The Elf resting on my lap said my kind live for thousands of years. Would I hold on for that long living behind safe walls? No. It would be an exciting life if I went around, meeting new people. Maybe I could find people from my world. The thought was not that far-fetched. If my gut was right, Halves were people from other worlds, holding onto that secret with dear life. Most could very well be newly born entities. But the chance was there. Even the wild thought of my fellow friends from the game having been brought here crossed my mind, but that would be a fat chance. Better not cling to false hope.
I hiccuped as I wiped the tears from my face with some joke item napkins. Better out than clog inside.
I put the staff away, taking out the continuation of the journals I began reading last night. Even if just a little, crying always clears the mind.
And surely enough, as the day darkened with the coming of late evening, I finished the sixth volume and Lapia was beginning to rouse from her nap, I noticed tall walls in the distance.
"Good morning sleepyhead." I whispered in her ear as I caressed her head and gently nudged her shoulder. "Riverfield is in sight."
Her ear twitched a little and she slowly opened her eyes. She smiled and sighed.
"This pillow feels divine." she yawned. "And your voice is even better, silvery and smokey at the same time." sitting up, she took a juice I offered from my inventory, along with a dumpling.
"I know, right?" I touched my throat. A few quick memories of comments about my vocal prowess flashed in my mind. I took pride in my voice, not minding vanity.
"What would I give to have you wake me up everyday." she said, smirking at me.
"That one was pretty good." I admitted. Feeling a small heat in my chest, a smile forming on my face.
I noticed the city walls in the distance were actually massive, easily reaching hundreds of meters. I was baffled for a few seconds. Right, magic. I reminded myself. The ivory white was a stark contrast to the greenery of the forest and the blue sky. The two suns bathing the view, making for a surreal sight. I let out a breath of amazement.
"Pretty, isn't it?" she said, staring at the city.
"True." was all I could say.
As we got closer, the forest gave way to open land. The river flowed into an underground tunnel, clearly man-made. The ground that wasn't road had vibrant green grass growing, with the occasional tree popping here and there. Roads that surrounded the forest connected to the one we were using, and we passed a few crossroads with poles that held signs informing of which direction was what city, town, port and many more.
A particularly large sign that showed up frequently read 'Riverfield Ahead' in different languages.
As I marveled on the expansive stretch of land around us, we had neared the city gates, its walls towering in front of us, granting shade. A few guards were stationed on the sides of the road.
The horses pulling our cart came to a stop behind an opulent coach lead by a snow white beast. Standing on two sinewy limbs with claws at the end of four thick digits, what looked like scales could be seen on the naked legs that supported a bird shaped body covered in white lustrous fur. A short, broad neck connected to large a head, ending in a short beak. A single guard was conversing with the chauffeur.
"Hey." I pointed at the bird-like creatures. "What's that?" I gently elbowed Lapia to get her attention.
"Hawcans?" she looked over at the animals in question. "Appraise them and you'll see their names."
I turned to her.
"Is that the verb you use when you read the thing you told me?" I asked, now finally having a confirmed term instead of calling it with cringe names. I focused on the birds again and appraised them.
[Hawcan, Lvl 23]
Nothing else?
"Yes, that's the word." she nodded as she produced a few coins from her own profound storage of myriad dimensions. "You can appraise things you don't know the name of, E'er will grant you knowledge."
The coach in front of us moved forward and a soldier looking fellow approached us. His armor was dull grey leather with sober blue details.
"Good Eve-haaaahhhh." his greeting turned into a long, tired sigh when he saw me.
His posture slouched slightly and he brought a hand to his face, sighing deeply once more.
"Welcome back to Riverfield." He nodded towards Lapia. "Your cart is limited to two beasts of burden, then it's five coppers per horse. Five silver coins for Halves. Twenty copper for the cart, and ten copper for you, Lady Lapia." He sighed once again. "Lord Punten's associates pay half, so it'll be two silver, eighty five copper." he extended a hand, waiting for the coins.
Lapia reeled back a bit. "Five silver for Halves?!" her expression turned complicated.
"She was attacked on the road, I'll cover the fee." I took a golden coin and handed it to the man.
He sighed, louder this time. "Please wait a moment, I'll bring your change."
He turned and walked to the gate. He disappeared into a door on the inside of the massive wall.
"Are you short on money?" I turned to Lapia.
"Well, yeah." she shrugged. "The bandits must've sent someone away with the money they took from us." she showed me her open hand, where mostly gold coins sat, barely three silver and a few coppers.
"No worries, I can cover this. The price went up because of me, anyway." I smiled. "Good thing I have endless riches." I laughed like a rich lady.
"How much, young lady?" she asked in a whisper, acting as if she was a suspicious person.
"Take a guess." I said back.
"Let's see." she thought for a second, squinting her eyes. "Five hundred millions." she said after a second.
"Cold." I gave her a shit eating grin.
"A billion?"
"Wow. You skipped a few zeroes." I laughed.
"What do you mean?" she rose her brows. "A billion is nine zeroes."
"No, that's a milliard. A billion has twelve zeroes." I brunched my brows.
"Then what are fifteen zeroes called?" she asked with an inquisitive tone.
"A billiard. A trillion has eighteen zeroes. It goes on like that." I gave her a look of disbelief. "Why would a Billion be a thousand millions? Makes no sense." I shook my head. This world used the short scale. Ew.
"It does. Anyway, a milliard?" she asked, imitating my voice.
"I have twelve of MY billions." I thought for a second. "So twelve of your trillion?"
Her eyes widened to the point they threatened to pop out. "That is indeed endless."
"See." I covered my mouth with my hand. "Does the peasant not have enough to pay a gate tax? How embarrassing. Hohoho."
The Elf giggled and lightly pushed me, or perhaps she used her full strength.
I laughed at such puny efforts, then noticed the gate guard was coming back.
"Here is your change, Your Excellency." the man handed me a leather pouch full of coins. "Welcome to Riverfield." he gave me a forced smile.
The guards at the gate moved aside. I clicked my tongue at the soldier's evident discontent, and the horses resumed advancing.
We were quickly enveloped by dim lights when the cart entered the wall. I hadn't thought about it, but the walls seemed to be pretty thick, resulting in a sort of tunnel before entering the city proper.
A low rumble grew louder as we approach the end of the tunnel, to the point it became impossible to ignore the thunderous sounds of life inside the city. As we finally crossed the wall, the city was in my sights.
Buildings, towers, roads. Everything was the same ivory white of the outer wall. A plaza the size of a stadium filled with hundreds upon hundreds of people going about their lives greeted us, guards here and there walking among the populace. Paved roads split the many buildings, of which some were absurdly tall near the walls. The city was colossal in size. The walls, which could not be seen in their entirety from outside, surrounded the city in a hexagonal shape. Or so I assumed. The sheer amount of buildings, towers, and everything in between blocked the opposite wall from sight.
This didn't look like a city. Metropolis. The word popped in my mind and felt right. Though huge, no building was taller than the walls circling the city. Those I could see, at least. Variety was obvious upon a second look, the only constant was the color and apparent material for construction.