Chapter 5: A new day

It had been a few hours since I first managed to strike a proper conversation with Olgore and Dust. The shock that they didn’t know Kirin was still rooted within my mind. It was difficult for me to keep my thoughts from wandering to it. But in the end, I took the issue and filed it away in a drawer labelled “For later”. There was nothing I could do at the moment anyway.

Finally, I had people I could talk with! Loneliness be gone!

They managed to get a new room on the very same night. The receptionist didn’t even seem surprised and just accepted it, which stunned me.

Early morning light was flooding the new quarters, small specs of dust lazily hovering around in its shine. This whole process got me curious again. I HAD to ask them!

“I was wondering, what exactly is this organization you both are part of?” I asked the two.

“Oh, you mean Eventyr?” Dust responded.

“Yes, I understand that you both work for them, but that's about it.” Over the last months, I haven’t had too many chances to learn about this place.

“Eventyr is a Guild. It operates worldwide, and anyone can hire its members for jobs. Most of the time, those jobs involve the slaying of mana-beasts that endanger villages. But the assignments could involve anything.” Dust explained.

“Ah, Dust, don’t forget that, for being members of a certain rank, we also get to enjoy free lodging!” Olgore said.

“Yes, of course that.” Dust answered.

“You have to fight monsters out there? THAT was what you guys were up to while leaving me behind?” I asked.

“Well, yes, mostly. Sometimes we also escort people or apprehend wanted people.” Olgore told me.

“So you are telling me that it’s dangerous outside settlements here?” The thought was scary.

“Oh, a long time ago it was worse actually; nowadays it is quite safe. But in some areas, it is still recommended to have escorts, and that is where we come in.” Dust explained.

“That’s odd. Back in my home, we could just move freely anywhere. There were no monsters freely roaming around.” I told them.

“So you are telling me that on Eriphynia, you could just walk between cities and nothing would ever attack you?” Asked Olgore.

“Yes, but we hardly had to walk between cities. We just used gates.” I respond.

“Gates? What do you mean?” Olgore asked. The difference in my home and theirs was mind-boggling.

“Gates are what we use to travel between cities and planets instantly. They are connected through ley lines, so we build most of our cities on top of them.”

“How would that even work? I never heard of such advanced magic.” Dust questioned me.

“I am not an expert on how gates function; I have read about them before during my studies, but it isn’t what I specialize in,” I answered.

“Still, instant travel is a concept that is hard to believe. Your home sounds like a fairy tale.” Considering how antiquated Tendria seemed, I could understand Dust's view.

“Enough talking about fairy tale worlds! I am hungry, how about we grab some breakfast, Dust?” Olgore interjected.

“Good idea, I am famished after this night.” Answered Dust. The wooden seats creaked as the weight of the two left them.

“Uh, guys! Please take me with you!” I said.

“I am not sure whether that would be a good idea, Tepin.” Dust said.

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“W.. Why?” I stumbled over the word as I responded.

“It is illegal to own a soulcore. The guards would not care for our explanation and still arrest us. When Olgore took it from the Necromancer, he didn’t know what it was. Just that it might have been valuable.” Dust explained. That was understandable, but I could not stand another day of just staring at that boring, dusty ceiling.

“Just put me in one of your pockets or something, it’s not like you have to carry me in your hands. Please don’t leave me here!” My voice was shaky. I looked at Dust with my conjured eyes.

Then I saw the desk I was sitting on, pulling away from me, as I was raised into the air. A large, scaly hand lifted, as I heard a shuckle.

“I don’t see the issue.” And with that, Olgore dropped me into the coin bag hanging from his belt. Was that a smirk I saw playing around his face?

“Thank you so much!” I nearly screamed those words as my core started shining in a bright purple-blue.

“Olgore! You cannot just decide… Ah, whatever, there is no arguing with you!” Dust said with a frown on his face.

“Exactly.” Olgore grunted and started moving.

