The butcher looked back nervously grasping the handle of his meat cleaver sheathed in his belt.
"Yeah new mercenaries, like yourself there are about 20 new faces here in town led by a Gnome named Perry. Though most of those are with the Twin Spear company, they recruit all around in local villages to bolster the count's and this town's defenses. Not too many paths in this life you can take as a peasant, you either join the guard or try your luck adventuring. Most are too scared to go into the woods like yourself alone. Preferring to join the guard on patrols and the imagined safety behind the walls of the town."
Not from my world then, just peasants drafted into service more likely. The Twin Spears company, I remember them from the banner at the gate. They must run this town.
I took the money from the butcher and made my way to the guild hall. Covered in blood I walked through the doors of the hall a victor.
Stealing glances from all the nearby adventures who howled cheers and raised a cup.
"The newbies been bled!"
From another side of the hall
"that-a-boy!"
Then finally,
"There you go, Iron plate!"
I couldn't help but crack a smile, feeling like I was really one of them. A sense of belonging I was missing from my previous world swept over me. Yet slowly it seemed I was forgetting more and more of where I came from.
Exhausted, I made my way to the elf at the front desk, slamming down the two wolf ears and 1 silver for another night's stay.
She smiled, running her finger along my hand covered in dry blood,
"The name is Elana, now that I know you can come back alive. Don't forget it."
For a moment I was able to forget what had happened. I smiled and put another piece of silver on the table.
"I'll need a new shield for tomorrow as well"
Before taking my key and walking back up to room 1A. Elana grabbed my hand and stopped me, giving me another key,
"Go and wash up in the bath house out back, you're covered in blood."
I nervously laughed and clarified,
"Wolf's blood.. But you're right."
After stashing my gear in my room I made my way to the bath house behind the guild hall. Where tons of men and women were bathing together completely nude.
Modesty wasn't really a thing among adventurers it seemed. The women were just as vulgar as the men most times and relished showing off their scars from their close victories.
Walking inside I heard what seemed to be the ending of a tale of victory.
A dwarf sat partially in the steaming water, flexing his arm muscles where there were clearly laceration marks from a blade.
"This is were the fucker slashed me eh, See that?! What he didn't see was my off hand coming for his throat with my ax. He he hay!"
The adventurers around him laughed at his tale, clashing their beers together as I slid in the water at the opposite side of the large communal tub.
Where for a moment I laid back, closing my eyes.
I haven't been this relaxed since I first put on the helmet in my bed. God I miss my memory foam bed...zzzzz….
"Harry!"
I heard in my mind causing me to jolt up from the tub reaching for a weapon that wasn't there.
Everyone turned and looked questioningly at me before going back to what they were doing. Looking at me like I was a crazy person.
When I close my eyes I see them, those damn gnomes that just had to show up then.. Ugh… I just want to forget.
I looked down at my new body,
I really am skinny. Even my arms IRL were more muscular than this. The avatars in the character creation were much better built as well.. Do I have to work out in this world to make my character look better…. It shouldn't be like that.. that shield was so heavy at first. After I leveled up it became much more manageable.
I sighed and slid down into the tub completely submerging myself under the warm water.
I barely made it back with the wolves… I need to increase my strength fast… Should I even keep using a shield?… A single sword, felt more natural.
Suddenly from across the tub I heard other adventurers talking, it was a different group from when I came in.
I must have slept in the tub for a few hours without realizing it.
The adventurers spoke in a hushed tone,
"Did you hear?! The triplets from Boggstown didn't make it back"
Another adventure chimed in,
"Yeah I heard they all got eaten by wolves!"
Another adventurer explained arrogantly,
"No no, I heard they were killed by bandits!'
I could feel my whole body going tense even though I was in the relaxing hot waters of the bath.
The bald headed dwarf adventurer with a long pointy beard continued,
"After they didn't come back their brother... You know the one in the Twin Spears company? He went to find them. Bringing back bodies of his fallen brothers vowing to kill those responsible. Other than their half eaten bodies, the only thing left at the scene was a shield which was too big for the gnomes and nearly burnt to crisp. Taller than them by half a foot!"
Another one of the adventurers chuckled,
"I don't know who did it, but who or whatever they are… They have some balls. To kill the Gnome triplets, brothers of the Twin Spears Lieutenant. They're lucky that no one else was there."
I laid back in the bath whispering to myself,
"No way they could know it was me. Though I forgot about the shield…. Maybe I should leave town."
The adventurer who had clocked me in the jaw the day before walked into the bath sitting down uncomfortably close next to me.
He whispered,
"Know anything about that newbie? I seem to remember you leaving with a wooden shield and not coming back with one.."