As Walter walked along with Gom, he couldn’t help but stare at the variety of people around him. People of all shapes and sizes milled about, a far cry from the sameness of the fishing village.

Closer inspection revealed that around a third of the populace had a bit of scales, fur, or feathers somewhere on their person. Walter assumed they were all beastmen, though there were a few instances where the crown of feathers or snakeskin hand turned out to be clothing.

Walter smiled as he passed a bird beastman with bright red and blue feather sideburns.

Gom looked over. “Enjoying the city I take it? Come to think of it, I never got your name?”

Walter looked sheepish. “Sorry, I’ve never seen such a variety of people. I’m Walter.”

Gom rolled the name around in his mouth. “Vwalta, huh? Strange name. Does it mean anything?”

Walter shrugged. “Not that I know of. Yours means roar, correct?”

“And here I was hoping to surprise you,” Gom said. “I should have known better. Considering you’re a scholar and all.”

“I had to pick up language here and there,” Walter said. “My real area of focus is business.”

“Oho, got any tips?” Gom asked.

Walter attempted a sage-like voice. “A lot of littles equals a lot.”

Gom snorted. “Spoken like a true scholar. Full of windy speech.”

Walter laughed. “It is needlessly confusing. Truthfully, most business is simple, but people don’t want their success to be simple so they make up these sayings. I’ve got a ton of them.”

“What’s the worst one you’ve heard?” Gom asked.

“Start before you’re ready,” Walter said.

Gom laughed.

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“Terrible, right?” Walter said. “See, it was explained to me that people spend too much time trying to make things perfect and never start. So start before you’re ready.”

Gom shook his head. “Makes sense, but why not say something like, ‘it can never be perfect, so start now?’”

“Because they need to sound cryptic,” Walter said.

“Cryptic,” Gom said. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, it means someone is trying to hide their meaning.” Walter answered.

“Sounds terrible. Nothing like our empire.” Gom replied.

“I did notice that everyone here is extra friendly,” Walter said.

Gom turned a corner before speaking. “Part of that’s the coronation. Part of that is beastmen needing to look safe.”

“Why’s that?” Walter asked.

Gom sighed. “You don’t know where beastmen come from, do you?”

“Can’t say that I do,” Walter answered.

“It never came up in your studies?”

Walter shrugged, trying to stay nonchalant. “Like I said, my area of focus was on business.”

Gom nodded. “Well, beastmen used to be just that, beasts. And, well… beasts—when they get divine energy they mostly use it to make what they’re good at better.”

Walter understood. “Something with claws will make stronger claws.”

“Or a better hide, or teeth, or poison,” Gom continued. “Few of them use it for intelligence right away, meaning that most beasts become savage. And all those improvements require more food as well, which means more hunting.”

“Which eventually leads to hunting people,” Walter concluded.

Gom nodded. “It makes it difficult for most to trust beastmen, which is why they go out of their way to be welcoming.”

“And it’s doubled now because of the coronation,” Walter surmised. “I’m surprised the old emperor was so gracious to let beastmen live here.”

“He was a beastman himself,” Gom answered. “The greatest Vwompit anyone ever saw.”

Walter tried to imagine what a Vwompit, or firebird, would look like in his mind. Images of a phoenix appeared in his vision, then a dragon. “He sounds like a great person.”

Gom nodded. “He was. And from the sound of it, his child is on the same path. I’m proud to guard someone like him.”

Walter hoped that this new emperor would be a good one, if only because he didn’t want to see Gom disappointed. The man’s friendly nature, despite being a guard, warmed Walter’s heart.

“Alright, this is my place,” Gom said after they turned the next corner. “I would say drop your pack off here, but I see you don’t have much in the way of things.”

Walter blinked, trying to keep his face straight. He failed, the corners of his lips twitching as he tried to think of why he didn’t have any traveling gear. Inwardly, he cursed himself for forgetting such a crucial thing. What traveler didn’t have a pack? Suspicious people, that’s who.

“No need to be so nervous,” Gom said. “Lots of people don’t use packs traveling. Though come to think of it, at least scholars always have their tools on hand.”

“Business doesn’t require much in the way of tools,” Walter said.

“Sure it doesn’t,” Gom answered. “Now, why don’t you tell me why you’re actually here.”