Norbert smiled, looking around the little group that he had formed up with. Seeing Dobert, Mathaeos, Nancy and Flanch all sitting around the table. As others began to stream out of the room, Norbert still sat there, wondering what the table was waiting for. Norbert saw coins begin exchanging hands between people. Spotting Martitia talking with other people, Norbert found what the group was waiting for.

Everyone still silent; Norbert saw the rest leave as Martitia approached the table. Taking a chair from one of the other tables sitting down. Signalling to the bartender, who started pouring alcohol from the tap, Norbert saw glass after glass filled. The bartender came over with the tray brimming with drinks and placed them on the table. All those around went and grabbed one each. The last one remaining, Norbert, reached out, taking a sip. Feeling the bubbles in his mouth Norbert held the liquid there, trying to taste all of it.

Confirming that it was a beer of a light kind, Norbert sipped again, enjoying the taste as he waited for something to happen.

The group continued to sip their beers in silence, one by one finishing them until Norbert was the last one left. Seeing that everyone else had drunk it, Norbert continued to sip it a bit faster than before. Swirling around the bottom, Norbert drank the rest, the last good mouthful as he sighed in delight. Placing it back on the tray for the table, Martitia did it as a sign to start, "Thank you all for waiting. With the addition of a new member, and this one being an especially country boy, it is time to show him the wonders of the big city."

With that, Martitia headed off, the rest following suit. Norbert quickly scrambled out of his chair, returning the glasses to the counter before following the group. Going through the archway, Norbert was hit with the bustle; turning his head, Norbert found Dobert walking towards the exit. Pushing past people to catch up, hand on his sword to make sure it didn't get loose, Norbert followed. Slowly catching up.

Exiting out of the common room, Norbert felt the sun enter his eyes. Squinting and holding his hand up to cover, Norbert found the group standing to the side of the steps leading down, looking at Norbert. Walking down the grey stone steps, weathered with extreme use, Norbert understood why, as a river of people seemed to be going in both directions. Heading to the left side, Norbert skipped the steps at an angle, going through the crowd. Meeting up and the sun finally out of his eyes, Norbert looked at each of them. All just staring at him, waiting for something.

Between the heads, Norbert was able to see the buildings. Each one goes up several stories, with garden plots marked out at the front of each one. They were looking around and seeing the lamps on the street, glass and metal keeping, painted in black. People were coming and going on the street, some people riding vehicles, some of four, and others of two. Seeing the hustle and bustle going around, Norbert looked up into the sky, seeing airships making their way to a tower high.

Looking back at his group, everyone still staring at him, Norbert had to ask, "What?"

Martitia opened her mouth. "Well, what do you think of Alasium" She finished, waving her arm to the people and buildings around them.

Norbert looked again, trying to see the city objectively. Looking at what he could see, Norbert looked at what he could see; the building was nothing extraordinary, a bit busier than what he usually saw around the uni but nothing too extreme. Remembering times, he went to Tokyo, with the thousands of lights and the people everywhere, the constant noise coming from the cars and people walking. Now that was a city.

But compared to this, it almost seemed quiet compared to the hecticness he had witnessed before. Thinking there must be more, Norbert brought his eyes back to the group. "Can someone please catch me?" he said. The group was confused about his request. Norbert squatted down, not heeding them any mind, closing his eyes and focusing on feeding energy into his muscles. Pushing down, Norbert jumped into the air, finally able to see genuinely above the buildings and get a good grasp of the city. Quickly scanning around, Norbert looked, seeing he was on a main street; winding slowly down, Norbert realised the city was on a hill.

The city went multiple blocks down, having similar grey roofs and walls on them. The gardens and flower pots dotting the windows give the place a touch of colour, making it seem like a colour war was constantly occurring between the two factions. The houses are further away, more minor, like cabins and one-story shops. Looking down the hill, Norbert saw other streets going opposite, these colourful pieces of fabric covering stalls at the front. Squinting, Norbert confirmed they were selling items down there, unsure what they could be. As he felt himself begin to fall, Norbert quickly whipped his head to the right, looking at the tower.

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Or what he first thought was a tower. Able to correctly see the base, Norbert saw roots undulating around it, a touch of green on the other side. As he began falling, Norbert craned his head up, now seeing his error. He was looking at not a building made by man but one of nature. The massive tree stood, reminding him of the ones on the plateau. This one, however stark white, looked like it was bleached from the many days it would be out of the sun.

