The people of Ataken were rather weary and reserved. They didn't make a lot of eye contact, instead they avoided Maruna's gaze even though they would stare at her when she was looking in the other direction.

They would whisper things amongst each other like "Is that all real?" or "Why did she come alone?"

The women complimented her, referring to her eyes as a gaze of sun. Hildegarde who seemed to be the Alpha female in town, would say "Here comes the sun" whenever she would visit the tiny town.

The Tavern Keeper or bar tender would shake his head and mutter "You put the village to shame looking like that".

Maruna was confused by this comment.

"What is there something wrong with the way I dress?"

"No, no, of course not. It's just you are so comely that in comparison to us townsfolk, well none of us can compete. Forgive me such natural beauty has not come to Ataken for an age. You must be the envy of many where you come from".

"Beauty isn't all it's cracked up to be."

The Bar Tender than decided to stop pressing the issue as he saw his wife Hildegarde enter the room and sit down in a corner table.

"Fredrick stop jabbering at the girl. She's not interested with your prattle. No doubt she needs a room."

"Oh there's no need. I already have reservations...elsewhere".

"Seee what do I tell you, Fredrick, you don't listen, you just jabber your jaw away.

So my lovely where are you staying, in the yurts?"

"No"

"Perhaps the huts then?"

"Nope"

"Aw you must be staying in the woods. They have beautiful cottages there, they are quiet and amongst the wonders of nature. You'll like it there".

"No I'm not staying there either. I'm staying at the Castle actually."

Fredrick freezes his eyes light up like a dim Christmas tree.

Hildegarde clears her throat and coughs awkwardly.

However her husband chimed in before she could explain anything.

"That's a strange place to venture to...alone. Are you sure you want to go there?"

"Um yeah I do. I just came here to the village...to take in the sights."

"Well ehem...I suppose there is no harm in that but it is a rather treacherous place, at least the way there is."

Frederick's eyes narrow as he says that.

Maruna however is far more interested in the subject and with her curiosity peaked, she presses the issue further by asking a few questions.

"Oh really? Why is that? What's so treacherous about the road there?"

"Well you see there may have been some rather unfortunate...accidents in the past. I Don't know if I should tell you. Hilde should I tell her?"

Fredrick looks at his wife, with eyes watering slightly with concern.

Hilde Nods firmly.

"Oy my husband, you might as well, just for safety sake. Yes you really ought to warn her of those parts, especially the parts leading to the castle".

"Very well my beloved. Well my dear girl, the road to Castle Blood as its called is a treacherous one. There are no wolves thank the stars but there are thick unforgiving bogs, relentless rivers and worst of all the quick sand beds. I had cousin by the name of Leopold that ventured to close to the castle and he made one wrong step, mind you it was very dark, then he perished. It took us many days to find him and when we finally found him, it was nearly next to impossible to fish him out again.

Don't get me started on the bogs, the bogs are deeper than a cavern, once someone drops in the swampy bogs they Don't ever come up again."

"That's crazy. Why would anyone set up bogs and beds of quick sand? I thought this town was supposed to be fun not treacherous".

Maruna boggles over the dangers outside the castle ground.

"Aye this tiny town was built for ultimate comfort but the owner of Royelle Castle had other ideas. I suppose one would call him eccentric but whatever the case he had this idea that things should be a bit more challenging. The thing is no one was informed of what these challenges were until it was too late. What's worse is the castle has been falling to absolute shambles over the years.

We've heard the strangest of things. The strangest things I tell you some of which hasn't even been released to the public yet."

"Aye what my husband says is true. Although I can't say I know exactly what condition the castle is in. I haven't been there in ages. I used to work there for a time. I never saw the owner. I think he's far too high and mighty to bother with us "Common Folk".

I did meet the care taker and he was a strange fellow. Pale as the moon he was, rather angular looking if you ask me but he seemed nice a enough. He had a fine sense of humor I'll give him that. Anyhow, I can't say there's anyone left to run the castle, for I haven't seen anyone go up that road in over a decade. You see when the accidents started happening well naturally people stopped coming and the staff dwindled down. Why I heard the daftest stories come from that castle.

