What the heck? How am I supposed to find someone within 45 mins and in an entirely different place?

Taking a deep breath. I looked at the holographic timer again. The decreasing numbers aided to my increasing anxiety. I have never been good at working under pressure.

Grounding myself, I looked around, looking for someone helpful and friendly looking. My eyes caught a man in his 30’s strolling around with his family in this sunday market.

Going up to him, “Excuse me sir, do you know where I can find a Cartographer here? Killian is his name”, I said.

He stared at me for a second. “You must be new here”, he said in a deep and gruffy voice.

Before he pointed to the incoming wagon. It was filled with people, sitting on the wooden plagues placed inside the wagon. It was being operated by 2 big bulls and a man sat behind them on a wooden plague that connected to the wagon. A whip in his hand as he tsked the bulls to keep moving.

I looked at him confused, seeing the face I made, he replied, “Take that wagon to the west end of the city. You will find his place near the old city hall.”

Happy and thankful for his help, I took his hand in both of my hands and shook it vigorously, giving him my biggest smile. “Thank you, for your help sir”

+1 CHA

“It's always my pleasure.”, he gave me a nod and joined his family that was inspecting the silk tassels in the nearby shop.

Focusing on the Holograph, I checked the time again,

39 mins 50 seconds

I need to hurry.

I sprinted towards the incoming wagon and hailed it using my hand.

“Where ya going?”, the man with the whip asked.

“The west end”

“You have money? I charge 5 crowns till the west end.”

Nodding. I showed him the 5 crowns.

“Make space for a passenger!!”, he shouted, causing a commotion of shifting and moving inside the wagon and finally there was enough space for 3 more people in the wagon. “Whatcha watching? Get in”

I nodded and quickly stepped on the creaking step, finding a nice place to sit and enjoy the bustling market views. The scent of the warm spices and the aroma of hot and sizzling street food coated my nose as the wagon moved forward. My eyes tried to take in as much of this new world as possible and imprint this beautiful scenery in the back of my head. Taking a deep breath I let the fresh air of the cold breeze freshen up my lungs. This whole experience was surreal. Now that I have some time to myself to think about it, what is happening? Still somewhere in my mind I sometimes think that this is nothing but a dream, but I don't want it to end. For me, this is the chance I have always wanted. The days I spent daydreaming about that maybe I can escape the daily hustle and live my life as an adventurer exploring a different land from scratch, making friends, getting stronger and uncovering the secrets of a new world.

A sudden push pulled me out of my thoughts as the wagon came to a stop. I looked at the timer. I had only 20 mins left. I got off the wagon and tossed the driver 5 crowns who gave me a nod and a salut in return.

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There were several buildings congested in this area. It was a small slum. There were shops on the first floor and living quarters above. I followed the arrow that suddenly appeared in my vision. Probably a hint from the system. The buildings that surrounded the area looked surreal, with same color of paints repeating occasionally. They all had almost the same designs, just different sizes. Some were small, some were big, some looked like there were several buildings stacked on top of other. The use of red brick was prominent in all of the buildings. The windows were cut out of wood and almost all floors adorned big wooden windows that opened outwardly.

This can be a hazard.

The arrow suddenly halted in front of an old shop. Its doors were open and it looked like all the books and papers inside the store were spilling outside on the street. There was a narrow path to enter inside the store. I stepped carefully, not wanting to stain any paper laying outside with my muddy shoes. As I stepped in, my claustrophobia started to act up. The store was huge in length, but its width looked like it was only inches wider than the wagon I travelled in. The bookshelves were bound to the walls rounding the entire store and were filled with books till the top of its highest end. But there was no one inside here, at least I couldn't see anyone.

Signing, “ Is anyone here? “, I said out loud.

“Hello?”I tried again, looking around the store hoping to at least catch a glimpse of someone.

“Hello”, suddenly a voice from somewhere echoed.

“Where are you?” I twisted my head and scanned the store, again, no sight of anyone.

“I am he-”, the voice was cut short by the sudden sound of someone plummeting to the floor right in the middle of the heaping mountain of books.

Shocked, nothing came out of my mouth. And my face adorned an even shocking expression when I saw what fell in front of me.

It was a dwarf.

He ran his hand through his hair while giving me a smug smile, smiling nervously, he asked, “How can I help you today?”

“I can tell that fall hurts. Are you okay? I am looking for someone named Killian.”, I asked worriedly.

I hope he did not hurt his head while falling. My timer is running out. I am now down to 9 mins.

“Ah-Killian, That would be me. What can I do for you?”, the dwarf said, running his hand in his hair again, he looked more nervous than before now. “I don't remember borrowing money from you?”

“I am not a debt collector. I am here to commission a map”, I waved my hands in front of him, assuring him.

Rubbing his hands together, he smiled gleamingly and said, “WOW, thats great. This is usually the slow time of the year. I am glad you came here young traveller.“

“How do you know I am a traveller?” , I inquired curiously, even the passerby who gave me directions, pointed that I was new here

He shrugged his shoulders and pointed towards me, “Its the way you dress. “

I looked at him confused.

Waving his hands again, he continued “You are wearing a cotton shirt and leather pants. Everyone here in Elmarst wears at least their families crest on top of their clothes, plus everyone is here so fashionable, they would never leave there houses dresses like that-”, he pointed at my clothes up and down “ Since you don't look demented, you are most probably bot from here”

“What about the orphans who don't know about their birth families?”

He looked at me confused.

“You said everyone here wears their family crest on them”

Nodding he replied, “They wear the house crest, it's known as children of the Empire. Otherwise, if they are adopted they would wear their adopted families crests.”

“Also where is your Permission Tag?”

The more I talk to this guy, the more confused I get.

“I don’t have one?”

“Strange, you should have gotten one when you entered through the gates. Are you from Elmarst?”

“I lost my memory, I don't remember anything”

I hope this guy stops pestering me anymore.

Time is running out. Commission a Map.

I looked at the timer. I had only 3 more minutes left.

Hurrying, I pleaded, “ I need to commission a map of Elmarst Kingdom. I don't remember anything about my past and I want to know where I am from. So I am going to start with this place.”

I hoped he would take my word and not pester me anymore. Or worst suspect me as a spy of a kingdom.

Time Left 2 mins 20 seconds.