Red looked back at Amelia, who asked the question, but before he could answer Maria cut him off,

“What’s Kings Rose?”,

Red in surprise asked her “Maria, you’ve never been to the capital of the Human Kingdom?”,

“No. I’ve never travelled really, that’s why I'm so excited to go to Savanna!” she replied with joy,

Red suddenly looked at Amelia with shock but Amelia just looked away in shame. She never took Maria outside those woods and that wooden cabin,

“Maria, you know, I know someone in Kings Rose just about your age, her name is Karla. I think you two would get along nicely",

“Really? Is she coming to Savanna as well?” she asked jumping up and down on her horse,

“I’m sure that can be arranged”,

“What’s she like? What’s she like?”,

Red kept his face of shock. From the sound of it Maria also had no other friends. She seemed really eager for interaction with others,

“She’s a bit taller than you, she is training to be a swordswoman so she can travel with me in the future”,

“Is she your daughter?”,

Red suddenly stopped and Amelia stared at him. For some reason, Red felt pressure coming from Amelia as she stared, but ignored it and answered the question,

“No she isn’t! If I had to put it in a way, she’s kind of that annoying little sister the older brother always hates but protects” Red told her with a laugh,

“Well, do you wish she was your daughter?”,

Red froze. Amelia took notice of it and told Maria that her questioning was enough. Maria apologized and became perfectly silent, not making a single noise. Red stared off into the horizon, entering deep thought, but for some reason his mind kicked him out and he was forced to come back to reality,

“It’s fine Amelia" he told her, he then looked to Maria “Maria, I don’t think I'll ever have children”,

Maria wanted to ask why but stood silent. Red knew she wanted to ask but because of Amelia she hesitated,

“Because, they will bring me suffering harder than any blade through the heart” he said with a cover up smile,

Amelia looked at him with sympathy. She knew what he meant and felt. The child would live and die, and he'd have to experience it, aging, changing. Not being able to help change its fate, mortality. Amelia quickly changed the subject,

“So this betrothed of yours, what’s she like?”,

Red gave a small smile while looking at her “She’s beautiful. More beautiful than any mortal or divine being. Gorgeous long white hair down to her hips, pure golden eyes worth more than any amount of gold, while having the pale body of a Fersian Princess. Blood like ice but a heart of fire. Highly skilled in sorcery-swordsmanship making her rival any man and woman, but a face that would bring them to their knees before any conflict arises”,

Amelia was surprised of how well Red spoke of the woman. Clearly she was close to him but his previous remarks seemed that they weren’t attached. As time went on, they galloped along the path for hours before coming to a small town ahead of them,

“Oh look it’s Amável!” Amelia exclaimed,

“Do you know it well?” Red asked,

“Kind of, I knew some traders that came from there. Most the books and ingredients I have actually came from Amável. They often spoke of it in a good way”,

“Do they have an inn?”,

“Don’t know, I’ve never actually been in. I always had my items delivered home so I never had a reason to go there" she explains,

As the horses went along to the entrance, a sign was erected by the side of the path. It said Amável in a dark wooden plank. It looked old but taken care of. As they got closer to the entrance, they saw people smiling and talking outside. A mixture between commoners and workers laughing and drinking with each other.  Men and women alike laughing without worries. As the three got to the entrance, before they could say or ask anything, a group of people welcomed them inside. They asked to leave the horses in the stable outside and to proceed inside. Red just agreed along with Amelia, but Maria was ecstatic. She'd never seen so many kind people around her, laughing and having fun. As the horses were taken care of, a man approached them,

“Welcome to Amável, if there is anything you need, just ask",

“Thank you, may I ask why is everyone so happy?”,

"I can see you're new around here, adventurers maybe? No matter, it’s the quarterly festival, so everyone is celebrating",

“Quarterly festival?” Amelia asked,

“Yes, a few years ago, this town got it’s own Adventurers Guild put in place and ever since then, no harm has ever befallen upon it’s residents, so Noble Markus in charge of the town, declared that the first day of every quarter year would be a day of holiday, to reward all adventurers by having a festival in their honour",

“Interesting. Well we’d love to join, but were actually just stopping by for some supplies and some rest",

“Of course, I’ll show you to the market and the inn",

“Thank you, come on Maria” Amelia said to him giving him a small bow,

The man simply gave a smile. As they entered the town, the atmosphere was as lively as an evening party. Men and women singing, dancing, drinking and laughing in every corner. Adventurers of every kind, swarmed the town square. Magicians, swordsman and swordswoman, healers, clerics, pyromancers, landers, very single type of class you could imagine of adventurers, were all scattered around, having a great time. As the three kept walking, the man guiding them stopped by a huge large building. It was new, as if it was just constructed,

“This is the Adventurer’s Guild. As you can see it’s still quite new, but there’s been over 1000 member applications already”,

“That’s quite a number for such a small town" Amelia said in amazement,

“Yes, well it helps considering were on the Eastern Trading Company’s Route to the nearest port",

“I see. Do you get good trade routes established for being so close to it? Or perhaps does the Eastern Trading Company give out good pay-outs for protection?” Red asked,

“A bit of both really. While they do offer great rewards to any adventurers able to offer their services, having the port so close to us has increased the trading routes, but not only that, the overall increase in activity has brought a great deal of business, income and new trading partners to Amável”,

“That’s good to hear" Red said in response to his answer,

“Do you have a business sir?” the man asked with curiosity,

“Kind of, but it would be too far away for any trade routes to be established here" he replied with a chuckle,

“Where are you located if I may ask?”,

“Savanna",

The man gave a small smile and chuckle “I see, that would be hard to negotiate with",

Red just smiled. Amelia looked at him with surprise. She didn’t know he was a businessman. She wanted to ask what his business was about as they walked towards the inn, but before she could, the man stopped and said,

“Here we are, I present you, The Stone Sword Inn",

Red looked at the building, it wasn’t as large as the Adventurers Guild but it still had some size. There were pillars made from wood holding some roofing from the wooden and bricked building. It was a dark red colour with a swinging plank with its name and logo engraved. To the entrance there was some small steps consisting of 3 steps. There was windows to the left and right of the front entrance, both of them had a torch at each side unlit. Red thanked the man while Amelia and Maria gave a small bow and the man bowed in response. As he walked away, Red placed his right hand on Vermelha's pummel and walked in with the girls behind him. As the door swing open, they were greeted by a small bar to their left and a counter to their right. In front of them was a huge stair case to the second floor. Red walked over to the counter, just before a familiar voice shouted,

“Red? Is that you?”,