Almost as soon as I stepped out of the forest, fog covered the trees behind me. I started to wander, taking off my sandals—they tore into my feet, and there was nothing here I was worried about stepping on. Snakes, though, were a concern. The knee-high grass likely hid all sorts of animals. So, considering how much this world's inhabitants liked to attack me, I didn’t want to take any chances with venom.
It was cold enough to keep wearing my pelt, but the sun still blazed. After an hour of walking, my lips were dry. “I'm thirsty,” I muttered to myself. “The creek is back in the forest, and I sure as hell don’t have a canteen. My moss and food are gone.” I perked up. “However, not all is bad; look at that town in the distance. Real people!”
As I got closer, I realized it was more of a city, sprawling across the landscape, surrounded by small hills. Carts loaded with produce, weapons, spices, and other goods lined up towards the entrance. A weathered wall encircled the town, with a large archway entrance. On the left, wagons lined up, showing tokens to enter. On the right, the occasional person left.
Damn it, I don’t have a token to enter. Maybe I can plead with them? I went and stood in line. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the crowd thinned, and the line grew shorter. By the time it was my turn, my legs ached from standing so long. The guards recoiled at my appearance and smell, their expressions of disgust barely concealed. I must have looked pretty damn terrible.
Nonetheless, they were courteous enough, pinching their noses as they spoke.
“E uw brrohoa oeedeyi, uhadss htwvh ay es ounna?” The guard’s words were unintelligible, but his tone was stern. I guessed he was asking who I was and what my business was. Gesturing, I pointed to the forest and then at myself. ‘Me come from forest.’
That wasn’t what they meant, and they got irritated, pointing to the token the other merchants used. Oh, sorry. I tried to explain that I didn’t have one. After some pleading, my puppy dog eyes must have won them over, because they let me in, motioning in a general direction. “gsaeeh nw eha t n n acosiaeh dtnyatewnh, 'galrsa.” I bowed in thanks and headed that way.
The city was enormous. Buildings two to three stories tall lined a web of streets and roads. In the near distance stood a monumental keep with four large sections surrounding it, made of white, marble-like stone adorned with gold. The city bustled with activity. The entrance was a marketplace filled with traders selling vibrant fabrics, fresh produce, and various trinkets. People carried their coins strung around their necks, using rough holes punched in the center. The open-air market was alive with chatter and the heavenly-smelling foods, set for quite the ambience.
The people, however, weren't so kind about my arrival, either looking at me with pity or disgust. One lady even pulled her kids closer after seeing me. It stung, but I understood. I must have looked like shit. Seeing my reflection in a shop window confirmed it—I looked rough, a spitting image of the not-so-kind-looking kids in the alleys.
The further I walked into the town, the houses dwindled in replacement for more stores. After about an hour and a half of wandering, I found myself face-to-face with the white stone wall of the keep and two imposing guards.
“Fterntwacnr rte momboeu oag, eor hc kehecynue oayo,” the one on the left told me sternly, planting the pommel of his sword into the ground. Ok, geez. It was clear I wasn’t allowed here. Thankfully, all business buildings had signs out front with little pictures indicating their services. I wandered until I found a sign with a bed on it. Great, an inn, at least, I think.
I waltzed into the front counter where a gruff man was checking people in. He sported a beard that came down to his chest, and my head reached up to his beard. The kitchen was to the right of me, and stairs were to my left. The man asked me, presumably, if I would like a room. I placed my three orbs on the counter, hoping he’d accept them as payment. He looked down at them, then back at me, squinting. He then pointed to the door, saying something that probably meant, “Get your broke ass out of here,” so I left.
I wandered for another hour until I stood in front of a large building with a sign depicting a sword and shield. Hesitantly, I walked in and fortunately found it to be an adventuring guild. The atmosphere was filled with big, burly men drinking by the pint, farting, and the stench of monster parts. A tired, bored, and frustrated-looking woman was behind the front counter.
She saw me approach and faked a smile, unfazed by my appearance or smell. “Fui, y dt woh cnhaoiaro?” I placed my orbs, claws, and teeth on the counter, and she appraised them. Deeming them good enough, she handed me a string with two silver coins and fourteen copper coins. I tied it around my neck like a local and bowed in thanks. As I walked out, it clicked. Oh, I can’t pay with orbs. I pay with money, like any other normal human being.
I rushed back to the inn before nightfall and saw the same man working behind the counter. He gave me an exasperated look, which softened slightly when I placed three coins down. I wasn’t sure how much a copper coin was worth here, but I hoped three would suffice. His raised eyebrow and outstretched hand, showing five fingers, told me otherwise. Sighing, I handed over the additional two coins. With a curt nod, he handed me a key adorned with two strange symbols.
Eventually, I matched the key's symbols with those on a door and walked in. A bed! And a bathroom! Normally, I would rather sleep in the hall of my old apartments, but right now this is a five-star hotel compared to the damn forest.
