As they got near the settlement, they can clearly see the wooden spires surrounding it, the dirt road connected to the opening within these. On that opening, they can see two guys standing on each side, a spear in their hands and some leather plating in their clothes.

Walking near them, the two guys turned to their direction. Their expression welcoming.

"Oh, travelers! Welcome to our village!" The guy raised his hand in acknowledgement.

Aozora would have responded if Austina didn't step forward.

"Nice evening were having here." She started. "Can we ask for a roof over our heads?"

"Of course. I'll just call our village chief." After that, he left his post.

The other guard just looks at them casually. A hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Nice outfit ya got there. Where did ya come from?"

"We're from a land far from here. A place of great abundance and wonder." Austina answered in kind, her smile still gentle.

"I see."

"What about you? Can you tell us anything about this place?"

"Sure." He took a cough. "This is the Fawkes Village. Just a small settlement near that mountain there." He pointed to the silhouette of a large landmass on the distance. "We're just a farming village, so there is nothing interesting here other than the yellow butterflies that occasionally comes here."

"I see. Is there anything else in that direction?"

"Oh. Beyond this?" With her nod, he continues. "There lies a frontier village, and the Iron Fortress that guards the Fork Mountains. I heard the Iron Fortress is truly made of iron. Don't know if it was true, but I would expect much if the Transmigrators are involved in it."

Aozora perks up at that and she quickly gets closer to them. "What is that about the Transmigrators!?" She asked, her face the picture of interest.

"Woah!" The guy raised his hand. "Ya hafta calm down. Don't get so close like that!"

"Milady! Please don't startle the poor villager."

Aozora looks at them uncomprehending, before she flushed in embarrassment and took a step back. Though, her eyes are still focused at the guy, which just causes him to take a step back.

"So the Transmigrators?" It seems like he was forced to comply, as he took a glance at Aozora. "Actually, we don't know much about them. I heard that they came from Another World. They have incredible powers... I think?"

"You think?" Aozora looks at him in suspicion.

"Wait, ya don't know anything about the Transmigrators?" Seeing her shook her head, he looks at her with his eyes squinted. "Wait. Those clothes... are you a Transmigrator?"

Hearing that, Aozora quickly looks at her clothes. She haven't changed from her school blazer since that incident. Though, a single day has passed and she didn't have any change of clothes.

'Crap! With just my clothes, they might learn more about our identity!' She recalls most of the cliches that happens on Isekai stories, and decided that she definitely don't want to get involved on those.

She looks at him, her muscle tense and is ready to run away. Though, it seems like the guard quickly diffused her caution before she did something.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Okay. Ya lookin panicked there. Don'tcha worry, we're no snitch. If ya lookin for a place to stay, ya can stay here!"

She stares at him, seeing any form of lies. Though, she is not really an expert so she just slowly nodded to his words.

"Good. Sorry for scarin ya!"

"No. I'm sorry. I just don't want to get in trouble."

"Yeah. Most Transmigrators are also like that." She didn't know why but it felt like there is some joke in there that she's not getting. "By the way, what about ya miss? Travelling companion?"

Hearing the question directed at the princess, Austina just nodded at him.

"Cool. I heard most Transmigrators always get beautiful companions." He said that, like it was common knowledge.

Aozora is curious, but she stops herself when she saw the other guard coming back with an old man following behind him.

"Oh. I see. New visitors. Come on, come in! We welcome everyone to our humble village!"

"Thank you." Austina smiled to the old man before nudging her Master.

Aozora just bowed for a bit, and the old man just nodded at them before turning his back.

They followed the old guy as the guard gets back to his station. As they got inside, Aozora can see the whole place. The ground they are walking are straightened dirt, the houses are either made of wood or hay, and sometimes there are some hint of rock within it. She can that the houses are built in a scattered manner, though on a few walks, there are an orderly arranged houses that are facing a circular opening, which seems to indicate the center of this village.

"So what can our village do to you, fair ladies?"

"Actually, we're looking for a place to stay." Austina took charge in that.

"Aye. Then our stables are open. It is not much, but I hope you are satisfied with it." He said while they move beyond the plaza and stops on a large yard there.

Looking at it, Aozora smells something raw in there. It's a smell that she aren't used at all. 'Are those... horse dung!?' She felt a bit sick just by taking a whiff.

"Ah. I apologize. It seems like Milady is not used to the smell of the horses."

"It is fine. I have expected as much."

"... You expected this?"

"Aye. City folks aren't used to the life of a villager. They paled at the smell of nature and dirt." The old man just shrugs. "We have other accomodations. How about an old shack?"

"Let's check it out."

They moved out of the stables and walk a bit more. After taking a turn, they arrived at another place. This time is a shack made of olden wood. The humid and wooden smell permeates the surroundings, and there is some smell of nature within.

Austina looks at her Master and saw that she is not that bothered by it. "I am fine by this." With that as confirmation, Austina nodded to the old guy.

"We'll stay here."

"Ah. Then you may sleep there for a night." He took a thinking gesture before turning to Aozora. "Do you need any change of clothes?"

Aozora almost rejected it, but she recalls the guard immediately recognizing her nature as an otherworlder, and took a bit of time to process her answer before she speaks. "I.... will."

"Okay. I'll ask my wife to pick you some." With that, the old guy left.

The two looks at each other. Then they check the interior of the shack.

"Ack!"

Opening the door causes some dust to come through, forcing her to cover her eyes. Though, she is forced to sneeze as some of those dust came to her nest.

Disregarding it, Austina just moves forward and take a full glance all over the room.

"This looks a bit dusty." She turned to Aozora who have just managed to calm herself. "Milady, can you wait for a bit. I'd like to clean a space for us."

Aozora stared at her, processing her words before she slowly nodded. Then she took a step back to leave it to her summon.

"Thank you Milady. I'll be done in a moment!"

Austina quickly took note of her surroundings and then find some cleaning utensils. While that is happening, Aozora stood there for awhile before she thought of something.

'Right. I should check out my games.'

She look around for a bit before finding a large enough rock to comfortably sit. She opened the mysterious floating panel with her thought before opening the Princess Saga.

'Right... I still don't have any EXP. Princess Gems are also just in zeroes. Even the gold coins needed to level up my characters are nonexistent!' She frowned. 'If my suspicion is correct then...' She turned her focus to the sky.

Usually, Experience Points can be taken by killing enemies. She wonders if she needs to do that just to acquire EXP.

'And about my Princess Gems. How can I even get it?'

Princess Gem. The premium currency on Princess Saga. It can be used to buy Skins, auto upgrade characters, buy some convenient functions, or the main purpose which is use it on the Gacha.

Princess Gems can only be taken by finishing a quest, a daily quest, accumulating it on PvP and team PvP ranks, and buying it through credit card.

'But I can't do that!'

It is impossible. She can't see any options asking her to purchase those Princess Gems. Even if there is, she didn't even have any money with her, and there are no credit card services in this world.

"I'll think about this next time."

She dismiss the floating panel and then stared at the shack where the princess is located.