I wish I could say the sun rose on a new day, but it turned out this world has no sun. It had no moon either, as I learned on that first night. The day/night cycle was similar to the 24 hour cycle I knew, but as far as I could tell this world had no celestial objects besides stars.
Its been three days since I woke up, and we've run out of the money priest Zak gave us. In that time I've explored most of the city and have a good understanding of where everything is.
I've learned a lot of other things too. Every day I ask Alice to teach me about this world and the things in it.
She still won't go into detail about what led us to this situation, and I still won't ask. I can’t ask, not when I see her crying every night. We sleep together on a pair of crates and a pair of blankets. When I hear her quietly sobbing I hug her, to try and remind her she hasn't lost everything. I'm not sure what else I can do. It amazes me every morning when she wakes up and starts the day all peppy. I know she's putting up a front to try and reassure me she has things under control. I wish I had a fraction of the strength she has.
I also learned she can use illusion magic. I noticed it on the first day when we returned to our alley I couldn’t find it. Then Alice pointed out a part of the wall that was a duplicate of the wall next to it. I was a little freaked out before she explained it was a spell she knew. Evidently Illusion magic was one of the few types of magic she could actually use.
I thought about all this as I organized my plan for the day. I needed food for us first and foremost. Of course, we didn't have any money and had no way of making more legitimately. So that left thievery.
I've never been a good thief, but I don't have much of a choice at the moment. The real question was what I would steal and how I would steal it. Pickpocketing was a no go, I had absolute faith I would mess it up and in the worst case be caught. If we got desperate I could try breaking and entering some of the residential houses. I was moderately sure I could provide for us that way, but it still had too much of a risk element for now. I didn't want to resort to this if I had any other choice.
My go to here was going to be low risk grab and dashes from the open air food markets. I felt confident I could manage this. The markets tended to get busy around noon, so I could blend in with the crowd and grab something on the side while the vendors were busy with customers. I had seen other orphans doing the same over the past few days.
I heard Alice stir and offered her a, "Good morning Alice."
"Mmmm. Good morning Stein." She groggily rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
I rubbed her head. "I'm going to go out and ask people for food. Do you think you could stay here and clean up a little while I'm out?"
"Mmmm. Okay." It was adorable how my sister took a couple minutes for her brain to turn on after sleeping.
Leaving the alley I started to make my way toward the markets. It wasn't noon yet but that was alright, I had a stop I wanted to make on the way.
A couple streets over from our hole in the wall I had discovered a very old fashioned style laundromat. Obviously it didn't have washing machines, but even in a fantasy world I can imagine people being busy enough to not have time to do their own laundry. Right around this time a majority of the staff should be going out to draw water.
I watched from across the street as four women and an oddly placed dwarven man all carried buckets towards the well. It was the first dwarf I had seen without any facial hair, which was the only reason I was able to know it was a man.
Regardless, with much of the staff away this was the optimal time. I went around the shop to where I knew the back entrance would be. The door was locked, but I had prepared for that.
In my previous life lockpicking was one of the few tricks I had picked up. I had spent a good amount of time yesterday rummaging through trash until I found some loose scrap I could use as improvised picks. It was time to test whether the locks were the same as back on earth.
I inserted my instruments and started feeling for the pins. Sure enough, they were there. This lock had a total of three pins, which would have been absolutely laughable back on earth. Even with such a pathetic obstacle it still took me several minutes to get it to click open. It wasn't a skill I had practiced very often.
After the lock clicked open I slowly turned the handle and opened the door. I looked around quickly inside and saw there was nobody around. I looked around quickly and sighed with relief that nobody was here. I slipped inside and silently closed the door behind me.
I looked around the room I was in. On one side were shelves filled with baskets of clothes, in the center was a series of stations with assorted tubs, and on the far side was another set of shelves that were currently empty. I guess they start dirty on one side, the baskets get nabbed by the workers who clean them at their station, then when they're done they go on the opposing wall. There was a ladder and crank elevator leading to a roof hatch, so I guess they dried out the clothes up there.
Walking closer to the wall full of bins I saw they each had a wooden slab with a number burned into it. I started rummaging through several baskets, looking for clothes that were remotely my size. As I was examining a coat I heard walking from the front of the shop. Deciding it would be good enough I bundled it up and dashed back out the way I came. I didn't try so hard to be stealthy this time, but it wasn't like I was found yet so I made sure not to slam the door at least. It was too nice of a shop to cause more damage than necessary.
I swiftly made my way through several streets until I found an uninhabited alley. Ducking in I tried on my newly acquired coat. Made of a boring brown cloth, it was remarkably unremarkable. It did feature a hood and internal pockets, both of which I thought would come in remarkably handy. It was pretty loose, but the length was a good fit. I guessed it belonged to a taller dwarf. It had a smell to it and a few stains, but as I was picking from dirty laundry I didn't much care.
