When the next day came, it was quiet. Well, as quiet as any port can be during the morning hours. The sound of shifting boots and muffled voices trickled in from the floor below Adam’s room as the rest of the dock workers got up from their beds and readied themselves for another day’s work at the docks.

Adam twisted underneath his sheets and stood, rubbing his eyes awake as he released a wide yawn. Sunshine streamed through his open window as dawn broke over the horizon beyond.

He did not get enough sleep and that was to be expected. The psychic attack from last night gave him some mild insomnia, but at least he didn’t wake up feeling too tired.

Thankfully, he had a bucket of water tucked away in a corner of his room. After washing his face and scrubbing his body, he soaked his hair and brushed it dry. The routine was not as good as taking a full-body shower, but it still left him feeling fresh.

After changing his dirty clothes with the last clean batch provided by Baran and Fred, Adam figured that he’d need to wash his dirty laundry soon. He wondered how he would go about doing his laundry. Maybe this world had magic washing machines or spells that could clean clothes in an instant. If they did, that would be very convenient, but expensive.

The rest of the morning was uneventful, and that was for the best. After breakfast, Baran and Fred bid their farewells as they went to work their shifts as portmaster and head worker respectively. But before Baran left, he had something important to share.

A good party had good inventory.

It was a phrase that most new parties learned the hard way, thinking that they were immune against the importance of logistics. A party needed potions, rations, and other survival necessities and equipment if they were to explore the new world and fight the many mundane and magical monsters that lurked within.

That said, Ruk and Adam were not the best when it came to handling or keeping inventory. Ruk, being an orc, knew how to live off the land and sustain himself through simple means. How he was able to maintain his large and muscular body with that kind of method was a mystery to his human companion.

Adam, meanwhile, was a modern-day young man thrust into a late-medieval world augmented by the existence of magic. He had little idea what potions to bring, what enchantments to have, and what sort of equipment he needed specifically if he were to go off in an adventure. He had gone hiking before, but none of the trails had magical beasts to worry about. Just bears. And some snakes.

All Adam had was some beginner level survival knowledge and cooking skills, which was something he gained and learned from his parents and a brief period in summer camp, and of course his psychic powers.

For all of Adam’s telekinetic and telepathic abilities, they were merely tools for him to use in order to find the answer to his problems. They were not the answer itself. It made things easier for him, at least. In a way.

Fortunately for the both of them, they were not alone in their side quest to prepare themselves for their first real quest. Before they left, Baran and Fred were more than happy to provide them with tips and advice, going so far as to entrust Adam with a few more coins even though the party already had several hundred gold under their name. Despite his profuse refusal, Baran stubbornly insisted, and Adam eventually relented. Ruk and Fred, while that was going on, were more than happy to innocently laugh at the exchange.

Satisfied and proud, Baran and Fred left for their responsibilities, leaving Adam and Ruk to their own devices. Overwhelmed but determined, Adam was eager to prepare himself and his partner for what was to come. Thus, it was time for some shopping.

With a few pouches of coin in his pockets, a small leather bag slung around his shoulder, and a list of things they needed to buy, Adam went to the market with his orc partner.

It was midday when they reached the market district, and the streets were packed. The sun shone strong in the sky, casting a prickly heat on those not wearing enough clothes to cover themselves. That said, there was also a cold wind blowing from the north. A sign that summer in Port Silvershore was nearing its end.

To say that they attracted a lot of attention as they made their way to the market would be an understatement. The cityfolk eyed the two new adventurers with a mix of apprehension, suspicion, and awe, most of which was focused on Ruk. The orc was like a tower walking down the street, easily casting a shadow on those who found themselves standing or walking near him. Ruk also had this scary look on his face even though he was trying his best to put up a bright smile. Adam thought the smile made it worse.

Thankfully for Adam, he was mostly ignored or pitied. It was common knowledge that an orc needed a companion if they were to travel or do business within the kingdom’s borders. And so, seeing a young man seemingly forced into the role made them sympathize. To a small degree. Not enough for anyone to do something about it.

What bothered Adam the most was the fact that he could sense all of these emotions and thoughts from almost everyone around them, making it a bit more difficult for him to focus. He usually didn’t mind it much if the attention was elsewhere, but he and Ruk were currently the center of it.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

He began to wish he had learned how to stop passively reading human minds the same way he managed to make himself ignore the minds of animals. That experience at the zoo haunted him for the rest of his childhood. It was not a pretty memory.

There were many roadside stalls and stores for the duo to choose from. There were tailors, blacksmiths, tanneries, bakers, and many others that Adam recognized thanks to their signs and the products they had on display. That said, weren’t tanneries notorious for the awful smell hence they were often found outside of towns and cities, or perhaps secluded away in some back alley? Adam was surprised to smell nothing from the shop. At least from the outside.

But first things first, they needed some bags. Or more specifically, some backpacks. Large ones. Adam needed a large backpack for himself and a larger backpack for Ruk before they purchased anything else. He expected them both to carry a lot of supplies. Some might tease that the Rukdam Duo were overzealous in their preparations, but Adam knew that it was better to be overprepared than the opposite.

