Chapter Text
Day 4, Autumn
Engria, Hound’s Woods (Outskirts)
I'm going to start keeping a daily log of my travels so I don't lose track of the days.
It's been 3 days since I left the temple, and 2 since passing through the gates of Rieta into Engrian lands. No one’s come chasing after me so far, and the roads have been pretty straightforward, but if I want to stay hidden for longer, it’s time to move to a less obvious path.
I left a letter on Cory’s bedside before slipping out, she's probably read it by now, at least I hope so. I hardly remember what I wrote in it, something along the lines of “I'm leaving. Don't follow me.” I admit, it was needlessly cold, and a bad farewell, but I didn't want to cry before going out into the world by myself for literally the first time.
Okay, not exactly the first time ever. Maybe the longest amount of time away from the temple. The farthest I've gone on my own was to the markets of Rieta and back, and that was just for a few hours of errands for Matron Maeve.
Currently, I'm staying at some traveler's lodging on the outskirts of the Hound’s Woods. Wonder why it's called that. I'll be finding out tomorrow I suppose, since the road through is the quickest way to my next stop.
Not many people are staying at this place this time of year, so I've got the dining area to myself. The barkeep seemed nice enough, but was definitely surprised to see a tiefling in this part of town, or so he told me. Not many of “my kind” are up to following roads on the map aimlessly it seems.
I should continue to keep my hood up while I'm out. Who knows if there are hounds in those woods that prey specifically on short pink tieflings.
Day 5, Autumn
Engria, Hound’s Woods
Before I left the lodgings this morning, the old barkeep, Mr. Sal (who is the owner of the establishment), stopped me and gave me a few weeks' rations. He said that I was a young person on the way to discovering who I was, and the best thing you can tell a young person like me is that they aren’t alone on the journey. I’ll admit, I was touched. Seems he was too when we exchanged stories the night before. I remember him mentioning that his daughter was an adventurer as well, that my attitude reminded him of when she was first starting.
I secretly left a runic blessing on the front door right before finally heading off. I hope it’ll be enough to keep the place warm until next winter. Just because I’ve left Kali’s temple, doesn’t mean I have to forget all of her practices, I’ve decided. I feel like they’ll still be of use to me, somehow.
I’ve been on the move for a few hours now, and still have a bit more to go before I leave the woods and reach the next town. Being so deep in nature has been… Refreshing? Calming? Meditative? It reminds me of the quiet areas we have back at the temple, except with trees and lots of animal sounds. It’s safe to say that I won’t be missing the din of the city outside the temple for a while.
I should start making my way again in a bit if I want to reach an inn before nightfall. I have plenty of gold to spare from my savings over the past few years, but I don’t think it’ll last me long if I want to have a roof over my head every night. I thought that maybe I could pick up an odd job or two in the next city over. The only problem is that I’ve never had proper work before. I’m absolutely terrified. Sure I can clean, cook, cast spells, and carve runes, but is there anyone looking for that specific set of skills? Do they have a temple for one of the gods nearby? I hope they do. Perhaps they need an extra set of hands.
Goddess, help me.