Dual Fort city is the most recently built and smallest of the four human cities in the continent of Aticia. Both its size and population are very small compared to other three cities. The only reason it is called a city because it has wall surrounding it and any settlement without wall won’t be able survive for long in this monster dominated continent. Though right now the wall is just four meters high, efforts are made by royal family to strengthen it.
The city wall has three gates, East gate facing the forest, North and South gates with roads connecting Rodmill and Elborne Cities respectively. Two old forts are present just after north and south gates giving the city its name. On the west there is a large mountain completely blocking any passage. And for that reason there is no west gate in this city.
At the East gate a group of 30 guards are lazing around playing some card games as usual. Unlike other two gates no wagons or travelers go through the east gate so it is mostly closed. The only work reason for stationing such a large group here is in case any monsters come from forest.
The peaceful atmosphere is disturbed by a small girl who came crying towards the gate from the forest.
“Isn’t it the girl who said she wanted to pick some berries growing near the wall?” exclaimed one guard.
“Little girl, what happened? Why are you crying?” the captain of this group of guards asked.
But the girl didn’t stop crying but she still tried saying something.
“My berries ….. Monster ….”
As they heard the word ‘monster’ everyone became active putting away whatever they are doing and took up their weapons.
They took their swords and spears into their hands and entered their battle formation facing the forest waiting for the enemy. After waiting for two minutes they saw something approaching the city wall.
It is a tall young man with a thin but healthy body. He has white skin which is covered by a layer of dust. Seeing that no monster is attacking the guards relaxed. But their captain thought otherwise.
“Don’t let your guard down. Even though he looks like a human, who in their right mind wander forest without wearing anything? Also no solo mercenary had entered the forest in last two days.”
“Captain do you think he is not human?” One of the guards asked.
“Probably, recently I heard that elves are becoming more aggressive.”
“But Captain, Aren’t elves supposed to have long ears and always carry their bows.”
“Who knows, there is not much information about elves as they don’t come out of inner forest. Most of those who encounter elves are killed by them. Even a core stage expert cannot escape their arrows.”
“Then shall we send message to governor?”
“No, more importantly there is something coiling his left hand. Do any of you recognize it?”
“I think it is a striped viper, sir. But this one still hadn’t formed its stripes yet.”
“Is it dangerous?” asked the captain while trying to remember details about this monster.
“It is one of the Rank-0 monsters in outer forest. They are harmless till they form their stipes, as they cannot produce poison yet. They are weak even among other Rank-0 monsters.”
“Well if it is just a Rank-0, it is not a problem.”
As the guards are conversing among themselves, Ruth slowly reached the gate. Though his time in forest made him forget shame now that he is facing civilized humans he has some reluctance to meet others in his current state. Unfortunately he has no other option.
He swept his vision seeing around 30 guards dressed in same uniform and armed with spears and swords, all of them pointing at him. They are whispering something among themselves in a foreign language. One of them whose uniform is flashier than others, probably their leader came forward and spoke something in that unknown language.
Ruth held his hands up and tried talking to them even though he felt that they won’t be able to understand.
“My name is Ruth, I intend no harm.”
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While their faces are still confused showing that they didn’t understood his words, they somehow became more wary. He understood the reason after seeing his left arm. That greenish black snake is still clinging to him coiling around his left arm. They are probably are apprehensive of this useless snake, he thought.
Other guards tried various methods to communicate without any result. Both sides continued staring each other for next few minutes. The sky already became mostly dark and the guards also looked like they had enough of this. As the situation is becoming more awkward, Ruth heard a rhythmic sound from far away. He turned towards the forest along with the guards towards the source of the sound. Someone riding a large brown horse came galloping towards them. As the horse neared the gate it slowed its pace, stopping slowly in front of guard captain. A teenage boy whose size is disproportionate with the horse is riding it. He is wearing clothes whose high quality cannot be hidden even when covered by a layer of dust.
That guard leader went towards the rider and they talked something and the boy replies by shaking his head. He then reaches into his pocket and took out an oval shaped bluish gem and handed it to the guards. One of the guards brought a book shaped metal box with various patterns drawn on it. There is a dent on its surface of same size as the gem. The guard took the gem and placed it in the dent. As the gem fitted into the gap Ruth saw those patterns glowing in various colours, converging into the gem. It is the same kind of glow he sometimes sees on his body, though his doesn’t have any colours in it.
