Chapter 27

Eva Lemuria

After a good nights rest at the inn I decided to just walk around the town and pick up some supplies so I can leave any time. The city of Yanlin is truly a beautiful trade hub. There are so many races here getting along I cant help but to feel surprised. I didn't expect the races to be able to cooperate like this, but I know that Yanlin probably isn't a example of every city. I know from experience there is always discrimination. Just because someone doesn't hate an entire race doesn't mean they wont hate a certain group of individuals. Like how the elves dislike plain or ugly things. One thing I have noticed is that here the majority of stares that I've received are looks of curiosity while only a few give me the usual looks of disgust or fear. I really do feel comfortable here and I think I wouldn't mind staying for a while.

As I am walking around I have stepped into various stores and market squares. I haven't stepped into any weapon shops because I have the only weapons I would need. I’ve been trained to use almost all other weapons, but my halberd and dagger perfectly fit my fighting style. I finally spot a tailor shop that can do custom orders so I step in. They have several pre-made outfits on display, but none of these interest me. I want to get more outfits like the one Saras had made for me. I hate those lizards to the bone, but the outfit is truly well made and comfortable. The style is also made so I can perfectly pull out my hidden arm if I have to. I walk up to the simple looking old lady behind the counter.

“Hello I am the tailor of this shop what can I do for you?” While she was talking she was analyzing every part of my outfit. She especially paid attention to my right side.

“I need more outfits like the one I am wearing. I would prefer it to be made exactly the same including the material. As for designs they can be what ever you think will match my style.”

“Just by looking at this outfit I can tell it was made specifically for you. With your unique features, it definitely makes you look amazing. Just looking at you gives me several ideas to make you beautiful. I will make your outfits for you, but I must ask if you want anything else. Perhaps some dresses?” Her passionate face is a little scary, but I can tell she will definitely be able to make my clothes perfectly.

“I will decline the dresses. Do you have a changing room? I will take the outfit off and let you measure that while I stay in the changing room. I have scars I don't want to be seen. I hope you'll understand.” Using scars has always been the best excuse to hide my features. Just this time I am not hiding my hair or eyes.

“Very well. The changing room is there. There's a bench you can rest on while I measure these style to make for you. Too bad about not wanting dresses.” I hear her mutter the last part but ignore it.

I enter the changing room and begin to strip my clothes after setting all my things to the side. I thought about getting some armor like I had before, but at this point I can use flame armor or mana armor that's stronger than any enchantments I could use. I pass my clothes through the curtain before I sit down. I grab my pouch of money that Saras had put in my bag of supplies. I count the common currency that every known kingdom uses. No one knows who started spreading this currency or why every kingdom quickly adapted to it, but now everyone uses these simple copper coins. They all have a simple 1,5,10,20,50, or 100 imprinted on one side and a complex enchanted seal on the other side. The enchantment just makes the money indestructible, but it's such a unique enchantment that only the top enchanters can make it. Any top enchanter would be well known so its almost impossible for someone to forge these coins without being known. Saras had given me quite a bit of money, but I am already running low now because of these outfits and other supplies I have picked up. I will have to start taking some missions when I get the chance. If I still had that crystal from the 3rd tier mana beast I defeated, I would have been able to rise to 4th tier adventurer.

My mussing is interrupted as my outfit is handed through the curtain. I put it on and head out of the dressing room. I see that the tailor is already behind her counter drawing designs for my outfits. The one she's working on already looks like it will perfectly match my features. I am impressed with her skills and look forward to what she will make me. I ask her how much it will be and she just mumbles some numbers so I leave behind the money before I say ill check in tomorrow to check the progress.

I leave the tailor and start walking around for a place to sit and relax. While walking around I spot a beautiful park with children running around and parents watching them. The entire park has such a peaceful air around it. I spot a small cafe by the park and decide I will spend time there since it's so peaceful around here. I enter and notice that there isn't the usual smell of tea. Its something completely different from a teas usual aroma so I ask for a table and menu. I look over the menu and notice tea is served, but something called coffee is the main  focus of this shop. I order a cup of their standard cup and some small pastries to enjoy. When my cup is served I take a second to appreciate the aroma before I pull a part of my mask down and take a sip. It's a little bitter so I take some of the sugar they provided and add a cube. I pull down a part of my mask again and take another sip. It's bitter and the aroma really suits my taste.

I spend the rest of my time in the shop drinking and snacking while overlooking the peaceful park. I stay there until it starts to get dark and the shop tells me that they are closing up. I get up to leave after paying my bill and make my way back though the streets. I am still wide awake so I decide to just walk around the city to take in the street life.

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As I am walking around I notice that I am being watched from somewhere. I don't know how long I have been watched, but this is different from the usual looks. Its like they're analyzing me. I feel such an intense stare that I know that it's more than a passing glance. I keep walking through the streets following the crowds around. Who ever is following me stayed with me the entire time no matter where I went. Finally I enter a deserted dark alley and I walk to the middle of it and turn around. Nobody enters the alleyway after I do. I thought whoever it was wanted to confront me with no one around so I tried to lure them out but it seems I was wrong. I lightning shift and use my senses to look around for any hidden signatures and I do see one hidden on the roof to my left. I head straight for the signature and when I unshift I see a human man crouching on the roof looking up at me with wide eyes. Before he can make a move I throw a fist right at him from above. He manages to roll out of the way at the last second and my fist creates a web of cracks on the roof. He stands up and hold his hands up to surrender. I look him over and see that he is a very plain man. He wears plain clothes and has no remarkable features. I realize why it was so hard to spot him is because he would fit perfectly in a crowd.

