Craving Scarecrow

The cold air makes everyone uneasy as they follow the compass.

"Hey Nitin, are we going the right way?" Anya asks, moving her leaf closer to Nitin's.

"He can't answer that. We're just following the compass," Viktor shouts.

Sebastian steps in, calming them. "It's fine. I trust the soldier who told us about these leaves. They're working."

Nicolas raises his hands, enjoying the ride. "We don't have a choice. We can only hope for the best."

"Hey, look, I see lights!" Freja points ahead.

"Yeah, and a waterfall. Why is it glowing?" Alaric wonders, focusing on the waterfall instead of the city.

The waterfall is visible in the far back of the city.

"That is the king's palace," Matteo says confidently.

Alaric gets irritated. "How can you be so sure? What proof do you have?"

Matteo gives a confident smile. "Anyone can see that. It's the only building floating in the sky."

This angers Alaric, and just as he is about to respond, their leaves start to descend, picking up speed.

"Hey, what is happening?!" Anya screams.

"We are going to crash!" Nicolas looks around in panic.

Livio prays while Eero and Elena hold hands tightly. The compass spins uncontrollably. Nitin and Sebastian are just as confused.

The leaves slow down gradually, and everyone starts breathing again. They land in front of a gate guarded by two men.

"Oh god, I thought I was dead," Livio says, looking up at the sky.

"I think the leaves' time ran out," Nicolas says, swinging his leaf.

One of the guards approaches. "You must be new to the game," he says.

"Yes, sir!" Nitin responds quickly.

"Hey, Licht, hand them the badges," the other guard says.

Licht raises a hand toward the sky and makes a circle with his finger.

"What is he doing?" Alaric whispers to Luka.

"Some ritual stuff, I guess," Luka replies, covering his mouth with his hand.

Soon, they hear loud chirping, and when they look up, they see hundreds of birds flying toward them. Everyone feels a bit nervous.

"Don't worry, they are my friends," Licht says. The birds cover him, and when they fly away, he is holding a bunch of round objects.

"Here, put these on," Licht says, handing them each a badge.

"What are these?" Sebastian asks, inspecting his badge.

"They are your passes for a free trial," Licht says with a smile while pointing his lance at them.

"What do you mean?" Nitin steps back from the lance.

"You have seven days. During that time, you can eat whatever you want and stay in a room for free. But by the end of the week, you need to find a job. If you don't, you will be thrown out of the kingdom. We don't need people who will not work." Licht lowers his lance.

"How can we join the military?" Luka asks, raising his hand.

"There are four branches," Licht explains. "First: physical combat. They will train you for battle. Second: long-range combat with weapons. Third: healing. Fourth: supply and support. It pays less, but you will still go to the battlefield. No matter the branch, everyone gets the same basic training."

"Thanks! Where do we find shelter?" Tomasz asks, moving closer.

"The blue palaces scattered around the city. Your badges will guide you. Go to the receptionist for a place to rest. For military entry, find the second-largest palace next to the waterfall and fill out a form." Licht returns toward the gate, exhausted.

"Oh, one more thing. Welcome," Licht says while hitting the base of his lance on the ground.

They smile and start walking through the gate, but Livio stops, clenching his fists and grinding his teeth. Nitin and Sebastian notice and stay back.

Livio walks up to Licht. "Excuse me, can you tell me about Neelam?"

Licht glares at him. "I have seen plenty of people die trying to find Neelam. Only top players can go on that quest. A bottom feeder like you doesn't even deserve to say the name. You think you are special or something? Know your place." Licht grabs Livio's hand and twists his finger until it breaks.

Livio screams in agony, collapsing to the ground. Nitin runs toward him. "Please, forgive him! He's new to this world."

"Enough, Licht. You went too far," Trip says, putting a hand on Licht's shoulder. Licht releases Livio and walks away.

"There are healers in the capital, but...." Trip sits beside them.

"But what?" Livio asks, desperate.

Before Trip can answer, a woman with silver hair and light blue eyes approaches them. Her eyes shine under the moonlight, and her hair floats in the wind. She looks like an angel, but Livio is afraid. Before he can say anything, she begins healing him.

She summons a small axe. Its handle is curved, and the head is like a glowing semicircle. The axe wraps around Livio's broken finger like a snake, releasing embers that heal the bone. As it heals, the woman sweats, clearly in pain herself.

When it's done, she picks up her basket and walks away without a word.