Stepping off the boat, I winced at the oppressive environment. The air above the ground seemed to shimmer as the heat radiated off the sand and stonework, and I had to take shallow breaths to feel like my lungs were not burning.
I immediately broke out into a full sweat, made even worse by the fact that I was loaded down by an absolutely monstrous greatsword and my pack of possessions over my leather armor.
“First time?” a sailor laughed as he passed me while unloading cargo, having seen my expression. “You’ll get used to it.”
Grunting a response and stepping away from the pier, I pulled out my map of the region. As I navigated my way through the city I began to forget the heat, at least momentarily, as I took in the sights and culture around me.
Most of the locals were probably hiding out indoors at the peak of the day instead of suffering through it like I was, and I expected the city would likely come alive in the evening as the light began to fade and the air was less painful to exist in.
The handful of people I did see mostly all shared similar characteristics. I met pairs of purple, red, and orange eyes, nodding greetings to the people with black or silver hair, sometimes having the unique, striped blend of the two. I also saw some extremely tanned people with eyes and hair similar to the people I had grown up around, and the occasional person who looked like they shared both heritages.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Textiles were hung around the city, some as decor and others available for sale, and there was a wealth of color and beauty that my eyes greedily devoured. I made a mental shopping list as I walked, but my attention was sidelined entirely when a familiar smell wafted past me.
Is that coffee? If there’s been coffee in this world this whole time, I might scream.
I allowed myself a small detour to find the source of the smell, and partook in the drink that had stimulated my senses. Sadly, it was not actual coffee but was a similar, strong drink made from the bean of a different tree that produced a long pod. It was not quite as good, but I could see myself wanting to drink more of it, and added sacks of the beans to my planned purchases.
Eventually, I found myself before a large structure that somewhat resembled the one I was already familiar with. I made my way through the front doors, shutting them quickly behind me to keep the heat out. The interior was significantly cooler, and I allowed myself a moment to delight in the respite from the desert air I had walked through to get there.
A few heads turned towards me from the tavern area, looking me over with interest before returning to their lunches or drinking. One man snored loudly at a table where he had fallen asleep. A server scurried by and shot him a frustrated look.
I stepped up to the reception desk, and a young clerk looked up at me in surprise. “New in town?” she asked.
“Fresh off the boat.”
“Welcome to the Haklan Adventurers Guild! Are you here to register as an adventurer?”
“I am,” I said with a smile. My brown eyes crinkled, and I swept a bit of my sandy brown hair back from my forehead. “My name’s Deklan.”
Pilus will return in Book 5: Worldseed Infinite