Keeping to the side of the street to avoid being run over by any of the passers-by and checking for the umpteenth time that my backpack was well secured over my shoulder I continued to approach the tavern.

Although I was still a good distance from the place my long ears could already pick up the muffled murmurs that hinted at conversations and movement inside and which became clearer the closer I got.

By the time I had reached the door I had no doubt that the place was in full swing and I was beginning to doubt whether it was worth putting my sensitive ears through this ordeal.

The growl that came from my stomach was all I needed to tip the scale and with a sigh I put a hand on the door and pushed.

I was immediately assaulted head on by the clamour of the patrons, their voices no longer drowned out by the stone walls of the establishment, and I had to make an effort not to let my face show the discomfort it was causing me.

A quick glance was enough to discourage me from looking for a place at one of the tables in the crowded tavern, and with hurried steps I made my way to one of the few unoccupied seats at the bar.

The stool in question was almost as tall as I was, but it was nothing a simple hop wouldn't fix and with barely any effort I had my fluffy ass firmly positioned on the seat. Fortunately, it wasn't the kind of seat that had a backrest so my little tail wasn't going to suffer like in other establishments in the city.

Was it really too much to ask that they had adequate furniture for the comfort of races that had more limbs than four?

The sound of loud laughter and wood being struck made me bend my ears and cast a disapproving glance at the group of humans and elves — or are they half-elves? I still can't tell the difference — guffawing as they pounded their table with hands and mugs.

Of course, the power of my withering glare was such that none of them noticed it and just carried on with their conversation as if nothing had happened.

Again I let out a sigh and tried to relax knowing that it was something I would have to get used to eventually.

"Rough day, sweetie?" A nearby female voice asked and I couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter before I even turned my head towards the person.

"Try all week." My gaze came upon an imposing woman standing behind the bar with light beige fur, honey-coloured hair arranged in a braid from which a pair of horns protruded from the sides and expressive light brown eyes in her bovine face. A minotaur wearing a brown dress and carrying an apron by which she was rubbing her hands. "Is it always so...?" I started to ask, trying to find the right, least rude word possible.

"Lively?" She said with a smile. "Not so much, mostly when the next lunar cycle is starting. You know, when most workers get paid and want to use their new funds to treat themselves."

"And which happens to be today." I sighed again. "I should have expected it."

"I guess it's not the same where you're from." She asked and took a towel from the front pocket of her apron and set about wiping the bar in front of me. "Can't say I've seen many of your kind around these parts."

I nodded, feeling more relaxed and grateful for the conversation as it made me not focus so much on the surrounding noises.

"I'm not surprised. My people don't like the surface. Finding a Bunyar out of its burrow is like getting water out of stones."

"And yet here you are." She questioned with a raised eyebrow, to which I responded with a smug grin and chest out.

"I am the exception that proves the rule!"

Now it was the minotaur who snorted with laughter.

"Very well Mr. Exception, I welcome you to the Horn of Plenty. We have several types of food and drink on hand, though I'm not sure what to offer you."

"Do you have carrot juice and cooked vegetables?" I asked with interest to which she nodded slowly.

"Yes, vegetable stew. As for the carrot..." She thought for a few seconds before shaking her head. "I'm sorry, it's the first time we've been asked for something like this. What I can offer you is some alcoholic beverage like beer or if not, water."

"Water would be fine, thank you." 

She nodded, took a pitcher from the side along with a glass and filled it with water before placing it down in front of me. "The stew will be ready in a few minutes so just make yourself comfortable." She smiled at me amiably. "And welcome to Arbordale." After which she retired to attend to another patron at the bar and I took the opportunity to take a drink and let out a sigh of relief, both from the drink and the reception.

As I had mentioned, it has been a week since I left Underhill — the burrow-town — and arrived in Arbordale. The journey was short, less than a few hours, considering that Underhill is located under the hills, redundantly enough, close to the city to the point where it is practically an underground district of the city. Unfortunately, relations between the Bunyar's home and the surface were practically non-existent with a few exceptions due to the fact that my people were distrustful of the inhabitants of the outside world to a fault.

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Now, to be fair, there were reasons for such a level of mistrust considering the old stories that are told coupled with the fact that the Bunyar are a highly insular and pacifist species. And I don't mean that they simply prefer peace, no, but the fact that their natural instincts demand that they run away when danger is in front of them without even thinking of defending themselves.

It is an integral peculiarity of all Bunyar, something so intrinsic to the mentality of the species from the moment they are conceived that it need not be taught.

Something I came to learn that I lack and it was the cause of me having to leave my home of the last 18 years.

Well, it was something that was eventually going to happen. After all I was a reincarnate living a second life in a fantasy world and there was no way I wasn't going to try to explore it.

Since the memories of my past life started coming back a little at a time after my fifth birthday all I could think about was fulfilling my fantasies and becoming a real wizard.

However, the isolation that the commune fervently practises was complicating things for me!

On the one hand, the commune was a very simple and quiet place where my people were almost entirely dedicated to underground farming. Magic? The Arcane Arts? All those things and more exist. On the surface. The commune got nothing but anecdotes from the few who traded with the outside world when something was needed that we couldn't do ourselves.

At the time I thought it was a pity that I would not be able to take advantage of my youth to study the mysteries of the universe and how to manipulate them, but I could be patient. Surely when I went to the surface I would find someone to teach me, right? Wrong! If you want to study arcane secrets you either have exorbitant amounts of money for tutors or someone sees something 'special' in you and makes you their apprentice. 

