The city looked smaller than before.
Or maybe it was just that Rai and Alex had seen too much in the last few days—puzzles, monsters, dead alchemists, and enough herbs to start their own pharmaceutical empire. After stashing most of their loot in a hidden spot beneath a half-collapsed ruin just outside the village, they'd returned with only two spatial rings and a few select items to sell.
No point in drawing attention.
"Feels weird being back," Alex muttered, adjusting the leather pouch at his waist. "Like we've been gone for months."
"It has been just two days," Rai said, his tone dry. "Though most of it was underground."
"Still counts."
The streets were as lively as ever, people trading common monster drops, newbie NPCs herding goats, and a few vendors shouting about their "one-time-only, super rare" goods that had the same crap textures as every basic item in the early game.
"What's next?" Alex asked.
