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Thankfully for Anna, the wrap-up with the bandits went by quickly. None of them really wanted to deal with two unconscious bodies for any length of time.

There was a little debate about what to do to deal with the duo.

Handing over both to the nearest patrol would be the correct course of action. Luna and the caravan owners knew this, but it couldn’t be said that any party wanted to drag the two along.

So, the option of just leaving both of them outside and either letting nature take its course or allowing them to get away when they awoke, but for the safety of others, they were tied up and dragged along.

The border between Cancole and the Arisea Station territory had a guard station and basically a small village rest spot for travellers there which was where they decided to take them. Thanks to Syrus’s well-powered blows, both were still very unconscious, Luna did secretly heal them a tiny bit so there would be less chance there was serious permanent damage.

The caravan made good time after the tiny delay caused by the bandits and before long they reached the border before it got late. The guards took the duo who they planned to question when they woke up. Anna was happy they didn’t have to stay before to correlate stories, if anything the guards deeply sighed when they saw the two, mostly likely repeat offenders, but apparently never did anything extreme enough to be locked away for a long time.

The trio rested at the border station with the caravan crew for one final time before leaving for Arisea Station.

The journey from the border on the large dirt road leading to the true Arisea Station would take half a day. Along the way, Anlesa saw other merchants and security go down the road. The city made sure that travellers would be safe within the main road of their territory.

By early afternoon, they had arrived at Arisea Station.

Immediately upon entry, the first landmark they noticed was the massive centre main road that went right straight through the entire city.

Along the main road, a massive line of two-story buildings made out of the local dark orange and brown woods stood. Just beyond them, smaller one-story buildings littered the city. Shops, hotels, bars, houses, restaurants, workshops, and guilds were all built next to each other.

Anna got a good look at the city as the merchant caravan drove about three-quarters down the main road. Outside of the large main road, eight main streets split down the long road and spread out. Of course, there were a lot of smaller streets and alleys that connected everything. The small streets were only big enough for two carts, while the main streets could easily fit four to six, while the main centre street could easily fit twelve.

The two caravans turned left on the fourth junction and rode down for a little longer to find a large sector for travelling caravans.

They paused outside the yard and waited to get permission to enter. Knowing this would be a long process due to the fact the officer in charge wasn’t here yet. Anna got up and was ready to leave.

She opened her bag and pulled out a large coat with a hood. They donned the coat and made sure the back of their hair was within it. Syrus may have cut their hair short, but it was long enough still that the white parts could be hidden. Any shorter and white strains on the back end would be too obvious for Luna’s preference.

Anna walked to the front of the cart and said goodbye to the caravan owner’s son. “Thank you for all your help.” Luna tilted her head forward as thanks.

Jack shook his head. “We should’a be saying that. You are a paying customer but had to deal with the bandits.”

“If that is the case, can I get a return on my travel fare?”

“Argh, ha, ha.” Jack let out a quiet painful dry laugh, “Sorry, but no refunds… I even asked the old man, wouldn’t’a let me do that.”

Luna replied, “Let me guess. No refunds allowed period, she endangered us and the cargo with her stunt, something could’ve been stolen and we have to prepare for that scenario, and I think I will stop there.”

He reeled back, shocked at what he just heard. “Damn, you overheard?”

“No, he is just unoriginal.” Luna stepped down from the cart, and then waved goodbye to the both of them “Take care now.”

Jack waved back while Max just nodded and waited for the office to let their cart into the yard.

Walking away from the yard, they could feel the largeness of the city wherever they walked. People were always moving from place to place, going in and out of buildings, carrying things from one location to another, or simply standing around off the road making small talk.

Compared to everywhere they had been, this was certainly the largest city. Maybe not the most fancy, even Greevale and paved roads contained a vibe that spoke of quality. While for sure, the smaller streets might contain some pavement, nearly everything was made out of wood, and the centre road still being a dirt road made the city sing a different tune to places in Cancole.

There was a lot they needed to do to become set up here, but all that… had to wait.

They simply didn’t have the energy to start anything and everything.

Instead, they just wondered. Looking. They weren’t taking in and enjoying the sights and instead were just moving to pass the time. After a while though they looked for a place to settle down.

There were multiple hotels and inns that could provide lodging but most of them were full. This wasn’t helped by the fact that most people who lived in the city didn’t have their own house. For the average quality place, the rent was cheap, and security was safer than owning a house that would be empty half the day.

The people walked past them in a blur, and the only thing they focused on was the celestial bodies in the sky.

After a while they did find a place, it wasn’t anything special, but the most important part was that it had a window to see the sky. They ate and then entered the room to stay the rest of the day.

The moon began to rise and the sun started to fall, but both were clearly visible in their paths.

They didn’t know what time Anna was born, their parents refused to say. Their reasoning was ‘The whole day is meant to be your special day, don’t try limiting it to one moment’, although eventually one day George gave them a partial answer.

‘It was around the time the sun was clearly setting and the moon was visible in the sky. I remember the day because everything that happened the moments after you were born seemed eternally beautiful in my eyes.’

That time was still vague, but there was nothing they could do about it.

Today was the 12/12/1318. It had been ten years since they were born on 12/12/1308.

Even for souls who had already lived a life, the idea of reaching ten years of age was crazy. Maybe even more so since they had experienced it before. Although the four to five years they spent together seemed brighter than many of their old memories. This varied between the trio, but it was a simple factual truth to say these years were wonderful.

Anna held the homemade wooden pendant tightly. One of the gifts they managed to keep safe, even despite how close it came to danger during everything, it wasn’t cut, and it hadn’t burned thanks to its material.

“Happy birthday–”

It hurt.

“Happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday!”

They could hear the voices of Jen and George saying it. Their memories of those moments overlapped, wishing them well.

[One day–]

[I swear–]

[I–]

One birthday wish. A simple obvious wish. There were many things they wanted to do, but there was only one they wanted the most.

“–to me.”