"Woah."
I could only be a bit taken aback as I stepped outside the reception building. Transporting seemed to be a busy form of travelling, as I could see people appearing the same way I did just earlier.
Other people were heading up into the same stone Gate just above the open-roofed building, too.
The lady said that Duke Lynel had approved of me getting some money. So they handed me twenty gold, just like I was promised on that sheet of paper before I started working.
I walked out of the reception building and just looked around a bit as I began to go around.
The stone road was damp, I guess it just got done raining it.
Looking up, I couldn't see either of the two moons, so more clouds must be overhead, making the night even darker.
"Hm."
I put my hands in my trouser's pockets as I just walk without any real goal as of now.
Well, two things.
A place to live, and more about Ayen Academy.
I should look for an inn.
…
I knew it as soon as I saw the city during Transport, but gods this place is huge. I can't even see the outer walls of the city, if it even has any.
Buildings, lights, people, roads, some carriages.
Almost made me a bit nauseous with how massive Aleon is.
I found myself walking down the side of the road, along the sidewalk.
More people walking to and fro, in and out of buildings and restaurants, taverns and diners. Dozens of clothing stores and even a couple blacksmiths at the turns of roads.
A bunch of couples, too.
An uncomfortable amount.
I found an alley on the opposite side of the street from me that had some… rather suggestive lighting.
Pink and red all the way down there.
I only shielded it from my eyes and kept walking.
I just begin walking away from what I believe was the center of the city, toward the outskirts of it. There I could find some more familiar territory like an inn, or just less people in general.
So I walked, avoided people, and walked some more.
I could smell rain, like it was about to kick in again.
It made me walk a bit faster.
A clearing opened up that had some smaller buildings. Most of them were made of wood instead of stone and brick like further into the city.
It felt like a little breath of air.
Less people were walking around here too, but they seemed… richer? More defined at the very least.
'How does that make sense? Wouldn't you find people like that further into the city?'
Ugh, whatever.
I found a clearing, instead of road, there was grass now, and buildings looked more like homes here.
How long had I been walking? I could see the sky gaining a slight hint of a dark blue. It must be closer to morning than earlier, right?
Then, I saw a building. It was two floors tall, perhaps three. It held a little sign above the door that looked like some sweet drink and the word 'INN' bolded underneath it.
This looks comfy, I think.
I head to the door and noticed a few lights are on inside, too.
It made my eye widen a bit as I glanced inside for a moment.
"Is it… open…?"
"Yes." An old voice responds behind me.
"Gh-!" I whipped my head around and saw an old man.
'Damn… he scared the shit out of me… I didn't even hear him.'
"Would you like to enter?"
I swallow, "Are you the owner…? Or someone who works here?"
He only smiles, "We'll see."
I can't see his features that well, but he opens the door and just walks in.
From inside, I hear a feminine voice call to him, "Grand-uncle! What were you doing out so late!?"
I blink at what she says, 'Grand-uncle…?'
I slowly step closer to the door, peaking my head inside.
The old man only laughs and waves his hand at the girl, "Be nice now, there's a new guest."
"Who? I don't see anyone-" Her head turns to me peeking mine through the door.
She pauses and leans to her grand-uncle, "You sure he can pay…?"
He just pats her shoulder and heads further inside to a point where I can't see him anymore.
I scratch my neck and sigh as I finally step inside.
It's nice in here, a warm orange-ish brown color lines the walls. The candles on the desk the girl is at are glowing a more yellow color, only adding to the home-y atmosphere.
"So… you looking for something to eat? Stay? Work? What're you here for?"
She gives a small sigh and leans across the desk.
Her hair is sort of orange, as well, closer to brown I think. She has freckles just under her brown eyes, and her uniform… I think its uniform is quite frilly as well, something a noble girl would wear.
Or just someone with a good amount of money.
"Uhm… a place to stay, I think."
"You think?"
My eye twitches, "Yes, somewhere to stay, and eat."
She smiles, "Good!"
She leans back up and reaches under the desk.
I get closer to where she was standing at it, and look around again. Tables, some paintings on the walls that look like landscape, a couple hold floating islands.
One of a giant monster that looks like a whale, flying through the sky.
"Uhm…"
She cuts me off before I could ask, "Two silver a night, breakfast is free but anything after you have to pay for."
I turn to look at her and reach into my pocket, "How long would this let me stay for…?"
I hand her a gold coin.
She looks in her hand, staring at the gold coin.
She looks back up at me, back down at her hand.
Repeating this a few times she gasps, "D-do you need VIP treatment? W-we have a nice other room- you can take my room! How about that? I'll sleep in-"
I put my hand up to get her to stop talking, "N-no… just… just a normal room, please."
"Oh… okay!"
She smiles brightly and hands me the key she picked up, "Room 101, since you're our only resident as of now…"
I nod and take the key, "Thanks."
"Would you lik-"
I put my hand up again as I head to the stairs, "Hold that thought."
I walk up the stairs, leaving her in silence.
'Good gods she talks a lot.'
That felt exhausting.
I scratch my neck as I reach the top of the stairs and read the labels on the doors.
110, 109, 108, and so on are all on my left. I turned my head and saw 210 and so on are on that side.
'Why is it in the back?'
Usually doors were labelled from first to last from the stairs back in Tenna.
Useless thought, but it just came to mind.
I head to the back of the hallway. The floor and walls are wooden, they seem really stable too, like this place is brand new.
I reach room 101, and put the key into the handle, turning it to the left and entering.
I blinked at how large the room was.
A bed just under the window across the room, a desk to my right in front of the door, to the left was another door and in front of the bed was a closet.
'What's the other door too…?'
I walk over to it and open it. It's a bathroom.
"Oh."
I close the door and turn back to my room.
Grey curtains over the window above it, red sheets on the bed, the desk is a dark brown color with only two drawers underneath the surface.
It has a lamp on top, and a holder that has a bunch of writing utensils. Pencils, a fancy-looking pen, and a quill.
I look back to my left and see the bed even has some drawers under it, probably for more clothes or something like that.
I walk over and sit down on the bed, and rub my face in my hands.
'Now to figure out what my plan of action is…'
I need to figure out more about Ayen, where's it at, when the entrance exam is, and how to enter.
Perhaps the old man that I saw earlier would know, but he gives me the weird-guy feeling.
I want to avoid interacting with that girl at the front desk, she seems like she talks way too much. Or maybe it was just because I overpaid for quite a bit.
If my memory serves me correctly, a gold coin should be about a hundred silver? So I paid for what, fifty days?
That should be enough.
In the meantime, I just need to figure out how to train. I think the inn has a backyard, so I could use that while I stay here.
I reach one of my hands down to my waist.
Pat pat.
"..."
Pat pat.
I continue patting around the belt of my trousers.
"..."
Sweat formed on my forehead, I could feel it begin to trail down the sides of my face as I swallowed my saliva.
'T-the dagger… I forgot it…'