The next morning was uneventful. Everyone took turns keeping watch that night, and in the morning, everyone was tired. Except for me, cause I sleep like a rock. Luckily, nothing exciting happened while I slept, so that was good. And the following week was just as uneventful. It was a lot of walking, and we only ran into a few monsters, which Hawks and John quickly and easily dispatched. And after a few days of wondering, we finally found a road that would lead us to Crible, and walking that road took the rest of that week.

As we crested a hill, John stopped and pointed into the distance, “There it is, team. Crible isn’t far off now.”

“Finally,” Snow said, stretching, “I can drop this heavy pack.”

“You’re not carrying anything,” Mountain pointed out.

“Yeah, but you are, and I would hate to keep you in that armor for a second longer than I have to,” Snow said flirtatiously.

“We should hurry to town,” Mountain said, his voice a couple of octaves higher.

“Gag! Will you two stop with that,” Hawks said as she walked past everyone.

I shrugged and signed to Snow, “How much longer?”

“About another dozen kilometers. We’ll get there by this afternoon,” Snow answered.

I nodded and jogged forward to keep up with everyone else. As we walked, the team got more energetic and began cracking jokes occasionally, a few of which were very funny once I got them. And after a few more hours of walking, I saw the city walls within my sphere and excitedly hopped on the balls of my feet. We were finally here! I can finally join the adventurers guild and have adventures! Just like in the stories Jazmin told me when I was young. I’ll have so much fun telling her all about it when I see her again.

As we approached, I noticed a few guards checking people’s identification and claiming an entrance fee. I paused, tapped Snow on her shoulder, and signed, “I don’t have I-D.”

“That’s fine if you don’t have any identification. If you’re going to be an adventurer, they’ll give you one at the guild when you sign up and if you pass the orientation exam. But do you have the entrance fee?”

“How much?”

“I think it’s one silver,” Snow hedged.

“No, it’s two silver, actually,” John corrected.

“Oh, that’s steep. Do you have that much?”

I nodded, took off my pack, and rummaged through it to find my coin bags. Once I did, I pulled one out and felt the coin’s weight to determine what they were but with no luck. They all felt the same to me.

I pulled out a hand full of coins, and Snow’s eyes widened, “You have nothing but gold coins?”

I shrugged. I don’t know what coins I have. They all have the same weight and the same diamond design on them.

Snow turned around to rummage through Mountain’s bag and pulled out her own coin bag. She opened it and counted the coins, “I have three gold, fifteen silver, and ten copper. Does anybody have five silver?”

John pulled off his pack and pulled out his coin bag, “I have three silver.”

Then Hawks pulled her coin bag from her belt and said, “I have four. Take mine and one of John’s that should do it. Just be sure to pay us back, Snow.”

Hawks took a coin from John and gave the five silver to Snow. “Thanks. And I will take that coin,” she said, taking one of my gold coins from me, “And you will take these,” she added, pouring in twenty silver coins.

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I reached in and felt the silver coins. They were slightly lighter and had a star symbol instead of a diamond. “Oh, and just one quick thing. Don’t give the guards a gold coin unless you want them to forget you ‘cause they won’t give you any change.”

I nodded and signed, “Thank you.”

“You are most welcome,” Snow said as she put her coins away and pulled out two badges from a hidden pocket in the pack. Then I noticed that everyone else was pulling out badges from their packs. And I couldn’t help but feel nervous that I didn’t have a badge or identification.

“Next,” the guard said in a bored tone, and John stepped up and showed him the badge. The guard nodded, “You’re good, next.”

What?! Why didn’t he pay?! I signed to Snow, “Why not John?”

Snow took a moment to interpret my quick signage but soon said, “Oh, why didn’t he pay? That’s because we’re adventurers. We get free entry into cities.”

I sighed and looked down at my two silver coins. I’m ready for an adventuring life so I can travel for free. “Next,” the guard said, and I just knew it was my turn to go through. I stepped up to the guard and showed him the coins. He took them and said, “Where’s your identification?”

I shook my head.

“What? Cat got your tongue? Answer the question. Where’s your identification?!”

I shook my head again, raising my hands in surrender. Then Snow stepped between us, coming to my rescue, “Um, sorry to interrupt you, but she has no identification. That’s why she’s here, so that she can get some.”

The guard looked between Snow and I and said, “Why didn’t she tell me then? And with no identification, she will have to pay five silver.”

I began pulling out the coins while Snow explained, “Well, you see, she’s mute and can’t talk.”

Handing the guard the remaining three coins needed, he nodded, “Oh, I see. Well fine. Don’t cause any trouble, and I don’t see a problem letting you in. Have a good stay in Crible.”

Nodding, I put my coins away and walked past the guard into the city with Snow and the rest of the adventuring team. The city was full of people, and I could see several dozen within the buildings and walking around in the street. The amount of noise they made was obnoxious and hurt my ears, but I could withstand it for a time.

John tapped on my shoulder, drawing my attention. “This is where we part ways, Miss Rose. Good luck becoming an adventurer. And safe travels,” he said with a kind smile.

I nodded in thanks and signed, “Where adventure g-u-i-l-d?”

He turned to Snow as she interpreted and sighed, “It’s three blocks that way on the right. Just follow the sound of booze and laughter. You won’t be able to register till tomorrow, though.” He pointed down the street directly ahead of us, and I nodded in thanks again.

With that, they all walked away toward the adventurers guild. While I decided to follow my nose as the delicious scent of food wafted over me. I turned right and walked down the street until I saw a building with an engraved sign hanging over the door that read, ‘Red Boar Inn and Dinner.’

I walked into the building and was immediately greeted by a plump older lady with long braided hair sitting behind a reception counter, “Welcome to the Red Boar Inn and Dinner. Are you here for a room or food?”

I nodded.

“Both?”

I nodded again.

“Very well then. That will be five copper a night if you’re staying.”

Pulling my bag off my back, I pulled out my coins and took out one silver.

The lady’s eyes widened, and she said, “Well, staying with us for the next four days, I see. Welcome to the inn, miss.” The lady pulled a sheet of paper from a drawer and handed it to me along with a quill and ink, “Just going to need you to sign in.”

I looked down at the sheet of paper and then back up at the lady. I then pulled back my bangs, revealing that I was blind and could not see what was on this black hole of nothingness.

The lady winced and said, “Oh, my apologies miss. I’ll write for you,” she then picked up the quill and tapped it a couple of times on the ink well before bringing it to a spot in the middle of the page, “What’s your name?”

Rolling my eyes, I took the quill and sheet of paper from her and wrote where she had the quill. “Rose, blind and mute.”

Returning the paper, she read what I wrote and looked shocked, “Oh, sorry to hear that, Miss Rose. Here let me show you to your room.” She grabbed a key from another drawer and walked around the desk to a set of stairs to my right. I hefted my pack and followed her up the stairs. She led me three doors down and unlocked the third door on the right.

I walked past, and the lady said, “Well, this will be your room for the next few nights. Please find me at the reception desk and ask if you need anything. I’m Bridget. And dinner will be served in thirty minutes if you’re hungry.”

I nodded in thanks and accepted the key that Bridget handed to me. She closed the door, and I was finally alone in my temporary room. It was about three by four meters and had a small bed that smelled of bodily fluids, a few pictures hanging on the walls, and a small window on the far side with a view of the building next to this one. I dropped my pack on the ground and collapsed to the bed, exhausted and ready for food. But I took a moment to enjoy the fact that I made it this far almost entirely on my own. I can do this. I know I can.

***