Finding the door with matching symbols, I walked in. A bed and a bathroom! Normally, I would prefer the hallways of my old apartment, but right now, this felt like a five-star luxury compared to the forest. After checking everything out, I find a sink and a shower. How advanced. I peeked below the sink and noticed the lack of plumbing.
A pale blue orb, probably of a fish or something else aquatic, provided the water for the sink and shower. It wasn’t hot, but I’d grown used to cold plunges. I cleaned myself thoroughly, grateful to be rid of the grime I had accumulated.
The only thing that matters is that I’m clean, and people won’t be disgusted by my presence. Now I just need a haircut. I don’t know how long the other kid was a slave before I took over, but my hair reaches my shoulders.
After putting my pelt on again, the stench hit me before the dried blood did. I decided that buying new clothes would be my first task in the morning. For now, I tossed the pelt aside, sleeping in the nude, and crawled into bed, savoring the unfamiliar comfort. For the first time since arriving in this world, I felt safe.
——————————————
I woke up to a soft patter on my window and the light crackle of thunder. Great, it’s raining. I gathered my things and headed out regardless. What's getting a little wet? The streets were much calmer than yesterday, and most, if not all, street vendors were gone. However, that didn’t impede me, as the things I needed were in the big stores. Catching sight of the clothing store I found yesterday, I stepped inside, shaking off the rain.
Probably not expecting anyone to walk in, this girl, maybe sixteen, was groggily humming as she prepared clothes. I tried to politely clear my throat, only to make her damn near jump out of her shoes in alarm. “'rir mososy!” ‘I’m so sorry!’ She turned to me and frowned, but quickly ran up to the counter and asked me something that I couldn’t discern. ‘What do you need?’ Or maybe, ‘Hi, can I help you?’ Whatever it was, I just pointed to my clothes, put five copper down, and pointed to the clothes that hung just to my right.
Confused by my usage of gestures, she motioned for me to follow her to some rooms on the left. A waft of flowers entered my nose. She smells nice. She motioned for me to stand in front of a large mirror and take off my pelt. Well, that’s a problem; I don’t have any undergarments on.
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I tried my best to gesture that I was, in fact, naked under this, but she didn’t get it and started to pull it off. “Hold on, lady, I’m naked!” I shouted. She quickly jerked back and took her hands off, not because she understood me but because I yelled.
Feeling guilty, I tried something else. I fogged up the mirror and drew a stick figure with underwear, then a large X next to it. Her eyes widened with realization, and she started to apologize before making her exit.
Moments later, she returned with some boxer briefs and left the room. After putting them on, I admired myself in the mirror. I wasn’t fat like I was in my previous life, nor skinny like in this one. I had muscle and even abs! Those orbs work wonders. I opened the door and motioned for her to return after gazing at myself a bit longer.
Without casting a glance, she finished measuring me. Damn this kid body. If only I were four years older. She motioned to the clothing rack and then to the sewing machine. It looked like she finally realized I didn’t speak the language. Do I want something custom-made or to buy now? I chose to buy now and picked seven pairs of clothes, one for each day of the week.
Each shirt and pants were two copper, so I had to pay twenty-eight copper. I didn’t have that kind of change, so I handed her a silver, to which she raised her eyebrows. Oh, right, kids probably shouldn’t have this kind of money. She handed me my change and ushered me out into the rain. A silver and 81 copper. Using my pelt as a makeshift umbrella, I wandered the streets, hoping to find more interesting stores. With money in my pocket, I felt like I deserved to splurge a little.
Eventually, I found a restaurant, and my stomach growled at the smell of the food. I walked in, and a lively, middle-aged man almost kicked me out until I showed him my money. Reluctantly, he sat me down. People around me gave weird looks, but less so since I showered and wore normal clothes. He handed me a menu, and with no pictures, I pointed to a random item. He held up two fingers, so I gave him two copper and waited.
People continued to look at me weird. Well, sorry, I can’t fix my face. Couldn’t you try to be a little nicer to me?
The man returned with a plate, and the food looked delicious. Even to an unstarved person, this was a luxury. I scarfed down the meal, almost licking the plate, and left. You don’t tip in this world, right? Well, even if you do, he didn’t deserve it, almost kicking out a paying customer. I pouted.
What else do I need? I thought for a while before I thought of something: a weapon! And I guess a book on the language. But first, a weapon! If the adventurer guild's sign was a sword and shield, would a weapons shop have a hammer? And so I looked for a shop that had any type of forgery-looking thing on its sign.
In the end, I found a library before a weapons shop. It looked like a cathedral with big, pointy roofs. Reluctantly, I walked in. As I pushed open the heavy, creaking wooden door, the vast interior expanded before me. The first thing that struck me was the sheer scale of it all. Rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched into the distance, disappearing into shadows. High, vaulted ceilings arched above, embellished with intricate carvings and colorful stained glass windows that cast colorful patterns onto the polished wooden floors.
