You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story.” ((How do you respond?))
"so you've been waiting for me? "
he stepped towards the cushion indicated by slow steps, sat on the cushion without separating his eye contact from the woman
"if you're waiting for me, you must already know part of my story, old lady. but I will not break your request because you have shown me hospitality even in this stinking place."
to get into the word, he cleared his throat by coughing twice, put his hand in his bag, and took out his canteen and took a sip.
"my story... it's a little complicated. a little bitter and a little sweet. in every way, the sands of time have allowed me to get this far. from the south. I was on a ship when the sun was gently caressing my skin. my father.. he was a well-known merchant where I came from. after he emigrated, I sold the remaining goods. and I've come all the way here to find what I'm looking for, what am I looking for?"
as if he found the question funny, he chuckled, "no. no. I'm not gonna tell you that. besides, is it the finale of an unfinished story? but know this, I am searching for unknown sciences and objects in my land, trying to solve them. actually, I'm a.."
he put his hand in his bag again, took out a small clay tiger figurine and continued to grin and say
" I'm a collector, my father was a busy man buying and selling everything, while I tend to sell a lot of worthless things and buy something valuable, even if it won't benefit me. whether it has financial value or not. i like to save up. i have a habit of collecting information, things, material or spiritual, everything that I consider valuable, old woman.
but we're not here to talk about that. I've been talking for a while, and you're listening. I want to take advantage of their services."
he turned the tiger figurine he was holding in his hand one turn, did not take his eyes off the woman. no matter how talkative he is, his amber-yellow eyes are watching her like a predator.
"a map of the north of here and.. maybe a protective amulet, you have a amulet, right? the natives of the north side say they know about magic.
is there not? I was just kidding. that you are unreliable.... it is obvious from your silence and your face. anyway."
he took out a pouch of gold from the belt of his clothes, handed it to the witch's long-fingered hand, then took the map showing the continuation of his path from the woman.
"what do they say? it's been a pleasure doing business with you, shokran."
he got up with a firm grip on the map and made it clear that he approved by moving his head up and down.
"yes. yes. this will do. "
he took a quick look at the map again and put it in his bag,
"I have to go now, old lady. to talk to you... at least, even if it is one-sided. it felt good. deprived of the light of the sun, it warmed me in these cold temperatures , Ma'a salama"
after saying the last words, he turned around, checked the inside of his bag, potions and provisions, map and money, after taking a last look at the woman, he stepped out of the tent. he walked away from the town, trying not to smell the bad smell of the swamp.
