Precedent scene: The Dream (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/floilogn/2952841/) First scene of the story-arc: Chaos and Death (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/chaos-and-death/2889324/?p&ca) ________________________________________ The next morning, after a good night at their grandparents house, Marina and Sigrid went to take Delphine, Romatzo and Minalva at the inn. Maybe it was because they arrived at night, but it hit Marina only when she woke up that she was back in her land for the first time in more than 5 years. It felt nice actually and the atmosphere, the cold, the smells and the sounds of the city had a nostalgic effect on her. She was also more and more eager to see her parents again. Jean and Annette (her grandparents) letting know to Sigrid and her that, in the last knews they had, their father was alive. Although, he seemed to become weaker and weaker each day. At the inn, Marina went to Delphine's door. Knocking but not hearing a response she entered, followed by Sigrid, to find with surprise Delphine entwined with Minalva, of course naked. Marina laughed hard, which woke up the two friends, who were still asleep after their long night of discussion. After a moment of confusion, the elf and the magician laughed too, Minalva genuinely and Delphine of confusion, then they saluted the two sisters. It is at that moment that Romatzo entered in the room, bringing the clothes of Minalva. Everyone was acting like if everything was the most normal in the world and Sigrid looked at them like you look at crazy people. Marina saw her face and remembering her first meeting with Minalva, she said to her sister, laughing: " Weirder things have happened. Believe me." Marina and Sigrid's grandparents had insisted to invite their friends to take the breakfast at their home. They had no time to lose if they wanted to leave the town the very same day, the sun setting early because of the winter season and they had thing to buy in the market before being able to do that. The three companions packed their stuffs quickly, Delphine waiting that Romatzo left her room to dress up and followed the two sisters. The streets were almost empty when they arrived the night before and now, Romatzo could see that people were looking at him weirdly. Some look were just insistent, but others were clearly aggressive. Nobody dared to say anything or to make a move against him, though. It would have been suicidal to try to attack this heavily armed group. Arrived at the house, Jean told them that the dwarves had, not long ago, evacuated by force people living in the Vouren Juurella territory, claiming it was their and that some humans fighting back have died in the process. Romatzo had no hate for humans and he felt genuinely sorry for those who died. But knowing the human nature to always claiming new areas, he thought that his kind was probably in its right when they said that the territory was their. But he kept himself to say it out loud. After a quick but copious meal, they all went to the market. The city being the most important of the continent, its market was also the biggest and you could find almost everything in it. They needed warm clothes, especially for Romatzo and Minalva who left with none of it, as well as some equipments and food. Maybe it was because he accompagned by humans or maybe it was because merchants could see that his pouch was full of coin, but nobody refused to sell things to Romatzo. At the end of their shopping, they bought a mule to help them to transport the thing they had to transport. It was past noon when they said goodbye to Jean and Annette. The two old people would have liked to have them stay to eat, but the group decided it was not a good idea, given the road they had to do and that they would eat while walking. The next town was not that far and they should be able to reach it before night time. If the weather was good enough, it would take them around 10 days to reach Husjathriain, Marina's and Sigrid's village. Several towns and villages were on the road, so they could find shelter for the nights several time during their journey. Romatzo was worried that because of them being with a dwarf, hospitality risked to be refused to them. Marina put a hand on his shoulder and said: " Dwarf or not you are more than just a friend to me, you are my brother in arm and hospitality rules are sacred. I will not accept "no" as an answer." The other girls cheered to that, even Sigrid who met him only the day before. And it was with this good spirit that the five companions left the city of Floilogn, heading to the north. ________________________________ This is the 26th picture of this second storyline, which mean that in theory we start the second half of the story. I say in theory because for some future scenes, I have planned 1 picture, but I think they'll need more than that to be completed. This one was complicated to render because of all the characters. I had to make 3 separated renders to have the final image. For the first render, after more than 10h the power ran out and I had to start all over again. I need to find something to put under Marina's top or she will catch a cold...