I spent the following 2 or 3 hours completing requests rapidly. It would have taken a lot less time, if I could carry more at once, but I ended having to go back and forth four times in order to carry all of the required carcasses. The reception and a few other people made weird eyes at me. I think I am going a little too hard, but I can’t be bothered to pretend I am normal right now. Time wasted here is more time I have to leave Kassa and Dixy alone.

After earning more than a thousand asti in a single day, I ask for directions to the stores I intend to visit, the general goods store and a tailor.

The sky has started to darken a little, but hopefully there is still time before it closes. My trip to the general goods store proceeds with no trouble. I get salt, a pot, a knife, a new backpack and some small fruits, that Kassa might like. They are red and covered in some kind of powder, but they taste very sweet. It all costs a lot more than I would think it should, especially the fruits, but maybe the war has been hard on supplies too. It costs around three times more than usual, but it is not really an issue, since the pay was upwards of ten times higher.

My trip to the tailor goes less well. It seems they don’t have ready-made clothes like the Tarrun stores I remember. What happened to the Tarruns anyway? The creepy small-statured people had, like the Sylvestri, disappeared from everywhere when I escaped from my prison, even though they seemed to make out a small percentage of the population wherever I went… Don’t tell me something similar happened to all non-humans?

I shake the thought off, and after some negotiation, I put in an order for a dress and a robe for the kid, though he doesn’t look too happy about not having exact measurements. He then manages to convince me that I should get a new outfit for myself. I guess it is rather torn, but I didn’t intend to buy one when I entered, so I feel a bit cheated. It will be ready in a week, so I can’t wait around. I will just have to go back now.

I basically have no money left after buying the necessities, but it was only a day’s work for me, so it doesn’t really bother me. When I turn to leave, the same guard is still standing there.

“Already leaving?” he asks me. He looks a little sad.

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“Ah, I will probably be back sometime soon.”

“Then, why aren’t you staying in the city? If you don’t have the money for an inn, you could even come to my place” He must really want me to stay.

“Ehhh, ahhh, I already set up camp a bit away from here. Thing is… I don’t really like staying in cities”

He looks at me a little worriedly. “Well, to each his own. Make sure to come back soon, Yian.”

“Sure, will do, ehhh, did I get your name?”

“It’s Gorar! I am on guard duty here every other day, so if you need something, there’s a good chance for you to find me at this gate.”

“I will make sure to remember. Then, see you, Gorar!”

“See you!”

On the way back to the burnt footprints I left, one of my shoes break. The sole came clean off. I pick it up, not wanting to leave random trash about, but I guess I will have to get some new ones.

As I return, I see Kassa outside the hut, Dixy nowhere in sight. I had thought she might run away, but I thought for sure she would spend time with Dixy, if she stayed behind. Instead, she is just lay down on the grass, curled up in a ball.

“Hey, I am back. What happened to Dixy?” I ask her. She merely points at the hut.

“Was Dixy no fun?” I ask her.

“Mean.” Is the reply I get. I feel a bit taken aback. I have not thought of Dixy as rude at any point.

“How was she mean?”

“Told me I was dumb. And that I a waste of time.” Wow. Harsh words.

“I’ll have a word for her. In the meantime, why don’t you try this?” I say, as I fish up the sweet fruits. She curiously grabs it from my hand, knocking some on the floor again. I sigh a little inwardly.

“Hey! Be more careful!” I yell a little at her and she flinches.

“Sorry, it’s just that, there is no reason for you to be so careless. Now the fruit that fell will be… less tasty… For no reason.” I wondered if it was as big a deal here that something was dropped on the floor, since people don’t seem to get sick, except if they eat rotten food or not enough food.

Leaving a slightly scared looking Kassa, I enter the shoddy hut and find Dixy lying open on the floor.

“Hey, Dixy, what’s this I hear about you being mean?” I ask her.

“She started it!” The protest sounds. “I was going to entertain her by teaching her how to read, but after less than an hour, she said I was boring and asked me to tell her a story. And then I told her about our travels, but she said those were boring too! And then she kept calling me boring, so I just explained she was too stupid to appreciate the finer things! And that I wouldn’t waste any more time on her! Then she stepped on me! SHE STEPPED ON ME!”

I had somehow though of Dixy as an adult, but at this moment, it really feels like I have two children on my hands.