Chapter 3: Introduction
----------------------------------------
As I open the door to the small room I was in I see a hallway of considerable length extending out in front of me. The floorboards let out small creeks and sighs as I walk along them, paired with the cobwebs scattered throughout the furthest reaches of the ceiling. I feel as though I have just mistakenly walked into some amature haunted house attraction. I would probably feel more on guard in such situations if it were not for the fact that the hall itself was glowing from the flames of dozens of hanging lanterns and the comforting sound of numerous people conversing in the vicinity. As I walk down the hall I notice several other rooms on this floor, some of which I could easily mistake for my own, others stand out due to their lack of door handles. I suppose some people may have the thought to check all the rooms out of curiosity in my shoes, but I do not feel the urge to do so.
I finally reach the stairs that descend straight down to another small hall ending in a single door. Light can be seen coming from under the door and the shadows that pass by are both reassuring and slightly intimidating, considering I am about to enter a room of people who seem to be enjoying themselves.
Given the appearance of the body I am in I can only imagine that such a sight will unsettle the people beyond this door.
Despite my apprehension I open the door.
Silence...pure silence.
The contrast between the earlier hums of conversation that had been ever so lively and the silence I am faced with now is unimaginably stark. Like what would happen if at the most suspenseful part of a good horror movie the film cut off and the lights turned on. The change in environment one would feel if they were just walking down the street normally and then a vast sinkhole opened up beneath them.
I, without uttering a word or taking a step, have become the sole object of everyone's attention. Stares that pierce me and rule over me unrelenting. Amongst the plethora of faces I see I recognize the looks I'm receiving. Some of pure shock, others of fear, and even those of childlike wonder and curiosity.
‘Uncomfortable’ is the only word that pops into my mind.
This feeling, this vibe, this situation, it's all-
Uncomfortable, unfathomably so.
Luckily though this stalemate of my anxiety and their stares, although seeming to last several minutes, resolved in mere seconds.
“There ya’ are Skrill. Thought you was gon’ sleep the whole day away without comin’ down and introducin’ ya self.”
I look over and see what appears to be a slightly older than middle aged woman. Brown hair that looks as though it could reach past her shoulders, although now she's wearing it up so it's hard to tell. A face that looks warm, welcoming, and familiar like the cliche'd neighborhood grandmother that everyone knows and loves. Dressed in what looks like the type of outfit you could imagine seeing at a Renaissance fair.
’Skrill?’ I think to myself.
Recalling what I read in the letter there was going to be a tavern owner who had a fabricated memory of me and would refer to me as such. Considering what she is wearing and the way she completely tore apart and reconstructed the atmosphere in the most warm, light-hearted, and easy way possible this would have to be her.
“Everyone, this here is Skrill, now I know what y'all wanna’ say but listen here. This boi never did nothin’ to nobody, he's like family to me, so if ya got a problem with him for some petty reason you can look forward to never being served here again.”
After she finishes talking she glances around the room, she gives off a commanding aura despite the jolly and warm presence she had just moments ago.
As I am thinking about the situation I see three people get up from the table at which they were residing. Two of them were burly guys who could only be described as looking like ruffians in this era. Muscular, almost overly so, scars on just about all parts of their currently exposed skin, scruffy beards but almost no hair on the top of their heads.
Where I come from this is called a white-power starter pack...crazy, it's real different here. Actually looking more closely they would most definitely be “Shinedown” fans in my original world.
These are the type of people I should probably stay away from, they look intimidating as is, paired with the clear hostility towards me it would be a hassle to get involved with them.
However the other person in their company who had been the first to get up was completely different. A woman, and a beautiful one at that, at least a solid eight out of ten, IGN. However, the current expression on her face was anything but beautiful.
Her eyes pierced my soul as she glared at me with a look of contempt and utter disgust. Such a face I have never seen in my old life, disappointment, light disgust, and anger yes, but nothing to this degree.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
This was more…
This was on an entirely different scale, in this moment I felt nothing but an overwhelming sense of inferiority. I felt oppressed, insignificant, inferior all at once, as if her eyes alone are what judged my worth as a lifeform.
It appeared as though she was the leader of the group, despite otherwise looking like a normal classy woman, no scars, her clothes were intact more so than anyone else within eye shot, yet I felt she was intimidating.
'Tch’ can't help but escape her mouth as the three walk out, one of the two men keeps his eyes glued on me the entire duration of their exit.
