Aozaki Aoko Case File [500] (Patreon)

“I’m from Neverwinter,” Aoko stopped her sled, soothed her two still-excited snow dogs, and replied, “I’m here looking for a friend.”

“Looking for a friend?” The dwarf guard gave Aoko, dressed suspiciously like a mage, a once-over and said, “There aren’t any wizards in Bremen. You’re not an Arcane Brotherhood spy, are you?”

“My friend is in Targos,” Aoko hopped down from the snow, “I’m just passing through Bremen, hoping to rest here and resupply with necessary provisions.”

“Resupply?” The dwarf guard retorted sarcastically, “Haven’t you noticed our lake is frozen solid? What makes you think we have any surplus supplies for outsiders? And are you or are you not with the Arcane Brotherhood?”

Aoko didn’t immediately answer the dwarf’s questions. Instead, she pulled down her hood, revealing her lovely face and a head of long, red hair.

“You think showing your face will clear you of suspicion?” The dwarf guard remained alert. “You really do underestimate us Bremen folk!”

“My point is, the Arcane Brotherhood is a ‘brotherhood,’” Aoko said, looking speechlessly at this stubborn dwarf. She was starting to see firsthand just how ornery dwarves could be. “And I’m a female mage.”

At this, the dwarf guard was taken aback. The air between them turned a little awkward, but Aoko patiently waited for him to respond.

“All right,” the dwarf finally lowered his weapon and shook his head. “You can go in. The inn still has rooms, but we can’t spare any food for you. Since you’re a mage, sort it out yourself!”

“Fine, thank you,” Aoko nodded, climbing back onto her sled. “I’ll just rest in Bremen for one night at most. My friends are waiting for my help in Targos—they’re in big trouble over there.”

“There’s trouble everywhere in Ten-Towns these days!” The dwarf grumbled as he returned to his post, ignoring Aoko.

Aoko drove her sled leisurely into Bremen. She hadn’t explored the town much on her last visit, but this time she deliberately slowed down to take in the details.

Bremen is shaped roughly like a fan on the map, with the Shaengarne River to the southeast and the western shore of Maer Dualdon to the northeast.

The town hall, where the speaker lives, sits in the northwest near the center of the village, while the inn is located at the southernmost riverside.

There are about twenty regular militia in town. They’re more like dwarven tribal warriors than professional soldiers, but their equipment is still quite impressive, a testament to the dwarves’ innate skill in smithing.

On her way to the inn, Aoko noticed that Bremen’s streets weren’t empty. Plenty of townsfolk were out and about, most of them dwarves, though there were a few humans as well. However, almost all of them looked listless, not in good spirits.

The townsfolk showed some interest in Aoko, mainly because she was a lone female traveler, but upon seeing her staff, they quickly lost interest. Apparently, a spellcaster arriving alone wasn’t all that unusual here.

Other than that, there wasn’t much in Bremen at this time to attract Aoko’s attention. She soon pulled up in front of the inn.

Looking up, she saw the still-operating sign: “Buried Treasures.”

Through the foggy window, she could make out some figures moving about on the ground floor, suggesting the business was doing all right.

Aoko parked her sled in a vacant spot beside the inn and led her two snow dogs into the sheltered kennel—a common sight in Ten-Towns, since dog sleds are the traditional mode of transport.

After leaving plenty of food for her hardworking dogs, Aoko pushed open the inn’s door and looked around the first-floor crowd.

Most patrons were locals, but they weren’t there for food or lodging. Instead, they gathered in small groups, drinking and chatting with containers they’d brought themselves.

Just as Aoko was about to approach the bar and speak with the innkeeper about a room, a familiar voice called from a corner, drawing her gaze.

“Hey, Aoko!” A young man with a large beard was waving at her. “Over here!”

“Huh?” Aoko was confused—she didn’t recall any young, bearded friends. Who was this...?

“I’m so glad to see you!” Another familiar young woman emerged from behind the bearded man—Aoko must have missed her before. “Looks like you got Edgin’s letter?”

“Doric!” Aoko walked over happily, shook Doric’s hand, and sat beside her. “So this must be...”

“I’m Simon,” the bearded man said awkwardly. “I lost my razor, and with this awful weather, no caravans come to Bremen, so I’ve ended up like this.”

“Not bad,” Aoko commented. “At least it makes you look more mature—more reliable at first glance.”

“Reliable indeed,” Doric smiled at Simon, their relationship seeming to have grown closer. “The innkeeper’s son went missing a few days ago. Simon used magic to find and save him near the foot of the northern mountain.”

“So the innkeeper waived our room fees,” Simon said with a grin. “But I insisted on paying something. Mrs. Kra is too kind; the inn is barely breaking even.”

“In tough times, good people always have it the hardest,” Aoko said calmly. “By the way, Bremen isn’t far from Targos—why haven’t you joined up with Edgin?”

“Good question,” Simon waggled a finger. “Actually, if you hadn’t shown up, we were going to try for Targos again tomorrow.”

“An avalanche last month buried the road to Targos,” Doric explained. “Simon’s magic can’t melt that much snow in this extreme climate.”

“Today’s blizzard is the smallest in a month,” Simon said seriously. “If we don’t seize this chance, we might not get another—or maybe never. Fortunately, you’re here, Aoko.”

“I see,” Aoko nodded. “Then tomorrow we’ll set out and check that buried road. From Edgin’s letter, things don’t sound good on his end.”

“There’s a food shortage everywhere in Ten-Towns,” Doric said. “I even tried hunting nearby with my druid powers, but there are barely any animals left.”