Then the guard holding the box closed his eyes for a moment and then nodded to captain. After that guards made a gap in their formation for the horse and its rider to pass through. He rode his horse forward and stopped near Ruth. He then looked back towards the guard captain and asked something pointing Ruth.
Now that the horse came closer to him, Ruth saw the one riding it. He has a boyish face and fragile looking body. It makes one wonder how he rode on that monstrously large horse.
He then removed dusty gloves from one of his hands and rubbed the ring on his middle finger. It flashed for a second before going normal again.
As Ruth is going to open his mouth, he felt something. It is a strange sensation, somehow Ruth felt this is not a physical feeling but something else. And then he heard a voice inside his head.
“Oh, it connected as expected you are not an elf.” It’s a youthful boyish voice.
“Why do you think I am an elf, no wait I can understand you?” Ruth said to the boy on the horse.
“First let me introduce myself. My name is Clint and I have just used telepathy magic so that we can properly communicate.”
Magic, great another new thing to learn. Why his worries never end, Ruth thought to himself. But now he has bigger problems.
“Can you read my thoughts?” asked Ruth while taking a step back. Not a very good question in this situation but he don’t have any more energy to think.
“No, I can only use basic telepathy spell.” Clint answered.
There seems to be other spells that can read mind. He should remember this info.
“Basic telepathy spell can only work between people of same species so if you are an elf, my spell should have failed.” Clint continued.
Ruth inwardly thanked God that humans have same body structure in both worlds.
“Can you please tell them that I’m a human? Also ask them if I can have something to cover myself.” Ruth asked Clint while thanking him for help.
“Sure, wait a bit.”
Clint turned to guard captain and talked something in their language.
“They said they will allow, if you register as mercenary”
“Ok.” Ruth replied immediately. It is much better to sleep inside walls than inside the forest. He doesn’t know anything about mercenaries, so he just went with the flow.
Clint then gave Ruth an old black cloak which he got from one of the guards.
“They doesn’t seem to have anything else.” Said Clint while handing over the cloak.
Looking closely its design matches with guard uniform, this must be something they use in case it rains.
“Tell them my thanks.” Ruth replied after covering himself with cloak.
After that Ruth and Clint proceeded into the city along with four guards, who followed them closely. Even without turning back, Ruth can tell that they are ready to attack him if he tries to do anything in the way. He can do nothing about them anyway, so he concentrated on getting any information he can.
“Are you a mercenary?” Ruth asked Clint who dismounted from his horse as they entered the city.
“Me? Yes ... I’m a Rank-1 mercenary” Clint replied while leading the horse using reins.
“Oh! Rank-1” Ruth replied. It’s not like he knew what rank-1 means, but somehow he felt that he shouldn’t ask so he just nodded.
They walked silently as they entered one of busy streets inside the city. As Ruth is thinking for a topic to end this awkward silence, he saw that Clint has a frown on his face. Thinking that he got his own problems, Ruth turned to observe the surroundings.
Night came as they continued walking inside the city. One by one shops and residences lit up making this city sole light source in otherwise dark forest. Even the streets are lit up as a worker came inserted a stone like thing into the street lamp. As streets lightened with rows of street lamps, they gave the city a dazzling look.
As Ruth loosened up enjoying all beautiful and new sights, his stomach suddenly growled in protest. That is normal as he hadn’t eaten anything from morning, and now that he is far from life threatening dangers, he felt his hunger.
Suddenly Clint stopped walking and said pointing towards the two storey building in their front.
“That is the mercenary guild of Dual fort city.”
“So this city is called Dual Fort city.”
“Yeah, see that large mountain at the back of city. There are two forts on both sides of mountain base protecting the road which curves around the mountain base; this city is developed in the area enveloped between them.”
Indeed there is a very large mountain behind city. Though Ruth never knew much about mountains, this one is definitely too large. It would be one of the highest peaks if it is on earth. It is filled with greenery till its peak. Normally at such altitudes temperature should be low, forming snow. Though this world looks just like earth there are many things different here.
“I’ll go and find some stable to keep my horse, See you later.”
Saying so Clint took his horse and went into a different street, while the guards took Ruth into the building called mercenary guild.