As Norbert finally got comfortable, hearing the trumpets blowing from the front of the crowd. Rising to his feet, shaking his head in annoyance that he was disturbed just after getting shot to pieces. Stretching his back as he stood up, the timing of it coming rising suspicion in him, wondering who had set the entire thing up just to come around after Norbert had been shot to pieces.
The sand now peppered his skin where the holes were, annoyed at his ruined garments as he stepped towards Count von Count, who was part of the crowd, with the new arrivals taking everyone's attention.
Standing there, Norbert took the backpack he was offered. He placed it on his back again, sitting snuggly where it was meant to feel a head resting on his shoulder as the fox looked out of the backpack to see what all the commotion was about.
Seeing its ears move around in circles to pick up the noise before huffing and going back into the backpack, getting a chuckle from Norbert as the trumpets and fanfare finally died down.
Focusing on what was being said as he focused on the words, not understanding anything coming out of the person's mouth. Looking to Count von Count, who stared intently, nodding his head slightly with the words being said, Norbert at least had someone to talk to about it.
Groaning as he wished he still had his translator, Norbert felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to the vampire and held something in his hand. Looking at the talisman slowly spinning around from its chain, Norbert instantly recognised the translator, nodding his head in thanks as he took it, seeing it was also shining in the daylight, having at least several days' worth of juice in the item.
Placing it around his neck, the words become recognisable. "And that is all. May luck be on your side unless you don't need it." Norbert presumed the person finished before walking away.
Looking at the vampire, even though he wore all the clothes, Norbert could still tell the creature was grinning; stepping towards him, Norbert whispered as the group trudged forward, "What did they speak about?"
"Oh, you didn't hear?" Asked Count von Count, "I'm sure you could understand them, though, with the little trinket I gave you?" He pondered to himself.
Norbert, feeling ire, came into his voice. "Just tell me what was said." Norbert told the vampire.
"Uhhh, you're no fun. Here are some basics about the tournament. We aren't staying in the arena but in inns scattered halfway between the colosseum and here. When we leave the square, we will be given a token identifying us as competitors for Morenas that can be used for boarding down this street. Food needs to be bought by yourself." Count von Count finished off.
Norbert looked around; others were already walking forward, collecting items from the guards that jumped off the roofs. They were now on the side, with several at the front handing out the tokens.
"Well, I'm off. Need to meet up with some people, go get a room at the Pudgy Patron." Count von Count finished before disappearing into the crowd, Norbert instantly losing sight of the vampire.
Shaking his head, Norbert continued forward, taking his token from the closest guard and handing it out as he followed the group throughout the city. Looking around him, he saw the city's residents covering themselves in brightly coloured cloths, all wrapped up as Norbert continued to feel the sand beating on him.
Seeing stalls for food and items, the glittering jewellery hanging about, and the brightly coloured fabrics for sale, as he looked above the shops in the street, the typical two-story as he saw people moving about in the windows above.
Continuing to walk, Norbert looked at the sites offered, needing to go around the street entertainers showing magic, puppets and other goodies.
Seeing the group he was in, he started to peter out, going through doors and into shops. Norbert continued walking forward, and the stadium started to take up most of his vision in the street ahead of him. Noticing the wooden signs depicting what they did in the corner apart from the logo and seeing the ones with cups reminds Norbert of a beer stein with a good head on top.
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Continuing to walk forward, Norbert did not understand the words written on the signs; remembering the talisman's shortcomings, Norbert sighed to himself in annoyance.
He continued walking; Norbert felt the fox jump onto his shoulder again, seeing the head move about once more.
YIP
Norbert looked at the fox, seeing it looking at the side, Norbert following with his eyes, watching as they fell on a stand, giving smoked meat out as the owner continued to shout his goods, competing with everyone else trying to sell their own.
He nodded as he patted the foxes, confirming that he had read what it wanted; Norbert stepped out of the rush of people going both ways, trying to reach their destination.
"Can I get two of those?" Norbert asked, nodding to the kebabs.
