The ferry gently rocks back and forth, a light breeze envelopes my face. As I float through an underpass underneath a massive set of walls, a large shadow passes overhead, with a mossy damp smell coming from the stone above.

I was on one of the two rivers running through Oliviand. The rivers ran parallel to each other so the ferries could loop around and take the next set of passengers into the city, River Ror and River Ran as they were known, the only two entrance ways that visitors and common civilians could get through to enter Oliviand.

The rivers ran parallel to each other all the way through the continent, with multiple cities built in their path, allowing for fast and efficient trade and transportation.

Though it was a bit expensive getting through the river... Unfortunately, the only way to get into and out of the city was by ferry. Despite spending an entire day looking for a way in without having to go through official channels, even I couldn’t find an alternate route to sneak inside due to the massive construction of the wall, so I had to admit defeat.

The process went like this, I had to pay a fee to get on the ferry, while leaving all personal belongings back at the station, where they were to be taken through the walls via another entrance that only employees could use. There, my belongings would be searched, and I would be able to reunite with them on the ferry stop. Basically making sure you were going to be missing a couple things, so I’ve heard.

As the ferry passes through the underpass, I take a look at the city expanding out before me, bustling with life, the streets were paved with stone, trees and grass decorated the gray slates, lined up neatly across the center of the street.

"Hey you there, take that mask off or the guards might get you." I hear the man sitting across from me say.

"Ah, sorry you're right. It's just kinda hard to see without this on." I say as I push the mask to the side of my head, the world turning into a blur once more.

"Is your eyesight bad? Must be awful living like that." He asks, starting up a conversation.

"You could say something like that. Got into a little accident about a month ago. That's why I'm going into this city actually, trying to find a man named Doctor Huley, if you know anything about him."

"Do I know anything about him, he's one of the most esteemed researchers of all time! Discovering and implementing new types of Sananku every week. I have no doubt that if you can somehow get an audience with him, he'll be able to fix all your problems."

"Wow, you sound enthused, is he related to why you're coming to this city?" I ask.

"Of course! I'm here to present my research and to get accepted into Academia! It's a very good position to live out the rest of my life in, and I'll be able to work alongside Doctor Huley if all goes well."

"Sounds great, I hope it all goes well for you."

"Yea, and, do you mind if I take a look at your Anku? I probably won't be able to fix the injury right now, but I may recognize what's causing your problems."

"I've heard that it's because my nerves got damaged, but it wouldn't hurt to try." I nod and bend down, bringing my forehead forward.

"Alright, let me see..." He places his hand on my forehead and closes his eyes in focus.

"What is... That's strange. I can't feel any of your Anku, are you trying to suppress it from me? You don't need to be shy, I won't do anything harmful."

"Wait what?" I exclaim. "Do you need my Anku in order to perform Sananku?"

"Well... Theoretically I could simply force all my Anku into your body and perform my operations that way, but that would be impossibly hard to control compared to just manipulating the host's Anku directly."

Were Torika and Jarso fixing up my body with that handicap? I knew how good Torika was, but why did Jarso never bother to mention that to me?

"Sorry about that, try again." I put my mask on this time and hold out my palms.

"Huh? Uhhh, okay sure." The man places his palms on mine and concentrates.

"Whoa, that's an impressive amount of Anku you managed to completely erase." The man says as he probes through my body.

"Thanks, I've been told my Anku control is good." I say in response, not bothering to tell him the truth.

"No kidding, are you well known or something? Wait, wait, I can't get distracted. Hold on..."

The man searches through my body for a couple more seconds. "Yep, parts of your brain don't look very good, occipital lobe and... parts of your temporal lobe don't seem to be transmitting very many signals." He says. "And your right arm... Jesus what happened to your hand? It looks like there's nothing left there." I nod at his comments, all of them sounding very familiar.

"Well what do you think? You think there's an alternative than seeing Huley?" I ask.

"To be honest... No... People would usually be dead if their bodies were damaged to this extent. You must have gotten really lucky to survive the situation that you did, I'm afraid that only the best of the best can do anything for you right now."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Well, that's mostly in line with what my old doctor said, and we're almost to the shore, so..." I withdraw my hands and take off my mask, all Anku returning back to the mask.

He nods as the ferry docks to the shore. "I hope we both achieve our goals, good luck in your future endeavors." He says before getting up and leaving the ferry.

I let the rest of the passengers get out of their seats and pass me before I get up, making me the last one to exit the ferry.

Alright... Lets get this started. I take a deep stretch before hoisting my bag onto my back.

Damn it... Now that I think about it I should have asked that man how the hell I'm even supposed to get an audience with Huley? I begin walking forward, staying as close to the side of the street as possible to avoid bumping into anyone. Maybe I… get injured on purpose or something? If I get taken to some hospital they probably won’t have the expertise to cure my deeper injuries, which may pique the interest of some more talented doctors? That’s definitely a very big stretch… Probably won’t go as I expect, it’ll be a last resort though.