I stepped forward, my footsteps echoing softly in the cavernous space. The air was thick with the scent of old paper, ink, and a hint of something floral—lavender? It was both comforting and awe-inspiring. There was a hushed reverence to the place, as if it were a temple dedicated to knowledge and learning.
A few scholars were scattered about, some seated at long wooden tables illuminated by brass lamps with green glass shades, others perusing the shelves. A large, imposing desk stood near the entrance, likely where a librarian would normally reside. Though there wasn’t anybody there currently, a massive, leather-bound ledger was left open on its surface, revealing rows of neatly written entries. Behind it, a sign in a language I couldn’t read hung above, probably listing rules or important information.
I had no idea where to begin, and I can’t ask the librarian because, well, I can’t speak their language. Eventually, I found a section that seemed dedicated to languages. The books here were varied—some appeared to be dictionaries, others grammar guides, and still others storybooks, perhaps for children or language learners. I grabbed a couple that looked promising and made my way back to one of the tables that resided on the end of the book shelves.
I don’t know what I was expecting, really. I opened a dictionary, thinking I could teach myself the language, but nope. I opened a few of the other books, only to be disappointed again. The children's books helped a little, I guess, with the pictures and all that guiding me through. But I still couldn’t tell who was supposed to be the nefarious wizard or not. Probably the one who didn’t have the heroine.
In the end, I could match a few of the symbols to words I’m pretty sure meant ‘the’ and ‘and’. Great, I'm learning, but I still have no idea how to pronounce it. I walked up to the front desk, where a dwarf of a man now resided. How the hell am I going to ask for help with learning the language? I point to the book and to myself, “I don’t know how to say this." Surprisingly, he got the memo and perked up. He quickly moved from around his desk, ushered me over to a table, and gestured for me to wait here.
Ten minutes later, he came back with his arms full of books. He plopped a large, worn book with no special title on the front. He set the others to the side and motioned for me to open it. It was, honestly, exactly what I was looking for. Pictures, words, and descriptions of each picture. A pictorial dictionary.
Before we started, he opened another book and underlined a few repeating symbols and said them out loud. He motioned to the picture and formed a sentence. We lost track of time, doing this for almost three hours until some important-looking person pulled him away. He took the books with him and motioned to the clock. ‘Be here at the same time tomorrow’ Sweet, I have a language teacher.
Of course, for my finale, I need weapons and armor. In the library, I asked Dwarf, and after some hesitation, he gave me a token and pointed me towards an area where I could find them. I could feel his hesitation stemming from my age. After all, an eleven-year-old shouldn’t be buying those things. The only problem I have with buying them is the money. Is a silver enough? I need to have enough money left over to survive.
That reminds me: how will I make money? I need to kill the damn bastards that enslaved me, so I need to get stronger. That all but points right to adventuring, but I don’t know if I can handle that. After living in that damn forest for three days, in death's hands at all times, I really don't want to go back. Then again, why am I getting a sword and armor? For funsies?
Plus, maybe I don’t have to go on monster hunts in the forest; I can just take jobs not near the damn thing.
I decided that I was, in fact, going to adventure as I walked up to the entrance of the armory. It was a dainty place, and the man behind the counter was reading as I walked in. Loads of weapons lined the walls, and even more had a home in buckets that were below them. Spears, swords, daggers, war hammers, and other weapons I couldn’t name were all here. It didn’t seem to have any ranged weapons, but I don’t need those; I want a sword.
“Aoh, feyth u cooid yarnw?” ‘What can I get for you?’. I handed him the token, and his eyes widened, and he smiled, “Rd wto eehed hs igutiy?”. I think he said, how or where did you get this? I pointed to the book on the counter, and his smile widened as he attempted to help me. I place down a silver, gesture to the swords, and he gives me a curt nod. He laid out three in front of me and said something I had no clue was supposed to mean. Obviously, I chose the coolest-looking one, which was double-sided. It was slightly curved and had a guard that looked like a flat, round disk. It was also a dark blue.
He took the silver without any remorse and asked if I wanted anything else, or something like that. I looked around, and my money left, and placed 50 copper down. What can that get me for armor? Well, it got me two arm guards and some shoes; I can't go around walking barefoot anymore.
Now almost broke, for my last trick, I go to sign up to become an adventurer, or whatever they call it in this world. I go through the motions, pinch my nose, and walk in. The same tired lady as before is working, and I motion to sign up to be an adventurer.
She gave me an incredulous look and tried to hide a dancing smile on her lips. Clearly, what I just asked for was funny. I motion again, and she just sighs, says something, and points to other people. What? I tilt my head. She makes a gesture that says I’m short, and I realize now that she thinks I’m too young. Even after selling strong monster stuff here?
I pout and walk out. By this point, I'm starving again, and the rain stopped about an hour ago, so I grab something from a street vendor. I sit down and sigh. How am I going to make money now? The rest of the day was uneventful, and I lay down early, waiting for the next day to arrive.