What I first saw overtook me—I was completely astonished. My eyes widened with shock, and catching my breath felt impossible.
A massive walled city stood before me. A pure white tower rose above it all with a presence of prestige, and a great wrought iron gate spiraled skyward like a piece of enchanted metalwork.
We climbed a steep embankment toward the gate. A small door was hidden in one of its massive columns, and the Furlin gatekeeper emerged as soon as he spotted us.
He was a short man, with a belly as round as he was tall. His white hair was pulled back tightly, blending almost seamlessly into the stone walls around him. His armor gleamed so brightly I had to squint just to look at him.
"My name is Ero, gatekeeper of Furlin. Allow me the honor of escorting the first human through our lovely gates," he said, practically skipping with joy as he threw them open.
The Nim lined the streets in long, tight rows, their expressions heavy with astonishment as I stepped into the city. Banners waved overhead, and before I could take in more, a woman pushed her way through the crowd.
"I insist that the first human through these doors stays in my inn!" she declared, tugging on Comforter's arm and pulling us forward without waiting for a reply.
Comforter followed without hesitation. I looked at him, baffled.
"Rune, don't be so shocked," he said, chuckling. "Let her have this moment. We Nims are meant to serve, and she wants her inn, well... in the record books of this historic day," he added, lowering his voice just enough to keep her from overhearing, though the noise of the crowd likely masked everything anyway.
The city sprawled out before us in vibrant chaos. Homes and shops were crammed together in no apparent order, every surface painted in bold, bright colors. It looked wild, but somehow perfectly balanced—like every Nim had been given leave to express their personality on the world around them.
Delicious smells wafted from every direction—breads, sugar, spice—mingling into a mouthwatering smorgasbord of temptation. I could have spent a lifetime here and never eaten at every place.
Furlin was a labyrinth of twisting streets, bustling markets, towering smithies, and overflowing inns. The Tower of the Realm rose from the center like a beacon. I tried to stay close to Comforter, but the crowd's shouts and cheers clouded my thoughts. It was impossible to think clearly.
The fear I'd carried—the fear of being unwelcome or turned away—melted in the warmth of their celebration. My steps grew lighter. I smiled easily now, returning the waves and cheers with growing confidence.
It was a long walk to the woman's inn. Her name was Strength, and she cut through the crowd with the ease of someone who had done it a thousand times.
The inn itself was packed beyond reason, but she didn't slow. She guided us through a back stairway and led us to a quiet corner of the building.
"This room is soundproof," she explained with a warm smile. "After you've rested, please come down and make an appearance—it's an epic day." Her tone was kind, but there was no mistaking that it was a command, not a suggestion.
"What does soundproof mean?" I asked Comforter after she left.
"Some Nim—especially those in law—can't risk being overheard," he explained. "These walls are built to block all sound. Once the door is closed, nothing escapes. The design came from the Trullis Clan nearby. How they learned it, no one knows."
I nodded, grateful. The crowds below would no doubt celebrate long into the night with mulled wine and song. At least here, we could rest.
Comforter nodded back, and we shared a quiet smile. We both knew we were witnessing something far bigger than ourselves.
Furlin had opened its heart to the first mortal in its long history—and I had been the one to walk through its gates.
As we went down the curved staircase, we were unsure how to answer the question everyone was asking, "Why was I here?" Everyone was asking. I could tell by the way Comforter looked at me that we could not divulge our mission.
"All will be revealed in due time."I said politely, with gentle truthfulness. They Nim-folk seemed to think I was avoiding truth or being rude, but this was not the season to discuss such matters, fear has a way of spreading rumours. A plague was devastating enough, without adding falsehoods into the water as it were.
The night wore on, and after a while, my eyelids grew heavy. Folk came in waves, eager to introduce themselves and speak at length about how wonderful Furlin was. I tried to be polite, but the excitement—and the weight of our meeting at dawn with those overseeing my trial and service—pressed heavily on me.
Comforter noticed. Seeing how hard I was fighting against my exhaustion, he gently stepped between me and the crowd, then guided me up the stairs.
At some point, he pulled the covers over me, as the cold made me shiver in the night. I drifted into the land of dreams, wrapped in peace.I wondered, briefly, what tomorrow would bring—but worry did not follow me into sleep.