We're Getting Close

Outside the Motel

It was morning, and Caelen and the others were outside the motel dressed and carrying their bags. Veralia smiled as she stretched and said, "We're ready to move out."

But Caelen raised a hand and said, "Before that, I want to study something."

He pulled out a folded map and spread it across the hood of an old transport wagon. Reina tilted her head.

"Is that a map of the village?"

"Yeah," Caelen nodded. "Last night, Ryan and I used the whole night to draw out every location."

Reina and Veralia exchanged looks, then narrowed their eyes at Ryan.

"All night, huh?"

Ryan scratched his head, chuckling. "I… slept off. Sorry, my lord."

Caelen smiled. "It's okay. You must've been tired."

He looked back down at the map. "No forest around this village. That's weird. Unlike Elsdrem."

Ryan nodded, arms crossed. "So it seems."