Asukem was cautious while traveling, as it was his first time outside the town and the orphanage. His heart raced with fear as people passed him, afraid of his appearance. He had to be careful, even though he didn't mean to harm or scare anyone. His looks could get him killed, even though he didn't realize the danger. He felt excited but also afraid to see the outside world. While traveling alone, he met people who had just raced by him. Not only did he meet people, but he also saw different races and animals on his journey.

A group of individuals would immediately attack Asukem if they caught him. These individuals were not your typical farmers, traders, or nobles. They belonged to a group known as "The Order." They were adversaries of people like Asukem, who carried corruption, unholiness, and negativity as a weapon to scare the innocent and vulnerable.

A vendor hired two friends, Alejandro and Fonza, from different races, to search for an artifact.

Alejandro was a muscular man with tanned skin and long black hair, showing he was around 22 years old. His armor was covered in dents and scratches from all the battles he had fought, but the scars all over his body proved that he was a fierce warrior. His brown eyes looked stern and untrusting as if he had trust issues.

Fonza had short blond hair and wore a piercing cross on his left ear. Despite having small and pointed ears, he appeared to be human. His skin was white with a tan, and he had a five o'clock shadow on his chin. His blue eyes sparkled when he looked into the light. Fonza was highly intelligent and paid great attention to the appearance of his armor. Due to this, he was considered handsome and well-groomed and looked the same age as Alejandro.

Years ago, these two men arrived at Tradithia, one seeking thrills, the other driven by religious beliefs. The town was bustling, which took place before Asukem knew what he wanted in life.

The town was constructed of both stone and wood. Canals flowed through the city and were crossed by bridges, providing walkways over the water. The dark alleyways and stone buildings resembled churches, contributed to the town's religious atmosphere, and added charm.

Alejandro was looking for a place to rest in the town while Fonza explored the city and its people, enjoying the positive vibes and admiring the different races that wandered the streets. After some time, they reunited, and Fonza was filled with energy, while Alejandro was frustrated and annoyed. Despite this, they continued to explore the town, eventually ending up at the watery canals. There, they met a hooded man with a stand of strange and random objects.

He introduced his apprentice, saying, "You two must be new here, right?"

Fonza and Alejandro approached a hooded man and his stand. Fonza was excited and confirmed that they were interested in the items. However, Alejandro was unimpressed and thought the man was just another scam artist. Fonza nudged him and reminded him to be kind. Despite Alejandro's skepticism, they both moved towards the hooded man's stand, with Fonza still interested in the items while Alejandro thought they were just junk.

"These items are not a scam," the hooded man said. "The great divines themselves gifted them." He showed off the items to both of them.

Fonza was surprised as he asked, "Are these holy items?" Alejandro responded with an eye-roll and a grunt, disappointed in Fonza for not seeing through the deception. "Congratulations on falling for this bullshit, Fonza," he grumbled.

The man with a hood on his head smiled maliciously at the two individuals and replied, "Yes, they surely are." He introduced the mask with a beak-like appearance and said, "This is the mask of travel, designed to protect you from exhaustion. It is quite popular among the goomi, who use it to conceal their identity."

As he moved to other items resembling blades, he exclaimed, "These are the blades of war, gifted by the great divine of war himself." He showed them off and continued, "With these, you can easily slash through a shield like it's butter."

In his demonstration, he presented a large halo-shaped blade or symbol positioned behind him. He pointed towards it and explained, "The Great Divine of Magic has gifted this item. It is said to offer protection against any magical attacks."

Fonza was amazed. His eyes sparkled with wonder while Alejandro looked at the hooded man disgustedly. "What is the point of all this?" Alejandro grumbled in annoyance.

The hooded man grinned slyly and said, "Straight to the point, huh?"

Fonza looked disapprovingly at Alejandro's behavior. However, Alejandro remained unconvinced and crossed his arms, waiting for an honest answer.

The man in the hood cackles and admits to having difficulty finding an item.

Fonza's expression of disappointment changed to surprise and interest. However, Alejandro still asked, "How much are you paying?" not trusting the vendor. Fonza's eyes widened in surprise at Alejandro and asked, "What are you doing?"

Alejandro's stern expression softened as he watched the hooded man place a bag of coins on the stand. Fonza sighed, and the man in the hood asked, "Will 500 gold pieces suffice?" Alejandro grabs the bag and looks inside the bag.

The hooded man glanced out from under his hood and asked, "Will you help me?" Fonza apologized for his friend's actions and sighed before nodding. The hooded man raised his hand, indicating that it was all right.

"Might as well take it for this much money!" Alejandro exclaimed while still inspecting the bag.

The man with a hooded cloak unfurled a map on his stand, providing directions to locate the relic he sought. "Rumors say it's in the forbidden fae forests."

Fonza scratched his chin, explaining, "I understand your issue; we are not authorized to access that location." Alejandro inquired, "What is the function of this artifact that requires its presence there?"

The hooded man said, "This relic can heal any sickness or wound."

Alejandro appeared untrustworthy and snapped, "Bullshit!" Fonza elbowed him, saying, "Quit being rude, Alejandro!" Alejandro rolled his eyes and apologized.

"The hooded man smiled and said, "I understand why you're skeptical, but think about it this way - if it were lies, I wouldn't pay you so much." Alejandro shrugged and nodded in agreement. "Okay, you've made your point." However, he snatched the map from the vendor and added, "We'll take this too."

The man giggles as he says, "Sounds fair." he waves goodbye to the two men as they leave his stand; once they are out of sight, he adds, "We will see if you can survive those forests."