Chapter 19

Once again, I deliver an arm full of ales to the table of the adventurers. I didn't mind since it felt like I was repaying them for the information. When training to be a hero, the curriculum had been very focused on combat, with the expectation that we would all be able to handle really advanced stuff right away. The others excelled as if they had been granted combat knowledge on top of their blessings. I fell behind quickly because I was timid and scared to get hurt or hurt others. I don't think those were an issue anymore, though. Since I was bad at fighting, I preferred to study more about this world, but our teachers and the princess herself actually seemed to discourage it. I assume it was because they wanted me to focus all my time on learning how to fight, but now I wonder if they were just trying to control us.

I placed the mugs on the table and sat back down. Someone had bought food, and Caldus pushed a plate over to me. It was some kind of meat with potatoes, but it tasted amazing after almost 2 days without food and weeks of prison slop before that. Were all adventurers this kind? I was almost in tears. Through the doors, I could see it was getting darker. I had been here for a few hours now. Maybe I could use the silver to get a room at an inn. Damn, I just realized I didn't even know the value of money in this world. I knew 10 copper was 1 silver and 10 silver was 1 gold, but I didn't know their worth. Did I even have enough for a night at an inn?

The adventurers shared a few stories and sang along to a bard as the night fell. I felt really out of place and wanted to sneak out, but it was nice. With some food in my stomach, the exhaustion started to hit me, and my eyes suddenly felt heavy. As the night carried on and the others became rowdier, I tried to slip out. Before I could, Kara stopped me and handed me another 4 silver coins.

She raised her mug toward me. "Tip for a job well done, rookie. See ya around, maybe."

I thanked her and left for the first inn I could find. It was called Dog's Breakfast, but it seemed fine. Nobody, other than the man behind the desk, was inside. He seemed tired and bored. I wondered if he would try to rip me off.

"1 room please."

"4 copper."

"4? That's a lot for 1 night."

He shrugged, but didn't give any indication he was ripping me off.

"Towns been busy since the war started. Fewer rooms mean they cost more. Price includes breakfast, though."

Sounded fair to me. I handed him a silver, and he gave me 5 copper in change and a key. "Second floor, 6th room on the right. Breakfast's at first light. You get the 1 copper back when you return the key."

Whatever, I thought. I was too tired to argue, and it sounded reasonable. Like hotels that ask for a deposit in case of damage. I went to my room and collapsed on the bed, marking the end of the second day since my escape.

…

I woke up screaming. People on either side of my room shouted at me to shut up. Someone even banged on my door briefly. I was so embarrassed. The nightmares had been much worse after that day on the mountain. It had been the same in the forest, but there hadn't been other people around then. It was hard to remember anything in the dreams, but there were lingering images of my parents, the doctor, my friends, and the other prisoners. I think sometimes I was being hurt, sometimes I was watching others be hurt, and other times I might have been hurting them. It wasn't even daylight yet so it was impossible to tell what time it was. There was no telling when guards would come looking for me, and more importantly, I didn't want to miss breakfast. I stayed awake in bed until, not long later, light streamed in.

Breakfast was a stew and a glass of milk. Nothing to complain about. Did the other guests in here know I was the one that woke them all up? Were they annoyed with me? I ate fast and thought about leaving without returning my key, just to get away from this humiliating feeling. I decided against it. I didn’t want to inconvenience them more than I already had. Thankfully, the man at the front desk really did give me my copper back.

Next, I considered buying new clothes, but maybe the extra pity points I got from my current ones were helping me. I decided to do it anyway. The nights were cold, and it was a bit humiliating to have people staring at me. A quick shopping excursion, then I would continue west.

I didn't go back to the market along the roads, as prices would probably be much higher there. Instead, I wondered around the west and north ends of town looking at shops. A blacksmithing shop caught my eye. Not because I was considering buying anything, just because I thought it was cool. Weapons lined the walls, along with some metal tools and horseshoes. The cheapest weapon inside was a dagger for 2 silver. It didn't even look sharp, and the blade was bent. The most expensive was a spear on the wall behind the counter. There was a sign above it that claimed it was a radiant armament and cost 550 gold coins! Who could even afford that!?

I looked around a bit more before leaving. On the north most end of town was a general shop that had everything I was looking for. Cheap clothing, travel packs, travel food, and a ton of other things I wanted. I couldn't afford everything, though. A backpack was way more expensive than I expected at 2 gold, but I was able to get some food and new clothes for 3 silver. It hurt my soul to hand over almost all my remaining money. Maybe I should've toughed it out and slept outside again last night. I had 1 silver, 6 copper left and no idea how to make more. Not like I could start adventuring without a weapon. Maybe in the next town I could look for a notice board and see what general quests are like.

I changed in an alley, and turned my old pants legs into 2 bags by ripping them off and tying one end closed. Then I tore what was left of the shirt into strips, used those to make straps for the pants legs, and tied them around my waist. I had seen something similar done better, where a shirt was turned into a bag, but mine was too messed up, so this was the best I could manage. I left one empty and put my food and remaining coins inside the other, then tucked them under the pants I now wore, before getting back to the road.

