As they entered the city gates, Ethan was drawn to the numerous people streaming next to them and dispersing ahead. The residents of Veer moved about the streets in a frenzied dance, going about their daily business with purpose and urgency. Some carried baskets of goods, while others pulled carts loaded with merchandise. Children darted through the crowds at the sides of the street, laughing and playing games.
Then the smells of the city hit Ethan - the sweet scent of flowers mingling with the pungent odor of spices and roasting meat coming out of one of the surrounding buildings. He caught a whiff of something sour and unpleasant, but it was quickly masked by the fragrant aroma of freshly baked bread.
As they continued to pass through the streets at an even pace, he could see that despite the hustle and bustle of the streets, there was a sense of order to the chaos. The roads were relatively wide and well-maintained, with street vendors lining the sidewalks and horses and carriages weaving through the crowds. Ethan noticed a group of guards patrolling around, their weapons glinting in the sunlight, busily looking around at anyone daring to disrupt the public order.
Soon they passed through what Ethan could guess was the city's outskirts, and his gaze was drawn to a towering cathedral. The structure was a masterpiece of architecture, with intricate carvings and stained-glass windows that sparkled in the sun. He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as he gazed upon it.
“You never said that the churches were building such magnificent buildings,” he said, marveling at the towering structure of white marble walls rising into the sky.
“Well, as you can imagine, one can accomplish wonders with sufficiently dedicated people and coffers filled with tokens to pay for the enterprise,” Claire said, following his gaze.
Ethan nodded absently, remembering how the masses had financed a particular church over the millennia back on Earth on the pretense of them doing the god’s work. He did not have an issue with religion per se. Still, he firmly believed that people were better off investing in themselves and their personal development than in some organizations willing to listen to them when they felt down. After all, one lived only one life and had to make the fullest of it.
Was it true, then? he wondered, looking silently through the window and the masses of the people giving way to the slow-moving carriage. Was it true that there is no afterlife and we simply start another life elsewhere? How did I get here exactly?
These questions and many more plagued Ethan’s mind for days since he woke up in the forest. They had subsided after a few weeks he spent training with Gloomy and trying to survive, accepting that floating screens, magic, and skills were a thing. But, after meeting Claire and having their little discussion, questions started plaguing his mind again.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by Alice, who asked, “Say, Ethan, we are about to stop at the market square. Do you have any specific needs in mind?”
Ethan turned his gaze back to the ladies as Claire added, “Yes, the offer still stands to come and visit me at my family’s residence, but I believe I will need some time to arrange things. Hence, an inn or a few shops might interest you.”
Ethan nodded and said, “It is no trouble. If you could guide me to the nearest inn and how to get there from the market, that would be great. I would like to explore this place more and see what it offers.”
“Sure, there is one called the ‘The Golden Stag’ right on the corner there,” Claire said, stopping the carriage next to a busy street lined with stalls, creates, and awnings where buyers and merchants bustled about.
“I know, ironic, isn’t it?” she said, chuckling. “Just as you battled one not so long ago, you must visit another. But really, it is the best in Veer if you ask me, and they serve this golden mead the guilders love so much. So you would surely not miss out on trying some.”
“Eww,” Alice scrunched up her nose. “Claire, do not tell me you have tried that vile substance if you can call it that. Mead and good is not something I would say in one sentence.”
Before Claire could respond, Ethan chuckled and said, “No worries, I will see if the rumors are true in your stead. Thank you both - again. I would not have been able to make it to Veer without you.”
Claire smiled and said, “No, you would have, Ethan. We must thank you for helping us in Willow and on the road. I am not sure what we would have done if not for you. Benson would surely be unable to save our skin if the same happened going back home with him.”
“Yes, maybe it was fate,” Alice said, smiling at Ethan. “I look forward to meeting you again, Ethan.”
“Thank you, Alice. But, wait, how will I be able to find you again? From what I saw, this city is many times bigger than Willow, and I managed to get lost even there,” Ethan asked, looking to the right and left next to the carriage where he had stepped out.
Claire rummaged about in a small purse Ethan did not notice before but guessed was a dimensional satchel and got out a small golden signet ring, handing it to Ethan. He turned it around and saw that it had a shield and glasses carved on top. “What is this?” he asked.
Claire nodded toward the ring and said, “That is a personal token of our family that will allow you entrance in most places, making you affiliated with the Shelford family. While not much, you should easily find directions to our manor in the northern parts of the city where I will be. Just imbue your mana, and you should feel a slight tugging to where I am.”
Stolen story; please report.
Ethan did as instructed, familiar with the application of mana, and felt a slight tugging sensation toward where Claire was sitting. “I thought you could not activate magical items without an aspect seed infusing your body with mana?” he asked, putting the signet on his index finger.
Claire shook her head and answered, “No, that would make magical items obsolete. In cases like this signet ring, it utilizes the ambient mana around you and your intent to trigger its effects.”
Ethan nodded as if it made sense to him. But, come to think of it, he did not understand how computers worked in detail back home. Yet, it did not make them less real and filled with utility. Trinkets and their many applications, he thought, noticing that several people were stopping and observing their exchange.