The Media will tell you that the incidents were caused by improper maintenance of the place, but the truth is far stranger. Why I heard a man right in the middle of night, mount the roof, only to slide right off it moments later. He slid off to his death he did. People speculated that he must have been a night walker, you know people prone to sleep walking. That explanation is all well and good, sure it puts the mind at ease, it keeps the peace but I've been to the upper levels of the castle and I can tell you there's no way that some bumbling and fumbling sleep walker could walk onto that roof. You'd surely need an extra hand. Oh and that nonsense about rotting floorboards, the Castle is made if stone, the only wood in that place is the furniture. Its made of pure mahogany and heaven knows that stuff was built to last.

Why even the stairs are made of stone. You must forgive an old woman for rambling but there's certain details that just Don't add up. I say things as I see them, something just doesn't make sense about that place and not in a good way".

"So you're saying that the owner made all those death traps out there?"

Fredrick looks up at the top of the hill, far beyond the village where the castle sits as a grim monument.

"We Don't really know what the owner has done at this point all we know is there have been far too many accidents to mere coincidences. We aren't a fearful people you must understand, we are a peaceful people, we are care free and fun loving. We don't get wrapped up in superstition but the people of this village stay clear of that place. We value our lives and we love our families, since we are a small community we can't afford to lose any of our own.

Its just common sense mind you. Just know if you go up that road, we won't stop you but be warned that you may not come back down that hill if you venture up to that castle."

"Well I suppose I should get going now. I thank you for your kind hospitality."

"Oh no, you mustn't go there on foot".

Fredrick warns Maruna yet again.

"Well how do I get there then?"

Maruna carefully places her folded hands on top of her lap.

"Well I suppose the only safe way would be the using the old hover board".

Hildegarde glowers at her husband as she says this although Fredrick smirks slightly and trumbles into the back room behind the bar counter.

"They still make hover boards?"

Maruna isn't even hiding her bewilderment because hover boards went out of style over 40 years ago.

"Heavens no, our son Jeffery got one, 4 decades ago. It was all the rage, somehow Freddie was able to get first in line, he had to get up in the earliest hours but it was the first for some but the last for others. Now don't judge it's bit scuffed up but it should take you over the rough terrain leading up to the Castle. It takes a bit of balance but you're young enough you catch on quick and you should fair just fine".

Fredrick brings out a thunky sheet of orange, greys and greens. It had a lightness to it, there were obvious scratches on the surface, it looked like outlandish boogie board.

"Forgive the well weathered appearance, it has been well worn but it works well all the same. It's fully charged to. It should last a good 24 hours before it dies".

Hildegarde chimed in amongst the silence as Maruna eyed the out of style board with quiet interest.

"Oh I'm sure it will get the job done. It's just I've never really seen one of these things before. I mean sure I've seen a picture of it here and there but I've never seenone up close, let alone getting to actually hold one in person. This is like so retro, I mean it's like an antique, a piece of history ya know. I almost Don't want to take this, let alone touch it".

"NO, no, no, no you must take this, we insist...you must take it, take it with you." Hildegarde was much firmer and pushy than usual but there was pleading in her eyes.

"The wife is right. You should take this contraption with you. We have no need of it anyway. Here in this village we have no use for it...it has no purpose ever since my son left, it's been collecting dust. You on the other hand need it...for your journey."

"Well if you insist, I'll take it. I'll try to bring it back in one piece."

Hildegarde and Fredrick just laugh at this.

"Bah there is no need for that, my girl. We would rather see you in one piece instead."

Hildegarde throws her hand out in carefree wave.

"Yes Come back in one piece. Whatever you do, don't stray from the path. There are other paths, true yes, but only one path leads to the castle, keep to that path and all shall go well, but if you stray so shall your safety."

Fredrick warned her this time his eyes over shadowed by a dark fear that had not been there before.

"I'll keep that in mind...um well Thank you again."

They nod but the fear in their eyes still lingered almost as if they feared she would not make it back to the village again.