Oh damn. Carol? I had a date later this week with her. She'll be so mad at me for ditching out on her? Then she hears that I actually disappeared. Oh, crap. She'll be so upset. Robert thought as he holds his head in his hand.

I hope she moves on and forgets about me. We have barely been dating for two weeks. So It's not like we had anything major.

“Aah!” Robert screamed as he grabbed his head. The other bathers warily watched him jump and splash. “Ow ow ow.”

His mind was hit with a series of imagines. They were all images of earth. He had never even been to China before. Yet his mind was full with images of it. The great wall, smiling faces, a restaurant meal, and Carol's reflection in a mirror. She had long blonde hair which she was brushing and a happy smile. The pain fainted along with the images. All vanishing from his mind.

“Ow! What that hell was that?” Robert muttered as he held his head with both hands. “Were those Carol's memories? But that's impossible.”

A nearby splashing sound makes Robert turn. He looked over to see the large man from earlier getting out of the pool. The man walked a bit and laid down on a set of rugs. The man was not shy in any fashion.

Hold up? If he's getting out now. Robert thought, worried. Does that mean it has already been an hour? Crap, how long was I in here for?

“Ahem! What are you doing?” Robert asked, leaning outside the pool? The man didn't hear him. “Hey!”

“What?!” the man growled as raised himself up on an elbow. “Why are you talking to me?”

“I don't mean to be rude. ” Robert asked. “But...What are you doing?”

“I'm drying out. What do you think I'm doing?”

"Doesn't this place have towels?"

"Towels?" the large man said as he laid back. "Who here could pay for those?"

“Ah never mind then?” Robert said, avoiding eye contact. “I'll stay over here.”

“I don't care.” The large man said as he scratched himself.

If it haves already been an hour, then I have one more hour to go. I wish I knew for sure. Robert thought as he looked around. Of course, they don't have clocks here.

A few minutes later the large man finally clothed himself and left. The other bathers didn't look like they would be leaving any time soon. Maybe they bought a four-hour bath?

Now I need to dry off. Robert thought as he stepped out of the pool. As He did so, he had a thought. Hey, I should grab my shirt and cover myself.

Robert grabbed his shirt and walked over to the large rugs. He laid down and covered his bottom with his shirt. The rug was dusty and itchy. But the sunlight was nice. He laid there for a few minutes just enjoying this alien sunlight.

Afterward, Robert put on his boxers and started dressing. His damp clothes stick to his skin a little. They had gotten wet by being so close to the pool. Though his boxers smelled better for it. He checked to see if his cellphone had gotten wet. Luckily it didn't.

Good. Now to get out of here. Robert thought as he walked out the door. Hopefully, I'm on time. It didn't feel like two hours, but it's best to be early than late.

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Robert passed into the next room. Where the large hired muscle was still playing cards. Robert's curiosity got the better of him. So while walking past, towards the opposite door. He glanced down at the cards. The cards were hexagons.

On each card was a strange character. Some were familiar like a standing tower, a pond, or a large blackbird. The blackbird card had dark lightning and storm clouds behind it.

“What are you looking at?” One of the men asked. “You want something?”

“Well yes. I have never seen this game before.” Robert asked. Getting some confused looks. “What's it called?”

“It's called weather cry.” the man said. But He didn't really say winter cry, but it sounded close to that.

“Oh, thanks. I'll see if I can get a copy.” Robert said, turning away. The group looked confused.

Robert walked out into the first room. The man at the desk had returned to spinning a coin.

“Good day sir,” Robert said, heading for the door. The man jumped, dropping his coin.

“Ah? Yes?” The man said. but then he reached out a hand. "Wait where is your marker?"

"Oh, I forgot it back there," Robert said pausing.

"Oh, I see. well don't forget it next time." the man said.

With that done, Robert stepped out into the street. The crowd had gotten thinner from earlier and the sun was starting to set. Someone bumped past Robert and entered the bathhouse.

Ok, prioritize. Robert thought. First money, second shelter, third food, and water. Maybe I should ask around if there is a theater around here? I am an actor after all.

So Robert started walking. Every few minutes or so he would stop someone and ask about the theater. But only to discover that they didn't know what a theater was or that they did like plays. He stayed away from the stores and businesses, especially the shady-looking ones. Because he didn't have any money. Although his search was a failure, the walk was enlightening.

Robert had learned that this was a mercenary city. Everyone called it the hole. The reason for the name was because it had an entrance to something called the deep. He asked what the deep was or what a mercenary city was, but got annoyed replies.

Soon Robert was leaning against a fence while looking out over a network of buildings and skying airships docks. The hole was small compared to earth cities, but it was not some small backwater farming town either. Robert turned back to the street. He had walked up a hill to get here and his clothes had dried during the walk.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a yellow cape. He turned and found two Liba royal guards, talking to a small crowd. They held up the picture Robert helped make.

Crap! What are they doing here? Are they following me? Robert wondered. As he started walking away. He looked back every few seconds. Looks like they're still looking for the princess. It's sad. But I can't get involved.

Robert turned a corner and walked up to a food stall where an old woman worked.

“Hello? Can I ask you something?” Robert asked. The old woman looked up at him. “Do you know if there's an acting troop or a theater here? You know people who act make-believe.”

“Hahaha haha. Oh my.” The old woman burst into laughter. Robert was about to leave when. “ Wait.." She coughed. "Wait, pretty boy. Don't get your sand snakes in a twist, kid. Yes, there's a theater troop here. I go to their plays every night. I like their stories.”

“What really? ” Robert asked, nearly jumping into the air. “Where is it? I want to join it.”

“Oh, it's down by the east side. They're camped right outside city limits.” the old woman said.

“Wait? Why are they outside city limits? Shouldn't they be inside the city?”

“Wait you don't know? Oh, this is rich. ” The old woman said, slapping her knee. “Hahaha. I mean you were looking to join them and yet.”

“What are you talking about,” Robert said as he was getting mad. “Stop laughing.”

“Haha. Oh, pretty boy, everyone has got to be a fool, at least once in their life. “ the old woman said as she reached out a hand. “Name's Gertrude what's your name pretty boy.”

“Robert price.”

“Oh, what a name? But I imagine your parents liked it.” Gertrude said.

“I'm not from around here,” Robert said, feeling only kindness from her now.

“So anyway about the theater troop. The reason is because of their plays.”

“Their plays? Do they need large stages or something?” Robert asked.

“Oh... well yes in a way, but that isn't the reason. They have live monster fights during their plays. Scares the locals to death, it does. But I like the thrill.”

“What? Live monster fights.” Robert said. Her words felt like a punch in the face. He couldn't believe it. “Really? Isn't that dangerous?”

“Oh yes. But not any more dangerous than living in a mercenary city. Just this month the city was attacked by a large swarm of desert sand crabs. They're small, but mighty in numbers.”

“Wait. Monsters attack this city. Is that why it's called that? Because of all the monsters?”

“Oh yes, and all the mercenaries here too. You must have come from somewhere pretty far, to not know even that.”

“ Well, yes. ” Robert said as he looked at the sun. “I think I should go. It's getting dark.”

“Okay then, goodbye Robert, and good luck..” Gertrude said. Robert started walking away, he looked back. And saw Gertrude waving at him. He waved back.

Finally, I found a friendly face. Robert thought as he headed to the east. After I find a stable lifestyle here, I should visit her again.