I flipped the hood up over my head and started making my way towards the market. The hood was really the important thing I had wanted. My stark white hair made me stick out like a sore thumb and if my grab and run strategy was going to be viable in the long run I needed the shop owners to not recognize me when I entered a 20 foot radius of their stall.
I made my way into the open air markets and wondered what I should go for first. Fruits and bread were the easiest grabs so I figured I would play it safe and go for those today. Eventually we would need some actual protein in our diets but since we didn't even have a way to cook meat currently fruit and bread would have to do.
Over the course of the next two hours I made away with two loaves of bread, an alma, and three slices of tartos bark. Tartos bark was a kind of edible tree bark. It wasn't very tasty but since it was literally tree bark it kept well and was especially easy to keep in my coat's interior pockets.
The first day had gone pretty well. Half the shopkeeps I had nabbed from hadn't even noticed me since the markets were so busy. Even the ones who had seen had only bothered to let out a single shout when they saw me, but the sound blended into the noisy market as I had made my getaway.
I started to make my way back to the alley I had come to think of as home when I heard something and stopped.
"Something to teach beginner level magic? Yes, we have one like that." It was that bookstore I had seen on the first day. Looking in the window I saw a tall elvish man standing at the counter talking to the clerk. I move up and lean against the outside of the shop next to the door so I can listen.
"Let me see… Ah here it is, we tend not to display books with dangerous subject matter." I hear a thump as the shopkeeper places a book on the counter. "Elementary lessons in elementary magic. May I ask, is this for yourself or somebody else?"
"I've been asked to teach the subject, so I figured I could use some supplementary material. How much?" The elf had a voice far more gruff than I would have expected.
The elf and shopkeeper went over pricing and whatnot so I moved off to the side of the shop to put myself out of sight. As the store owner had said, books on magic were not usually kept on display, which made this a potential opportunity. I didn't relish the idea of stealing a particularly valuable item from somebody, but I thought magic could be a real boon for our chances of our survival.
A minute later the elf walked out of the shop and started off towards the markets. Now that I got a better look at him I saw he had slicked back blonde hair and a scar over his right eye. He was wearing a worn down traveling cloak that looked like it had been in service for several years. And he was carrying a brown paper wrapped parcel in his right hand.
I set off after him following a few people behind him so I wouldn't be noticed. He browsed the stalls for a while, looking through various foods. He eventually stopped before a jerky vendor and shoved the parcel under his arm as he took out a small coin purse.
I didn't hesitate as I weaved through the crowd up next to him. I reached up and in a fluid motion grabbed the package and gave it a solid tug. It slipped out from under the man's arm and I dashed away, clutching it to my chest.
"Hey! Shit!" I weaved back through the crowd and heard other people shouting behind me. It was clear he was giving chase and wasn't being subtle about it.
I made it out of the market and turned to look behind me. To my surprise the elf had managed to keep decent pace with me. I turned and dashed down the street.
I wracked my brain for a way out of this situation. If I just ran through the streets he would outpace me. I also couldn't head towards town center or south as the guards patrolled more in those areas. So best option was to weave through the alleys northward.
I ducked into the first alley I saw and almost tripped over some ruffians playing cards on a makeshift table. I leapt over the table, stepping on the end so it would flip. The cards and coins went everywhere as the men came to their feet with yells, but I was already running on.
I made several such distractions as I ran, but through them all the elvish man kept up. I looked back again and he was close enough I could see the look of fury on his face. I dipped into another alley.
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As I was half way through the alley I heard behind me, "Earth wall!" In front of me I saw the ground start to rise up on its own to form a solid wall to block my path.
Oh yeah, he did mention he already knew magic.
I watched in front of me as layers of earth piled on top of each other to form the wall. Without really thinking I kept charging forward and leaped as high as I could to try and clear the wall. Miraculously I made it over, but my leap was clumsy and I crashed to the ground on the other side. Holding my side I got up and started jogging again.
On the other side of the now completed and solidified wall I heard, “AGH, damn you!”
Hah, yeah get trapped by your own spell, why don't you.
As I was jogging away I heard a tremendous crash behind me and looked back to see the elf had charged straight into and through the wall he had created. He looked up among the falling rubble of his wall and we locked eyes. The fury etched into his face was enough to make me start sprinting again, regardless of the pain in my side.
Who the fuck did I piss off here?
Our little chase had taken us where I had planned, and we found ourselves in the wharf. I continued running along, weaving around sailors busy loading cargo onto various ships.
