The capital is just as I'd imagi, except it’s ten times better. The first thing that surprises me is the lighting ireets, which almost makes it feel like daytime. This effect seems to e from the lighthouses at each cardinal gate, and from the little fireflies flitting through the streets. Thanks to this illumination, I take in every building and passerby with a clear view.

  I'm amazed at hoeople are out and about despite the te hour. I'm reassured to see that their faces aren't so different from mine, but that doesn't stop me from being noticed. I must look ridiculous, marvelling at every building, but I ’t help it. They are nothing like old Tak’s wooden hut. Here, each house has at least two storeys, is built of brick, and seems strong enough to withstand any cataclysm. The ramparts are particurly impressive, standing fifty meters high and about five meters thick.

  ～ Where did they find all those stones?

  I also take great pleasure in staring at every person I e accross as if they were ic creatures, an ihat seems to be shared. It's almost ical how I sistently provoke the same rea: first, a phase of surprise, where one of their eyebrows is about to fly off, followed by a phase of disgust, where they gre at me as if to make sure I'm not carrying any tagious disease. Then, finally, a more calg phase where they pretend they haven't seen me and frown as they pohe trajectory that maximizes the distaween us. They must not be used to travellers, and my long, u hair and torn clothes pale in parison to the appearance of city dwellers. The only advantage of my outfit is that it allowed me to get into town quite easily. The guards at the great cardinal gates seem to have been instructed to let in all travellers.

  Some people catch my attention. They all have red noses ao have trouble putting one foot in front of the other. Some are ughing stupidly, while others are g their eyes out. I decide to ighem. After all the weirdness I've seen today, I don't have the energy to think about it. One of these strange beings suddenly es out of a busy-looking pce. A soft, pleasant light emanates from it, along with smells that tickle my hypersensitive nostrils and activate my digestive system. The pce is so noisy that I heard it as soon as I ehe city, and unsciously approached it, guided by my ears.

  ～ I probably find some useful information there.

  I enter.

  Although I was gradually getting used to the presence of other humans, seeing so many of them gathered in one pce pinches my heart. Everywhere I look, there are smiles, and my sensitive ears are filled with resounding ughter, while my nostrils follow the dance of young women carrying silver trays.

  – Wele!

  A burly man in his forties stands behind the bar, calling out to me. He's well over a head taller than me and twice as wide. His muscur body shows through a tight bck T-shirt. I wonder why this man, probably capable of knog out a grizzlion with one hand, is behind a bar serving drinks. He seems a little overqualified for the job.

  – A traveller? That's pretty rare. I bet you don’t have a .

  – Does it really show that much?

  – I've seen many different faces here. Over time, I've learhe types of people. Those who e into a bar without having enough moo buy det clothes aren't usually very good ers, he says with a ugh.

  I don't know what to answer, so I just give a slightly embarrassed smile.

  – You call me Karim. Here, take this to cool you down, he says, handing me a drink that I look at warily.

  The liquid has a brownish tinge and a bitter smell.

  – Drink it without hesitation, it's on the house.

  After the crazy day I've had, I could empty a ke. I grab the earthenware gss and thank the tavern-keeper with a nod.

  – In that case, I'll be happy to drink!

  ～ Bitter!

  ～ Holy stary magpie! This is awful! And what’s this burniion like my throat’s being torn apart?

  I remember old Tak warning me about a drink they sell in the capital that poison people. Instinctively, I pull out my knife and point it at the tavern-keeper.

  – What have you made me drink, you bastard? As you said, my pockets are empty!

  The lively chatter that filled the room a moment ago has now turned into the deepest silenothing moves or breathes, and I feel all eyes in the room on me as time stands still. Being the ter of attention has a strange effee: my face warms up and I feel a few drops of transpiration beading from my armpits. Finally, a voi the audience breaks the silence.

  – Hey Karim! What are you giving this kid? That’s a drink for tough guys!

  Everyone burst out ughing and the din picks up from where it had left off. Even Karim 't help smiling.

  – That's a very funiht there. You don't o be so on yuard, you know. Nobody here means you any harm, he says in a reassuring voice while sweeping the room with a wave of his hand.

  I suddenly feel terribly stupid. Just looking at the smiles on everyone’s faces, it's obvious that I'm safe. My heart pinches again.

  ～ I'm safe here!

  – Maybe that was just a bit strong for you. Sorry about that. Here, take this instead!

  He now hands me a gss of water and gulps down the one I hadn't finished. I look at the new liquid, making sure it's clear, then gulp it down with the same vigor, before apologizing in an embarrassed voice.

