Dead grass. Withering trees.

He was definitely at the right place. It matched the images that he saw before heading on his way. The place he's being wanting to visit for a long time. Although he wasn't staying for very long. He had a whole world to see.

He took a couple of steps inside the town's borders. He could've sworn he felt something wrap around him, like someone had constrained him in a tight hug, preventing him from moving. But he only felt it for a moment before the sensation dissipated.

The town seemed barren. Not even the sound of an animal was heard. The chatter heard in his town was not heard here either. Nothing like his own town.

He decided to look around for a moment. He noticed the infamous castle in the distance, now partially in ruins due to the low maintenance. Several houses, all with splintering wood, lined up in a straight line. They all looked similar, with only small variations between each home.

He walked through this part of town and saw raised garden beds with a small variety of crops. One that caught his attention was a herb grown widely around the world. It's aroma brought him closer to the garden beds as he discovered where it grew. This herb made him feel nostalgic of home, which he left behind to go explore.

'Who might you be, sir?' A female voice asked from behind him. He jumped as he heard her voice before proceeding to turn around.

'Christopher Wilkinson,' he answered, 'at your service. Would you kindly show me to the nearest inn?'

'Inn?' She questioned. 'I do not think we have one of those here.'

'Would you happen to know if there is any other place that I can stay for a few nights?'

She hesitated before answering. 'Wait here.'

He watched as she walked to a nearby house, noticing her constantly looking back at Christopher.

As soon as she closed the door she ran straight to her mother. She was a little sceptical of this man. She felt as though she couldn't trust him one-hundred percent, like he was here for something.

'That was quick, Anastasia.' Her mother commented.

'There's a strange man outside.'

'I'm sure it's just one of the neighbours. Probably from the other side of town.'

'I think he's a visitor from outside.'

Her mother stopped cutting and faced Anastasia. 'A visitor? No one dares to come here. He must not know about it. Did you tell him?'

'No, I haven't.' She hesitated asking, 'would there be any place he could stay?'

'He can stay with us until we can find a more suitable arrangement.'

Anastasia took her time to walk back outside. She was happy that there was a visitor to Cinderash, the first in a long time, but also felt worried about telling him that he can't leave.

'Christopher,' she began. He turned to face her. 'You can stay with us for the time being. Follow me.'

She didn't tell him about Cinderash as she didn't want to make him worried, also Anastasia was not comfortable to tell him since she didn't really speak to anyone but her family. Just having this conversation made her feel uncomfortable. She would only speak up if she was angry with something or was attempting to prove a point.

Anastasia showed him to the room he would be staying in during his visit here. She couldn't help studying him. His tanned face was covered with sweat and dirt, most likely from his journey here. His clothes were also filled with dirt as well. He carried a large bag and a belt that held lots of things which she couldn't work out. She couldn't stop looking at him. He was unusual to her. She kept asking herself questions, where is he from? What does he do? Why is he here?

'Thank you for letting me stay in your home.' Christopher commented with a smile, shaking her out of her trance.

'Dinner will be ready soon so come out once you're ready.'

He said thank you again as she walked out of the room. She headed back to her mother who she asked if she required any help from her. Before she could ask her mother interjected, 'Did you tell him?'

'No, mother.' She replied faintly.

'You know he needs—'

'I know.' Anastasia interrupted. 'I didn't want to worry him.'

'I know, sweetheart. He needs to be told.'

'I'm sorry, where are my manners,' Anastasia's mother mentioned to break the silence during dinner. 'I'm Juliana. I see you've already met my youngest daughter, Anastasia.'

'Yes he has.' Anastasia answered.

'Pleasure to meet you both, Juliana and Anastasia.' Christopher responds. 'They're both beautiful names.'

Anastasia felt her cheeks begin to become hotter at his complement. She rubbed her cheeks in an attempt to make the pink on her cheeks disappear.

'Anastasia,' Christopher begins, 'Do you have any other siblings?'

'I do. Two sisters and a brother.'

'I'd introduce you to all of them but they won't be visiting for a few days.' Juliana added.

This led to another round of silence as the three of them finished eating.

'How long were you planning on staying?' Juliana asked to make conversation.

'A few days, possibly more.'

Anastasia and her mother looked at one another, concerned. To Christopher, it looked as though they were having one of those wordless conversations.

'What's wrong?' Christopher asked. 'Have I done something wrong? I can leave if you'd prefer.'

'There's something you should know about Cinderash.' Anastasia began.

'No one can leave once they're inside this town.' Juliana explained. 'This is because of the curse that was laid over this town over a century ago by a powerful Lich.'

'The curse?' Christopher repeated as a question. 'That's just a story to scare off people. A myth.'

Anastasia and Juliana remained silent for a moment before Christopher added, 'I didn't think... I didn't think it was true. I thought...'

Christopher excused himself from the table and headed straight toward the room that he would be staying in.

His family did warn him, in fact everyone he spoke to warned him, but yet, he left anyways. 'It's dangerous'. 'If you go in you'll never come out'. He should've listened to them and not gone to explore the continent. Especially not here.

'Are you out of your mind?' He remembered his father asking.

'Do not go to Cinderash, there's the curse.' His mother added.

'Those are just stories,' Christopher Interjected. 'They're not true.'

'Don't go there. Anywhere but there.'

'I will go where I please. One of my first stops will be Cinderash. I will return once I have explored this whole continent.' He picked up his heavy, brown bag and left without another word.

Now all he felt was guilt. Guilty that he left his family on those terms, especially his younger sister who didn't even get a hug goodbye from him due to this squabble with his parents. He felt a few small drops of water rolling down his cheek before wiping them away. He couldn't change what he did then but when he returned he would make everything right. Until then, he would remain in Cinderash until he found a way out of town.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was soft, yet just loud enough to be heard. He quickly wiped away any remains of tears before opening the door.

'I'm sorry to trouble you,' Anastasia said. 'Do you require our amenities? A place to wash perhaps?'

'A wash would be a good idea, thank you.'

Anastasia quickly turned around and walked to the room across from his. He grabbed some new clothes before following her. After drawing the bath, she quickly left the room again to leave him by himself.

He hadn't washed for a few days now since he was travelling between the major towns. He could feel his whole body relax as his body sank deeper into the warm water. He closed his eyes as his worries and slightly aching limbs disappeared.

Whilst he was having a wash, Anastasia took the time to look through his things. Although she knew it was wrong, she wanted to make sure he is some sort of traveller or if he's something else.

She found a number of things that she couldn't name in his belongings, most of which were on his belt with multiple pockets. Since the curse, Cinderash fell behind in technology and the economy due to limited contact with the rest of the continent, hence they wouldn't find out or have the ability to discover new technology that can benefit them. She also found some sort of knife in his bag but she wasn't sure if that was a normal things explorers carried with them. She quickly put everything back where she found them in case she got caught by anyone.