Turning back to the ladies in the carriage, he said, “Thank you, Claire, again. Can I see you tomorrow if you are not too busy? I would love to continue our discussion in a more private setting as we gathered quite the crowd.”
Claire looked out through the carriage door and noticed that, indeed, they had attracted the attention of several merchants and others recognizing the crest on the carriage. She nodded and agreed, “Yes, tomorrow should be fine, provided I get to talk with my mother.”
“See you!” Alice said from inside the carriage as Claire closed the door and slowly took off through the crowded streets of onlookers. Ethan looked at the leaving carriage and waved, having no idea why he did so. After a few seconds, he stopped and saw people staring at him and murmuring something between themselves.
What are they staring at? Maybe waving at a carriage is not a thing? he thought and quickly walked toward where Claire said the Golden Stag was located. After a few minutes, he arrived next to a three-story building.
Nestled in the heart of a Veer, the Golden Stag stood out as a majestic sight to behold. Its exterior was a marvel of architectural beauty, exuding a sense of grandeur and warmth. The outer walls of the inn were made of sturdy timber, expertly crafted, and adorned with intricate carvings.
The entrance to the inn was a masterwork of craftsmanship, featuring a wide oak door with brass handles shaped like antlers, beckoning travelers and adventurers alike to step into its embrace. Above the entrance, a hand-painted sign depicted a regal stag, its majestic form rendered in vibrant gold leaf, catching the sunlight and shimmering with an otherworldly radiance.
The inn's windows were large and adorned with ornate wooden frames, allowing warm light to spill out onto the cobblestone street, inviting passersby to take refuge within. Lush climbing ivy drapes along the walls, adding a touch of natural beauty to the inn's facade.
Oh, wow, Ethan thought as he marveled at the sight the inn exuded, clearly standing out between the other buildings around it. In his opinion, whoever the owner was, had overdone it a bit in decorating the inn and its exterior. I hope it is as lovely inside, Ethan thought and opened the door.
To his surprise, the inn’s layout was fairly similar to the one he visited in Willow. A large common room with a bar, a stage, and an expansive sitting area met his gaze. At the far wall, he saw a familiar desk where a bored-looking middle age woman wearing a neat grey dress stood reading a familiar slab of stone on her desk.
Ethan made his way inside, no drunks impeding his stride, and walked up to the woman, greeting her, “Hello! I am looking for a place to stay for a few days. Would you have any rooms available?”
The woman looked up from her tablet causally and glanced at Ethan. Then, glancing behind him, she looked at him again, asking, ”Sorry, what?”
“Apologies, ma’am,” Ethan began, unsure what the tone was when one was ordering a room. Customer service in Veer might differ entirely from what was used back on Earth. For all he knew, offending the woman who staffed the desk at the most prestigious inn, at least according to Claire, might get him in trouble, not the other way around.
So he decided to be formal and repeated his question, “I was referred by Claire Shelford. She mentioned that the Golden Stag would be the place to go if I was looking for some accommodations in Veer.”
The woman did a double take and stood up straighter, saying, “Apologies, sir. I did not catch your name, but we surely have rooms to spare.”
“No worries. I am Ethan Jorgeson,” Ethan answered the slightly flustered woman and nodded to the tablet on her table. “Might I ask if I could get a copy of such a stone tablet and a room?”
The woman looked at where Ethan was pointing and answered, “Surely, no problem at all, Mr.Ethan. As for the room, for how long are you looking to stay?” She glanced at him and noted that Ethan was not wearing any cloak or other embroidery signifying his affiliation with the major nobles’ houses in Veer but was quick to notice the Shelford family signet on his finger.
“Ah, I do not know exactly. Can I have the room for the night and tell you tomorrow? I am all right to pay in advance for a week if required,” Ethan said and looked around the common room, noting that the interior had more posh than the inn back in Willow. Damn, I should not have left like that. A promise is a promise, he admonished himself with a grimace as he remembered the dinner he had skipped.
While Ethan was busy with himself, the woman pulled out a thick book with a brown leather cover, quickly checked something in it, and said, “It looks like we can offer you the penthouse suite for tonight and extend it for the week. Would that be all right?”
Ethan looked back at her and asked, a bit flustered, “Oh, the penthouse. How much is it, if I might ask?”
“The night would be on the house,” the woman quickly added. “It would be our honor to offer lodgings for the night to one such as yourself, Mr.Ethan. After all, the good work Mr.Shelford is doing has helped many in this city. And for that, we are grateful.”
Ethan stared at the woman briefly and nodded in agreement, “All right, that would be fabulous.”
The woman handed Ethan a small golden key and said, “The room will be the only one on the top floor through the stairs behind me. Would you like me to guide you or…?”
The woman did not finish her sentence as Ethan added quickly, “Oh, no, thank you. I would still like to check out what the market offers at this hour.”
The innkeeper nodded and said, “Certainly. Thank you for staying with us then, Mr.Ethan, and have a good evening.” The woman bowed slightly, making Ethan feel awkward at the whole reception, as he returned a nod. Then, turning on his heel, Ethan made it for the door and was back on the streets of Veer, ready for new adventures.
“Finally! I hope this place has some good food!” he said and set off with a smile on his face.