“If you need anything, feel free to approach one of the guards,” Lucas said as he stepped forward. “Don't hold it against Fokes, the process always hurts a bit and I've often seen people react the same way you did to such an engraving.”

He smiled and offered Elijah his hand.

“Welcome in Whisperwind, Mr. Oak.”

Chapter Begin

Erik waved at Elijah as soon as he stepped through the gates and into the city of Whisperwind. “Did they finally let you through, Elijah?” He laughed while approaching.

Elijah rubbed the back of his hand where Fokes drew the rune as he answered. “They drew something on my wrist.” How could I have let this happen? He thought.

“We already thought that something was off when we saw them bringing you to the survey room. But even Aric couldn’t intervene since you didn’t have a Nexus ID. Why haven’t you told us?” Erik asked as he began leading the way.

“I don’t know,” Elijah answered as he looked at the city in front of him, his hand still on his wrist. A wide path led from the gate into the city, winding between large buildings that seemed to be mostly made of stone or similar material. The roofs were flat and Elijah saw some youths sitting on them.

“Don’t worry about the engraving. I’ve never seen an adult without a Nexus ID, but engraving newborns with it is common.” Erik explained as they passed a building with an open door. Elijah threw a glance inside and saw several people sitting at a bar with drinks in their hands. Seems like people are drinking at this hour even in this world. He smirked as a friend of his came to his mind.

The roads on the city's outskirts deceived Elijah, for the deeper they went into the city, the more crowded the streets became. Erik walked much slower than before and kept glancing at Elijah behind him so the two wouldn't lose each other. Elijah's hand was on his pouch and he kept his eyes open for pickpockets. He knew from experience that crowds like this provided the best opportunities.

“Where are Kael and Aric?” He eventually asked over the sound of people talking all around them while Erik continued to lead him through the city.

“Aric went to his father’s place. He always goes there first when he comes back from a trip.” He turned around a corner. “Kael went home.”

“You didn't have to wait for me, I’m sure I could have managed on my own,” Elijah said.

They left the narrow streets and arrived at an open square. Elijah saw some stalls at the other end of the yard. The sellers were preparing their goods for the next day. Their group arrived just before dawn and the streets were already filled with many people.

Erik didn’t stop and made his way through the square. He greeted a few people he knew but didn’t stop to chat with them as all of them were busy carrying around something. Elijah looked at the lined-up stores. The whole scene looked exactly as he would have imagined a medieval fantasy city.

Many people around him carried swords, bows, huge hammers, or other types of weapons. The merchants presented all kinds of exotic fruits, knickknacks, or other things to attract the eyes of people passing by. If Elijah didn't have to hurry after Erik, he would have taken the time to look at each of the stalls.

The people around him also looked strange and unique. While all were human in form, they had distinctive differences that could never be found on Earth. To his right, a six-foot tall man with light blue skin was bargaining with a merchant who had a third eye on his forehead, and a little further away Elijah saw a small bearded man with a too-long cloak and a pointed hat hovering around a stall as he set up his wares.

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“Stop dreaming Elijah, or you’ll lose me,” Erik said from ahead, drawing Elijah out of his admiration of the town’s inhabitants.

He followed Erik from the marketplace into another alley that led the two of them along several buildings. The houses seemed larger and Elijah realized that they were entering some sort of commercial district.

Now and then he could see more residents who had peculiar physical features, but slowly Elijah realized that the feeling was mutual.

The two were walking past a store, which sold small fragrance bottles when a group of children in front of the store stared wide-eyed at Elijah. "Look at his skin!" shouted one of the kids, a human girl, before an adult covered her mouth and smiled apologetically at Elijah.

It was only after this event that Elijah noticed that the eyes of the residents rested on him a little longer than would usually be the case. I hope this wooden body does not attract racists to me.

Eventually, Erik stopped in front of a three-story house. He pointed to the building with both hands before exclaiming. "And here we are! This is an inn of a friend from our guild. The Crowing Rooster."

Elijah's eyes wandered over the building. A small sign hung above the entrance. To his concern, Elijah could not read the writing. Shit. He thought to himself. The language resembles English and differs only slightly in pronunciation, but the writing seems different. Fortunately, there was a picture of a rooster on the sign. He will be able to recognize the building even without the writing.

The inn was in good condition. The exterior walls were a pleasant shade of yellow, and the building had large windows that probably let in a lot of sunlight from outside.

"Looks inviting,” Elijah said as he took a step forward. He wanted to enter the building and book a room. While he didn’t know the price of a room, he was convinced of being able to afford it with all the credits he had taken from the members of the Cloud Raiders guild.

Erik put a hand on his shoulder and asked.

“You weren’t a member of Cloud Raiders, right?”

The question was accompanied by a few seconds of silence. Elijah did not know what to answer and could only look speechlessly into Erik's eyes.

"No, I wasn't," he finally said.

"Thought so. If you were a full-fledged member of them, you wouldn't have betrayed your people so easily, and you probably wouldn't have been a Tier 1 when we first met."

Elijah nodded as Erik continued. "What were you doing on the islands and how did you get up there if not through the spatial formation from the Cloud Raiders?" He leaned forward.

"That's my business and I won't be able to tell you, so don't hold it against me." Elijah took a step back. He didn’t plan to tell anyone that he came from another world. At least not until he knew what impact it might have on him.

Erik raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Elijah's behavior. "Why won't you tell me?" before Elijah could answer, Erik waved his hand and shook his head. "Never mind. Everyone has their secrets. I am often told that I am too curious, sorry." He took a few steps towards the entrance of the inn and Elijah followed him.

What’s this all of a sudden? We spent several days together and now he comes up with something like this? Elijah couldn’t help but ask himself as they stepped into the inn.

"Welcome to the crowing rooster!" said Erik with a smile, as if the previous conversation had not happened.

The smell of food was the first thing Elijah noticed and his stomach growled as his gaze landed on a group of people who were eating.

The common room of the tavern was filled with tables and chairs and just as many customers about to eat their breakfast. Laughter and voices animated the building. Some patrons glanced at Elijah and Erik as the two entered the building and walked across the room to the counter.

"Oh Erik, long time no see! What brings you here?" the overweight man behind the counter greeted Erik before looking at Elijah. "New customers?"

"We just arrived, Thyme." Erik put his hand on Elijah's back. "Elijah needs a room."

Elijah nodded in greeting to the man before adding. "Preferably for a week. How much?"

Thyme snorted. "Take it easy my friend. You can have the room, we can still work out the price. Are you hungry?"

The two nodded before Thyme disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two filled plates.

"Lumis with spud sauce? Looks delicious, thank you Thyme." Erik accepted the plate and paid for the two before Elijah could get his money out. Thyme wanted to refuse the money but Erik ignored him and was already looking for a seat.

A moment later, the two sat down at a table in a corner of the room that seemed to be a gathering place for customers who wanted to have their meal in peace.

Just as Elijah was about to begin eating, Erik called out to a man.

"If it isn't David the legendary treasure hunter!"