Fair Trade

I have beaten countless fantasy games and that did little to prepare me for the real thing. Everything is just so vibrant and different here than in my previous life.

There are numerous different races here. I feel like every direction I look I notice a new one that I only could dream about back home. There are minotaurs walking the streets, elves with pointy ears chatting merrily, and beastfolk of every kind.

The town’s construction is meticulous in layout but chaotic in its aesthetics. There is a main street that runs all the way up to what looks like an old chapel that you can notice from as far back as the main gate.

Through the center of main street runs a continuation of the compact dirt road we entered town on with well maintained cobblestone paths on both sides. The dirt road must be maintained in consideration for the horses and wagons since the uneven surface might cause issues with their hooves and wagon’s wheels.

Houses, shops, and businesses line the streets with no real discernible pattern. Market stalls scatter throughout the main street in differing intervals.

I see people just starting their day by bringing out freshly baked goods to sell at their own stall right in front of their homes.

So many new sights and smells. I stop for a moment to stare at freshly baked pastries in the shape of a fat dragon. They are so round and plump I wish I had the money to try one.

I look around. I seem to have fallen behind my escort. You know, for an old man he can move pretty quickly if he wants to.

“Keep up! We have places to be and things to do young man.” The old man’s aura is that of a lord or something. Just his profile alone makes him look like a noble. I wonder if I will look that cool when I am old and gray one day.

“Sorry I got distracted by the fruity pastries here. They smell delicious.”

I pick up my pace to rejoin him.

“Would you like me to buy you one?”

“No sir I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“Hmm…suit yourself I can tell you Dia’s pastries are some of the best around.”

Please do not make me regret it any more than I already am old man.

There is no uniformity to anything in Freehearken. It is so clear that anyone can see the different races and their cultures on display in every nook and cranny of the town. I am starting to understand why Keith loves this place so much.

“We’ve made it young man.”

We seem to be as close to the center of town as one could possibly be. The building was quite large. Two huge wooden doors adorned with elegantly engraved golden trim sit closed. Curiously, the frame above the doors appears to have been adjusted larger after its initial construction. 

The old man pushes open the great doors.

Instantly noises cascade through the opening carrying the boisterous shouts of adventurers conversing with one another. As the old man enters the sounds simmer to hushed tones and whispers.

“Guildmaster, you made it back in one piece!” A voice larger than life with an equally large speaker enters into view.

Before us now stands a minotaur. He is massive covered with black fur and deep brownish eyes. His horns are large and ornamented etchings directly into one of his horns. I can see that it depicts a battle between a minotaur and a giant snake accompanied by some silver jewelry at the base of the horn.

Wait did he say Guildmaster?

The old man walks forward to greet the kneeling minotaur placing his palm on the center of his large head.

“Good to see you Jim.”

Jim. Jim the minotaur. Not very a fantastical name but for some reason it seems fitting. Is he petting him?

“Who is the scrawny whelp there with you Guildmaster?”

“Come to think of it young man, we have not been properly introduced.”

“Oh sorry sir. My name is Taichi but most people call me Tai.”

“No need for formalities– we are all adventurers here, boy. Just call me Richard. For the past 30 years I have been the Guildmaster of the Freehearken adventurer's guild.”

Richard moves towards the reception desk. Jim the minotaur waves his giant palm and returns to his party. His hooves make the wooden floors creak with each step sending vibrations throughout the hall.

“Now Janice, make sure that you get the young Tai here set up with an adventurer’s card. That should suffice for his admittance to this little town of ours. I have some things that require my urgent attention. So please take good care of him for me. ”

With that Richard was gone with a wave of his hand. I still can't believe it that he is the Guildmaster.

I get to be an adventurer? This is just so fantasy. I can feel it in every fiber of my being; the rush is intoxicating.

“Right this way. Tai, let ‘s get your paperwork all sorted.”

“Is this kind of thing normal Miss Janice?”

“I wouldn’t say so. Maybe the Guildmaster just wants an easy way to keep an eye on you.” She looks back and winks.

