Book 1 – Second Chance
Chapter 6 – Crossroads Inn
Albi, and Bailey started to head to their room following the map of the city given to them by the captain. It was a simple paper map with rudimentary instructions to Albi, and Bailey, and most of the map wasn’t recorded, and they were strictly forbidden from treading near those areas while still being mortals.
‘Now that I think about it…The guard captain never did give us his name, did he?’
‘No, he didn’t...’
‘Why go through the trouble of giving us a room, and money without divulging his name?’
‘Maybe it’s better that way…Remember what he told us about prejudice? I’m guessing being openly associated with him would only invite trouble for us’
Just as Albi, and Bailey were discussing this matter a large building popped into view just as they turned the corner. The building was made of beige bricks, and was about three stories tall, and had black tiles for a roof. It had writings on the front that Albi, and Bailey couldn’t make out, but the image of a pint of beer, and a piece of bread was a universal symbol to them.
‘It’s an inn!’
Albi, and Bailey opened the door, only to experience a massive culture shock.
It was a traditionally looking medieval pub from the high fantasy novels they used to read, filled with a bunch of people of all races, and backgrounds.
There were mostly a bunch of sturdy muscular looking people being rowdy, drinking and singing, all around the center area. There were two more distinctly different groups of people that huddled to each one of the corners. To the left there were many people in dark robes, drinking quietly while reading books, and to the right was a group in colorful fancy dresses drinking what appeared to be tea, while conversing among themselves, and listening to what appears to be a musical instrument of some kind, but Albi, and Bailey couldn’t hear anything from those two corners. Only the rowdy ones in the center.
Albi, and Bailey’s entrance garnered some attention from some people in the inn, especially since they felt no fluctuations coming from them, but they were not only in Ura-Aja, but the ‘Crossroads Inn’ of all places. The ‘Crossroads Inn’ was a very famous inn in the city of Ura-Aja, where people of all three teachings can relax in whichever environment felt comfortable to them, as well as exchange information, and assist each other. It was one of the few truly all-inclusive places in the city, and definitely not something mortals would enter, not even by mistake.
‘A mortal? What are they doing here?’
‘Why is there a mortal in the Crossroads Inn? Matter of fact, how did they even enter the city?’
Many thoughts ran through these people’s heads as they started at Albi who tried his best to look calm, but him sweating through his clothes, and him shaking was so obvious even blind people can see it.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
‘Damn it, why the hell do I feel scared? This doesn’t make any sense!’
‘Yea, it reminds me of what that guard did to us on that hill’
‘It’s that damn soul thingy again!’
“How dare you use Soul Search on a patron of mine, are you all tired of living?”
A thunderous roar came from the backroom as a relatively healthy middle-aged woman walked in.
Only a handful of people were using Soul Search on Albi, and they all started to wobble, shake, or collapse one by one.
‘Those idiots…We warned them about the Madam, and to be on their best behavior while in here’.
The Madam walked in, clapped her hands, and a dozen or so waiters came, and carried everyone who collapsed outside of the inn.
“Anyone who uses any form of Soul Search, or any other intrusive measures will be immediately expelled from the Crossroads Inn! No exceptions!” said the Madam looking at the rest of her patrons.
“Just as you want your privacy respected while in here, you better respect everyone else’s. Mortal, or otherwise.”
“You, with me” said the Madam while looking at the dazed Albi.
‘S-She’s scary’ said Albi to Bailey.
‘I think she’s cool! She put everyone in their place just by saying a few words, and no one’s saying anything even though their friends were kicked out’ rebutted Bailey.
As they were walking to the backdoor, the Madam kept shooting glances towards Albi, and Bailey
‘Hmm, I can see that soul peculiarity…Could that be the only reason why Haler is helping them?’
Albi, and Bailey walked through the backdoor only to be met by a fancy hallway, shiny smooth wood, covered in what appeared to be velvet, and silk wrappings, and designs, and at the end was a large door, black padded with purple velvet with roses weaved in. They entered the room, and were not disappointed in how it matched up with the outside exquisiteness. Paintings, statues, globes, shelves of old books, and a parrot-looking red bird on the corner, and a giant desk in the center with a tall chair for its owner, and two smaller cheaper looking chairs in front.
“Sit” said the Madam, as she took a seat herself.
“So, you’re Albi, huh. Haler told me you would be coming by, and staying the night until the ceremony tomorrow. I’ll cut straight to the point, you’re an obvious stranger. An alien, a mortal in a planet filled with ‘Supremes’, and it shows. We need to fix that. Now.” Said the Madam hands resting on her chin as she gazed into Albi, and Bailey.
As they saw her gaze, and heard her words, they instinctively tensed up, and started leaning back.
“Don’t worry, I won’t use Soul Search on you, only a toned-down version of Soul Speak so you can understand me. And as long as you get through the ceremony, and enter the Pore Opening stage, you shouldn’t be so susceptible to those anymore”.
‘Pore Opening stage? That sounds so like those novels! I can’t wait!’ said Albi.
‘Me too! But you need to relax. We have time for all of that tomorrow, first we need to listen to her’.
Albi, and Bailey sat for what felt like hours being drilled on Uraki customs, sights, feats, and the different people, and organizations of Ura-Aja. Although it felt like they learned about every nook, and cranny, what they actually learned was the most basic surface level information available to anyone who’s been to Ura-Aja for a day. It was mostly warnings on certain places to avoid, certain people not to annoy, certain things not to say, and most importantly, never leaving the Academic Zone until they’re well into the ‘Pore Opening’ stage, and have already sided themselves with a path.
Albi, and Bailey left the office exhausted, and after thanking the Madam, went to bed, and had a good night’s sleep for the first time since everything that has happened.
While sleeping, Albi saw himself awakening in the pond once more.
‘Huh, so I guess if we sleep, we both come here?’ said Albi.
‘I guess so, there’s so much we still don’t know’
‘It’s been one crazy day, hasn’t it?’
‘Yea…’ responded Bailey.
‘I’m grateful for it though. As much as the whole dying thing sucked, it had its upsides. We’re in a new world, filled with awesome stuff with a new chance at life, and most importantly. It gave me you.’
‘Okay, try, and actually go to sleep. You’re getting all sappy again. I thought we said enough of that this morning’ said Bailey with a laugh.
‘You’re right. Alright, let’s try it out. Tomorrow we head for the academic zone!’