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Borrowing an ox from Oxton was no issue. He parted with a small gem, managing to score a few day's worth of food for it too. He was getting older now, and though he would have preferred a horse, an ox was a much better choice for long journeys as well as a fighting companion.

The next town wasn't too far away, but he made a detour around it towards Fushia.

Fushia was a city known for two things. It's beautiful landscape of flowers and it's delicious wine. They didn't make any of his top three wines, but the Wyvern Fire was to die for, sometimes literally.

He knew he was going to be a little late for his anniversary, there had been a few complications along his journey. However, a bottle of Kraken Black would cheer up his wife enough so that he didn't sleep out in the rain, not that she would do that anymore. Perhaps he should buy multiple bottles just in case.

Fushia was a large city, surrounded by several thick layers of walls. The flower fields around it had been burnt down several times in its history, but they had been allowed to grow due to the century of peace within the region.

Unfortunately, the church also enjoyed the flowers, and so they had decided to build a small church here. No doubt it was also because the city was fairly close to Kemt.

"To think I'd meet you here on this day," a paladin called out from behind him.

The paladin was a strapping young man, with a powerful build, thick armour, and a magical blade at his side.

"I should have checked my fortune," Richard replied. "I would have waited a day."

"There's no need for that," the paladin said.

"Until you stop trying to kill my wife, I'll treat you with the respect you deserve."

"We didn't force you to marry that creature."

Richard's fingers twitched, ready to draw his blade. "No. Perhaps I should have touched a few little boys instead?"

The paladin frowned. "Such rumours are beneath you."

"I'm sure you'd prefer the boys beneath you."

"You speak such ill, perhaps I should cure you?"

"Go ahead, reach for your blade." Richard waited for a moment. "What, too cowardly to back up your threat? A dog with no teeth should be careful of barking too loud."

"You are so uncivilised. It is no wonder you surrounded yourself with such creatures about you. Thankfully your brother doesn't have your foolishness."

"Ah yes," Richard said, smiling. "I've heard that you have tried to recruit him to the church. How is that working out for you?"

"It is his destiny, he cannot fight against it."

"My brother is free to do as he wishes, and he has chosen his path. I'm not sure little boys interest him."

The paladin ground his teeth. "You are so fortunate I am a man of a cloth."

"You are so fortunate you're too much of a coward."

A tense moment passed before the paladin rode off towards the city. Richard narrowed his eyes. This was the only time he felt annoyed that no blows had come.

"Sorry Richard, we can't let you through," the guard said.

"The church?" Richard asked.

The guard nodded. "As much as we want to fight it, it's just a little awkward right now, what with all the tensions running high…"

"It's alright," Richard said. He frowned as he thought about the church's influence over the city. He'd need to deal with that soon. "Could you call for a guild worker here?"

"They said not to let you in, but they didn't say anything against that…"

A guild worker arrived not long after. He was a young man, perhaps in his early twenties, with short red hair and blue eyes. He had the kind of face only a mother could love, though his body was as great as any knight.

"Hey John," Richard said. "Could I ask you to buy me a few bottles of wine?"

"What do you need, sir Richard?" He asked politely.

"Two bottles of Kraken Black, a bottle of Wyvern Fire, and surprise me with the last one." Richard tossed over a couple of gems, each worth a pretty penny. John left, leaving Richard outside.

"If you want, we can bring the issue up to the Lord?" The guard offered.

"No, there's no need. I just came by for the wine anyway, and then I'll be off to Kemt. If I can't come in next time I'm around, I'll have a chat with the Lord then."

"We'll report it in our weekly meeting though, just so he knows."

"Anyway, how's life with you?"

"I can't complain. A roof over my head, food in my stomach, and a purpose in life. My son's managed to get into the knight academy in Kemt though."

"Really now? Congratulations. What's that, a ten gold stipend for you?"

"Twenty," the guard said. "He's aiming to be a knight. One day he might even assist your brother."

"I hope not," Richard said. "My brother's always off nearly getting killed."

"Then maybe there will come a day he won't do that."

"Maybe." Richard chuckled.

John returned with the four bottles of wine. The surprise wine was the Golden Lily, which Richard offered to the guard.

"Here, for your son's admission to the academy."

"Oh, I can't accept this."

"Well, I'll just leave it here. You can pick it up when your shift is over." Richard placed the bottle down off to the side and then waved. "I'll see you all around."

With that he left, sliding his bottles into his magical bag. The church issue bothered him, but it wasn't something he could tackle yet. He'd get Lorelei to message Torgon about it. He should speak with the King, but they weren't on the best of terms.

'How troublesome,' he thought.

Kemt was a day from Fushia, though thinking about it now, it seemed quite fortunate they didn't allow him into the city. Now he'd be able to arrive on time for his anniversary, though he would most likely arrive in the late evening.

Dusk was beginning to fall across Kemt. Kemt, the most remote city in Hard Hill, and had been the perfect place to retire to. It was a city with great history, and the perfect terrain to fight against outsiders. Kemt could easily double as a fort, though it would be a fort of fifth thousand people, which would have made any army sweat.

"A late arrival, stranger!" shouted the guard.

"A late arrival I may be, but a stranger I'm certainly not."

"If it isn't Richard! Welcome back!" The guard exclaimed. It was an older man, in his fifties. Richard recalled his name was Mitt. He was one of the few veterans of the guard, usually stationed on duty in the evenings.

"Did Lorelei behave?" Richard asked, approaching the opening gate.

"It was the same as always, I haven't seen her since she arrived."

"Not even a single walk?" Richard asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Not that any one of us saw."

Richard shook his head. "I told her to at least walk around once…" She always remained cooped up in her tower. The dangers of not seeing the sun in so long was not to be understated, and Richard had left for months already.

"We're not going to bother no busy wizard with their business," Mitt said. "Specially not Lady Lorelei."

"I'll have to have a few words with her."

"Best of luck to you. I ain't never told a man to have words with his wife, and I won't ever tell him either. Your wife's a special one too, she's a wizardly folk." Mitt shook his head. "You got enough gold for your casket?"

"I had to face down a dragon not long ago."

"Aye I'd rather face a dragon than your wife. No offence."

"None taken. I see your point, Mitt, but a man has to put his foot down somewhere."

"Aye, well, seems like you're as dumb as them paladins."

"Oh? Did some arrive whilst I was gone?"

"Aye, about five of them. One, then two, then another two."

"Where did you bury them?"

"We stripped them of their gear and buried them on the hill."

"One day they'll learn, but I don't suppose they'll stop any time soon…" Richard sighed. He had hoped the church would have been more open minded, but they seemed to be busy with being a nuisance to society.

He stepped through the gates and saluted a few of the guards before making his way through the town. It was about to become dusk, though the people's were still going about their day. A few of them greeted Richard as he walked through the town, heading towards the large tower which sat upon a small hill and overlooked the entire region. The walls extended out towards the tower, ending atop the cliff which the tower overlooked.

He stepped up to the tower and held up his fist. He spoke a few words of magic and his ring glowed before the door shined and unlocked. He opened the door and stepped inside.

"I'm hom-" Richard was cut off by a powerful force of fiery thunder, which slammed across his entire body. He fell back several feet from the door, gasping out in pain.

Standing in the doorway was the floating figure of a beautiful woman. Her skin was tan, her eyes burning with a deep glare, crimson like his flowing blood. She wore her long robes, which wrapped around her entire form with such a snug fit that it seemed as though she wore a second skin made of pure shadow.

"You're late," she said.