Mara continued along the path for what seemed like hours. Suddenly, she spotted a tall building among the sea of trees. What could that building be? She pondered for a bit and imagined all the possibilities, but she knew she couldn't just ignore the building. She decided to investigate this gigantic structure.
She continued down the path until she found a couple of Magic Council soldiers standing in front of a bridge. She decided to approach one for questions, but the two of them stopped her.
"Halt!" exclaimed one of the guards. "State your identity."
"My name is Mara Stone," replied Mara. "I'm a novice wizard exploring the world. What is this place?"
"This is the Silent Tower," one of the guards answered, "a prison for the most notorious criminals in all of Magius."
"We've arrested a lot of criminals in recent years," the other guard added, "but we have yet to catch the axe-wielding behemoth known as the Minotaur."
"That sounds scary," Mara winced. "Well, good luck catching that guy." She began heading in a different direction when the guards stopped her again.
"Wait!" the guards shouted. "If you plan to fight that beast, there's something you should know about him." Mara, now curious, leaned in and paused. "His axe throws are very powerful, but he can't climb up mountains."
"Thanks," Mara stated. "I'll be sure to remember that."
"Oh, and one more thing," the guards declared before Mara could leave. "If you encounter a strong knight who goes by The Exiled, don't talk to him. He's gone a little crazy over the years."
"Uh, sure," Mara nodded in suspicion, as she waved to the guards and continued her journey. She decided to explore the eastern side of Magius. She encountered a bunch of bandits along the way, but she made quick work of them.
Mara looked up in the sky and noticed that the sun had begun to set. She continued down her path, hoping to find a place to rest. Suddenly, she spotted a riverside village and made her way there. Once she made it to the entrance, she was greeted by a couple of guards.
"Welcome to Riverville, traveler," one of the guards declared. "We hope you enjoy your stay."
Mara bowed and continued into the village until she spotted an inn. Upon her arrival, she was greeted by the innkeeper.
"Welcome to the Riverville Inn," the innkeeper chanted. "How may I assist you this evening?"
"I'd like to spend the night here," answered Mara. "I recently became a novice wizard, and now I'm exploring the world."
"Oh, that's wonderful news!" the innkeeper cheered. "I wish the best of luck to you on your travels."
"Thank you," Mara responded. She then grabbed some of the crowns she earned from bandits and treasure chests and gave them to the innkeeper. The innkeeper, in return, smiled and handed a towel and some other items to Mara.
"Feel free to use any of our facilities," she stated. "If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to ask."
Mara thanked the innkeeper once again and headed to her assigned bedroom. Upon arrival, she noticed that the room was outfitted with a bath. Her face lit up as she began to undress and prepare her bath. She had never felt so relaxed. All of the filth from the outside world seemed to dissolve in the warm, soapy water.
After she finished bathing, Mara emptied her bath and dried herself off. Once she had completely cleaned up, she put on her nightgown and slipped under the covers. She checked her MagiSlab for any news updates before finally dozing off.
