The city of Avelencia was only able to exist due to an enormously complicated and advanced system of magic. There was no place for farmland, so all the cities crops were grown by Druids, Floramancers and similar classes. Distances between districts were too enormous to travel by foot or vehicle, so Teleporters and Space-Mages could be hired for a fee, while Artificers had long since constructed stable teleporters.
Every single aspect of life was enhanced with magic and it showed. The city's government took a lax attitude most of the time, only ensuring that the mages performed their duty while singular districts were under the control of gangs or powerful mages.
The district Nathan was currently exploring was not one of the more prosperous ones, but compared to the worst Avelencia had to offer, it was still safe.
He had been moving through the streets for hours now, taking note of the prices that goods were sold for and the living conditions of residents. Multiple times, he felt that people were watching him and he was sure that he had spotted the same beggar at least three times by now.
I have no idea why I'm being watched, but whoever gave the order should lose interest quickly as long as I don't do anything outrageous.
He had originally planned to swipe a purse to get some initial funds, but with observers trailing him, it would be safer to simply sell some of his goods.
During all the time he had spent wandering the district, he had seen almost no violence, and when confrontations arose they were swiftly broken up.
All of the guys who hold some authority here are wearing the same ring, at least the ones that are meant to be obvious to the public. Looks like there's the letter 'H' on the ring, but it could mean something different. The beggar trailing me doesn't wear one, but I'm almost sure he belongs to the same organisation, so I can expect more people to work in secrecy.
The longer Nathan spent on the streets, the more tense he felt himself getting – the crowd of people and constant watchers grated on his nerves. When he caught himself nervously casting looks around, he decided to settle down for the night and continue tomorrow.
Finding an elf that was selling fresh produce, he manoeuvred over to the stand.
“Looking at your wares, it seems you sell fruit not grown in this city, is that right?”, he asked the elf.
“That's correct.”, the elf answered. “I made the pilgrimage from the mother tree to Avelencia to sell some actual elven crops. They always sell well here, I hear they taste much better than the magic-grown ones.”
“Then I've come to the right elf.”, Nathan said with a smile. “You see, I dabble as a merchant from time to time and a friend of mine recently came back with a caravan carrying wagonloads of fruit. As he owed me a tidy sum, he compensated me in wares. Now, I haven't got the contacts to sell that kind of stuff, so I figure if you pay me a price that still ends with you getting a profit we'll both be happy.”
The elf showed an interested expression and waved for Nathan to continue, prompting him to take out the fruits he had collected in the guardian's forest.
Seeing them, the elf's eyes widened and he took a deep breath. “Those are not regular fruits, my friend. They have been imbued with the blessing of nature. I would not sell those, no I would keep them for myself. With the energy they'll provide I might be able to delay my return to the mother tree for several months.
This is truly a great boon you have brought me. I can not in good conscience pay less than 300 credits for them, and even that would not be their full price.”
Nathan, meanwhile had a big smile on his face. “Goods are only worth as much as someone is willing to pay. I had not expected nearly as much, so 300 credits will satisfy me.”
With his purse now full, Nathan found the nearest inn to pay for a room. Looking around, he quickly spotted one particular dwarf sitting in a corner, a ring engraved with an 'H' on his finger.
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Whoever has control over this district has it in an incredibly tight grip. I might have misjudged the danger I'm in.
Nonetheless, he walked up to the innkeeper, asking for a room and a meal. The man was already about to agree, asking for 30 credits just for two days when his eyes suddenly widened. Without turning around, Nathan knew that he must have gotten a signal from the mystery dwarf in the corner.
Shit, why are they focussing so much on me?
Letting out a nervous laugh, the innkeeper amended his statement. “Ah, you know, the inn is almost empty this time of the year. I guess I can give you a lower price young man. How about 30 credits for a week, food included?”
That reply greatly confused Nathan, he had expected to be turned away, not for the price to be lowered. Despite the suspicious situation, he saw no reason to refuse, agreeing immediately.
Sitting down and eating his meal, Nathan noticed that the dwarf was gone.
Whatever I have gotten myself into, they got the wrong guy. I can't leave the district right now, no teleporter will work at night for the amount I can pay. There is no way I'll stay a week though, tomorrow I'm going to another district.
Despite having a comfortable bed, he resolved to sleep in the tent that night. It should give him a couple of seconds to react in case anybody came for him.
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Coming down into the common room the next morning, Nathan immediately noticed two men wearing rings sitting around. They had ordered neither food nor drink and seeing them, Nathan smoothly turned towards the door. He had planned to at least eat some breakfast, but it seemed that was out of the question now.
Stepping outside, he started walking relaxed, but at a fast pace. As soon as he left the inn, he noticed multiple people trailing him, but Nathan showed no signs of recognizing that.
For now, he just continued on towards the nearest teleporter, hoping whoever was so interested in him would be content with him going on his way.
The further he walked though, the fewer people were on the street with him, somebody clearly trying to single him out – and succeeding. Turning around another corner, he noticed about half a dozen people moving towards him from the front, too organized to be random pedestrians.
Risking a quick look backwards, Nathan confirmed that he had been boxed in. He quickly found an alleyway, maintaining his relaxed demeanour until he stepped into it, but breaking into a sprint as soon as he was out of his stalkers' field of vision.
Sprinting forward, he came upon a dead end, debating how to climb over the wall that blocked his way when multiple men finally joined him in the alleyway, a shout instantly ringing out. “We've got you surrounded. Come quietly now, and we won't have to hurt you. Much.”
Ignoring the men, Nathan took a sprinter position before running towards the wall as fast as he could. A few metres in front of it, he activated Fast Mind, using the skill to jump as high as possible. He leapt multiple metres into the air and then used his feet to step off of the wall for more height.
That manoeuvrer sent him off to the side, where he managed to grab onto a balcony placed on the facade of one of the surrounding houses. Straining his still-weakened arms, he heaved himself upwards, ignoring the frantic shouting from his pursuers. Just as he had stepped onto the balcony, a projectile whipped by him, drawing a bloody line on his face.
Fuck, they have good aim.
Not taking another second to rest, he ran up to the edge of the balcony, jumping as far as he could. The top of the wall was still quite a bit above the balcony, but Nathan just barely managed to grip it, pulling himself upwards. Ducking down, he felt another bolt fly just over his head.
I have to lose them on the way to the teleporter. They can't follow me out of this district.
His decision made, Nathan jumped towards a lower roof, cushioning the fall by landing in a roll. Continuing from there, he broke out into a sprint, vaulting from roof to roof, not taking the direct route to leave his pursuers behind.
Multiple times, he spotted people looking for him and sometimes they even noticed him in return, but he always managed to lose them in the end.
Out of breath and exhausted, Nathan finally ended up in view of the teleportation hall. That building is under the control of the city government. No matter how much control those people have over the district, as long as I manage to step in there I'll be safe.
Once he jumped off the roof, he would have to cross another hundred metres to enter the building, so Nathan took his time to make sure no one was waiting for him there.
Something about my appearance must have given them the wrong idea. I guess if somebody noticed that I just materialized in an alleyway that would be hard to explain, then again I could just have been teleported there. They must not have expected me to flee the district for some reason.
Content with his observations, Nathan jumped down, ignoring the pain in his feet as he started sprinting. He did not consider his surroundings, bowling people out of the way as he neared his goal.
Almost there now, seems I made it.
Nathan was just a few steps in front of the building, when he suddenly felt a heavy impact on the back of his head.
“We got him, he tried to get to the teleporter.”, he still heard as the world tilted around him. Then everything went black.