[i]Possible interactions with Bartolomeo [@Bright_Ops], Andvari [@Fetzen], Emiliah [@Ellion], and Kalisel [@blackdragon]. Or at least anyone in the tavern.[/i]

[hr]

[center][h1][color=red]Sheffield[/color][/h1][/center]

A young Hunter breathed.

Not as fast as he had a few hours ago. The ghosts were driven off with his iron pan, the zombies put back into the ground without their heads this time, and the werewolf probably being savaged by a very hungry were-something. Whatever it was probably came from... somewhere nearby. Some place where he could feel a sort of invisible current, the first of which he felt days ago on the road.

The Hunter tried to breathe slower. He coughed. He was breathing normally now, with the ache of days behind him weighing down his body. Every step was hard, but he saw a town--with lights this time!--in the distance.

The young man finally sat down as soon as he reached a fountain in the town. It was only then he noticed the looks everyone directed at him.

He looked down. His armor and metal plating was torn. He stank of the forest, sweat and blood. He probably looked bad.

"Ma, there's a Hunter that looks like a zombie!"

"Come here dear, you don't want to go near him now..."

The young man concluded he had to find somewhere to stay first. Except he had no idea where he wandered into this time, so making use of his travel experience, he raised a hand to ask a nearby townsman and asked--

[color=red]"No please wait! I'm a Hunter and I won't hurt you! I just want to ask for a good inn and any shops catering to Hunters."[/color]

The townsman thankfully stopped to tell him. "Oh. Sorry, er, that way. The tavern's called the Witches' Paradise, and the owner's name is Bobby, a retired Hunter. He might help you better than I could. Shops are that way."

[color=red]"Thank you kindly. Ah, and what's the name of this place?"[/color]

The man eyed him critically. "Are you really a Hunter? It's Seren's Folly! This town is a right spot for Hunters far and wide."

A sour feeling suddenly filled the Hunter's stomach. [color=red]"And... populated with Witches too?"[/color]

"Hunting for them then? Well, you'd have to go into the forests this way though. Young, reckless ones like you though..."

The man pointed to the right with a finger. The Hunter followed it and saw trees, tall and dark in the night. While that was nothing out of the ordinary, the sight gave him more than just a chill down his back.

[color=red]"I don't need to ask why,"[/color] he decided.

The young Hunter bade the man goodbye as they walked off. Seren's Folly... he was only told that a girl with the Wonder Painter's face was around this region, but here? He heard the stories.

It was just a short trip from the fountain to the Witches' Paradise. He saw a group of people dressed for battle, chuckling in a rather muted agreement as their blades and bags swayed from their hips.

The young man walked right in and stood there for a moment. Warm air, but quiet chatter assailed him. This place was popular for some reason.

He looked around. The host was serving table, probably Bobby, sounds like the right man to look for as a Hunter, but he seemed busy talking to a few patrons. He scanned again. There were other patrons too. Maybe he could ask them?

Well, he should probably do something about his padded armor first.