After the figures of the three dissipate through the door the attention turns back towards me and the innkeeper. I realize now how hard of a position I'm in, it's helpful that she “knows” me but…'family’? That's a little too much isn't it? I have no clue how to act towards a stranger who says they know me and hold me with such familiarity.
To be honest, now that I think about it, it's quite sad, this person had lived their whole life not knowing me and all of sudden memories of a person they don't even know override the memories they did have. What's worse without them even knowing. I can't help but feel guilty at the thought that I unknowingly just basically erased someone's life and maybe even altered their personality. We have not even had a conversation yet but it would probably feel similar to those situations in which a friend of your parent tries to talk to you by starting with “Wow, you've gotten so big...what you don't remember me?”and you just have to look in confusion as to who that person is.
“Don't mind them, they're just close-minded people who think they're better than everyone else.”
The innkeeper tries to reassure me.
I'd like to thank her properly, however, I don't even know her name, and I'll be damned if I try to ask her or get her to say it in this situation.
“Thanks.”
“Don't worry about it, of course it's my job to be good to my customers, but right now making you comfortable here is my priority.” She makes a proud face as she says that.
“Well, now that that's all cleared up why don't you find somewhere to sit, I'll go get you something for breakfast.”
“Ah, thank you.”
The whole tavern is fairly packed so I ended up ironically sitting at the same table the group of three had left from earlier.
Still receiving plenty of curiosity and awkward stares every so often, I try my best to feel even the slightest bit more comfortable.
What felt like ten minutes later the innkeeper had arrived at my table to give me the meal she mentioned earlier. As she lays out the dishes I realize they do not seem too foreign, what appeared to be some form of scrambled eggs, from what creature though I have no clue, along with an overwhelming...drumstick? I’m not sure, it's some sort of limb but it's not immediately recognizable as a leg or wing. As she lays out the rest of the food and a large mug of some fizzing beverage, I again feel guilty that I cannot properly thank her.
“Thank-”, as I attempt to thank her a group of people begin to seat themselves at my table. The first to say anything is a girl wiggling into the chair directly across from me.
“Oh Marbelle can you make two more for Griz and I?”
Regardless of what is happening at least thanks to this encounter I learned the innkeepers name without having to awkwardly ask.
“I’m assuming nothing for K like always?” Marbelle asks as she turns to look at a small girl who managed to sneak into the chair to my left without me noticing.
Without saying a word she lightly nods her head affirmatively, which sends Marbelle on her way back to the kitchen.
“T-thank you Marbelle!” I managed to get out before she got out of ear shot, she simply turned to once again direct a warming smile towards me before being back on her way.
“So, you're a real orc?” asked the girl who had sat herself first with a giddy tone in her voice.
“Uh, yea.”
“Then do you mind if I ask you a secret?”
“I suppose that's alright.” I say with a look and tone that obviously displays my confusion.
The girl stands up and makes her way towards me, meanwhile her friends she came over with both stay quiet and just watch with plain gazes.
(She gets uncomfortably close and whispers something as she leans in closer.)
“So is it true that this won't work on you?” Before I even have time to ask what she means I notice her thrust her arm and feel a slight poke in my back.
“Oh my Gods, it's true, honestly I was doubtful!” Amidst her surprise and excitement I see her raise her arm back up in awe.
As she pulled her arm back I noticed a fork in her hand, a typical fork made of some type of metal, what she had wasn't surprising, what was surprising was the fact that it was so mangled-looking. I put two and two together and come to the conclusion that I have just literally been stabbed in the back, despite not feeling any pain?
I look on dumbfounded as she opens her mouth again.
“You were right Griz, I’ll cover the food today.” Her initial excitement evolved into a frown by the time she finished her statement.
“I told you, I’ve fought against orcs before, I've even seen a whole archers' volleys just bounce off-them. Their physical resistance is insane, your armor doesn't even compare.” With a ridiculously deep voice the man who sat down with them finally utters his first words since. Desite how large and muscular he is I don't find him intimidating at all, if anything friendly, it's odd. Maybe it's since I am in this orc body but people who would have looked too muscular or tall for their own good back on Earth now seem pretty tame.
Upon snapping back to reality his words finally register, “physical resistance”? By the sounds of it it seems tied to the fact I’m an orc, rather it sounds like a trait specific to orcs. It would seem pretty odd to ask them given they were the ones testing it so I’ll just try to find out on my own later or test it’s validity and effectiveness myself.
As the other two are having their own conversation about orcs and food debts I look over to the small girl next to me, who instinctively looks back up at me. As soon as our eyes meet I realize something…
That chick really just stabbed me, what a crazy bit-