Nyrion and Seraphina strolled through the bustling streets of Tyren. The port city was alive with chatter, the clinking of merchants’ wares, and their shouts. The sun casts a warm glow over the cobblestone streets and the colorful market stalls.
“Man, it feels so good not being on a giant piece of wood that makes me puke,” Seraphina remarked while taking in the city’s sights.
“It’s only been two days, but I almost forgot how it feels to have your feet on solid ground. Whatever happens now, at least it won’t be as bad as being the only woman on a ship full of rowdy sailors.” Seraphina laughed.
Nyrion chuckled. “Well now that you said so, things are definitely gonna go down the shitter. And about those guys, honestly, I expected at least one of them to ask you out. Guess I scared them away? I’m glad to see you’re finally feeling better, by the way.”
Seraphina grinned. “Thanks, though it’s less about feeling better and more about the city being a massive upgrade from a swaying ship.”
They continued walking, weaving through the masses of people. The city’s energy was infectious, and Seraphina couldn’t help but admire the vibrant marketplace. “Look at all these stalls. It’s like a festival every day here.”
Nyrion glanced around, taking in the variety of goods on display. “Yeah, sure feels like that. I know what you’re thinking, but we should focus on finding a place to stay first. You might be feeling better, but a good night’s rest in a comfortable bed will do you wonders.”
“I already slept in a comfy bed though? Sure, it wasn’t as luxurious as your floor, but the bed was soft enough.” She giggled.
“You really don’t know how to let go, do you? Should I be prepared for a cheese joke next? Anyway, the captain told me about that the best inns are next to the city gates. Apparently, since this is a port city, most people arrive by the sea. So the ones further away are cheaper while staying around the same quality.”
He said, his voice clearly unamused. He didn’t mind getting made fun of; in fact, he welcomed it as long as it was good-natured. But using the same joke all the time was boring.
Seraphina nodded and then proceeded to eye a random stall, the one she landed on was overflowing with colorful fabrics and trinkets. “I wouldn’t mind browsing a bit. Just to get a feel for the place, you know? But I’ll wait, we have the whole day after all.”
They passed by a vendor selling strange, exotic fruits. Seraphina paused to examine them. “Look at these! Have you ever tried one of these weird-looking red fruits?”
Nyrion shook his head. “No,” he answered simply.
The fruit was unlike any she had ever seen before. Its exterior was a striking, deep red, rough and leathery to the touch, almost as if it were covered in a natural armor.
It was about the size of a large apple, but with a shape that was both round and slightly lumpy. At its top, it ended in a small, knobby crown, giving it a somewhat regal appearance.
There was already a cut-open one revealing a stunning interior. Clearly, she wasn’t the first person to be interested in it. The fruit was packed with hundreds of tiny, glistening seeds, each encased in a translucent, ruby-red membrane.
The seeds were clustered together in bright, vibrant sections, like a mosaic of jewels. The whole fruit had an almost magical quality, its colorful, jewel-like seeds contrasting vividly with the tough, red exterior.
“It’s called a pomegranate, my lady. I assure you they taste amazing, and they are cheap too! A mere 2 silver for one. You won’t get such a deal anywhere else in the city!”
Seraphina’s eyes widened with interest. “Two silver?” She turned to Nyrion, who was also eyeing the fruit with curiosity. She had the money necessary to buy it, but she didn’t want to show Nyrion how she wasted money again. Seraphina would only buy it with his approval.
While for a single fruit, the price was quite high, its rarity could potentially excuse it. For context, one could buy 25 of these for the price of the skewered cheese Seraphina had bought back on the island, which reminded Nyrion just how ridiculously expensive it was. 10 silver is equal to 1 gold in the Osari kingdom.
Nyrion shrugged, a playful smirk on his face. “Well, it’s not like we’re on that tight of a budget. Just don’t buy any more cheese and we’re fine. Besides, I’m always up for trying something new. Go ahead and grab one for me too while you’re at it. Your treat though.”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“Fine, my loss, but once we reach the inn, drinks are on you,” Seraphina said while still eyeing the fruit.
“Sounds like a plan,” Nyrion agreed. He planned on drinking anyway, but now at least he knew she would join him.
After buying it, Seraphina proceeded to open the pomegranate and looked at the seeds again, she found them quite beautiful. When she popped one in her mouth, it burst with a sweet-tart juice that was both refreshing and tangy, making her taste buds dance with surprise. Seraphina had found her new favorite fruit. Meanwhile, Nyrion simply thought it tasted okay.
They strolled on, weaving through the narrow streets until they found a quieter area. The clamor of the docks faded behind them, replaced by the more relaxed hum of city life. Seraphina tossed some more of the pomegranate seeds into her mouth with a grin.
“Damn, these things are like little explosions of flavor. I’m definitely getting some more of these for the road,” she said, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of discovery.
Nyrion took another bite, his more reserved than Seraphinas. “Yeah, not bad. They’re pretty good, though a bit too sweet for me.”
As they continued walking, they wandered through narrow streets lined with timber framed houses and small shops. The sounds of laughter and music began to grow louder as they approached a big cluster of taverns and inns.
They came across a lively establishment with a sign that read “The Drunken Sailor.” The sound of boisterous laughter and music spilled out from the open door. But they ignored it and proceeded further into the city. They were still too close to the docks. Nyrion wanted to go all the way to the other side, nearer to the gates.
Eventually, they reached the city wall, which turned out to be rather unimpressive. Unlike the towering, imposing fortifications of some other cities Nyrion had seen, this wall was low and relatively unremarkable.
