After a non-stop, rushed walk to the kingdom, time passed quickly, and the kingdom's features began to appear in sight.

  The sun started to set behind a large lake close to where Jacob and the others were walking. It looked like the sun was being drowned in the lake, leaving a beautiful mix of colors reflecting on the water. The reflection of the orange color fading into the purple sky, sparkling on the lake's surface, was majestic. In the background, a pair of owls were looking at them with curiosity.

  “We should drink some water; I’m thirsty,” Pondra said.

  “We can have a short break if you want,” Jacha said.

  “That’s even better; my legs are sore,” she complained.

  Jacha sat down carefully to avoid dropping the small Jacob from his head. After he sat, Pondra could look at him.

  “He’s sleeping,” she said.

  “We’ll let him sleep, then, until we get closer to the kingdom’s gates,” he said.

  “Wait, then; I’ll help you drink some water,” she said.

  She reached into her bag and took out an empty water bottle, dipped it in the lake, and gave it to Jacha.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  With both hands, she took water from the lake and drank it. Then, she washed her face with it. The breeze was too cold on her wet skin.

  “Oh god, this is refreshing,” she gushed.

  “We have to discuss what we will do after leaving Jacob,” he said.

  “We should report the guild about the faun,” she said. “This is a new discovery, but it looks like you don’t want me to do that.”

  “I don’t mind, actually, but I prefer not to mention the liquid at all,” he requested.

  “Why?” she questioned.

  “This liquid is an outcome of many experiments on monsters to humanize them in an immoral way,” Jacha said. “This is a large-scale experiment, and we have to be extra cautious about who can get this information. After all, we might feed them the results they needed to know.”

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  “But we can’t be sure if they knew about it or not,” Pondra said.

  “And that’s why we have to keep it secret,” Jacha said. “The faun has been killed by Jacob, and we’re the only ones who know about it. Anyone who talks about it means he is one of them.”

  “T...that’s smart,” Pondra said. “What about you? What are your plans?”

  “I will investigate this case,” Jacha said. “It has already affected my family and killed one of my friends.”

  (Dark-skinned people stand together like a wolf pack. I don’t even want to imagine what they would do if someone killed one of their people,) Pondra thought with worry.

  The purple sky got darker, and it was time to go to the kingdom’s gates. Jacha took the hat and woke Jacob up.

  “We are close,” said.

  Jacob opened his eyes to the brightest stars in the dark purple sky. He looked around, searching for the kingdom, and saw its giant walls with groups of torches that had just started to light up.

  He jumped twice, as an urgent call, which made Jacha extend his palm to him so he could jump onto it.

  “Do you need something?” Jacha asked.

  Jacob communicated with Jacha using gestures. He pointed down and closed his legs.

  (I need to pee,) Jacob thought.

  “Ok, I will put you under this leaf,” Jacha said.

  “When you finish, shake it.”

  Jacob looked at the ground like he had never seen it before. The view was bluntly different from the view at his normal size. It was creepy, and the wind noise was echoing from all directions under the leaves.

  (My clothes have weird spots; they’ve probably soaked up Jacha’s hair oils,) Jacob thought. (I need to wash them.)

  After a few moments, they resumed their journey and walked straight to the kingdom. Jacha held the hat he got from Pondra and examined it.

  “Jacob,” he called. “Do you see the inner seam of the hat?”

  Jacob jumped once in agreement.

  “When I wear the hat, try to climb into it and hide inside,” Jacha demanded.

  (He’s an explorer; they won’t bother to examine him with any real care,) Jacob thought. (But the story will be the exact opposite for regular dark-skinned people like me.)

  The distance between them and the gates wasn’t that far. They reached the gates after twenty minutes.

  The guard’s keen eyes identified them from afar. He walked up to them, and the iron plates of his armor clashed together with each step.

  “Stop right there,” he demanded.

  In response, both of them took out their identification. Because each of them had been there for a while, and claimed their certificates from there too.

  (The guard took Pondra’s items and searched through them carefully. With his focus, I wouldn’t be surprised if he found something even Pondra didn’t know she carried. As for Jacha, the search was too quick,) Jacob thought.

  The guards turned the lever; the sounds of the heavy chains slamming into the wall echoed all around. As they stretched tautly, a loud whine filled the air. The giant gates slowly opened, revealing the quaint architectural design of the kingdom’s houses behind them.

  The streetlights were dimly lit, reflecting a warm view of the buildings engulfed by the dark sky covered with clouds.

  “We’ll go this way,” Jacha demanded. “I know someone who will welcome us to his home.”