Merchant Crab

The crab and the enchantress stepped out of the ruined building and into the gloomy daylight of Condor. The bleak environment seemed to dull out the world’s colors and the windy breeze made even a crab feel chills down his spine, despite having neither skin nor backbone.

Ruby, whose vivid scarlet vestments seemed to be the only thing unaffected by the dreary aura of the land, stood by the door like a fiery beacon in the wasteland.

“Go on, you should talk with your friend now,” she said, gesturing towards the side of the house. “I hope we will meet again soon.”

Balthazar walked around the front of the dilapidated building. Druma and Blue were still hanging out by the road, but not playing as usual, for even they seemed to be affected by the mood of the town.

Off to the side of the Birdwatchers secret headquarters, near a torn fence, sitting on a half-broken stone bench, was the young archer, leaning forward and staring emptily into the blade of dried grass he was fidgeting with in his hands.

As the merchant passed Jasper, who was quietly leaning against the house with his arms crossed and one foot pressed against the wall, the man gave him a brief nod and left towards the front door, passing on the task of watching over the recently awakened adventurer to the hesitant crab.

With tentative steps, Balthazar approached Rye, placing himself next to his bench and looking towards the bleak, gray horizon in front of them.

“Hey,” said the crab in a quiet tone.

The young man continued staring at the piece of grass wrapped around his finger, but his gaze was somewhere else far, far away.