"Five copper." The start reply from the owner came. Norbert wondered what the change was to be so fierce with a customer compared to the booming voice.
Reaching into his pouch on his hip, Norbert fumbled inside, feeling the coins out. "Do you take Morena's coin?" Norbert asked the owner.
Only receiving a nod of his head, Norbert reached in. Still keeping his fingers there, Norbert took the five coins out, placing them in the greasy hand of the man as Norbert looked at the black hairs going up his arms, sweat and grit stamped on them from all the sand blowing around.
Receiving a nod, the man started to prepare Norbert's order. Turning around as he watched the street, he saw the hustle and bustle of people moving about their lives.
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Norbert saw the two kebabs held in front of him. Norbert took them both as the fox popped out. Norbert held the meat skewer so the fox could get its pieces off.
As Norbert started to walk away, he turned around. What Count von Count said echoed in his mind: "Say, you wouldn't know where to find the Pudgy Patron?" Norbert asked the cook.
Norbert saw a sharp breath intake as the man's hesitantly hardened on him. "Aye, might know where it is."
Norbert reached into his pouch, picked out a coin, and saw its silver light shining. He flicked the coin over to the man, who caught it out of the air before looking at it, not believing his own eyes.
"How about now? Can you now tell me where it is?" Norbert asked the man in front of him.
The cook looks around. "Oye, Crestie, come here!" He shouted off to nobody in particular.
Norbert waited several moments as a boy appeared out of the crowd, looking at the store owner; Norbert did not see where the boy appeared from.
"Yes, Kroger?" The boy asked.
"Take this one to the Pudgy Patron." Kroger, the cook said.
The boy took a breath and looked towards Norbert, looking him up and down. Norbert reached into his pouch and presented another silver coin. "This will be for your troubles," Norbert said, flicking the coin.
Crestie reached for the coin in the air as Norbert swiped it out, just out of reach. “After,” Norbert said.
He saw a determined nod from the promise to be made; the boy ran off into the crowd. Norbert departed the stall with a wave of his hand as he followed the boy, instantly cutting to the other side of the street.
Like this, the two continued to the left, circling the stadium, which always stood the same distance away. Norbert sees only slight differences in the people walking around. The buildings were still the same, but the colours and fabric were slightly different, and the cuts they wore hugged their bodies.
As the boy stopped on the side of the street, Norbert instantly saw a difference; those up ahead had themselves like mummies, not a single inch of their skin exposed as they walked down the street. The boy pointed to one of the houses. Looking at the banner, Norbert stood to the side and saw an incredibly round person there, just a stick figure with a large circle for its body.
Norbert turned around to the boy. "Why don't you go any further?" he asked.
"That's Death Lane," Crestie replied, saying that was enough explanation.
Norbert was looking at the boy, who became increasingly nervous, looking around his shoulders to ensure nobody was there for him.
Looking increasingly desperate, they quickly said, "Those that go there don't return the same; now, can I please have the coin, good sir." The boy asked, starting to shake as he looked straight ahead, right behind Norbert, continuing to look into the street.
Norbert nodded, not seeing the boy be any more valuable, as he reached into his pouch and took out two silver coins. The boy hesitates for a second before taking both and sprinting out of there like Death lapping at his heels.
Turning back to the street, Norbert saw his mark as he walked towards the inn; stepping inside, he was washed with a sound that quickly grew to nothing.
Looking around, Norbert saw nobody sitting near the doorway; as he stood there, the light streamed from behind him. Letting it close to a creek, everyone was still staring at him as he adjusted his eyes.
The fox and the bird jumped out of his backpack; Norbert felt them shake themselves off the sand onto the floor before taking their positions on his shoulders. Everyone was still staring as Norbert started to see the people's differences, and everything seemed slightly off.
Skin colour, teeth, ears, eyes, irises. With all that, he could see something was slightly different than he expected, not quite able to place a finger on it. "Where has the Count brought me this time," Norbert asked the crowd in the bar.