village life—the chatter of merchants, the clinking of tools from a blacksmith's shop, and the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from a nearby bakery. It was a far cry from the concrete monotony he was used to.

After a short walk, they arrived at a modest wooden house tucked between two larger buildings. Renn pushed the creaky door open and gestured for them to enter. "Welcome to my place. Make yourselves at home, though there's not much space to stretch."

Nick stepped inside and immediately noticed how cramped it was. The kitchen doubled as a living room, with a single couch pushed against the wall, a small stove, and a wooden table set for one. The bedroom wasn't much bigger, containing two small beds and a rickety desk cluttered with papers and ink. The walls were adorned with two large, hand-drawn maps—one depicting the village and its surrounding areas, the other a much broader map of the entire world. The third room, a tiny bathroom, had just enough space for a toilet and a worn-out bathtub.

Silas leaned against the door-frame of the bedroom, crossing his arms. "Two beds? Don't you live alone?"

Renn's cheerful demeanor dimmed slightly as he glanced at the empty bed. "Used to live with my parents," he said, his voice steady but tinged with sadness. "They're… gone now." He gave a half-hearted smile, shrugging as if to dismiss the weight of the topic. "But life goes on, right?"

Nick nodded, unsure of what to say, while Silas's expression softened ever so slightly. The air grew heavy for a moment, but Renn quickly clapped his hands, dispelling the somber mood. "Enough about that. Let me show you something cool."

Nick followed his gesture to the maps on the wall. "These are impressive. Did you draw them?"

Renn's face lit up again, his enthusiasm returning in full force. "Sure did! I'm the village geographer—self-taught, of course. The map of the village took me a year to perfect, and the world map? That's an ongoing project. I've only mapped what I've read about and seen."

"The world…" Nick murmured, his curiosity piqued. "What's it like?"

Renn grabbed a stick from the fireplace and used it as a pointer. "Alright, listen up. The world has eleven major places: four villages, two towns, and five kingdoms. Each has its own leader, though not all are… decent people." He cast a glance at Silas, who seemed unimpressed.

"Typical," Silas scoffed. "Leaders playing gods."

"You came to the best place on the planet," Renn said, ignoring Silas's remark. "Our village might be small, but it's safe, peaceful, and—"

"Strict," Silas cut in with a smirk.

Renn laughed. "Fair point. But we've got our share of fascinating landscapes. Take the Blue Forest, for example. Nick, you mentioned you were there, right?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah, it was surreal. Everything glowed, and the mushrooms… well, let's just say they had an effect on me."

Renn chuckled. "The Blue Forest is a wonder. But then there's the Purple Desert, a place where the sand seems alive, shifting constantly. The mountains to the north are so high they pierce the clouds, and there's a vast, frozen tundra to the east. Every terrain you can imagine exists here."

"What about portal goo?" Nick asked, bringing the conversation back to his pressing concern. "Do you think any of these places could have it?"

Renn rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If I had to guess, the kingdoms are your best bet. They're more advanced than the villages and towns. I've heard stories of strange portals in some of the kingdoms—legends, mostly, but where there's smoke, there's fire."

Nick's mind raced with possibilities. Before he could ask more, he remembered something. "Oh, by the way, a woman here threatened me with a pitchfork. Called me an 'Ironclad spy.'"

Renn's eyes widened. "Don't take it personally. Some folks here are… cautious."

"Cautious?" Nick repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"We don't take crimes lightly around here," Renn explained. "Nothing goes unseen. That's why you won't find any thieves or troublemakers."

Silas chuckled, glancing at Nick.

Nick ignored him, turning back to Renn. "What's Ironclad? Is it really that serious?"

Renn's expression darkened. "Ironclad is more than serious. It's a kingdom filled with murderous savages. From their leader to the lowest citizen, there's not a single decent person among them. They've tried conquering other kingdoms multiple times but failed each time. They're relentless."

Nick frowned. "Then why would someone assume I'm one of them?"

Renn sighed. "Ironclad's reputation precedes them. Even historians haven't figured out how they send information so quickly during wars, but spies are the most plausible theory. That's why people here don't trust easily."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling in.

Breaking the silence, Renn added, "That's partly why I'm working on this world map. I want to create the best map possible—not just for myself but for others. It's rough now, sure, but imagine having a map that's 100% accurate, covering every corner of this world." He grinned. "It's my dream, and I'll accomplish it while helping you guys out."

"That's great" Silas says sarcastically as he stood and stretched. "Y'all hungry?" he asked, his voice breaking the tension.

Nick and Renn both nodded. Silas pulled out a loaf of dark bread and a small sack. "Got some bread and fruit." He handed them the sack, and Nick peered inside, discovering a variety of unfamiliar produce. Among them was a round, marbled fruit with a deep purple hue that seemed to shimmer slightly in the light.

"That's a Moondrop," Silas said. "Sweet, but with a kick of sour at the end."

Next to it was another peculiar fruit, shaped like a teardrop and covered in tiny, golden scales. "And that one's a Sunshell," Silas added. "Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Tastes like a mix of honey and lemon."

Nick picked up a Moondrop, curious, and took a bite. The sweetness hit first, but as promised, a sharp tang followed, making his mouth water. "This is amazing," he said between bites.

Renn grabbed a Sunshell and cracked it open with ease, revealing a glistening, golden interior. "These are my favorite," he said, biting into it with a satisfied crunch.

As they ate, Renn glanced at the two of them. "So, how did you two meet? Did you know each other before you came here?"

Nick opened his mouth to reply, but before he could say a word, Silas shoved a piece of bread into his mouth. "We were friends in the other world," Silas said quickly, his tone casual.

Renn nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer, but Nick shot Silas a suspicious look. Why would he lie?

After finishing their meal, Renn excused himself to check on something outside, leaving Nick and Silas alone.

"What was that about?" Nick asked, his voice low and accusing. "Why did you lie to him?"

Silas leaned back against the chair, his expression unreadable. "I don't trust him yet. If he finds out I was imprisoned, he might put two and two together. I'm not taking that chance."

Nick's eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't lie to him. He's helping us."

Silas shrugged. "The only reason I'm helping you is because I owe you for freeing me. I don't care about finding the goo. I'm fine staying here."

Nick's frustration boiled over. "You're impossible."

Before they could argue further, Renn returned, carrying a small satchel. "Sorry about that. Just needed to grab a few things."

Nick forced a smile, his earlier irritation still simmering. "When do you think we can head to a kingdom?" he asked.

Renn set the satchel on the table and sat down. "A week or two. The weather should be fine by then, and we'll need to prepare. Traveling to a kingdom isn't like taking a stroll down the street. It's dangerous, and we'll need supplies, a plan, and some allies if we're lucky."

Nick frowned. "A week or two? That's a long time."

Renn shrugged. "Rushing into a kingdom unprepared could get us killed, especially if it's one like Ironclad or the Crimson Citadel. Trust me, you'll want to be ready."

Nick exchanged a glance with Silas but said nothing. The idea of entering a kingdom both thrilled and terrified him, and he wasn't sure what to expect. Silas, meanwhile, smirked faintly as he continued eating, seemingly unfazed by the talk of danger.

"Alright," Nick said after a moment, "but we better not waste any time. I'm not sitting around here forever."

"You won't," Renn assured him. "We'll use the time to gather everything we need. When we do go, we'll be ready."

With that, the group continued their meal in silence, the anticipation of their journey weighing heavily on their minds.