Chapter 21

The sun was high in the sky when Nefi approached Naro house, he tended to visit him in the afternoon when he had something to tell him, but since a favor had been asked of him he chose to come earlier.

Naro left the house before the youth could enter and greeted him with a smile and a pouch of coins.

“Your pay for the end of the week,” Naro said before motioning for Nefi to lead the way.

“Thanks,” Nefi said stuffing the pouch into his pocket and walking past him. “Still surprised you want to see the ‘rich’ side of town.”

“Well I never went up there, I’m just curious.”

Nefi offered a shrug but lead the way all the same, neither of them would be able to afford anything so he didn’t see the point in going. He had told Naro about the Northen part of town the week before, they couldn’t go fully North since that’s where the nobles lived but anyone could wander the lower-north of town.

Naro glanced over at Nefi eyeing the boy’s new outfit, since he had been getting paid in coins he looked a little…cleaner, probably Aeli’s influence. He didn’t wander in tattered rags anymore, he wore a simple dark blue tunic with brown trousers, with matching brown shoes. They were clearly old pants from the fading color but he figured that was because he was going to cut a hole in them anyway, for his tail.

He did notice on the brown belt he wore there a few tiny accessories, which made Naro smile. Nefi seemed like a function over form kind of person, but seeing him customize his outfit meant he felt he had the funds to do so.

He still noticed Nefi giving some of his coins to the people in the Old District, mainly because they did it at the same time, he really did appreciate having someone like Nefi with him.

He was pulled out his thoughts however as Nefi spoke up.

“Those fancy people tend not to deal with anything that happens outside their little area. Their stares are easy to ignore but try not to give the guards a reason to throw us out.”

“They can stare all they like and I won’t, I’m just taking a look.”

Nefi glanced at Naro who feeling the boy’s gaze looked over at him.

“What is it?”

“...you seem different.”

“Do I?” Naro said raising his arms and looking at himself. “I think I’m the same.”

“No you’re different…you seem…more relaxed than usual.”

“Hm I didn’t notice…but I could say the same for you Nefi. You didn’t count the money when handed it to you.”

“That-”

Nefi cut himself off crossing his arms, his tail moved from side to side and his mouth twitched to the side. Naro learned that when his tail moved like that Nefi was lost in thought, he tended to control the movement of his Beastkin parts, since they gave away his emotions.

“I trust that you know how to count,” Nefi said simply.

“Oh ho did you say trust, are we close to being friends now Nefi.”

Nefi shook his head motioning to pass under the large silver gate head of them.

“What are you talking about we’re already friends.”

Naro stopped walking causing Nefi to stop as well, the youth jumped at the wide eyed stare Naro was giving him, as if he just said something horroific.

“What?” Nefi questioned continuing to walk. “Is it that weird?”

“When were you going to tell me we were friends,” Naro said running to catch up.

“When you asked.”

“That’s not fair!”

“Life’s not fair.”

After confirming at least three more times that they were actually friends Nefi motioned to the area in front of them.

“Here you are, the fancy people district or the New District as it’s called.”

Naro took a look around crossing his arms as he took in the area around him.

It was almost night and day to the Old District or even the Bazaar, the roads were filled with cobblestone for one, no sand anywhere they walked.

Many of the houses resembled the ones that he knew, had he woken up in this place excluding the clothes he would have though he was still in his world, many of them were modeled after his own world. Most of them seemed to be single story houses with red tile roofing, he noticed a few houses that resembled the houses in the other districts, but they were few and fare in-between.

He could see mansions in the distance past large silver and golden gates, since there were guards located outside each entrance to them, he imagined that was where the important people lived.

This was without a doubt a place where nobility lived, and they made it clear that was the case.

What seemed to be streetlamps lined the roads, though since it was day they were off, he noticed blue gems within them and Nefi explained they lit up at night. He mentioned how nice it would be to have a few in the Old District, but that they were expensive to make.

The two continued their walk, the people starting to take notice of them as they walked past a few places, including a bakery.

Everyone here was dressed in what seemed to be clothes made of silk, lined with gold or silver finery. Every person he passed seem to look like a prince or princess.

“Oh what’s that large building?” Naro questioned.

He pointed towards a large rectangular straight ahead of them, Nefi eyed it for a moment, looking at the lack of windows, the large open door and with a sigh motioned to it.

“That’s the public bath.”