“Wait! I mean no harm. Princess Eva, I am shadow guard 17. I was sent to monitor this city because it's a major trade hub and one of the few entrances to the elven kingdom when I noticed your features. Every shadow guard has a prime mission of looking for anyone that has your unique features so when I saw you I knew you must be the princess. So please tell me you are Princess Eva?” Shadow Guard 17

I guess I should have seen this coming eventually. My father likes to have information on all the kingdoms so I am not surprised that he would even have a shadow guards in the other races kingdoms. I lower my guard but keep my eye on him because if I lose sight of him I probably won't see him again. I guess I should just allow him to report that I am alive and well to my father. I won't be returning just yet to home, but I can at least stay in this city until they send me a letter or something.

“Yes, I am Eva Lemuria. I just got to this town yesterday and before I was in the dragons valley. I stayed there for two years and wandered around our own kingdom for six months before that. I don't know when I will return home, but I will stay in this city for a little while. With that, you can make your report. Also, tell my father to just leave the dragons alone and stay away from them.”

I don't think it would do my father any good if he knew why I was in that valley. If he knew all this time I was imprisoned for almost no reason at all he would be outraged and probably try to fight the dragons. Besides the basic info, I don't feel like going into details on where I have been. I turn around to leave, but the shadow guard grabs my arm. He has a frantic look.

“Wait, Princess! That's all? Won't you come back with me? Are you just going to give me that? What happened to your arm and what were you doing with the dragons? Princess your parents have been incredibly worried about you. They have practically turned the entire kingdom upside down to look for you. They only calmed down when the dragons told us they had you with them.” Shadow Guard 17

I wave my arm a bit and he is thrown backward. The shadow guards are all strong, but it seems they are no longer a match for me. I know everything he said is true but I cant return yet. I need time to think and I am afraid of what my parents will say when they see me.

“I have my own things to do. Tell my parents that they can send me letters while I am here, but I won't be staying here for long. I will return back home when I am ready. They don't understand what its like for someone like me to live there. Don't keep following me around either. You know where I am staying I'm sure so just deliver the letters and then go back to doing your normal job.”

Before he can try and stop me again I shift to fly away to the other side of the city. I land in a shadier part of the city. There are brothels and other bars all along this street. Luckily its night time so no one could see the black lighting bolt that just flew across the sky. I walk around the street looking for something that would be interesting for me. I finally spot a large building brightly light up from candles and magic. I enter the building and look over everyone here. The place is packed with guest with fancy clothes and everyone is playing games. I walk around listening in on everyone conversations and I learn that this is a gambling den, but it's legal because the city lord supports it as long as it follows the rules he set. I am sure he also gets a nice cut of the profit but the place does seem to be run well compared to the underground gambling dens where someone could supposedly lose their life.

I keep walking around looking at the different games they had. I'm sure that if I watched one table long enough I could learn how to play the card game they have. Instead I chose to go to a table with number on it and a round wheel with a ball. I listened to the conversation and learned its called roulette. After watching for a little bit I understand how its played so I take a seat at the table. As soon as I sat down a waitress came by and asked if I would like anything. I looked over the menu and ordered some whiskey to enjoy. I will just have to be careful and only move a part of my mask to drink it. I ignored her weird look she gave me as I place my first bet on evens. I bet only 50 for this first try to test my luck. I actually won the first round so I keep going. Hours go by as I play this game. By the end of the night I had won quite a bit of money. Through out the night my winning streak had attracted quite a lot of attention from others. Some guys would come to hit on me, but they would quickly walk away after a little bit of mana pressure.

I decided it was best to end it there so I gathered my winnings after paying my tab and made my way for the exit. I noticed several of the guards watching me as I made my way out of the gambling den. I am sure they will report that there's some lucky woman winning everything from them later. I doubt I will be lucky again if I come back again.

As I am walking through the almost empty streets I can tell I am being followed again except this time I can feel their malicious intentions. They are sorely underestimating me if they think they can rob me. I was tempted to just blow them away until I remember the city advisor asking me not to cause trouble. I decide to walk into an alleyway and shift onto the roof above. I watch as five incredibly suspicious looking thugs walk into the alleyway before they look around to find no trace of me. I don't know if they work for the gambling den or if they're unrelated so I will leave them alone for now. As long as they don't go too far I won't do anything to them.

I make my way through the sky and fly directly into my roof through the open window on the second floor. I left it open because there nothing of value in here. After I am in I close the windows and make sure everything is locked up before I begin undressing. I take of everything except my underwear and my undershirt. I know that if anyone saw me they would never think that I am a princess of a kingdom. I go to the bucket of water that was placed in my room and begin to wash myself. I take the bandages of my right arm and wipe my scales and use my dagger to clean my nails. After I am cleaned I wrap my arm back up and lay down on my bed. I look up the ceiling as I think about the past and future. I feel a heavy mood start to take over me so I just close my eyes and try to fall asleep as quickly as possible.