As I was sprinting I looked at the movement of the sailors and got an idea. Many of the sailors were moving cargo onto a single galley, presumably because it was scheduled to depart soon. I shifted my direction towards the dock leading to the ship. I heard a crash behind me and angry cursing. My elvish friend hadn't been able to avoid one of the sailors I had slipped past. That bought me a few precious seconds.
I pelted down the dock and made a sharp turn onto the gangway, forcing myself between sailors lined up with cargo to deposit. The sailors didn't pay me much attention, I guessed they weren’t paid enough to care. As the line moved up the gangway I saw a bouncer at the end inspecting cargo and giving orders to where it needed to go. I gauged the distance between where I was and the ship and leapt from the gangway onto the deck, avoiding the bouncer who yelled at me as he saw me jump.
The deck was a bustle of activity. Sailors went to and fro, carrying cargo and adjusting ropes to the sails. I saw an opening on the deck that sailors were taking cargo into and made for that. I dashed down the stairs down into the dark and dimly lit hold. There were boxes and barrels stacked all around me and I weaved between men and wood alike as I made my way into the space. I could tell now that I had managed to make it this far the men were actually taking notice of me. The hold of a ship was not a place for children, I needed to be fast and get out.
I heard my pursuer come running down from the deck. In the maze of boxes I hid and looked for something I could use to my advantage. I peeked through a box and saw dried fruits. In a barrel was a pile of fish. Taking these into account I assumed the primary cargo of this vessel was food, at least in the area I was in. I had an idea and looked around for the thing I would need to bring it to fruition. A few rows over I found what I was looking for, a bag sitting on a crate.
Looking into the bag I saw what I expected, a fine white powder. I had figured even in a fantasy world grain would be a primary source of food, and having grain meant having flour.
I grabbed a handful of the fine powder and looked around. I saw the elf cautiously making his way toward my general direction. Setting the book down for a moment I opened a box and grabbed a dried fruit. Moving toward an intersection in the cargo I threw the fruit so it would thud off a box across the way. As expected the elf heard the thud and started moving closer to investigate.
As the elf came up next to the box I hid behind I threw my handful of flour around my cover and directly into his face. As soon as the flour left my hand it expanded and went everywhere. I dashed in the opposite direction and heard coughing and a crash as the elf tripped and fell over a barrel.
I bolted back up the stairs and onto the deck. The gangway was still being used by people coming abroad so I ignored it and jumped off the ship onto the dock. I was lucky I was so agile and athletic or I would have been caught long ago.
Running back down the dock the way I came I ran down the first street leading back towards the town center. A little ways down the street I took a left and started making my way east. I brushed flour off my coat as I thought of my next move. That elf was nothing if not persistent, so I wanted to lay low for a while so he would give up. I had led him to the northwest side of the port. I thought he would expect me to run back towards the center of town, where me and most of the homeless in the city loitered around. Instead of that I was going to head east until I reached the edge of the dock area and find a place to chill for an hour or two. I didn't want to stay away from Alice too much longer.
I was walking through yet another alley today and thinking of what other goals I should try to accomplish when I suddenly tripped and almost fell flat on my face.
“You know, its not nice to walk through other peoples turf.” A voice said behind me.
Oh shit.
In my concern over the elvish man and needing to return to Alice I had overlooked a big flaw in my plan of laying low. The northeast part of the city was where the local gangs liked to hang out.
I looked behind me and saw a little group of three teenagers who had been loitering in a side part of the alley. Each of them looked like they were 17 or 18 years old and had a slim and slightly muscular appearance that came with having to work hard from an early age. They also were all looking at me like cats that had just caught a fresh mouse.
“Sorry, I’ll be leaving now.” I said, dipping my head and turning away. I really did not need this right now.
I walked out into the next street and was irritated when I heard their footsteps echo behind me. They walked out onto the street on either side of me and the one who looked to be the leader of the group said, “You know I think intruders usually have to pay a fee when they go where they don't belong. How about you give us whatever you got there and we’ll let you off free.”
The only response I gave him was a cold stare. These kinds of guys really pissed me off.
I heard the door to a building next to the alley we came out of open and saw a man come stumbling out. He held a bottle in his hand and looking up at the sign above the door I saw it was a bar he had come out of.
The man looked in our direction and said, “That you Al? What you got going on out here?”
The boy who looked like the leader responded, “Nothing much, just teaching someone a lesson for stepping on our turf.”
“Huh? HUH? You got a fight going on out here and you didn't bother to let me know? Hey fellas! We got a fight out here if anyone wants to watch!”
Al had tried to respond, “No, I…” he sighed as he realized his protest would fall on deaf ears.
A dozen or so other rowdy drunks and curiosity seekers came out of the pub and started gathering around. I looked for a chance to escape but while Al may have been distracted the other two members of his little gang kept a close eye on me.