Feel my heart skip a beat. Guild receptionists are always so cute in video games. She is no different, maybe it's the glasses?

When I exit the hall it is already the afternoon. Janice was very thorough in her explanations so it took awhile. I am grateful because the more I learn about this new world the better.

The most important thing I learned is that the guild provides housing for low rank adventurers like myself and 1 free meal a day. I will be able to rent starter equipment too. These benefits will go away once I rank up my adventurer rank twice.

As Janice told me a donation fund was created by the first party to kill a demon lord over 5,000 years ago. Countless heroes through the ages followed the first hero's example after their own conquests. To this day the funding provides a program that seeks to increase the survival rate of all new adventurers.

If I am going to start adventuring soon I will need a couple of things. This is not a video game. I have to remind myself that just one wrong mistake and it can all be over for me. All I need to do is not get hit and I will be okay.

Hopefully I can find someone willing to buy this pocket knife off of me.

Wandering the streets of Freehearken I see so many fantastical sights. There is a race of bird-like people that fly traveling as couriers transporting packages with the power of their wings. Passing by a new construction site I notice dwarves chanting incantations to summon these clay rock golems to assist with their building efforts.

I cannot go more than five seconds without seeing something that excites me. It is getting hard not to notice that the townsfolk seem wary of me. There seems to be less humans in town than all the other races. 

Must be my clothing choices. Not like you can find this jacket and graphic tee in any clothing stall here in town. My t-shirt having a skull on it is probably not doing me any favors. I hope they do not think I am a bandit or something like that.

“Wow.”

I stop. I feel drawn to something in the shop's window display.

A shiny metal helmet.

The unique design catches my interest instantly. There is a cutout in the metal that functions as a visor with an elongated back that slopes downward into a tail. It kind of reminds me of the design of a professional cycling helmet.

Entering the shop it is clear that there is no real inventory focus and the shop deals more in random odds and ends. All of this must be secondhand items. That might work to my advantage.

“You lookin’ to buy? Or ya got somethin’ to sell?”

Out from the backroom steps a female orc. She is only slightly smaller than the orc I passed earlier at the main gate. Her tattoos share a similar design to his and her arms look just as strong. 

The shopkeeper moves across from me behind the wooden counter. As she gets closer I notice her lower jaw has two sharp teeth protruding upwards. Her eyes hold a reddish hue that pops against the color of her green skin.

“I was hoping you might be interested in this?” I place my old pocket knife on the counter.

She inspects the knife carefully, engaging the mechanism to open the blade. I lose count as she continues to open and close the blade.

“Hmph…”

She gently places the blade down and drops two golden coins on the counter.

“My only offer, kid.”

Two gold coins. From what Janice told me that would be enough to live off for a month here in Freehearken.

“It’s a deal.” I instinctively gesture my hand to shake on it. Her eyes focus on the palm of my hand. She does not move. I am starting to think it is not common to shake hands here.

“You humans are always such odd ones.”

Reluctantly she shakes my hand and the deal is set.

Now to do some shopping.

As I exit the store I see a cat-like person lighting torches on the street. That makes sense to me. Cats back home have great vision at night so things must be no different here in that regard. Maybe people in this world have better job opportunities due to their unique traits.

The cool air of night breezes past me. It does not affect me as much as it did last night. With this new robe I will be able to fit into the town’s vibe a lot easier.

The shopkeeper was kind enough to do a one for one trade. I got these light colored robes and a brown tunic for my old jacket and t-shirt.

I kept my old jeans but added two metal legguards for protection. Alongside those I picked up a light metal breastplate and right shoulder plate for easy movement. Then to complete the look I of course bought a pair of goggles.

Protecting my eyes is key. I have to take in a lot of information at once and as quickly as possible. I know it will come in handy.

I really wish I had enough gold coins to buy that helmet. At least I have a new goal to save for. 

I start to walk back towards the guild hall with my hands in my pockets.

I have one gold coin in my left pocket and a stopwatch in the right. I need to get a good night's rest tonight.

“Tomorrow is the day my adventure truly starts.”

I grip my stopwatch and take off running.