<strong>Hunter's Vision</strong><br/><br/>Every step she took on the cobblestone of the road leaving away from the pier, Hunter felt like she was betraying someone, but she couldn't tell whom. The further she walked into the city the more people she saw, mostly old people with their grandchildren and some cripples with their families, veterans no doubt, having lost a limb or two. At the same time, there were less shady characters around and seedy taverns were replaced with more decent pubs.<br/>The circus, as it slowly came into view was a merry place. The traveling entertainers, a band of curious misfits were with a middle aged couple and their daughter, the owners of the establishment. There was a one-legged acrobat doing flips, a bald clown with one ear juggling, a "wizard" doing card tricks and a tall but dumb looking fellow armwrestling and weight lifting for the amazement of the onlookers.<br/>They also had a series of tents set up so they were interconnected, with a sign at the entrance saying "Dreadful Dungeon Delve". A line of children and young men still too young to set out to fight in the war were standing in front of the entryplace, where the buxom wife was collecting entry fees from the people, her attractive brunette daughter handing a wooden toy sword from a rack to each of the brave "heroes" who entered the perilous labyrinth... it was all pretend of course, and there were probably more people inside the "dungeon" dressed up as monsters for the little adventurers to slay for treasure... Occasionally a smug cad would run out scared, chased after by a big man wearing a donkey mask and waving a stick in the air around, probably a bloodthirsty beastman no doubt... When that happend the rest of the people laughed at the cowardly would-be hero. When an adventurer returned triumphantly though, younger boys got to keep the wooden "magic sword" as treasure from the adventure, while the slightly older ones got a kiss on the cheek by the comely brunette.<br/><br/>As Hunter watched the performers, the owner noticed her and stepped closer.<br/>"You seem lost here lad. You sure you're in the right place? Have you come to watch our merry troupe to lift your spirits? We're one short unfortunately but we're still the best attraction to bring a smile to the troubled folk. Come, test your courage in our dreadful dungeon and see if you can outsmart the ferocious man-beasts dwelling within its haunted halls, and perhaps win a kiss from a fair maiden eh?" He patted the young Hunter on the shoulder, letting out a hearty laugh before he spotted another youth who needed to be drawn towards the circus.<br/><br/>There was laughter in the crowd as the acrobat crashed into the clown who dropped his juggling balls and both fell on the ground, and the two mock-wrestled a bit before sharing a brotherly hug and laughing themselves. Was that also pretending? The owner said that their work is spreading smile and merriment among the goodfolk, meaning nothing less than distracting people from the war, depicting it like it was some child's play...