The rowdy man came over holding a broom. Breaking the end off and then cracking it in half he said, “Watching kids wrestle is no fun. Here kiddos, use these. I want to see some blood. Put on a good show and I’ll give you some money, how's that sound?”
He threw the two broken halves of the broomstick into the circle of men. One landed next to me and the other clattered to the pavement at Al’s feet. I hesitantly picked mine up. I really don't want to do this, I’ve never cared much for violence and I’m in a position to lose my days worth of food and this book. Unfortunately the crowd around me is getting into the mood and cheering us on. I don't think escape is possible at this point.
Shit.
Al picks up the wooden club that landed next to him and gave it a good thwack against his other palm. Turning to one of the other boys he says, “Hey T, I haven't seen you in a real scrap yet. Time to prove you can pull your weight.” He tossed the club to the boy on my right.
The one Al called T caught the club with a wicked grin on his face and replied, “You got it, I’ll teach this little twerp a lesson.”
T brandished his club in both hands and faced me, staring me down. I held my club in my right hand, not willing to let go of my precious book. Sure, it would be a lot more rational to focus all my strength into just getting out of this is one piece, but after that chase I couldn't just let my hard earned spoils go. Besides… for some reason it felt natural holding my weapon in one hand.
Why did this feel so natural? I feel my body relax and fall into a pose I'm not familiar with. The feeling of deja vu washes over me and I wonder if this might be another thing I’ve inherited in Arnstein’s body. Whatever the case, I don’t have time to think about it.
T rushes me, bringing his weapon over his head to deliver a downwards swing. I feel panic at the back of my mind. I have no idea what to do. Do I block? Try and counter attack? Despite my mind being a mess I realize my body isn't tense at all.
Fuck it. Lets just go with the flow.
I resign myself to whatever outcome comes from this and just let my body do what feels natural. I breathe in deep and focus.
T brings his club down straight towards my face. I whip my club into his and knock it aside, to the right. He’s still got his forward momentum. I dash forward, using my smaller stature and build to slip around his right. Now behind him I pivot, readying my club. He tries to turn to follow me, fighting his forward momentum. As his face turns to me and he tries to bring his weapon back into ready position I use all the strength in my arm to swing my club.
My weapon smashes into his face with enough force to crack the wood. Having caught a face full of wood in the middle of an unbalanced turn he loses balance completely and falls to the side, still spinning.
What the hell did I just do?
I hadn't thought about doing any of that. In the moment I had simply known I could, so I did. T stayed on the ground, unmoving. I looked at the club in my hand, now broken and half hanging limp. The wind from me dashing forward so fast had also thrown off my hood. I was thinking to put it back on when I stopped.
I realized the crowd around us had gone deathly silent. I looked up and saw looks of shock that reflected how I felt. The eyes of every adult in the ring was fully focused on me.
“Oi, you son of a bitch.” I looked at Al as he spoke to me, fury in his voice. “You think you can come in here, injure our friend, and leave?” He pulls out a knife from behind his back. “C’mere, I’ll fuck’n kill you!”
He lunges at me and I resign my body to the flow again. He thrusts his knife forward mindlessly with his right hand as he charges. I toss aside my worthless weapon and drop my book. Something in the back of my mind tells me I need every advantage when facing a blade. Weaving my right hand past his blade I grab his hand and I push the trajectory of the attack off to my right. Still grabbing him I then pull his hand further forward, behind me. Simultaneously I kick one of his legs off to the side. Caught in the momentum of his lunge and deprived of his footing he faceplants onto the ground beside me.
“You son of a..” He starts to say as he used his hands to prop himself up. I don't let him finish and plant a solid kick into the side of his head. He slumps to the ground, unconscious.
I look around again and see the crowd is still in a state of shock. Several of the men have their jaws open in a look of dumb confusion.
I pick up my fallen book and reach over Al's figure to grab the knife out of his hand. Turning to give the third boy a glare I ask, "You still wanna go?" I see the fear in his eyes as he backs up, hands outstretched in front of him to indicate he doesn't want to fight.
I sense the crowd starting to come back to their senses as they start mumbling to each other. To the side I hear, “Kid, you…” followed by another voice, “Damn brat, c’mere!”
Not waiting to see who was talking I dash into the segment of the mob that seems like they're still partially in shock and break through. I hear the men who had spoken start yelling, but I didn't bother listening as I ran away. I sprint down the street and into a different alley. I bob and weave through several streets and different alleys before slowing and looking behind me.
Thankfully it seems like I've lost them pretty easily. I thank my lucky stars I didn't have to go through another chase in the same day.
I take a deep breath and reflect upon how tired I am. I think its time to head back. I don't bother being cautious as I head back to the alley where Alice waits. I just flip my hood back up and take the normal streets.
Time to head home. I think to myself with a tired but bittersweet smile on my face.