For the opposite was often fatal.

With that in mind, the first shop they visited was a tailor. Many of the tailors had their stores and shops side-by-side with one another, making it easier for Adam to see and compare the quality of their wares. That said, some of the shopkeepers were too scared or suspicious of Ruk. They refused to entertain the duo, even after Adam showed interest in a few items. He sensed their feelings and emotions, irritating him as shop after shop ignored or outright barred them from entering.

The young man was not great at assessing the quality of things, but he figured that the tailors that had turned them away were selling some good quality wares. It was unfortunate.

After a few minutes of searching and being ignored by the fourth tailor in the market, the fifth and last of the row welcomed them at last. By this point, although Ruk didn’t care for the unfair treatment he was being dealt, Adam found himself in a foul mood.

The psychic was not a fan of prejudice and unjust treatment.

From the outside, the store didn't look like much. The windows were dirty and the front of the shop had only a few clothes on display. Though first impressions mattered, the fact that this tailor welcomed them already earned it a sure purchase or two by Adam.

"Please, come in!"

The Rukdam Duo were led inside by the shopkeeper. He was a stout figure and sported a long and bushy beard. Not only that, but he had some large hands and feet relative to the rest of his body size. That said, he wore a dirty apron around his tunic and a pair of monocles over his eyes that enlarged them to a comical zoom. He had a jolly voice too and waddled slightly as he walked.

Sensing the mind of the shopkeeper, Adam found none of the prejudiced thoughts and feelings that prevailed in the minds of this tailor's competitors. Instead, the little man was just keen to sell his wares.

Finally, Adam thought. He had found a reasonable tailor.

“So, what are you fine gentlemen looking for? I’ve got everything you may need. As long as I can make it with my hands and needles.” The shopkeeper said with a smile.

Adam scanned the room, searching for his goal, and found a few that may suit their needs.

“We’re in need of some big backpacks, Mr. Shopkeeper. One for me and a bigger one for my partner.” Adam pointed at Ruk who in turn gave the shopkeeper a wide smile.

“Ah, I see. You’re adventurers then. First time?” The shopkeeper asked and received a few nods in return, “Alright then, wait here. I’ll get something from the back.”

Adam and Ruk waited as the shopkeeper disappeared into the backdoor of the shop. After a few minutes or so, the small man returned carrying a large backpack. The man placed the backpack on the counter then turned to Adam.

“This should be the perfect size for you! It has a lot of pockets both big and small, good for carrying a lot of different things. Not only that, but…” The shopkeeper suddenly took a bottle of water from behind his apron and poured it on the backpack. Much to Adam’s surprise, the water simply drifted off the surface and splashed onto the floor. The backpack itself did not get wet.

“It’s also waterproof! Throw this thing into a river and the things inside will stay dry and cozy.”

The shopkeeper grabbed the backpack from the counter and handed it over to Adam, “See for yourself!”

Adam obliged and went to work inspecting the ins and outs of the backpack. The leather was fresh and well-made. It was tall and somewhat wide, spacious, and with deep pockets and sections. He could already imagine where and how he was going to arrange most of the supplies and equipment they were going to buy. The fact that it was waterproof was a welcome bonus, and he figured that the stitching and design was robust.

That said, since this was the biggest backpack the shopkeeper had, Adam had to assume that procuring a bigger one for Ruk would take some time. He had no doubt that the tailor could make one, but they were planning on making their first quest as soon as tomorrow or the day after. They didn’t have the time.

“I like this,” Adam said as he went and wore the backpack on his back, “How much is it?”

The shopkeeper smiled brightly, “50 silver coins!”

Adam paused for a moment and looked at Ruk. The orc didn’t react at the price tag and Adam wasn’t sure if that was because he didn’t care about currency, or his partner simply didn’t understand what was cheap or expensive. Since Adam had no other point of reference to compare the price, mostly since he was repeatedly denied the opportunity, the young man became hesitant.

He liked the backpack and wanted to buy two of the same size. But if he needed a point of reference to see if he was being ripped off or not. Seeing no other choice, Adam focused his telepathy and peered into the shopkeeper’s mind, all the while making sure to not cause any discomfort by limiting his incursion. He only needed to know for sure what the man was thinking.

The greed that reeked from every scammer and price gouger was fouler than normal which made it easier for Adam to differentiate an honest businessperson and a con artist. Fortunately for the shopkeeper, Adam sensed none of that foulness. Instead, Adam found out that the shopkeeper was merely excited at the fact that he was going to finally sell something for the day.

There was greed, yes, but it wasn’t an insatiable desire which was the very definition of common greed. No. The small man just wanted to sell his work.

“We’ll take two of these backpacks, Mr. Shopkeeper,” Adam said with a smile, “Oh and some pouches, clothes, and a few more other things.”

The shopkeeper smiled as he directed the duo to the wares in his shop, “Right this way.”