I made my way to the border gate. I wanted to find an inn if possible or at the very least, learn how this stuff worked. I might have to come back out to the refugee camps but I could at least try. The guard looked suspicious of me.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“I am trying to get into the city. I don’t really know how it works,” I asked.

He rolled his eyes. This wasn’t looking good.

The guard next to him took a more sympathetic look at me. “What nation are you from?”

“Hikarigawa,” I said, holding up my papers.

“Oh!” the first guard said, his expression softening. “Why didn’t you open with that, I was almost ready to crack your head open.”

“Come now, he said he didn’t know how it works,” the second guard followed up. “Normally we need to have interviews but we make an exception for those with papers that are from Hikarigawa. So we just need to see your papers as we make a record of you. We will stamp the back of your paper to serve as proof of your admittance.”

“Thanks!” I said. “What happens if I lose my papers?”

“Don’t,” the first guard said.

“In that event, just make sure you remember the details, we can cross reference them with what we mark down tonight, but it’s a hassle so I don’t recommend it,” the second guard said.

“Got it,” I said. “Thanks.”

They let me in and the city was notably different from outside. Dirt roads, they showed signs of being beaten down to be nearly even. But no extra effort beyond that. No copplestone or anything else. I am guessing this area doesn’t see too much rain then.

It was hard to see everything clearly since it was dark, but I could see that the immediate stuff seemed to be stored. They had signs with an etched picture and writing on them. So I could get a general idea from the picture. Like one had a hammer, so I was guessing blacksmith. One with plenty of people inside drinking had a mug. If it was a bar or eatery I couldn’t be sure from a glance. But with only a few silvers to my name I couldn’t exactly spare extra on an extravagant meal.

I would need to find a way to earn money. Drawing would be ideal but I doubted there would be a market for that in a border town, even if there was. I considered it equally unlikely I would be able to break into that kind of market without a recommendation. For now, even a simple manual job that would pay enough for me to sleep, bathe and eat would be enough.

As I was walking around, someone suddenly stepped to the side to bump into me. I fell down backwards.

“Watch where you're going ya nut,” he said.

Was he drunk? Crap he was big. He looked like he had a solid hundred pounds over me. “Sorry, I will try to be more careful in future.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Oh, fine clothes and fancy speaking, you must be loaded. How about a proper apology?” he asked while holding a hand out.

Ugh. I could summon Kagerou, but I’d rather not if I could avoid it. I didn’t know how common summoners were or what the laws are, but I’d rather not be extorted. I could possibly outrun him. The guards aren’t that far away. He might not even chase me.

“What do you think you are doing?” A feminine voice said.

“Oh, Lady Kaida, it ain’t nothing,” he said. “Just teaching a newbie is all.”

“Just go home,” Kaida said.

“All you noble types, you can boss us around! Heck you!” he shouted while swinging at her.

She dodged it easily enough but then his shoulder shoved her and she fell backwards. Something out of her bag rolled over towards me. He tried to run past her to grab it. Wait, was this a set up? I grabbed the item and darted away from him.

“Gimme that you pigeon!” he shouted.

Kaida knocked him to the ground and began punching him. I took a moment to glance at the item. It appeared to just be a letter. I decided to snap a quick picture of it since my phone had the battery still. Such copying means would likely be beyond them and if it was important, I figured it may be useful to have.

After he stopped resisting she stood up. Other guards came to us and she looked at me. “I believe that is mine,” she said looking at me.

“Yeah, of course! I only tried to stop him, I wasn’t trying to steal it,” I said handing it back.

“Thanks,” she said. “Probably my fault he was messing with you anyhow.”

“Yeah, I get that impression too. He was trying to pick a fight with you in a less obvious way, right?”

She nodded. “I’m Kaida Tsuyoki, of the Tsuyoki barony. I serve as lieutenant to the marshal of this town. I am sorry to get you wrapped up in this. So who are you?”

“Theodore. Theodore Chapman, but I’m just a nobody. Just arrived in town not but an hour ago.”

She glanced back at some guards that were taking the man that attacked her away before turning back to me. “Interesting name. Where are you staying? Allow me to escort you, as a way of making this up to you.”

I rubbed my head. “I haven’t found an inn yet.”

“Ah,” she said. “I know a good one, not expensive if that's a worry, let me show you.”

I didn’t exactly have a better plan, so I decided to follow her. She led me to a place near the south side of town. The inn just had one woman at the front desk. It split into three paths. Looked like a kitchen behind her, a lunchroom to the left and a row of rooms to the right.

“Oh hey Kaida,” the lady said. “Who's the dude?”

“Just a new arrival, give him three nights on me,” she said.

“Oh dang. Thank you Kaida,” I said.

She gave me a sharp look. “I owe you for the help. Question though, are you familiar with noble etiquette?”

“Can’t say that I am, why did I make a mistake?” I asked.

“No, it is okay,” she said, turning into a bit of a softer smile. “But if we are in the presence of guards or other high status people, you will need to refer to me as Lady at the very least.”

“Should I just always call you that?” I asked.

She paused. “That is more something you have to decide. I gotta get back to work.”

I turned my attention to the innkeeper. “I’m Theodore,” I said.

“Exotic, neat. I’m Koharu. And for the record. Kaida hates being called Lady and all the other noble stuff. But ya gotta do it when the right people are watching. If you want to be on her goodside, just call her Kaida when no one else is around.”

“Thanks for the tip,” I said. “So how does the room stuff work?”

“Well, we offer three meals. First is served after sunrise. The second about two hours later, and the third just after dark. If you show up after I put it away, tough shit. Cost is five coppers a day. Plus expenses if you break shit. Any questions?”

“What room is for me?” I asked.

She handed me a silver looking key. “Third one on the right.”

I smiled before walking off. It was pitch black inside, so I turned on my phone light to glance. Just one room. No closet, no bathroom or anything like that. Just a bed, a table and two chairs. Also a lantern on the desk but I wasn’t sure how to light it. Not that it was much of an issue. I was more tired than I can ever recall in recent memory. I just ran to the bed to collapse on it and drift to sleep. I didn’t even care enough to take off my shoes.