The coins were clinking as I bounced around inside the bag. It was a bit distracting, but a decent price to pay if it meant I got to go out! I was thankful that my senses let me look outside the bag. Though it was a bit difficult to blend out the coins, hitting me with every step.

As we stepped outside, the light hit Olgores scales, turquoise light reflecting off them.

“Hey! You are in the way. Move your darn cart.” The streets were busy, alright.

“Pray to the six, do not forsake them! They shall return!” I heard someone else yell. Wonder what that was about. While we walked, I noticed again how different most looked from me.

“So, Dust, if you don’t mind me asking, what exactly are you and the people that look similar to you? Where I come from, I have never seen people like you.”

"I'm an elf, and the non-pointy-eared ones are humans." Dust sums up his next question.

"Now that you ask, how come you are not asking about Olgore?" He nodded towards him.

"Eriphynia, my home, has a bunch of Driagkin."

Dust tilts his head, but before he could ask any more questions, I continued.

"My body was a mix between you two. Fewer scales, pointy ears, but we Kirin have two tails, a pair of horns, and purple skin.”

“Interesting, I would have liked to see you with your body! I have never seen a Kirin before.” Dust told me.

“Yeah…” I responded.

We continued to walk in silence, only the sound of the crowd accompanying us. Then a toasty, sweet aroma hit my senses. It smelled downright delicious! If I “had” a mouth, it would water right now.

“Finally, we are here!” Said Olgore. We haven’t even been walking for that long. We sat down, well, they sat down at an empty table on the side of the street. Beside us was a bakery? I think. The interior was busy; there was a large, well-used wooden counter with a glass front that kept people from touching the baked goods on it. All that was visible through two large windows split by a door. I decided to turn off my sense of smell, or otherwise I would go crazy, knowing I couldn’t eat any of this delicious bread. Oh. And they had muffins! Maybe this world wasn’t as primitive as I thought.

“Hey, Dust, Olgore? Would you be okay with repeating what people are saying mentally to me? It would help me greatly with learning your language.” I asked. I didn’t want to have to rely on the communication spell forever.

“Sure.” Dust answered as a waiter came to take the order.

It took not too long after they ordered till the waiter came back.

“That will cost you thirteen Coils.” The waiter said, as he put a hot chocolate and a coffee on the table, together with some sandwiches.

Ugh, those looked amazing, there were fresh-looking leaves on there with some cheese and a white sauce. I didn’t know what any of it was exactly, but still, it looked so good.

“Dust, I know it was my turn to pay today, but could you cover this?” Olgore asked with a smug sound. As he looked knowingly at his coin bag, in which I was currently sitting.

“Sure…” With a flat tone, Dust responded.

Oh, he had used me as a way to get out of paying today! I could respect that, and it was worth the look on Dust’s face.

After they had finished with their breakfast, we left the bakery behind. Apparently, they had to run some errands. Back in my “having a body” days, I hated shopping. I outright couldn’t stand it. But now I was just happy to tag along, being able to take in the surrounding sights. Throughout the day, we visited many shops. They were restocking on traveling gear, such as first aid kits, quite dry-looking food rations, and more. Dust looked quite annoying throughout the entirety of it, as he was forced to pay for everything. Olgore had used the excuse of my being in his bag every single time.

I was in high spirits after having been out the entire day when we entered the guild once again. We didn’t go right back to the room as I expected, but instead went to a large board full of jobs to be taken. At least I assumed that was what the papers on it were supposed to be for.

Both Olgore and Dust studied the board for a while until they decided on one of them.

“This one sounds quite easy, right, Dust? People gone missing on the road to Shade’Hill. Probably a rogue beast?” Said Olgore.

“Yeah, you are right, and it is not too far away either, so sure, let’s take it.” Dust answered.

Once we were back in the room, Olgore declared.

“So, Tepin ready for your first quest?”

“Huh, what, I am coming with?”

Had my ramblings about wanting to go outside backfired?

After I learned how dangerous this world can be.

I am not sure I want to leave the city anymore.

Fuck.