“I didn’t know we had one here,” Naro said stopping in front of it.

“The one in the Old District was torn down, a new one was built up here. It’s too expensive for anyone to use though. Well we might be able to use the public ones if we ave up but definitely not the private baths.”

Nefi resting his hands on his hips narrowed his eyes at the building.

“One day I hope to use the private baths. Those snooty workers having to let a Beastkin use their fancy private baths...”

The youth grinned to a point his canines showed.

“Nothing would be more satisfying…also the water in the Old District is cold so it’d just be nice.”

Satisfied the two made their way back to the Old District passing through the Bazaar.

“Hey Naro!”

Naro raised his hand to one of the stand owner as he passed.

“Look it’s Naro. How’s it going!”

Naro offered a nod to another of the merchants causing Nefi to glance at him.

“If it isn’t Naro oh and Nefi too!”

Naro came to a stop as a man waved them over, looking at Nefi who shrugged the two walked over to him.

“Hey Belik,” Naro said motioning to him. “How’s it going today?”

“Business is as good as always. See anything you like, for you my friend I can give you a discount.”

“I’ll definitely stop by later, I have to pay someone a visit.”

“Oh is it Venilis, I heard he was resupplying though?”

“No someone else, but I’ll come back later.”

“Okay Naro, you be safe now, you too Nefi.”

“...I will,” Nefi said before walking away with Naro.

Once the two were a bit away the boy crossed his arms, tapping a finger on his arm as he recalled the encounter.

“Amazing how he basically spit on us just a few weeks back. The switch is…surprpsing.”

“Well Belik was the one that helped Venilis get his stall back sooner at most of his own expense, even though him being out of commission would be beneficial to him, I can’t really hate the guy after that, and he is good at what he does. Also…you did steal from himl.”

“I stole from him because he was a jerk…but fine you have a point. He may be more decent than I thought.”

Nefi waved the thought away before moving the conversation along.

“With that said…don’t take too long Naro. I’m allowing this because sister requested it…but I’m only giving you a few minutes and I’ll be listening.”

“It’s good to see you again Naro.”

“You as well…Aeli.”

It had been some time since he had actually met with Aeli, Nefi’s overproectiveness made it difficult to actually meet, though she delivered plenty of messages through Nefi.

The trials of the world always seemed a bit lighter whenever he sat near Aeli.

“Nefi said you were adamant about meeting, is something wrong?” Naro asked.

Steepling her fingers Aeli offered a small nod, a bit of flush in her cheeks she spoke, her eyes rising to look at him.

“I…wanted to see you.”

That could mean anything, Naro told himself to keep his now rapid heartbeat in check.

“No…I needed to see you.”

That could also mean anything, he wasn’t sure what but he needed to tell himself that.

“I heard about what happened recently and I’ve been worried about you,” Aeli said folding her hands together. “How are you feeling right now?”

“Oh…that’s…what’s what you wanted,” Naro said his shoulder slumping a bit.

“Well…yes I couldn’t come see you myself, we’re friends you’re wellbeing is important to me. This seemed the simplest way to check.”

“Right…yeah that makes sense,” Naro said. “I’m okay.”

“Really.”

He could see the worry in Aeli’s eyes, the quiet hope reaching towards him. He breathed in then let it out to calm himself, and smiling spoke again.

“Really. It was pretty rough I won’t deny that…and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t still a little rough…”

Naro trailed off looking at his hand, he closed it into a fist looking back at Aeli.

“I feel like I understand what I want to be a bit more. I still feel like I’m reaching for the answer…but I believe I’m going the right way…I have a direction to walk and I feel much better thanks to that.”

He lowered his hand and Aeli’s shoulder seem to relax a bit as she lowered her own hands.

“I feel better hearing that…I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to comfort you when you needed it.”

“Knowing I have people willing to do that is enough for me,” Naro said. “It’s…nice having someone worry about you. Keeps me in check too.”

The two smiled at each other before Nefi opened the door informing Naro his time was up, the look in his eyes making it clear there was no room for argument.

Standing up Naro bid goodbye to Aeli and left the room, a little sad they couldn’t have a few more minutes.

He meant what he said to her though, that much he was aware of.

In this world he didn’t have the natural security his world did, if he wanted to hold onto what he cared about, there were times he couldn’t hesitate.

“So long as I don’t become remorseless like her…It’ll be fine.”