I don't remember what I dreamed about, but I woke up screaming and sweating. It was not a pleasant awakening. My first reaction was to reach for my neck. For over a year, I had an iron collar there, which made me obey the man who experimented on me. I didn't want to experience it again. So when I didn't find this magical tool on my neck, I was very relieved.

The innkeeper warned me against the noise from the next door brothel. But, except for my nightmare in the morning, I slept like a log all night. My assumption that I would wake up in the early morning, long before sunrise, was wrong. I woke up at dawn. My sleep was long and undisturbed, something rare to me.

It didn't change the fact that this was a new beginning for me, a fresh start in a new world. So, where to start? My plan was non-existent. I had no idea what to begin with, the only thing I had was a few small goals. First, kill Dungreen. Second, destroy the fae. Third, if possible, find my way back to Earth. The last two goals could contradict each other because Fea could travel between realms. I knew that.

However, I was not in a position to go looking for my jailer, nor did I have the strength and training to do so. Finding fae was an even more challenging goal, especially when they were masters of tricks. More people or creatures may have known how to travel between realms, but I had yet to find out.

I decided to start my new life on Eleaden with something simpler.

Breakfast.

Innkeeper Byron was already behind the bar when I entered the pub. He was full of energy as he ran from the bar to the kitchen. The young girl I saw running with a tray between the tables yesterday helped him in the kitchen. The tables were almost empty in the morning. There were only two men and one couple.

As soon as I reached the bar, the innkeeper noticed me. He came out of the kitchent and asked me if I would like breakfast. The nine coppers, according to the innkeeper, were not much for scrambled eggs with bread. I had to trust Byron in that. However, the truth was that even though I only had water to drink, the scrambled eggs were excellent, and the portion was decent. I almost began to shed tears as much as I enjoyed it.

"Are you all right?" The girl asked as she walked past my table.

I nodded. "It was excellent."

"I'll tell our chef," the waitress said.

"Didn't the innkeeper cook those eggs?" I wondered.

"Uh-hmm," the girl smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.

After a long time, I was so happy with the food that I didn't even want to get up from the table. However, exploring the city was waiting for me. I got up and headed out of the inn.

"Miss Grey!!" the innkeeper called to me as he left the kitchen.

He stopped me just as I reached for the doorknob.

I turned to the innkeeper. "Yes?"

"How satisfied were you with the room?" He asked me. "Did you mind the noise?"

"I was really exhausted. I slept all night." I said.

"Glad to hear it. Will you sleep here tonight?" Mr. Byron asked.

I scratched my neck and smiled. "To tell you the truth, I don't know. I want to look around Castiana today. Get my bearings here. Find out the prices of accommodation elsewhere. Find a job."

"I understand. So I won't keep that room for you. Key please," He asked me for a key that I totally forgot about.

The key was in my storage, which was a really convenient thing. I gave it to Byron immediately.

"Here, I'm sorry. Please don't get me wrong, I slept really well. I haven't slept so well in a long time. Breakfast was excellent. It's just that I arrived in the city yesterday, and I want to find out how things work in the city first," I explained.

"You have nothing to apologize for. This is a business. Customers come and go," he smiled. "If the room is not occupied, I'll be happy to rent it to you again. You will be welcome here."

"Thank you."

Innkeeper rested his elbows on the counter. "As for work, I'm looking for someone to help in the inn."

"Really? What do you need help with?" I asked him.

"Well, it's usually full in the evening. It's a lot of work just for the two of us sometimes. It would help us a lot if someone washed the dishes during rush hour in the evening, maybe a little help in the kitchen," said Byron.

"That doesn't sound so bad. Why isn't someone else working here?" I wondered what the catch was.

The man frowned. "It's only two to four hours of work. It depends on how many guests come and how much we cook. I can give you 10 coppers per hour, no more. Most people are looking for something more permanent and for more money."

"I'll think about it," I told him.

My dream wasn't to wash the dishes, but I definitely didn't want to turn down my first job offer in this world, and one had to start somewhere. It was one possibility, hopefully not the last.

"I also know that at the Broken Heart, they're looking for someone to do their laundry. You can ask there if you are interested. But I would wait until noon with that. The girls work mainly at night, now they will still be asleep," said the innkeeper, smiling.

I thanked him once again for everything, but I did not promise him anything. My goal was Castiana City Hall. More precisely, notice boards in their hall with job offers. When I got there, it was no less busy in the hall than yesterday. I headed straight for the notice boards, where I started reading the individual job offers.

Very quickly, I noticed one thing the job offers had in common. None of them wanted to employ beastsmen, demi-humans, or half-beastsmen. It was written even more clearly on some notes. Only Humans. I was human, but I wasn't sure others would see it that way.

To my surprise, there wasn't a single offer without this restriction. That's why I decided to stand in line to ask the receptionist why this was the case and if I had a chance to get a job. Of course, I chose the same receptionist as yesterday.

"Hello," she greeted me, but her smile faded when she noticed who was standing in front of her. "Did you come to complain about Timmy?"

"No," I shook my head. "I was satisfied with his services."

The woman smiled. "I'm sorry, a lot of people come back to complain about him just because he's Terran. What can I do for you today?"

"Well, I've been looking at job offers, and they're all just looking for humans. Will it be a problem for me?" I asked her.

"I'm afraid so, they won't take you as a demi-human," said the receptionist.

I smirked. "But, I'm human!"

"Can I look at your ID Card?" The receptionist asked me, her face revealing nothing.

Even though she saw it yesterday, I didn't blame her for not remembering it. Not with the number of people they had here every day. That's why I showed her my card without any objections.

"Where did they give it to you?" The receptionist asked me.

"Here, in the guard's barracks," I said.

The woman behind the counter nodded. "So Captain Rayden herself checked you out, good. What happened to you?"

"Um, I don't want to talk about it," I told her.

Definitely not in a hall full of people, where I had no idea who could hear me.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't change your situation. People will consider you Demi-Human with your appearance. Wait a minute, I'll see who might be willing to turn a blind eye to your condition,"

The receptionist then placed a large thick book on the table and began flipping through it.

"...no, definitely not...maybe..." the receptionist muttered to herself.

When she came across a job offer where I might have a chance to get a job, she placed her hand on the book and a blank paper beside it. I had no idea if everything in the book was transcribed on paper or just the information she wanted. It was a very cool skill anyway.