  – Don’t worry, it’s nothing. You must be on edge after a long trip outside the walls. Where are your friends?

  – I'm travelling alone.

  – Aren't you a bit young for a solo traveller? How long have you been traveling like this, kid?

  – winter will be the seventh since I left home.

  Hearing this, his eyes try in vain to pop out of his sockets.

  ～ Is it really that surprising to survive for several years in the wild? Admittedly, it's quite dangerous at times, but there's everything you o feed yourself. You have to be good at running, though. It must be hard to imagine for a city-dweller, born and bred within these walls. Perhaps I'd better keep my survival in the wild a secret if I don't want to attray more attention.

  The tavern-keeper is n at me.

  – I'm surprised you've survived all this time on your own with such a small on. I heard it's crawling with brigands outside the walls. And if only that were the worst of it... But it’s obvious that your muscles don’t e from a few summer walks, he says, although his imposing build would strike fear into any wild beast. Anyway, I suppose you had your reasons for uaking such a journey.

  – Reasons? Hmm, I suppose I just wao see the capital I've heard so much about.

  I see from his face that this answer doesn't satisfy him. Actually, the way he looks at me makes me feel like he knows more about me than it seems.

  – Don't worry about it. It's not my style to stir up people's past. Beside that, you must be hungry and tired after such a long journey.

  – You’re n.

  – Then you sleep here until you find somewhere better. I 't offer you a room, but you stay iable. It's not as fortable as a bed, but it should be enough for an adventurer like you.

  – Really? I don't know how to thank you. To be ho, I ning to spend the night outside on a patch of grass.

  My remark makes him ugh again. I don't know if it's because of the relief, but my stomach suddes the most vile of grumbles. With all the events of the day, I pletely fot to eat.

  – Here, treat yourself, he says, handing me a rge pte with all kinds of food, none of which I reize.

  – I 't accept, it's too much!

  – Don't worry, it's leftovers from the kit. Just e and buy me a proper meal when you afford it.

  – In that case, I'll gdly accept, and I promise to e back as soon as I have some money.

  I poun the pte of food like a starving animal, triggering once agaiavern-keeper's ughter which echoes around the room. As I eat, I listen to the versations around me. All the voices blending into a fusing jumble of words, I panic at first, thinking that all these people are speaking a nguage unfamiliar to me, until two particurly loud men with red noses catch my attention.

  – Did you see the st Geika tour?

  – Nope. My parents needed help on the farm. I would have loved to see that.

  – This year's articurly impressive. Especially the final battle opposing the Jiskar and the Hivar Geika. I hold my breath until the end.

  I ’t make sense of their versation, so I turn to Karim for crification.

  – What's all this about a tour?

  – It's an annual event here, where several Geikas face off in an arena. The winners not only earn a substantial sum of money but also gain higher status and a position in the sute. Every year, the city gets really crowded during tourime, but it's good for business, he admits while rubbing his hands, a spark in the eyes.

  – That sounds iing. What exactly is a Geika?

  Karim suddenly spits out the liquid he'd just put in his mouth.

  – This is my forest man right here. But what kind of hole have you been living in?

  ～ Given his rea earlier, it's probably best not to mention my memory loss or the fact that I spent three years living in a wooden hut in the forest.

  I dodge the question and simply apologize for my ck of knowledge.

  – In simple terms, Geikas are groups that train to master a, secret teiques. These are mostly bat teiques, but some Geikas also specialize in espionage, medie, or other fields. There are of all kinds. They also represent the try's armed for the event of an attack from a neighb try.

  – If I uand correctly, these are groups of people with extraordinary skills, right?

  My suddehusiasm seems to catch him off guard, prompting him to raise an eyebrow.

  – That's one way to put it, he replies while raising an eyebrow, surprised by my suddehusiasm.

  – And how I join one?

  – Each Geika has its ow of very specific criteria. Holy, I have no idea what’s in these people head. I'm sorry, but your best bet is to approach them directly and ask.

  – I see, thank you for everything.

  – Are you leaving already?

  – I don’t want to keep you any longer, and I’m exhausted from the long day.

  ～ Holy, I’m just eager for tomorrow to speak with these... Geikas. Perhaps I’ll finally find a master! It was definitely worth ing all the way to the capital!

  – I uand. The stable is just outside to the right. If the hers you, just put some hay in your ears.

  – I’ll make sure to pay you bae day, I promise!

  – No need for that! Oh… he’s already gone.

  Despite the strong st of animals and the noise drifting from the tavern, I fell asleep quickly, resting fortably on a bed of straw.