Erisha and Dawn were walking through the alleys of Geiza, wearing hooded cloacks to hide their faces.
The sun had already settled and was overtaken by the moon.
Snowy wind howled and violantly smashed against wooden doors and windows, threatening to break them at any moment.
The elf and the human were moving fast with a clear destination in mind.
Snow crunched under their feet as they made their way towards the south gate, the one that faced towards the Dark Woods.
Thats where a carrige, protected by magic, will take them to Djandel mountine.
"Why are we going through these filth ridden streets instead of the main one Dawn?" Erisha asked in an annoyed tone as she stepped in a puddle of frozen puke.
"The less people see us the lesser the chances are of being inspected. Even while on an official mission the guards would stall us for a long time."
"Even after recognising you?"
"Yes."
Erisha's eyes narrowed on Dawn's back.
He was lying.
Shortly after they reached the south gate.
The guards immidietly stopped them and spoke to them in a tired, yet stern voice.
"Identify yourselfs! What is your business here at such a late hour?"
The guard that spoke was a man with a mustache.
From what Dawn could tell he was around 40 years old.
He had dark bags under his brown eyes indicating that he has been stationed here for a long time.
Erisha and Dawn pulled out their identity stones and handed them over to the guard.
"Ah so it was you two. We were expecting you." The guard said while handing the stones back.
"The carrige is waiting outside."
With that the guard signaled the others and the gate was opened.
It did not take long for Dawn and Erisha to notice the carrige that was supposed to transport them.
It would be hard not to notice it.
It was a brown carrige with gold decorations resembling the thorns of a rose.
At its front were two mecanical horses with the same color and decorations.
Blue light emittied from their soulless eyes as they awaited their masters command.
What made this carrige truely stand out however, was that in a 5 meter radius, no snow could be found.
"So this is what you meant when you said it was protected by magic. I am not impressed."
"Its purpose is to get us to the feet of the mountine, not to impress you."
"Hmph-." Erisha exclaimed.
When the two were near the carrige's door Dawn knocked on it and in a few seaconds it opened.
A bearded man opened the door and stepped out.
He was wearing thick clothes, padded with animal fur.
He had green eyes and grey hair.
Dawn recognised the man and offered his hand out to him.
Surprisingly the man accepted and the two shook hands.
"How are you doing old friend?" Dawn asked.
"Better than you it seems." The man said with a raspy voice.
The man then glanced to the dark skinned woman beside Dawn with a raised eyebrow.
And suddebly he put on a big smile and laughed.
"Didn't know you had it in you lad!" He said while padding Dawn's shoulder. "She is a real beauty if I say so myself!"
Erisha tilted her head to the side in confusion.
"Stop with the jokes Coal. We are short on time."
"Then atleast introduce me to her lad!"
Dawn turned his head towards Erisha with a serious look.
"She can do it herself."
With that Dawn went inside the carrige and took a seat at the farthest side on the right.
"Kazamir! Someday you need to learn manners or you will be single till the end of time!"
In the midst of Coal's yelling Erisha stepped forward and held out her hand.
"I greet you Coal. I am Erisha."
It took Coal several seaconds to reply to Erisha's introduction.
He was quite surprised by how polite she was.
Once he returned the favor he turned towards Dawn with an angry look.
"Okay you bastard! Spit it out! Are you threatening or blackmailing her? Cause there is no bloody way a rude slug like you got himself such a polite companion!"
Erisha stared at the scene before her with dumbfoundness.
"There must be a reasons why this man isn't afraid of Dawn." Erisha thought.
Suddenly Coal felt a light tap on his shoulder which made him turn his attention back to Erisha.
"Can we please depart? I can assure you he did not force me to be his companion."
"Alright, I just wanted to make sure. I will get the horses ready right away miss!"
With that Coal went to the front while Erisha got inside the carrige.
"You know this man, do you not?" Erisha asked almost immidietly after sitting down.
Dawn nodded as a response.
"And he is not hostile towards you. Is he perhaps an ally?"
"He was once a colleague. He is a retired forest dweller."
"Why did he retire?"
Dawn's face turned hardened before he spoke again.
"He and his partner ventured too deep in to the forest, deep enough for them to get attacked by an alpha variant of a mutated bear. His partner died in seaconds as the bear lounged at him and ate him alive. Coal tried to help but the bear spat a stream of fire at him which almost killed him. If I did not notice the smoke which came from his burning flesh and ran to help him, he too would have died."
Erisha could sense a hint of regret in Dawn's voice.
She could now see why Coal acts in such a friendly manner with Dawn.
He owes his life to him, but Dawn could only see his faliure to save the one that died.
Suddenly Erisha noticed that the carrige began moving as the mechanical horses at the front were activated.
The clanking sound of their steps was muffled by the heavy snowfall.
After about half an hour of silence Erisha turned her head from the window, towards Dawn.
"Can I ask you something Dawn?"
Dawn turned his head towards her as a response.
"Why do you say you hate humanity?"
"I do not hate humanity. I hate humans."
"What is the difference, if I may ask."
Dawn sighed.
His voice was similar to someone who didn't sleep for a long time.
"Humanity is a collective term, while human is the race that the others hail from."
"I see. Is that why you hate them?"
"No, I hate them because humans are the only ones without a code of honor."
"From what I have seen they have one."
Sudde
"But didn't you say all life changed when mana was introduced by the demons? How did some humans remain the same?"
"They did not. All humans mutated, but it laid dormant. When the generals revealed themselfs and taught the rest how to use mana, the dormant mutation in their disciples awakened. And to this day if a human begins using mana, they will show signs of mutation."
"Then what about you? Are you no longer human?"
Dawn's pupils widened and his fists clenched at hearing the question.
Erisha instantly knew that she overstepped.
But before she could apologise Dawn answeard.
"No, I am not, nor will I ever be."