As the trees went from dense to sparse, I could see a city not far from the forest border. The city walls were imposing, even from this distance, with a gate almost facing us. Outside of it, hundreds of small homes and stretches of farmland overflowed. A wooden outer wall partially covered these properties. Really, it was more like a fence.
With that, we broke through the forest. It hadn't been a long journey, only a couple hours, but without Dahlia, Tarren, and En, I wouldn't have survived. Really, I was lucky to have found them when I did.
I was lucky to have gotten that armour, too. I would have died from the bite to the neck. Actually, I would have died regardless. My mind was still processing what had happened.
I had handed them the pyramids beforehand, so it was time to part ways.
DAHLIA: As you can see, Evicene is up ahead.
RYAN: Thank you for escorting me.
RYAN: I probably would have-
DAHLIA: There's no need to be so polite. We received a payment, after all.
EN: If you want to hire us again, do it formally through the Adventurer's Guild.
EN: We're known as "The Lasting Rangers".
RYAN: Good to know.
DAHLIA: Later.
We continued to walk together towards the city.
TARREN: If you're heading into the city, we don't need to part yet.
RYAN: Yeah, I mean, that's where I'm going.
RYAN: Oh, and can I touch my ear yet?
EN: You could for a couple hours now. It just needed some time to set.
RYAN: Really?
EN: ….
EN: Try not to go into the forest again.
EN: If you can avoid it.
DAHLIA: You're kind of an airhead, so don't go getting killed.
We reached the outermost houses. They were a mix of makeshift shacks and farmhouses. Some of the buildings were even made of clay, as if formed straight from the ground. They seemed to stay separate, with little mixing. As for the fence, we walked around it. We could have climbed it, but I didn't think it would hold the weight. Especially not Tarren.
The residents were various. I saw people made of wood, stout dwarves of stone, lizard people--there were all sorts. Very few of them were humans. Even though there were some, I couldn't be certain. My surprise at seeing these new types of people was diminished by the day's previous experiences.
Instead, the farms themselves were of interest to me. While most workers manually tilled the ground or yanked weeds from the rows of growing crops, a few moved the dirt without touching it. Using hand gestures, the earth would split apart, or float to the sides.
The crops, too, were interesting. I couldn't begin to identify the many plants: tall, blue grains and bushing plants with long 'J' fruits, among others. I hadn't fully reconciled that I was in another world. I hadn't given myself time. But now, having escaped from the forest, a feeling of great relief was filling me up.
I never had to see anyone from my old life again.
I wouldn't be able to see my parents either. I missed them. At the same time, I knew I had died, so even if I had gone to Heaven or reincarnated, I wouldn't've seen them again. Though, because I died, wouldn't this be reincarnation anyways?
I looked down at my uniform. The black shirt hid stains pretty well, but some blood crusted on its edges. I would be covered in the stuff, if not for En. My shorts and knees were dirty.
My shoulders were fine, but I felt otherwise sore from the weight of the chainmail. It wasn't as heavy as a backpack, I thought to myself. Why did it make me sore?
Closer to the city gates, we saw two small lines formed. One was moving faster than the other, and was mainly individuals. The other had more groups, with heavier loads of stuff. We got into the faster line without saying anything.
Each line was headed up by a guard in a green uniform. They talked to each person before they entered the city. The gate was open, obviously.
Soon, we were at the front of the line. The guard held up a hand.
GUARD: Identification.
TARREN: Ha. We're being carded.
DAHLIA: You say that every time.
TARREN: It's always funny.
EN: Not really.
Tarren, En, and Dahlia each gave a card to the guard while talking to each other. He barely looked them over before handing them back. Next he held up his hand to me.
GUARD: Identification.
RYAN: I don't have any.
GUARD: Go to the other line.
The Lasting Rangers gave me a look as I walked in shame to the other line. They waved and moved on as I headed to the back. I felt bitter for a moment, but chided myself.
Though this line had seemed much slower in comparison, I was at the front of the line already.
GUARD 2: No identification, eh?
GUARD 2: I heard when you were over there.
RYAN: Yeah.
GUARD 2: Do you have any references?
RYAN: ….
RYAN: Sorry, no.
RYAN: I didn't know I needed them.
GUARD 2: No worries.
GUARD 2: If you'll submit to a detection and a marking spell, you'll be on your way.
GUARD 2: Assuming you aren't a criminal. Ha ha.
RYAN: Okay, sure.
The guard put both of his hands out.
RYAN: What do I-
GUARD 2: Put your hands on mine, please.
I did as he asked. I felt a small shock flow into my arms. I tensed at first, blocking it, but then I relaxed. It proceeded to move throughout my body, circulating through my blood before returning back to the hands of the guard. He let go.
GUARD 2: Alright, now I'll mark you.
GUARD 2: How long do you think you'll be staying?
RYAN: I don't know.
GUARD 2: I'll give you two weeks. If you run out of time, just head to the guardhouse service wing to get it refreshed.
GUARD 2: Otherwise, if you join a major guild or become an employee of a store, they will give you an identification you can use instead.
A small red band formed around my wrist. It said '14 day pass' on it, though reading it felt strange. The characters were very artistic. Somehow, I was reminded of an amusement park dob that marked those who had paid.
This was free though, which was good because I had no money.
RYAN: Okay, thanks.
GUARD 2: Welcome to Evicene.
I hesitated, thinking of how to progress.
RYAN: Actually, do you know where the Adventurer's Guild is?
GUARD 2: Just head straight down Main Street. You'll find it closer to the Northern entrance.
GUARD 2: It has a sign with two crossed swords over a shield.
GUARD 2: It's huge, you can't miss it.
RYAN: Thanks again.
Finally, I entered Evicene.
-----
Here was a city. The buildings, running in a row down Main Street, were two or three stories tall and made of wood with a familiar styling. The streets were packed, with vendors advertising their stores or selling miscellaneous goods from out of carts and wagons. Horses pulled carriages and solo riders moved through the middle of the street, while swarms of people formed columns of flesh on either side. The people here were just as various as in the outskirts. A few stood out, with towering bodies or pointing horns.
The streets themselves were cobbled. I wondered how long it took to lay them. I also wondered, staring at my feet, what I was going to do next.
MENU: You have 3 unspent silver tokens.
MENU: Your current quests, by the way, are "Learn any Magic (1 gold token)", "Team up with Dahlia's party (3 silver tokens)", and "Join the Adventurer's Guild (1 silver token)".
MENU: And don't forget your peasant follower.
RYAN: Not while I'm in public.
RYAN: Good idea though.
I spent another silver token. My reward was a "Leather Ball (COM)".
RYAN: A leather ball.
RYAN: Useless.
I pocketed that one and spent another, getting a "Pouch of Wool (COM)". I put it in the other pocket. Both were now full, realistically. Still I tried again.
RYAN: One more.
It was a "Small Painting of a Pond (UCN)". I moved the leather ball orb to a back pocket and stored this one in the front.
RYAN: I should duck into an alley to summon the peasant. I have no more pocket space.
RYAN: I already have to use one of my back pockets.
MENU: Good idea. That won't look suspicious at all.
I grumbled, annoyed at myself. It was still my best option.
I turned into the first alley on Main Street, fished out the right orb, and cracked it open.
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