HOPE??

He enters the village which was bustling with activities .

"Typical village life", he thought.

He walked around for a while, "It seems to be a fairly big village with stables, markets, brewery,...., tavern....", he thought.

He suddenly smacks his forehead, "How could I forget the tavern, the best place for information hunting."

He goes into the tavern and seats at the bar.

"What'd ya want....Rum?", said a short man who happened to be the bartender.

"Yeah. I'll take that.", Jake said.

"That would be five silver coins.", the man replied and brought out a mug of rum.

Jake looked into the pouch he took off the body of the man who attacked him earlier.

"This man has quite a lot", Jake chuckled as he thought.

He counted five silver coins and handed it to the man.

The coins jiggled as he kept it in his bag. The man behind him secretly casted a glance at him and smiled derisively.

Jake sat there straining his ear. Trying to pick up information.

At a corner of the bar....

"You know that castle, the one far into the south. I heard they took some young men some days ago for labour", a man said

"Yup. The previous ruler has been overthrown. And the one who rules now is brutal. The only thing we can do now is his bidding. Nobody wants to be used as a display on the stakes" another replied.

"Hmm... Quite true ",the other man nodded.

"There's nothing to gain from this type of place. Just the usual information I already know", he mumbled quietly and left the tavern.

He walked towards the stables.....

"Hey!", he called over the stables keeper with a wave of his hand.

"May I ask what my kind sir may be in need of ", the man said showing utmost courtesy.

"A horse"

"Aah, I see.... What breed would you like"

Jake checks the pouch and asked, Which is the cheapest?"

"The man's bright look dimmed a little as he replied fifty silver coins"

"I'll take it ", he replied and handed out fifty silver coins to the man. Then the keeper went inside to fetch the horse...

He checks the map and discovers, he's still miles away from the castle.

"I'll never make it. Even if I do, what's the chance that I'll defeat Alexander with my weak form. I better focus on getting stronger for now."

"Here's the horse.", the man said, sending Jake back to reality.

"Oh,.....thanks", he muttered and left with the horse, dragging it along with him.

He takes a quick look at his coins pouch....

"30 silver coins left.... Still enough for a night at the inn.", he thought.

He went into the inn and booked a room for the night. This only cost him 10 silver coins.

He drops his bag on the floor when he got to the room....

"I seriously need a plan to be able to get stronger as I know nobody in this world", he said pressing his chin.

**growl*growl**, his stomach growled a little.

I've been so caught up in all the action I forgot the most important thing....

He ordered for food at the inn.

After he was through eating, he laid on the floor and soon fell asleep.

Later that night....

A shadow was cast over the window of Jake's room.

The window was carefully removed as a sturdy man holding a knife came inside slowly and quietly.

The man tiptoed towards Jake's bag, then Jake flipped over as he slept. The man kept searching, but did not notice the smile that formed on Jake's face.....

FLASHBACK.....

— — — — — — — — — — — — —

"I'll take it ", he replied and handed out fifty silver coins to the man. Then the keeper went inside to fetch the horse...

(Why do I feel like I'm been watched), Jake thought and looked back.

He didn't see anything out of the blue except from a man in a black hooded cape turning around.

(Hmm..... maybe it's just my mind playing tricks on me). He then brought out the map...

— — — — — — — — — — — — — —

(Seems I wasn't wrong), Jake thought

As the man was about take his bag. Jake's hand grabbed his hand, a long sword raised high with the second hand came crashing down.....