…

As I continue walking aimlessly, a nostalgic feeling washes over me. I’m homeless… I have no specific goal in mind… I’m also broke… And I’m in a big city.

There’s only one thing left to do to fully bring back that nostalgia.

I slide the mask back on my face.

So I could figure out where the hell I was walking. I’ve already had my fun back at Astrodam. I still needed to find a damn doctor, and I had a feeling that becoming a notorious criminal wouldn’t lend to that goal.

“Excuse me, do you know how I could get a map of the city? Or where I would go to get information in general?” I ask the first person I see.

She ignores me and continues walking, actually walking a little bit faster than before.

…Uhhh, alright, unlucky I guess. Had that happen to me a couple times before.

“Excuse me!”

“Take a bath man.” Another guy walks away. I sniff my arm, it’s… not that bad is it?

I begin noticing a circle of people walking around me forming, clearly trying to avoid my attention after seeing me single two people out.

These people… Damn it, I remember why I got into stealing in the first place.

I slowly walk up behind the guy that told me that I smelled bad and stick my hands into his pockets. Not even try to conceal the fact that I was stealing something. I grab the first thing that comes to my hand then turn around.

“Hey what the fuck are you doing?!” He turns around and begins running at me. I match his pace and begin running at the same speed.

Alleyway here? Nope… that’s another street. I scan my surroundings as I run.

Oh, found one, nice, dark, and empty.

I turn into the alleyway and slow down.

“Come here you little—“ He dives into a tackle as I slow, trying to take me down. However I sidestep it with unexpected speed and smash my knee right into his nose.

“If you want to know more about this city, go to the library, it shouldn't be too far north. The bricks are made with a yellowish color, and should stand out. There should be some maps and stuff there.” The man said with his knees to the ground, blood dried up beneath his nose and lip.

“Wasn’t so hard now was it?” I say as I walk away into the main street. I then throw back the coin pouch that I coincidentally took from his pockets.

“I wonder how long it’ll take him to notice that there are only rocks in there.” I murmur as I disappear into the streets.

Twenty minutes later I arrived at the exact location he detailed, a pale yellow building set at the end of a block.

Now then… I take the first step up to the entrance, only to be immediately stopped by a uniformed guard standing near the doorway.

“Sorry, there are no free handouts today. Please come in three days.”

“God damn it.” I whisper under my breath. “I’m not a damn bum, I’ve just been traveling for a while.”

“Oh? My apologies but uhhhh… Your appearance isn’t really doing you any favors. Your cloak is ripped, the clothes you’re wearing look like they were stitched together by a child, your hair is long and messy, you smell a little musty… Can’t really blame me can you?”

Damn… This guy really just said all that out loud. “What do you want me to do? I’ve been camping out in the forest for the past month, and I like my hair long, just let me through already!” I say irritably. Obstacle after obstacle, how hard is it to just find some friendly people around here? I think to myself with a complete lack of self awareness.

The guard raises his hands in a gesture to try to calm me down before letting me through the doors.

“Hey Shaz, is this what you’re looking for?”

“You got it? Alright… Let’s get out of here.”

A boy and girl pass me by the entrance as I head in.

“Damn! You must have been traveling for a while!” The boy comments as we pass each other.

It takes a second for me to realize that he was talking to me.

“Huh? You can tell?” I look back but the boy and girl were already gone.

I shrug then continue on my way. Before slowly realizing that I had forgotten something very important.

“That’s right…” I look up at the various signs hung up on the ceiling, all of them in Anto script. “I don’t know how to read……”

That’s fine, I just need to find some sort of front desk receptionist, they must have those in this world right? I wander aimlessly for 5 more minutes, until I stumble across a man working behind a desk with a bunch of books stacked up.

“Can you help me find something? I’m from a country far away you see, and I can’t read Anto script very well.” I walk up to him and ask.

“I’m just here to organize books, so don’t expect much, but I can at least try to point you in the right direction, what are you trying to find?”

“Some sort of map of the city, shows all the restaurants, places to stay, and the such, you know what I’m saying? I’m also looking for a ‘Dr. Huley’, if you know anything about him.”

“Well first of all.” The man points to a sign hanging off the ceiling. “That section should contain all the information to Oliviand you need. But also Huley is that really smart doctor right? I personally wouldn’t recommend even trying, I heard appointments with him cost an insane amount of money, and looking at you…”

I take a deep sigh at his last comment, I think the world is trying to tell me something.

“Yea, yea, I already know what you’re trying to imply, been told it a thousand times today. Thank you for the advice though.”

And so, as I walk over to the section, two goals began to take shape in my mind.

My first goal was to take a shower and change my clothes somewhere.

And my second goal?

Steal some money.