Teacher and I are on our way to the east end of the city we live in. The city is called "Cara'athio"*. It's the 4th lagest city of this country. Even though it is so big, it can't rival any of the other 7 big cities in anything exept for one thing. The reason this city has developed this well is because it has low taxes, good infrastructure for trading and many little villages near which bring in resources like wood and metal. But more than those resources a lot more farms and food resources can be found near. Which makes the costs for living here even lower.

The city itself is parted in 8 sections.

The center has a the villa of the citys lord in it with houses of the rich and nobleman around it. Therefore it is the district for the higher standards, named Saar but also called the Center.

Like a ring around the Center(Saar) is the district of the knights and soldiers, building something like a protective wall around it. Named "Saarl Wosh" or the Knights Ring. Located at the east border of the Knights Ring (Saarl Wosh) is the Knights school. On the north/east border of Saar and Saarl Wosh is the Academy for nobles and magicians.

South-southwest cuts a river through the city dividing the harbour district in a northern and southern part.

The southern part was originally the export harbour for the surrounding villages. But a lot of mischievious people took it over and now it is a black market place paired with the slums. 

The northern part is now the main trading route for import and export and also has really popular restaurants the closer you go to the center. At the border between the northern harbour and Saarl Wosh is the mainbuilding, great church, of the twelve religions govourning this world. 

At first the Harbour was just one district called Parawe, but now is devided in Parawe Ba'al (northern) and Parawe Nos (southern).

Northwest is Marask Al a district filled with bars, Inn's and everything a mercenary needs. Also the district my parents and I live in quite close to the Center.

North and East are Gav and Iondra the districts most people live in. Most people of Iondra (East) have a greater fortune than people of Gav. 

The last district in the south east is Vile. It is also a trading district but also has the only casino of the town. And that place is our goal.

For safety reasons normal people like us are not allowed to enter Saarl Wosh and Saar without a special permission.

We do not own one, so we have to go all the way around the Center. We take the route through Gav and Iondra because it seems shorter and safer. Parents and chaperones seem to have a hard job. 

I have been in these parts with my parents before to visit some friends of the family, so the scenery is not that unfamiliar. Every time I wander through this parts I look around carefully and inspect the architectural changes of the housings. The closer We get to the Center the older the buildings get. But they also become bigger and more expensive. The value also rises while coming from Marask Al to Gav and spikes in Iondra. But it also lowers again when coming from Iondra to Vile. What's more interesting, great architectural differences are visible between the different districts. The houses of Marask Al are mostly half-timbered houses. In Gav the houses are mostly halftimbered houses too, but have a lot more ornaments and are often combined with brick elements. Also in Gav are more brick houses. Iondra is mainly build of brick houses and not only ornaments on houses but also gardens and statues can be seen everywhere. When arriving in Vile the architecture becomes a lot more simple and mainly wooden houses can be found. It looks a lot like Marask Al but even more simple.

 After around 3 hours of walking through this city we finally arrive at a huge house unfitting to the rest of the buildings around but at the same time it merges perfectly with the rest. A work of art if I may say so. This house is made of a halftimbered and bricked combination with ornaments and decorations making this building stand out more than any other. But the colours and edges fit to the other houses around so perfectly that it doesn't seem out of place.

Before the entrance is asheltered staircase leading to a huge open door. Two muscular guards stand before it. My teacher takes my hand and pulls me softly along.

»Let's go.«

she smiles at me.

Pulling a letter out of her jacket and showing it to the guards, she wordlessly passes through the door with me. Inside is a big hall with an open hallway of the second floor on the sidewalls. It's loud and smells of cigars and a faint note of spruce**. At the entrance there is a lot of space, a bit further in are many tables with people off different stands gambling against each other and the casino itself. at the other side on the wall is a bar and a band plays lively music on the stage in the left corner. Maids wander through the room serving drinks and snacks. in the right corner is a seating area with seemingly rich customers having lots of women in their arms and laughing loudly while drinking. There are no windows for this hall. some doors on every side lead to seperate rooms where maids sometimes go in to serve special guests. 

Suddenly a commotion breaks out. Someone flies out of the door leading to the second room on the right side. Landing on a table disturbing the game and making the guys gambling there angry.

»There he is...«

My teacher said monotonely.

I look up to her with questioning eyes.

»WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?«

A shouting female voice draws my attention back to the commotion. The hall went silent in an instant. Two even bigger guys than the guards from before, clad in white long mantles, walk out the opened door to the right. Bigger I said, but one of them is just really tall and the other one bulked like a gorilla. The one closer to us has a big Weapon on his back, the other one has two on his belt. Unfortunately thanks to my size and them standing with their fronts to me, I am not able to tell what weapons those are.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Following them an elegant clothed woman, in a fine red dress with blue ornaments, steps between them. Smoking a cigar she looks older than my teacher but still young. I guess around 35 years old? Her hair is red as her dress and bound into a bun with one big skein hanging over her left shoulder. She is angry... definitely.

»YOU LITTLE SHITHEAD! COMING IN HERE, GAMBLING A FORTUNE YOU DON'T HAVE AND NOT PAYING AT ALL?«

»Yeah definately him...«

My teacher mumbles.

»WHY SHOULDN'T I KILL YOU RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW? FOR TRYING TO BETRAY AND STEAL FROM US?«

»Chelo, stand still here and wait for me. If anything happens just call the guards or shout out to me.«

With those words she walks up to the commotion. The angry woman swearing and threatening without waiting for an answer.

Eventually the angry woman notices my teacher, but ignores her and continues the ranting. Commanding her bodyguards they gradually move closer to the guy on the smashed table. Clenching their fists and leaning down their bodies slightly. Seems like they have no intention of drawing their weapons yet, which is a good thing, right? YET!