Picking up speed, Norbert looked down, seeing Dobert and Mathaeos holding each other's hands with their arms out. Positioning himself to land between them, Norbert impacted the two of them. Unable to hold him up, Norbert hit the stairs, tumbling down several before stopping. Getting on his feet, Norbert rubbed his backside and walked up the steps to meet with the group. All of them stared at him as he made his way forward.

"Well, it's a nice cozy place; it looks great to find some interesting things. But that," Norbert pointed to the tree, "I had never seen something like that before", Norbert finished. Martitia walked up, slapping him across the back of the head. Rubbing his head about to respond, Norbert realised why that happened. With the commotion he caused, everyone around them stopped to see what he had done.

"Guess that isn't a normal thing to see", Norbert finished.

"Not that it isn't normal, but that it's not allowed; too many people could get hurt if the wrong person didn’t hold back." Martitia finished. Looking around, she said, "Let's head to the accommodations."

Norbert nodded in response, following the group as they made their way down the street, away from the tree.

***

Norbert looked at the steps he found himself on; after escaping into the crowd, the party made their way down the street, Norbert hearing snippets of conversation at went. This continued, the others in his group talking with each other and relaxing increasingly as they continued going down. With the Frontier building completely obscured, only using the tree as a reference point of how far they walked, Norbert found himself upon some steps.

Looking up, it was a wooden pub, now quiet during the day. Norbert followed up the steps, seeing care to the building that was not seen commonly. The wood shining back at him had freshly been varnished, the dark varnish making the white wood stand out as the entire grain was not painted, creating a waving effect of the timber all around.

Walking through the door, the group of ten went inside. Looking around was just a simple bar, wooden circular tables filled the central area, and a fireplace in the area; seeing something was simmering on top, filling the entire place with vegetables cooking.

As everyone went in, Norbert walked past Martitia as she locked the door, putting a piece of wood over it and resting on the two metal latches inside. Everyone sat around, taking pieces off and relaxing. Norbert also did so, Obsius jumping on the table and looking around the room, staring at the chandelier of lights resting above the room.

Flapping its wings, it shot up, sitting on the chandelier, causing it to wobble slightly with its disturbance. The group looked up as the bird moved around and stared back at the group.

Martitia stood up in the centre. "We depart in ten rotations, whoever wants to come." The group dispersed, heading up the wooden stairs and splitting into rooms, Norbert losing track of who was going into which room, doors creaking and banging closed as people prepared for the possible outing or just relaxed in private.

Norbert looked to Martitia, who was still standing there, watching her spin on her heels walking over to the bar. Bending over, she pulled out two glasses and a bottle of something. Walking backwards, she navigated herself back to Norbert, placing a cup in front of Norbert and herself before pouring each some and sitting down.

"Now, first, about your previous actions. Hopefully, we won't get any heat but listen up. In cities like this, you'll be in trouble if you're caught acting like a fool, blowing stuff up, breaking walls or doing anything extraordinary."

Pouring both of them a drink, Norbert looked at the amber liquid coming out; having finished, Norbert picked up the drink, clinking it against Martitia’s before taking a sip, tasting as the whisky went down his throat.

"That just means you don't get caught if you do that. And don't go running around in clothes of The Frontier." Martitia finished, taking a sip of her drink.

Norbert shocked about her response, just nodded his head.

"Second thing, we have this place for the next couple of days, a meeting point for the scouts of this group. Treat it like a second home. Sadly, we will be sharing a room due to the lack of rooms," She finished with a grin.

Norbert gulped, looking into the eyes of a predator like he was just a piece of meat. Martitia laughed, rocking back on the chair and wiping a tear from her eye. "Just joking, you will stay down here; if you want to hold some of your stuff, my room is open."

Norbert looked at her, thinking back to his many nights staying up, a couple more not feeling that bad. At least he had a soft bed to sleep and recuperate on for the last few weeks.

"And thirdly, how lucky do you feel?"

Norbert replied instantly, "Well, I'm still alive and kicking, so I'd say pretty lucky."

"Good answer," Martitia replied. "As .the scout's funds aren't the best for the first day, we go and hit the casino; try and win big, you see." Taking another sip, Norbert thought he knew where this was going.

"Normally, only me, Dobert and anyone else who wants to watch comes out, trying to test their luck on the money they have. This time you will also be coming. So change your jacket and limber; we have money to win."

Norbert swallowed, reaching into his bag without thinking, removing his jacket and replacing it with the other. Standing up as he positioned his belt, Norbert asked, "Should I take my sword?"

Martitia, finishing her drink, and placing the cup on the table again, looked up at him. "Nah, shouldn't get that messy."