As the last remnants of the night were being dispersed, the sun rose to reveal itself, while the moon seemed to be washed out of color that it had during the night, cowering and hiding at the sky's horizon.
Though while the moon was recoiling back, Levis seemed to become as eager as the sun, desiring to go out and see the city. To view by himself the things he had simply heard from Hubert, or from the stories of the old village Chief.
“Relax! And listen!”
At this moment, the brimming Levis, was out and in front of the building where he had slept, with a half-asleep Hubert next to him, as well as all the other guards from the squadron, only this time they were not dressed in to their armors, as they were clothed casually and relaxed, with Rowen, old Wan, and Adrian that stood ahead, facing and addressing towards all of them.
“Do not forget where you are, we are in a different city with not much jurisdiction, so behave or you will be punished accordingly. This is a free day, relax as tomorrow we continue our journey. You are all dismissed.”
As Rowen ended his speech to the men, he looked towards Hubert and Levis, as he was scrutinizing the boy.
“I already heard Adrian, as I too was about to say something, but now that this has been brought up. Hubert! Take Levis and by new articles of clothing, nothing flashy, something modest, bland colors that will not attract too much attention, understood?”
“Yes, captain.”
“Here, some gold and silver, this is my expenditure, he is free to use it all, you can get him accustomed to the life of the city today, but return before dusk, and do not get yourselves into trouble.
“Understood.”
“And you stay with him, do not get lost.”
“Do not worry, if I get lost I know where to return.”
“Well, that is true, as the building can be seen from afar, but is still better if you do not get separated from him.”
“Yes, yes, let us go---, go.”
“You can leave.”
With permission and some coins, Hubert, and Levis took off from the big complex that was the many building of the Guard branch of the city, leaving Rowen, Adrian, and old Wan by themselves.
“With this, everybody is off. Now is time for me to submit a report, to the branch of the Geen city—, now what to give and not to give. Hmmm---, Adrian! You?”
“I will take my leave, and focus on my training for the day. If there is something, please contact me.”
“You can go.”
"Captain."
“Now time to give my report.”
“Then let us proceed, young master.”
As Adrian and Rowen took to their own tasks, Hubert and Levis, took off in the streets of the city, moving thru the crowds of people, and the varied street merchants and shops. Though, with a limited understanding of the written language, Levis could do nothing else but look at the images that so often were accompanied by the words, as he had seen places that seemed to offer food, as his nose had picked good smells coming from them, while other had books, strange vials, animals or plants.
“This one should be good. Let us go inside and look at what they have. And tell me if you see something that you like something.”
“Mhmm.”
However, it was after some time that Levis and Hubert arrived at a shop, that had the image of a man and a lady strolling while also posing. Nevertheless once inside, the many garments on the display, shocked Levis as there was something for every situation or person, though after looking around for clothes that he could wear, nothing could be found that satisfy the request of the captain or what Levis truly wanted, as nothing seemed on their pleasing.
“Excuse me! Can we look at the color you have, and can we order something to be done before the evening?”
“Yes, please take a look, and tell me if you like any of them!”
With nowhere to go, Hubert moved to one of the ladies working, as she took a large staking bundle of colored small fabrics and begged to present them in a fast fashion.
“That one!”
“This one?”
“No, this one.”
“Hmmm—. you sure?”
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“Yes.”
But looking at the color that the boy had picked, the woman slightly raise her eyebrow, at the bland yellow-green color that the young boy before her had chosen. But as she looked at the way he was dressed and at the man that was with him, she had no choice but to accept, as she did not want to lose a customer out of her own whimsical opinion.
“Then, little boy, come here, and stay still for a moment, I will take your measures.”
Though as Levis was called over, his eyes twitched as the word "little" was added, however, as he stood still, the woman took a long flat piece of fabric with what he deduced to be numbers written on it, as she took it and wrap it around his waist, chest arms, and legs as well his overall height.
“Done---, I will have everything accomplished by noontime.”
“Ahhh—, I need it to be slightly short on the ankles and wrists, can you do that?”
“Very well, little boy.”
“Ahaamm, he needs three sets identical, and a winter and summer version, do not be cheap on the materials, I will buy the best you have, that is made out of normal fabric, and—, yes, make it a measure larger, since he might grow out of them quite fast.”
At the phrase spoken by Hubert, the woman's eyes brighten, as she could receive a good bonus from this time's sale.
“As the Sir desires---, it will be slightly difficult, but we can have it done by noon if Sir is willing to tolerate the increased fee, given the urgency of the order.”
“Yes, I will take it.”
“Then please-, follow me, for the payment and the contract.”
With all that they required, being in order, they moved to an isolated room, away from the large open shop, where another woman was present to assist and be witness, as two small papers were signed by Hubert.
“Now- the total is--, five gold and eighty silver.”
“Yes, five gold, and—! Hmmm?---[Fuuuuck! What the fuck! Five gold! How much did she say!? Now that I think about it, I did not see any price on anything on display—, where the hell are we? Does not matter-, does not matter—, because these are not my coins. But fuck, this is four months of my salary paid in coin. But why the hell did the captain, gave me—, him-, thirty gold coins, shit I too want this kind of coin treatment]--- Here!”
“We thank you for your order, sir.”
“No need. Let us go, Levis! We still have to see the city.”
“Let us move then. See you this noon, aunty!”