A faint scared squiek can be heard from the poor guy. 

»STOP IT!«

My teacher shouts and moves up to the closer bodyguard. Both stop and glare angrily and slightly confused at my teacher. 

»Keep out of this, sweetheart! ... Or do you intend to pay up for him?«

The woman is surprised at first, but then looks curiously with a faintly mischievous smile at her. The bodyguards straigthen their backs again and wait for commands. Meanwhile I tried to get a better position to see whats going on.

»... If you don't pay for him then we shall continue. Brovurion! Asab!«

»Wait, wait, wait. please don't.«

The guy on the ground begs for mercy. Everyone in this hall is fascinated and just looks whats going to happen.

In a Swift action teacher suddenly stood between Brovurion, Asab and the guy on the ground. Thanks to my new positioning I can See that the guard closer to me has a Warhammer on his back. Mom would be really mad to see him.

»Please give me just a second with him, I need to talk with him.«

»Oh thank god you are here!«

»Just shut up! I am talking to this gracious Lady. So like I said, just a moment and afterwards you may do as you please with this... guy.«

The woman grins.

» Brovurion, Asab!«

The bodyguards turn around and the woman gestures with her hand to allow teacher to proceed. The bodyguards take a step back. At this moment I notice Mr. Warhammer jerks with his right shoulder weirdly.

»Thanks.«

»Milliana, thanks goodness you are here. Please help me.«

»I said shut up. I am not here for that. Whenever I meet you, you are in trouble.«

»It's not like-«

»DON'T talk before you're allowed. I thought we could meet the Professor here, but it's just you. You probably arranged this. But you know where he is. So just tell me and have fun with these guys.«

I never expected teacher to have such a crooked character. That guys scared expression changed into an arrogant grin quite fast.

»Yeah, I do know. But why should I tell you whithout getting something back? If you let them get at me there won't be a chance to tell you anymore.«

Teacher is unimpressed, looks back at the lady, and whispers something while pointing at the bodyguard with the weapons on his belt. The Lady nods and commands him.

»Asab, if you may.«

Asab draws out a sword and holds the blade under the guys chin. Then teacher begins to talk again.

»Hear what I say Dumbelo***. I don't need that information. If needed I can just search for him myself. But obviously it's your fault for us to not have him met yet. You as his assistant set this up. So may I kindly ask where he is? It's more like an atonement for trying to make me save you again. There are even worse things than death ,too. So a last time, where is the professor?«

At this moment I got scared of teacher. Always the happy, kind and caring person but at this moment just scary. Even though teacher was that mad, aggressive and serious the guy did not change his expression.

»Well if you don't want to rescue me, what would the professor think? I could even tell some stories about you and your past.«

»You would not dare to do that!«

»Oh, what if I tell about the time in Dassi-«

»CHELO WATCH OUT! BEHIND YOU.«

My teacher suddenly turns to me and shouts. I turn around reflexively. And there is... nothing. A loud BANG echoes through the silent tension of the hall instantly followed by a cracking noise. And I turn to my teacher again, realizing I was not the only one that turned around to look what's behind me. Dumbelo, the name teacher called him, was silenced. his head was now burried on the ground and the table beneath even more shattered. He seemed to be knocked out. Teacher turned to the lady again and bowed. 

»I deeply apologize for taking this time. Unfortunately what kind of teacher would I be if I don't help an old acquaintance and show that I am a proper role model. Also like he said my old mentor would be ashamed of me. So, how muvh is his it?«

»It's 2000 Bha****. Do you think you can offer that much?«

I don't know yet how much that really is, but a whole new custom armour from Mom costs around 250 so that seems like a lot.

»Oh wow... Far from his record at least. But unfortunately I don't have that much. Neither has he i bet. I know this is really impolite, but is there anything to lessen this dept?«

The smile of the lady converts into a neutral facial expression of thought. And answers lesurely with a playful smile.

»You know I won't! Well not just like that. But judging from your appearance you seem to have some experience in fighting. More than a normal person. That hit looked good and I've come to somehow like you and your spine. If you have something to bet with, I will consider lessen it if you win the challange. But only once.«

»I am deeply thankful. But what kind of challange would it be?«

She obvious wants teacher to fight, does she?

»What would be the fun if I told you so beforehand? Just take the challange and bet something. Depending on its value we can negotiate.«

Teacher puts her hand on her forehead and shoes signs of not wanting to. She looks back at Dumbelo and clicks with her tongue. 

»Okay...«

 The ladies expression becomes a wide grin with a faint hint of madness. She does not intend to hide her hapiness and anticipation.

Teacher gets out the document she showed at the entrance. And shows it to the lady.

»You know what this is?«

The ladies eyes became wider. The grin changed into a surprised open mouth to just become an even more mischievious grin.

»Of course you do. I guess with this document as wager the hole sum should be met. And as bonus he will pay for the table nevertheless.«

»I love that guts of yours. Let's go all in. Let's take the bet. But he shall never come in here again! You will be an honored guest in the future though.«

»Naturally I won't let him do this again.«

The Lady holds out her hand and my teacher grabs it.

»Then it's settled! EVERYONE, GET YOUR LUGGAGE AND MONEY, WE WILL GO DOWNSTAIRS!«

Suddenly the silence of all the others is liftet and the whole bar begins to shout and cheer loudly. The lady points at Dumbelo and the bodyguards look at each other. after a short exchange of gestures the guy with the two swords gets him and carries Dumbelo with them. The Lady goes forth, behind her the bodyguards. And just shortly after them the rest of the people from the bar. Teacher squeezes herself through the turmoil to me and grabs my hand. 

»I am sorry that you have to see this from me. Please don't tell anyone of the others... Let's go.«

She begins to pull me along while I am deep in thought with many questions on my mind.

...