The Ember of Beginning IV

After a while, breakfast arrived. It was brought by a smiling, plump waitress. She placed the food on the table with a wide, kind smile. "Oh, I’m real sorry 'bout the boss, darlin’. He might come off a bit rough… well, he is rough, but he's got a good heart… in his own way." She said this hesitantly, as if forced to.

Silora rolled her eyes exaggeratedly and said nothing. The plump waitress noticed this and said with a smile, "I get how ya feel, love. Most folks just see him as a greedy, grumpy ol’ man… and, well, he can be that, too, but there's a bit more to 'im." She paused as if thinking about what to say, "Why, without him, that poor stick of a boy—the one who messed up yer food—he'd have been gone on the streets. Ol' White Brows took him in, gave him work, kept him fed, even if he’s a little slow upstairs." She adjusted her stance and said, "But listen to me goin' on! You enjoy yer meal, dear." And she went on her way.

Silora said nothing, just listened. She was tempted to believe the plump waitress's words, there was some truth there. But this didn't explain the bad treatment she witnessed with her own eyes. 'That's not kindness... at least not to me.'

Silora cleared her mind of various thoughts and focused on her food. Although the hunger she felt this morning had disappeared due to the madness she had just gone through, her stomach didn't stop protesting. She finished her food quickly, just wanting to leave, but she still had to pay.

She approached the ugly man behind the bar. She paid with a light blue shell, a gray shell, and a white shell. Although the amount was relatively high, it was within her limits. She carried both the strange box and her staff and went on her way. She wanted to wish she wouldn't return, but if she was ever to go back home, she was compelled to. And Silora wished for this kind of compulsion.

***

Silora stood in the middle of the central market of the River's Mouth town. She had the idea of buying some lightweight food for her journey. But her storage bag was left with her father's old horse in the stable on the outskirts of the town and the rainforest. The bag she was carrying around wasn't suitable for this kind of task. So now, Silora had two options, "What should I do first, go to complete the horse deal? Or go down to the dock to inquire about today's sea trips?"

After some thought, Silora chose the most logical option in her situation. "To the dock," and she made her way down. She wouldn't get lost in this town, as its location on a hill helped in effectively determining directions. Just standing in a high place would allow Silora to look down at the dock.

Silora chose to go to the dock first for several reasons, but mainly just for caution. She wanted to inquire about the sea trips that would take her closer to the Free City, the prices of the trips?, especially the prices of trips to the northern islands, the trip times?, and so on. Just to get a general picture. 'Although I have already determined my route. I still need to account for the money.'

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After a while of walking, Silora reached a straight path leading down directly to the dock. Wooden houses and stone buildings lined both sides of the road, bustling with people; merchants displaying their goods, fishermen unloading their nets, and people talking among themselves. Blue flags fluttered above the heads of passersby. the air was filled with the smell of salt and fresh fish. At the dock below, the moored ships gently swayed on the calm blue waters. White sails fluttered under a clear sky, while birds flew overhead.

Silora carefully made her way down, not wanting to slip on the slippery path, from the remnants of fish water that fishermen and vendors dragged up towards the central market. She mimicked what most people around her were doing, walking beside the houses. 'Why didn't they just open a fish market down there... a waste of a good path.' When she thought about it more, she found the logic in it. 'Maybe they did, but the dock below is also a destination for travelers. Who would want to wait for their trip with the smell of fish all around?'

But still...

Silora reached the dock, although the descent from above was difficult, as it was her first time. But her trusty staff proved its effectiveness once again. She was now standing on a slippery dock. People moved cautiously on the slippery wood. Behind them, smoke rose from the chimneys of the houses, mixing with the clouds in the clear sky. In the distance, the sun cast its light on the blue sea waters. But none of this was Silora's goal.

"Where is it?" Silora looked around with a keen eye. She didn't want to ask anyone, knowing well that no one would help for free, maybe some, but she wouldn't take the risk. She was also sure she had seen the blue flags of Northern Winds from above before descending; she just had to find them. Which proved to be a difficult task.

'It should be in a clear place, so people like me wouldn't have trouble finding it.' Northern Winds was a maritime transport company specializing in travel between the islands, founded decades ago by a group of experienced sailors who decided to turn their passion for sea adventure into a thriving business. The company's headquarters is located on one of the main islands of the Free City. It is known for its fleet of silver ships with white sails bearing its distinctive logo: "Winds Above the Open Sea."

Silora kept wandering here and there until she reached the edge of the dock. The blue flags danced in the cold air above a large stone building. "Finally, I'm here." With steady steps, Silora lightly passed through the gathered crowds in the area. She received many angry looks, but her friendly face prevented anyone from making a scene.

Silora reached the large gate of the building's entrance. The entrance was crowded and chaotic with a large number of people. Everyone was trying to squeeze themselves inside. Even the guards who were supposed to maintain order just watched the scene, not attempting to intervene.

'How will I get in?' Silora thought to herself as she looked at the chaos before her. With a deep sigh, she pushed herself towards the mass of people. She knew she wouldn't get through anytime soon. So she had to be creative. 'I'm not proud of this.' She used both the wooden box and her staff to make people around her uncomfortable. Sometimes, she touched some people in inappropriate places... not on purpose, of course. Overall, this experience wasn't pleasant, but it served its purpose.