Considering how tired Ethan was he should have slept through the night, but after just four hours he abruptly woke up with a start.

"No!!!"

He was woken up from a nightmare. In his dreams, he was chased over and over again by a laughing Barnabas holding his mother's head.

Ethan didn't even bother trying to sleep again; he just didn't want to face that horrible scene.

The fire Ethan had set had already died down, but with his experience now it didn't take long before he started it up again. As Ethan was deep inside the cave, he wasn't too worried about attracting animals in the middle of the night otherwise he wouldn't have been able to fall asleep.

Ethan decided to use the time he had to plan out how he should proceed from then on.

'Okay, if I keep moving I should be able to reach the border in a few days, but how will I actually get across?'

As Tori and Moriah did not maintain good relations with each other, not just anyone could cross into either side. If someone in his position simply walked up to the checkpoint, they would most likely see him as a beggar or worse, a spy.

There were obviously ways of crossing, such as using money to coerce the guards or paying smugglers, but Ethan did not have any money on him.

Sitting alone in the dark with the fire crackling away Ethan thought to himself.

'I could try to find some way to avoid the border patrol and sneak past them, but if I don't want to be discovered, I would have to stray from the one route I know. I don't even know any other routes besides this one.

The only other way would be to try using a smuggler, but where would I even find one of those?

I guess my only option at the moment is to try to divert from the normal path once I'm close to the border, then trying to find the main road once I'm on the other side.

I need to at least find a change of clothes because this look is just too conspicuous.'

While looking at his tattered clothes, Ethan suddenly heard movement approach.

"clip-clop, clip-clop"

It sounded like shoes hitting the cave floor heading towards him. Not knowing who it was and worrying that he would be exposed, Ethan jumped up and quickly put out the fire.

He was sure that whoever was approaching already knew he was there due to the smoke from the fire as well as the escaping light.

Ethan backed up and hid in a corner of the cave and waited. Before long a group made up of three men reached the spot Ethan had set up the fire.

A blonde middle-aged man seemed to be leading the group. The group was fitted out in armor and seemed to be well trained due to their positioning around each other as well as their equipment.

The middle-aged man spoke out

"Oi, we know you're here. We aren't looking for a fight, we just want to talk."

His voice echoed around the cave but there was no response.

Behind his hiding place, Ethan thought to himself.

'Shit, I can't just keep hiding here. Even if I do, they will eventually find me. Well, it can't be the Hamlan guards. There is no way they'd be looking for me all the way here.

I'll just have to risk it. If they are bandits I don't have anything on me either way.'

As the men were getting irritated Ethan replied while stepping out into the open.

"I'm here, I don't want any trouble."

As Ethan stepped into the light and the men could now make out his messy appearance, they relaxed a bit, and contempt could be seen in their eyes.

The middle-aged man went on.

"Who are you? Why are you hiding in here?"

Knowing that he couldn't tell them what happened, Ethan lied.

"My name is Michael, I am from a village nearby. We were attacked by bandits and I was lucky enough to escape but the village perished. I came here to rest for the night before setting off elsewhere."

Looking over Ethan's appearance the man couldn't help believing his story. Similar things happened from time to time and how bad village raids got depended on the bandit's mood.

The middle-aged man replied

"That's fine, My name is Oscar and this is Darius and Melo. We are passing by as well with our lady and have set up camp not too far from this cave.

Make sure not to wander out during the night otherwise we might take you for an enemy."

Hearing this Ethan immediately replied

"So even if I'm starving, I should just stay in here?"

Looking around Oscar could see that Ethan really did not have any supplies.

Cough

"Uh, I will leave a guard near the entrance. If you need something just tell him and he will sort it out. Just don't leave the cave."

Without waiting for a reply Oscar and his men turned and left.

Ethan sat back down and started on getting the fire started while thinking about Oscar and his men.

'Something seems off about those guys… Anyway, it's fine, as long as they don't bother me.'

With that, Ethan sat around his newly restarted fire, and time slowly passed in silence.

"Grrrrrrrr"

Ethan's stomach decided to remind him just how hungry he was.

"Again… arg"

Ethan decided to try his luck with the men from earlier.

He got up and headed for the cave entrance to see if there really was anyone there. Without any portable light source, Ethan set a branch on fire and made his way.

As Ethan was nearing the entrance a head popped in to look inside the cave and Ethan recognized it as Darius from earlier.

"Didn't the boss tell you to stay inside? What do you want?"

To which Ethan replied.

"I don't have any food? I need something to eat. Oscar said if I need anything…"

As Ethan reached the entrance, he was able to see the outside.

Not too far from the cave, a huge campsite had been set up from nowhere. He could see a few women sitting around the fire and around them were the men from earlier.

The women were busy roasting what looked like a boar and the men were just chatting occasionally looking at the meat. A bit further away from the men was a huge tent with guards standing at the entrance.

The inside of the tent was lit, but nothing could be seen inside. Before Ethan could observe more Darius moved to block his view and said

"Fine, go back inside. Someone will bring food for you."

With that, Ethan nodded and went back inside.

He sat down around the fire and patiently waited.

After about an hour's time, a timid-looking blonde woman walked into the cavern. She was probably in her early twenties and from the way she was dressed, she appeared to be a maid from a wealthy household.

She held a torch and was curiously looking around the cave as she stepped into the open area where Ethan was. Upon spotting him, she jumped and let out a short shout of surprise.

Seeing this Ethan just smiled

"Goo-Goo-Good evening, my-my name is Yvonne. I was told to give you this."

Without waiting for Ethan to reply, she quickly placed a tray on a rock and quickly ran out of the cave.

Looking at where she had just been Ethan muttered to no one in particular

"Well, thanks, I guess."

He got up and fetched the tray. The meal was bread, some sort of soup, and a chunk of boar meat.

A grin instantly appeared on Ethan's face.

'At least they aren't stingy.'

With that, Ethan sat down and ate the food till there wasn't a single thing left. Ethan actually enjoyed it, but he would often see images of what happened to his family earlier…

When Ethan was done, he decided to try to sleep again as he knew that he needed his energy for the rest of his trek.

With that Ethan lay down on the ground and tried his best to fall asleep.