"Oi, lad! Wake up! We've arrived!" Girem's gruff voice cut through the haze of sleep.
Hazuki stirred with a yawn, rubbing his eyes.
"Mm... already...?"
"Yeah. Get up. You've been snoring like a bear cub."
Still groggy, Hazuki stretched and slowly climbed down from the wagon, boots hitting the dirt road with a soft thud.
Girem pointed down a winding path ahead—dense with twisted trees and faint fog hugging the ground.
"Once you're off the wagon, just follow that road."
Hazuki blinked, yawning again.
"Mmm… okay. Got it."
He turned to start walking, but Girem called out again.
"Lad."
"Hmm?" Hazuki looked back.
The old dwarf's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't be shocked by what you see when you follow it."
Hazuki tilted his head.
"Huh? Why? What's there?"
Girem just leaned back on his seat, cracking open the liquor Hazuki had bought him.
"You'll see soon enough."