It was made of simple, weathered stone, its surface pockmarked and uneven. The wall’s purpose seemed more functional than grand, serving as a basic boundary rather than a defensive masterpiece.
Eventually, they found their first inn in this section of the city. It was called “The Cheddar’s Keep.” The sign was made of wood and depicted a wedge of cheese, surrounded by what looked like heraldry, looking almost like a nobles crest. The inn itself was modest, but not shabby, overall it had a welcoming appearance.
Nyrion quickly turned to look at Seraphina, who was barely holding her laughter in. “I swear to you on everything I hold dear, if you make a cheese joke I will kill you.”
“Looks promising,” Seraphina said, peeking inside and completely ignoring his earlier comment while still giggling to herself. “What do you think?”
After a couple of seconds, he finally answered. “Fuck it, might as well,” Nyrion said, shrugging as he headed inside.
They entered the inn and were greeted by a warm, inviting atmosphere. The interior was dimly lit, with wooden tables and chairs scattered around, and the bar was lined with various bottles and barrels… And a lot of cheese. A group of four lightly armored adventurers were engaged in a lively card game in a corner, while a bard strummed a lute on a small stage. Clearly not a popular destination, but it was clean enough.
Seraphina took a deep breath, savoring the smell of cheese and ale. “This place feels like the real deal.”
Nyrion simply glared at her while making his way towards a table near the stage.
They sat down, and a friendly server soon came over to take their order. “Welcome to The Cheddar’s Keep, where every cheese has a story and every meal is a masterpiece! What can I help you with?”
Nyrion glared at the server, who seemed a bit uncomfortable with his intensity. Seraphina, still chuckling, managed to maintain some semblance of composure. “Don’t mind him. We’ll take a hearty meat stew with an ale each, and some bread too, please.” She said before the situation could become even more awkward.
The server nodded, grateful for the distraction from Nyrion’s piercing gaze, and went off to put in the order.
As they waited for their food, they relaxed and took in the atmosphere. “If you ordered cheese I would have just left. Glad you took my threat seriously.” Seraphina simply laughed
As they continued enjoying their meal, the inn’s ambiance gradually started to grow on Nyrion. The initial skepticism he had about “The Cheddar’s Keep” was fading away, replaced by an appreciation for its quaint charm.
The small stage where the bard was playing a lively tune added a touch of festivity to the place. The music was cheerful, a contrast to the constant noise of the bustling city outside.
Seraphina, meanwhile, was clearly in her element. She had settled into a relaxed, almost playful mood, chatting with Nyrion about everything from the peculiarities of the city’s markets to their plans for the coming days. Her laughter was infectious, and it wasn’t long before Nyrion found himself smiling more than he had in weeks.
“You know,” Seraphina said between bites, “this place is pretty amazing. I’m glad we took the time to come here. ”
Nyrion was still a bit annoyed but at the end of the day, he was the one who accepted her proposal to come in here. Also, the food was good, especially the ale. He raised his mug in agreement. “Here’s to good food, good company, and even better beer.”
They clinked their mugs together and continued their easygoing conversation, savoring the moment before they had to think about their next big decision. For now, they were just enjoying the simple pleasures of being in Tyren. But eventually, the question had to be asked.
“So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?” Seraphina asked, taking a sip of her ale, her tone more serious. She seemed genuinely curious, her eyes sparkling with interest as to what decision Nyrion would come to.
“Well,” Nyrion began, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, “As I’ve said before we have three options. Continue by ship, find another Garret, or go by foot. The first and second options have the same advantages as well as flaws. Their advantage is the speed at which we would cover the distance, but if we choose one of them there will be people who know where we went, sure we could kill the carriage driver but the target on our backs will grow even bigger, for now only the island authorities are interested in us, but if we kill someone here things will get messy, and taking a ship over is out of the question since neither of us knows how to sail one.” Seraphina listened attentively, absorbing everything like a sponge.
Nyrion continued, his tone measured and thoughtful. “Going by foot on the other hand will be the slowest but if we path safely nobody will know where we are at any given moment, it’s also the most dangerous since most of the time we will have to camp out. We could buy a horse but that would drain our resources and I would prefer to have money on hand.”
Seraphina leaned back in her chair, considering Nyrion’s points. “I get that speed’s important, but avoiding attention is just as crucial. I’m definitely not getting back on a ship, and I don’t want to kill someone innocent just because they were unlucky enough to come across us. Going on foot will be the slowest option, but it’s also the best way to stay hidden. I don’t know how much horses cost but they must be expensive. I think we should go by foot.”
He nodded, “Then it’s decided, in the morning we’ll buy supplies, and a map and then leave, but we still need to figure out where to go. So, Baeor or Sol? For Sol we’d need to travel for about a month and then take a ship for about two weeks, for Baeor we don’t need a ship but it would take about two months of walking to reach a distance that I would consider far enough to be safe.”
Seraphina stayed quiet for nearly a minute, the choice wasn’t easy.
Finally, she answered. “I think we should go to Sol, it will take less time and any potential pursuers would need to take a ship as well, not that they could since Sol kills all humans, although wouldn’t me being a former human complicate things? Sure I’m a vampire now but I still think and act like a human.”
“Not a problem, ” Nyrion said without any hesitation. “When they see that I’m vouching for you they’ll let it go, if you were stronger than me it would be a problem but as long as I’m the stronger one it means you didn’t manipulate me. Also, lie detection magic exists so there’s that.”
Seraphina couldn’t help but nod, “Alright, Sol it is then.”