Dad and I took all the loose coins we found among the bandit’s possessions, a few of the more well-crafted weapons, and then one crate of fabric the merchants had been shipping. All of the bandit's weapons had chips or cracks in them where dad had fought them, though his own spear remains spotless. I’m not overly clear yet on how dad decided on weight vs. cost, but he seemed confident in the decision so I just took his word for it. As we continued on our way to Alberack, dad now carrying the crate with his spear stowed over his shoulder, we discussed the events of that morning.
“So. Vincent. How are you feeling?” He asked me awkwardly, struggling with emotionally charged subjects just as much as I did.
“Honestly? I’ve never fought people or killed people before, It was mostly monsters and animals in my last life. It feels different. A little unsettling. I’m not fully sure yet though.” I admitted slowly, mulling over my own thoughts and emotions as he asked me.
“I felt the same way when I first became a mercenary. It doesn’t really seep in all at once, took a few days for it to really hit me” Dad explained, recounting his time as a soldier of fortune briefly. “The important part to remember though bud is that they would have hurt many more people if we didn’t stop them.” He explained. It was a decent point, focusing on the good we’d brought into the world, and the harm we prevented. Otherwise, it might ruin me.
The rest of our journey was uneventful thankfully, though the brief detour had slowed our travel time significantly. Dad and I had packed light when we left, and by the time we actually arrived in Alberack, our supplies had run dry. Fresh water was easy enough to find in the wilds, but we’d been subsisting on dried jerkies and hardtack to avoid having to stop and forage. When we ran out, dad displayed his considerable prowess as a hunter and even taught me how to track animals. I didn’t have an open skill slot anymore, not that I wanted a tracking skill, but even knowing how to do something without system assistance could be beneficial.
Besides, it gave us both a much-needed distraction and helped ease the tension from the fight. Camping in the evenings had been far quieter than I was used to.
The town of Alberack was relatively impressive when compared to home, and having arrived in the middle of the day it was already bustling as we approached. A baker was walking the streets with a large tray harnessed to his shoulders, shouting and making sales as he went along. A thick plume of smoke billowed from what must be a forge of some kind, though there appeared to be multiple workshop spaces judging by the outside of the building. Dozens of other folks were filling the streets, going to and from various buildings along the central square, none so much as even stopping to take a second look at us.
“Alberack is sort of a commercial hub for a lot of the smaller settlements in this area” Dad explained with a wave of his hand, beckoning me to follow him deeper into the town. He continued to speak as he led us with purpose to a destination he’d not shared with me. “They get frequent visitors from the various towns around here, and lots of caravans of supply come through from the cities closer to the coast.”
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As it was explained to me, I realized that none of the businesses in this region had to pay any form of tax. There is no need for tax collectors, since Ocresh hadn’t been formally declared as a nation. Everything is still individual city-states.. That might be what attracted all the merchants originally.
“This is us,” Dad said, pointing my attention to a large two story building with a sign that read “Oak & Oar”, a tavern of some sort I suppose. Walking inside, the building was decorated with ropes and lanterns, ships wheels, and all manner of small nautical trinkets. The main room had a smoldering hearth on one side, a bar in the back, and a smattering of lightly occupied tables.
The man I presume to be the proprietor was standing behind the bar, sorting through a few coins and making notes in a ledger. He was a barrel chested man with heavy muscular arms, and a beard that looked damaged by years of sun and salt spray. A sailor maybe? It fit the theme of his bar.
When we entered, his eyes picked up and noticed dad almost immediately. “Daniel! I wasn’t expecting your usual trip for a few more weeks at least. What brings you here to darken my door?” The owner laughed.
“Anders, you’ve never met my son Vincent. Vincent, Anders here runs the best inn and tavern in Alberack. I’ve stayed here every time I come here.” Dad explained, smiling as he walked forward to meet his old acquaintance and shake his hand. I politely said my introductions to the old sailor and winced as he burst into an uproarious laugh.
“Vincent my boy, I feel like I’ve met you a dozen times over. Your old dad never shuts up about you” The innkeeper teased, elbowing my dad in the side.
The two of them shared a laugh, and dad handed Anders a few coins. “I need a double room for the night, and something to eat for my boy. I have a few items to sell Old Gerran, I’ll be back for my own meal later”, and with a nod dad was turning to leave.
A jolt of anxiety ran through my spine at being left with a strange man, but dad seemed to trust him. My fears were further quelled when Anders placed a small plate of bread and meat on the counter in front of him, gesturing me over. “Come eat boy, your father will be back in a bit. Old Gerran runs a general store here, buys junk from folks and resells it” Anders explained as I began stuffing my mouth with the warm bread. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until the smell hit me.
Anders and I made some minor small talk as I ate and he refilled my plate with a few small cuts of meat and cheese after I emptied it the first time. It felt like he was taking pity on me, but I didn’t mind. He asked me a few questions about my system and skills, how mom was doing, anything interesting coming up.
He seemed surprised to hear about Leigh’s system unlock coming as soon as it was, but merely laughed when I explained my endeavor to find her a gift. “Ah, to be young again. Reminds me of my time as a cabin boy and the captain’s daughter” Anders sighed, becoming lost in thought for a moment. Before he could elaborate further, dad arrived back through the front door, a large pouch in his hand, likely having sold the crate full of items we’d taken from bandits.
Daniel flopped down in the seat next to me at the bar, clasping a hand on my shoulder as Anders handed him his own tray of food. “Vincent buddy, we’ll get your tools bought tomorrow, I got everything sold already and I want to show you around the town today.” He explained between numerous full mouthed bites of hard cheese and fresh bread.
I was looking forward to seeing the town, but at the same time a part of me wanted nothing more than to get my tools and get home to work immediately.