“I give this brief farewell, sir, young master!”
“Than, till this afternoon.”
With the order for Levis's attires ordered, the two of them moved outside of the shop, looking at the all people moving to and fro.
[There are a lot of people here, and cultivators are all over the place, most of them are just as strong as the guards, but there are some, who are far more powerful, surpassing even Rowen. However, right now I am reaching the limit and close to Adrian, I have never felt so alive and energized. The more energy I absorb, the more cells are awakened and the more powerful I feel. I want to see what I am capable of right now!]
[You will get the moment, just continue as you are right now. You are improving your cultivation fast enough, whereas your will is still weak, is reasonable to get excited, but do not forget to limit yourself, if you still want to live amongst humans.]
[I know, I know!]
“Time to continue. But first, I need to change my shards to a lower rank. I have seen a deposit house on our way here, follow me.”
As Hubert began to walk, Levis also followed towards a building, that did not have anything to sell, only many places where other people stood behind, what it seemed to be small openings with transparent mirror protections. Although as Levis was left to wait, Hubert moved towards one of those openings that had a person behind the mirror, as he handed two energy shards, in exchange, he received several more, though even to the eye of the inexperience Levis he could deduce that those shards did not contain as much energy as the ones he had offered.
“Alright, I have what I need---, to the elixir shop.”
“Elixir?”
“You do not—, well simple version, elixirs, and concocted medicine are what you need the most as a cultivator, you can say that also about plants and fruits, but those are below the elixirs so you can rank them as being of the second rate. Well with time you will understand. But for the moment just stay with me and look around.”
“Mhmm.”
With nothing much to say, as Levis knew almost nothing about the topic regarding elixirs, he could do nothing else but nod at Hubert, who seemed to be getting in a good disposition.
“That one over there—[Finely, I can buy a good breaking rank 4 elixir and try to move on. I can not let that idiot move too far from me.]---, let us go inside and see what they have to offer.”
In no time at all, after just a short walk near the premises of the guard branch, a shop stood right in front of them, as the sign on the board had the image of a vial or a flask. However as they entered inside it, a spacious large hall greeted them, as near the walls, stood the long tables surrounding the walls and the first line of products to be sold, however as they were blocked by a glass that encapsulated the tables, only the workers behind seemed to be able to access them. Regardless, it was behind the first table and behind the workers, on the walls of the expansive hall, where the majority of the wares stood, in many small cubicles, with each and every product showing a long description, that gave Levis a headache, from the many words on the papers, next to the various small vials or square boxes.
“Good day, how may I help you?”
“Rank 4 breaking elixir or pill. Can you show me the varieties you have?”
“Yes, this is the kind that sir is speaking of, and of what we can offer as well as the price for a rank 4 breaking elixir-, four rank 4 shards. Breaking pill, seven rank 4 shards---, and powder variant incense, two and a half rank 4 shards.”
“Hmmm—."
[For that rank for elixir thing you need four shards of equal energy. This is a loss. Why does he do it? It makes no sense.]
[Not everybody can cultivate like you, as a leech that sucks the world and thrives with no problem whatsoever. The normal cultivators need a more neutral kind of energy, for easy absorption, if they want to advance quickly so as to not stay forever at their ranks or stages.]
“I will take two elixirs.”
“Two elixirs it will be then. Please deposit the shards for inspection of their true quality.”
With no hesitation and a bit of a smirk on his face, Hubert took the pouch offered by old Wan, and retrieved eight shards, while placing them on the plate that the lady had prepared for him. As he had placed them a small color of blue showed over them all, as the lady nodded and made the exchange, offering him two vials of the breaking elixir.
“Thank you for the purchase, Sir”
With not many emotions on his face, as Hubert wanted to look though it was not a big deal, he took the two vials and stuff them into his pouch, as he and Levis departed from the shop, and once again into the crowded streets that did not seem to suffer from a lack of people.
“Mmmm—, come on, it is time to walk and relax, see the food and the drinks here, as your clothing will be ready in a while---. Since we did not stop at all, it is time to go slow and relax.”
“Are we going to eat?”
“Yes, these bastards did not give us anything last night or this morning, so we can go and grab something.”
With new vigor, Hubert took Levis to circle around the central-north part of the city, as they walked into a few eateries, and visited several street vendors, eating only small portions just for the tase as they wandered thru the city as though two travelers whose main duties were to sightsee the city and its food quality and occasionally drinking something on the side.
“Ahh—, I think I eat a bit too much, let me walk to a place where we can unwind for free---."
Even as the good period continue, a change was bound to appear, as, after quite the tour, the first to give up was Hubert himself as he had reached his own limit, needing a place to rest and sit down.
Though, as they were moving towards one of the green areas of the city, a certain sign of a place hidden in a sideway alley, that was quite isolated, caught the eye of the man, as he began to struggle a bit about his next decision.
“Levis---, you can go ahead--, take this and buy yourself something, I will be off for a bit. But this, is to be our secret, alright?”
“Alright, our secret, I will buy some sweets and wait for you at the place where the trees are.”
“You do that, if anyone tries to do anything to you just scream for help, the patrolling guards, or I will come to help you.”
“Alright!”
Though it did not last long before Levis could even say his last word, the man was already moving toward the alley, with shifty eyes as he kept checking his pouches in a very pensive manner. In the end, he entered the “shop” as Levis was finely left on his own.