The Annoria Inn

I continued to follow Aiko the town where Aiko looked back at me and asked, “You saw Goddess Minori?” with such curiosity. “I believe so. I died in my world and told me she was giving me a second life in her world. She also told me about this ruthless man?” I answered and followed with a question of my own. “I don’t even want to know how you died” giggled Aiko, “Anyways, she was probably referring to Lord Arquette, a man who has controlled Astrania since the Goddess’s death 150 years ago.”

Me and Aiko soon entered the city. It was bustling with life, and business. Many voices can be heard negotiating prices, and owners trying to sell their services. As I was following Aiko, I could only admire how majestic she was in the sunlight. Her long black hair moving through the wind, with her small, petite figure. Before I could gain consciousness, I had run into a man wearing a greenish-gray uniform. He was very tall, had white hair, but appeared to be young.

As I was laying on the ground, the man looked down on me with a threatening stature. I felt horrified by him as he began speaking. “You don’t look like you’re from around here? What is your name-?” The man was cut off by Aiko grabbing me “Oh he’s with me, we will be leaving now!” The man had a crossed sword emblem on his upper right chest, and a rank of “Corporal” on his left bicep. Military? We took a back alley.

“Who exactly was that?” I quietly questioned. She began to explain how the encounter was with a “Republic Royal Officer” and that I needed to avoid them at all costs. Why would an officer of the law be something we avoid? Are they supposed to protect and serve us?

“HIDE!” Aiko begged, as sounds of footsteps gloomed closer. Aiko quietly murmured “enchant, inventory” and two black cloaks appeared in her hands. She handed me a black cloak “put this on” as she began putting one on herself. “Hurry!” she pleaded. What a strange piece of clothing I thought to myself, it was slightly oversized, but covered my entire body. I could hear the footsteps grow closer to our location, Aiko once more murmured “Enchant ultimate, shadow realm!” and my point of view became dark, and shortly after, it seemed like someone had picked me up from my feet.

Not long after, the light came back to us. I noticed that we were in a different alleyway during a different part of the day. I was puzzled and attempted to open my mouth, “Nope, don’t even ask Apollo” demanded Aiko, as I continued to stand there in silence. “Just come with me.”

We exited the alleyway and joined the population of people walking in the street. I looked at the surrounding buildings and noticed a change in architecture from gothic to timber framing. I felt weirdly safer now with this change, “Are we in a different part of town” I attempted to ask. “We are in the south part of town now. Are you getting a bit tired? Using my shadow realm spell removes a lot of mana from the surrounding area, and it decided to use your mana.”

The sound of my growling yawn echoed the nearby area, and without directly telling her I was, “Wow, guess it took a lot of your mana,” laughed Aiko. Embarrassed as I was, I could only mutter a small “my mana?” to her. “Yes, your mana. It allows you to cast spells, and function through daily life here. However, your mana lowers throughout the day, so it is best we go get some rest.” I continued to follow Aiko shortly behind her and began questioning myself about her age.

“Hey Aiko, um, how old are you?” I nervously asked. Aiko turned around and laughed at me, “probably older than you!” she blurted.

“You look like such a helpless boy!” Aiko blurted once more.

“So, you’re like 30?” I jokingly announced knowing she was young like me.

“30!? Apollo! Do I really look that old!? No, no, no, you are only joking! I am 21.”

My heart started beating faster. Me and this girl are the same age, no way.

“Really!?” I said with such shock in my voice, “because I’m also 21, that makes us equals, right?”

Aiko became reserved after my remark but was starting to grow into a bright red tomato. “Ugh, just shut up, and come with me” as we marched on. The sun started to go under the horizon, and the stars started to show themselves in the sky, it was such an immaculate sight for my eyes. Seeing millions upon billions of bright little specs in the sky.

The population of people quickly dwindled, as it seemed like the people were hiding from something. The streets became liminal, and empty of life in a short time. That made me wonder more about this world. Are these people hiding from another life form? That is when I remembered about my encounter with the zombie-like creature moments after I spawned in this world. I began to question Aiko.

“Hey Aiko, when I first arrived in this world, I was met with a creature with red eyes, but it seemed like it was dead?”

“Oh, those things? They are undead creatures created by the Demon Queen, mostly made up of dead soldiers. They tend to stay away from big cities but like to roam smaller towns at night. Most people cannot fight them, so they hide, but do not worry, you have me.” Answered Aiko.

An undead creature created by the “Demon Queen?” I thought to myself. Another antagonist in this world? I sighed.

The crickets began singing, and we finally reached our destination. There was a big sign on the building reading, The Annoria Inn. “An Inn?” I wondered. Am I about to share a room with Aiko? “Don’t even think about asking, Apollo” called out Aiko, “We are getting separate rooms.”