I still wasn't going to give up. Come on, it's Magic! It's every kid's dream to throw fireballs, or at least it should be!

If there was no way I could become an apprentice then all I could do was get a job and save up as much as I could to pay for classes.

With my advanced education from my old life I was confident that I could find a good source of income.

Well, apparently the mistrust was a two-way street.

Of the businesses I offered my services to, the vast majority refused to entertain the idea on the grounds that I was a stranger in town, part of a race that preferred to stay hidden — which already made me suspicious in their eyes — and they weren't going to take a chance on me. The rest was a mixture of not needing or being able to hire extra help.

I even tried to join the Mercenaries Guild— which I didn't want to consider at first with the promise I made to Ma that I was going to try to keep myself safe — but the staff just gave me one look and laughed in my face before sending me on my way to get lost!

I grunted under my breath and took another sip of my water.

My situation was becoming untenable and the coin I had with me wasn't going to last forever even if I tried to be frugal with my spending.

"I don't want to go back, but I can't go on like this either. What am I going to do?" I asked myself quietly with my ears and eyes drooping when I felt a heavy hand land on my shoulder.

"Hey, shorty, you're in my spot." Said a voice behind me and turning my head I noticed that the hand on my shoulder belonged to a man, human and middle aged of somewhat unkempt appearance. I also quickly noticed with a glance to his sides that he was accompanied by two other men, a blond-haired human and a dark-furred minotaur. Curiously, the latter didn't seem to be very comfortable and was casting furtive glances around.

"Hey, did you hear me? That's my seat!" The man repeated and his hand pressed down to which I frowned.

"Is that so? Well I don't see your name on it, besides I got here first so why don't you go find another one?"

The man looked at me with disdain, his eyes flicking from me to my side. "Nah, I don't think so runt, I like it here so you might as well get lost if you know what's good for you."

My gaze followed his and to the pair of slender, lustrous-haired women with long pointed ears — elves, I think — who were sitting next to me and whom I hadn't noticed until now with how engrossed I was, and who by the quick glances they were giving us had noticed as I did why the man wanted my place.

My face became deadpan.

Of course it had to be about women.

"The more different things are, the more alike they are." I said to myself as if I had received a divine revelation.

What should I do? I didn't like the fact that this man thought he could just boss me around like I was some kind of servant and he was a lord. Nor did I feel like leaving the poor women at the mercy of the clearly unwanted future flirtation attempts of this one and his friends if the expressions of distaste from the elves were anything to go by.

However, I also had to weigh the fact that I was new in town and didn't want to get into trouble barely a week after arriving.

Bah Who was I trying to fool? There was no way I was going to let him just walk all over me and get what he wanted.

Now what's the best way to settle this?

"What?" the man blinked in confusion, but soon shook his head. "You better get a move on, rabbit, if you don't want to end up as someone's stew Ha!"

My eyebrow twitched.

Violence it is!

I turned fully around on the stool to face him and rested both hands on the bar behind my back as if to push myself off as I gave the man a smile. "Of course..." And I could see his face turn into a look of satisfaction before lifting my legs with my knees bent towards my chest and kicking out in a span of a few seconds, "Not!" Ending with the tips of my feet sinking into his stomach and the man flying off with a surprised face that turned into a muffled scream until he hit the stone wall on the opposite side squarely.

The blond and the minotaur, as well as the rest of the patrons, gawked and stared at the man who was slowly sliding off the wall and onto the floor wincing in pain.

"That was for being racist and patronising." I said into the silence and eyes turned to me as I left my seat, legs planted on the floor and hands on my hips. "Anyone else want to try their luck or can we act like civilised races?" I asked while glancing at the other two.

The minotaur pursed his lips and exhaled loudly, but it looked like he was ready to count his losses for the day. The blond, however, decided things weren't going to be that simple and lunged at me with a shout and a raised fist.

Without much thought I stepped up and into his space, between his guard and threw my own punch to his jaw that caused him to avert his face and fall on his side.

I turned to face him so as not to turn my back on him when a huge hand grabbed me by the ears — I forgot about the minotaur! — and I was thrown backwards, slamming into a table and, thanks to my backpack, emitting no more than a grunt of pain.

"My beer! You bastard!" shouted a woman with a green complexion, protruding lower fangs and an athletic physique as she abruptly stood up from her chair and turned around to face the minotaur with a very unfriendly face.

The minotaur only had time to widen his eyes before he was hit in the middle of the face and stumbled into another group of people eating.

Within seconds the tavern descended into chaos. The sound of flesh colliding with flesh, or wood or stone became a mindless orchestra that filled the room along with the grunts and curses of the patrons.

For my part I did my best to defend myself with punches, kicks and the occasional headbutt. My heart was pumping in my chest and adrenaline was coursing through my body making my blood sing with excitement and apprehension.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE NINE HELLS IS GOING ON HERE!" 

When suddenly the violence simply stopped. People grabbing people by their robes, blows in full trajectory and half-cursing open mouths were rendered mute and paralysed in the face of the angry scream of the minotaur lady who had waited on me.

"WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?!" She bellowed with gaping nostrils and narrowed eyes between snorts.

In unison the gazes of all present turned to the three men and myself who had ended up with my foot on top of the chest of the man who had started all this, and I felt a shiver run down my back and my fur bristle as the pair of angry light brown eyes settled on me.

In this situation, with a raging woman in front of me there was only one valid option that every man learned at some point in his life.

"They started it!" I said shamelessly pointing to the man at my foot who gawked at me.

Deflect and deny until the danger has passed.