From what I remembered of the map, most towns were half a day to a full day's walk apart. I didn't know how accurately the images were made, though. I liked this place and would've stayed, but it was just too close to Crownspire for comfort. At least another 2 days of distance is what I wanted. If I could get into the edge of another Lord’s territory, that would be nice too.

Surprisingly, the west road was rather active too. Far less than the ones to the east and south, but people were coming and going in small carts or walking with large packs. I guess they were coming here to take advantage of the trade hub this place was becoming, then heading back home.

As I was leaving, a cart carrying a man, a woman, and a young boy left at the same time. It was pulled by an ox, and aside from the woman and kid in the back, it had farming tools and sacks of what I assumed was flour. It was a little awkward to be travelling right alongside them.

I tried to pick up my pace, but they matched it. I tried to slow down, and they matched that, too. Were they doing this on purpose?! Did they wanna fight? Maybe they just like seeing me uncomfortable and suffering.

The woman in the back spoke. "Do you want to ride along? We can take you to the next town."

I didn't even know these people, how could they be so trusting?

"Uh, I don't have any money, but thank you for the offer."

The man driving laughed. "You don't need to pay. S'just safer to travel in larger numbers. We live in Wayfell so we can take you as far as that. Hop in."

Oh. They were just nice people. Or maybe naive was the word? Unless they thought I was an easy target to rob. Whatever. If it came to that, I was pretty sure I could take them, and I had just about nothing to lose anyway. I thanked them and climbed into the back, where I sat across from the boy and his mother or older sister. I couldn't tell.

It was so awkward, I wanted to die. They stared at me and smiled, so I smiled back. What did people do on long trips before phones were a thing?

The man driving interrupted my thoughts.

"I'm Dugel. That's my wife, Sonia, and our boy, Calvin."

"Uh, it's nice to meet you all. William."

As soon as I gestured to myself and said my name, I winced. Should I use my real name if people are looking for me? I guess it's fine. Not like my name is uncommon here or anything. However, I should probably think of something else just to be safe.

"Nice to meet you, William." The man said without turning around.

Sonia addressed me next.

"So, William, where are you from?"

My mind went blank. I really should've come up with a cover story at some point.

"I'm, um, from really far away. To the... north. Really far."

Sonia leaned forward with a sad expression. "Oh! That's so sad. Are you fleeing the war?"

"Y-yes! Yeah, demons burned the whole village to the ground. It's been a rough journey"

The little boy, Calvin, blurted out, "Did you see them!? What did they look like?"

I looked at Sonia, expecting her to calm him down, but she looked just as curious. I knew what they looked like, though so it wasn't a problem. Or, at least I knew what I was told they looked like.

"They had red skin and eyes, big horns, sharp teeth, and used the souls of the people they... defeated... to cast strange, but powerful magic."

Calvin seemed intrigued, but Sonia leaned back and placed a hand over her mouth like she was shocked, even though I personally didn't think they sounded all that scary compared to some of the other races I had heard about in this world.

Dugel turned partially before speaking. "What about the rest of the people from your village? Why are you traveling alone?"

"The rest of them?"

I thought about Anna, Betty, Simon, Scott, and Daniel. Were they ok? I didn't even know if they were alive. I hoped they were.

"We ran away together, but a demon cornered us. We fought back, but he was too strong, and we got separated."

Dugel spoke with an apologetic tone. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's hard to lose people."

"No... They had a strong will to live. I’m sure they're alive and recovering." I said.

Sonia spoke next. "How can you be sure, though? Would a demon let them all go? It's better to accept reality and mourn the ones you lost. It helps you come to terms sooner."

Those words seemed a bit cruel, I thought.

"Maybe past me would have cried about it and assumed they were all dead, but... I made a promise to be more selfish, so I want to believe they all made it alive. Maybe injured, exhausted, and scared, but alive and on their way to better times. Hopefully they assume the same for me."

There was a silence. At first, it felt like they were just digesting my words, but it dragged on until it started to feel awkward.

Dugel finally broke it. "Sorry for Sonia's harsh words. We recently lost our daughter, so she was simply trying to help you. I like your attitude, though."

I stammered to apologize. "I- I'm sorry. I had no idea. I didn't mean-"

Sonia smiled at me, though her eyes were sad. "It's ok. You don't need to apologize. It's not your fault. You're right, we should focus on the positives more, even when bad things happen. Though, I don't think I've ever heard someone say they promised to be more selfish."

She put a hand over her mouth and giggled. Dugel chuckled too, followed by Calvin until they were all laughing. I couldn't help but smile.

Suddenly, Dugel stopped laughing to speak. "Hey, isn't that the cart that left before us?"

I looked over to see what he was talking about. There was a cart in the ditch up ahead. No animal pulling it and no people.