Kee and Rin strode along the beach, conversing in snippets about simple things as they made their way westward. Kee, though, kept his guard up, carefully sharing only sparse details about himself while drawing out much more from Rin, who didn’t quite understand why Kee seemed so clueless about things most creatures knew.
Through their conversation, Kee gained a broad understanding of the local races. Goblins, he learned, were the poorest of all, surviving mainly by scavenging forest food and hunting small game. Their ways reminded him of primitive humans, lacking knowledge in cooking and cleaning. They were smaller, green-skinned, and far scrawnier than most others.
The ogres, on the other hand, lived like villagers, equipped with some basic skills across various trades. While their lives weren’t particularly luxurious, they were sturdy, larger in build, and sported unique skin tones and horns. Their notorious short tempers added a touch of wariness when dealing with them.
Occasionally, orcs would visit the region, though they didn’t share much about themselves. Tribal in nature, they excelled in brewing, trading fine liquors that made them sought-after at gatherings. The prideful lizardmen, descendants of dragon kin, only appeared briefly, often leaving after a heated argument. Their lineage was a major source of pride, as they traced their ancestry back to the true dragons themselves.
Lastly, Kee discovered more about Rin’s people, the mermen. Living in underwater villages shielded by barriers, their lives mirrored those on land, though they had kingdoms governed differently. Mermen like Rin needed to immerse in seawater at least once every two months to avoid a slow, withering dehydration, but otherwise, they lived no differently than those on the surface.
“So, this gathering,” Kee began, intrigued. “It’s basically an annual bartering system?”
Rin nodded. “Yeah, that’s right. Every year, villages with extra goods come to trade for what they need. It’s rare to see more than 20 or 30 people, and only a few villages attend, so each race mostly keeps to itself.”
“Got it, thanks for the info,” Kee replied. “By the way, how much further is it? You’ve been swimming while I’ve been slogging through sand and shallow water for hours.”
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“Think of it as training. We should reach the exchange by sunset if we keep up this pace. They’ll spend the night setting up the stalls; the trading starts tomorrow morning.”
“Okay.”
Rin grinned, his eyes sparking with mischief. “Hey, let’s race! Loser treats the winner to lunch tomorrow.” And before Kee could answer, Rin dove into the water, speeding off ahead with a flash of green scales.
“Fine,” Kee muttered, dashing after him.
A short time later, Kee finally caught up, dripping and panting beside a frowning Rin. “How… on landiona… are you faster than a fish in water?”
Rin scowled, half to himself. How’d I lose money drinking, gambling, and now in a foot race? I’m a fish in water—a guard captain! I should have outlasted him easily. Shaking off the irritation, he noted, This ‘Kee’ may not have many magicules, but his skills are sharp. If we fought on land, we’d be evenly matched. In the water, though… He recalled the ease with which Kee had cut the wave, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.
The two had nearly reached their destination, covering about 145 of the 150 kilometers. Rin, spotting smoke on the horizon, gestured to it. “Just a little further; we’re almost there.”
Kee nodded in reply. “Mhm.”
“You seem quiet all of a sudden,” Rin smirked, sensing Kee’s mood shift.
Kee twisted around, landing a light backheel to the back of Rin’s head. “Pipe down before I make you forget your own name.”
“Alright, alright…” Rin chuckled, rubbing his head as they fell into a companionable silence.
As they reached the edge of the marketplace, Kee stopped, taken aback by the sight before him. It wasn’t breathtaking, but the natural setup was comforting and charming. Thin, vine-like plants with leaves resembling fireflies glowed softly, illuminating the area. A single fire, more for the smoke signal than for light, burned at the center. Rows of stone structures housed individual stalls, creating an organized yet rustic scene that reminded Kee of the earthy, open-air markets back on Earth.
The marketplace sat atop a 20-meter cliff, catching a refreshing ocean breeze. Kee and Rin agreed to separate and meet up later, Kee pulling up his hood to blend in as he wandered through the stalls. To his surprise, most of the market-goers were cloaked, while only a few wore simpler, plain clothing.
What an odd fashion choice, Kee thought, moving past several stalls. He felt he’d been misinformed on some things about the forest races, both by Yelena and Rin.
Surprisingly, Yelena held true to her promise, quietly observing the world through Kee’s eyes, giving him the silence he rarely got.