Hendall is Great Besides the Harsh Reality

I spent days, weeks, spending time in tower. While going back to Oroum to make improvements and bring plants from Hendall.

I even learned Divine Artificing, and Divine Enchanting. These being the main disciplines of any magical world in my opinion.

Living in this world has been great. However, seeing slave trade never fails to dampen my mood and shake out of my revelry in this world of fantasy.

I have visited the city a few times, and had dinner at the Hanse's a few time too. However, none of them have come to visit my odd store at the base of my tower besides Elize that one time.

I have even put up my first weapon for sale. A greatsword from my own world. A Scottish claymore. Made with my blacksmithing skill and then enchanted. The enchantments were simple, sharpness and durability. The sword had a simple look to it too. Nothing adorned or gilded. No intricate guard. It is a basic looking claymore. Although it is anything but a basic weapon.

Now I was sitting at my store counter waiting for anyone.

My door opened and I received a customer. However, it was a person I would ever expect. A young girl in ragged clothes walked in. Around 8 or 9 as I am accounting for her obviously malnourished state. She was dirty, but my perceptive eyes could recognize the cuteness of the girl before me.

I get up and go over to the girl. I kneel down, "Little girl, I am Oro. How may I help you today?"

She sees my strong, yet aged face and become shy. She fiddles with her fingers, "I came here since I heard how paying is different here. I don't really have money. Oh, my name is Nihla Elder Oro."

I give her a kind smile, "The rumors are collect Nihla. Here, you pay with what you think the item is worth. Have a look around, see if anything is for you."

Over these weeks, I have a humble selection of unique items.

She looks around at all of them. A frown coming to her face as she sees nothing for her. Until she comes upon this one item.

A simple gold ring with a black opal that has a red sheen inlayed. She picks it up and comes over to me.

She holds it up to me, "Elder Oro, I want to buy this ring. It seems to big though."

I kneel down again, "Well, that is good then. I believe this ring will fit you good. As while it is big now, it'll still be able to fit your finger. Now, what will you be paying with."

She starts to get nervous. She begins to say, "Um, I can pay you with my b..."

I quickly cover her mouth with my hand before she utters such a sad, gut-wrenching and angering sentence. I say seriously to her, "Never offer anyone what you were about to offer, as payment. Not ever. I do not accept payment in that form. Choose another way, now."

She lowers her head in shame, "I'm sorry Elder." She starts to cry a little in small sobs.

I lift her chin in compassion, "Now now Nihla, none of that. It is fine. Pay within your current means. I didn't mean to be mad at you. I just think that it is not righteous to pay that way. Especially for a child, as it is straight up evil in that case. So be a good girl, okay." Now knowing how desperate she is is right now, my heart cannot help but get heavy.

She wipes her tears, "Okay, I'll be a good girl."

I give a warm smile, "good, now what will you pay with."

She thinks for a moment. Then walks up and gives me a big hug. I hug the pitiful child back. She breaks the hug and then gives me a happy smile.

I laugh a little, "Yes, that was a valid method of payment Nihla. I accept, the ring is now yours. Put it on, go ahead."

Nihla excitedly puts the ring on. She puts it on her right index finger. The ring shrinks down to fit her finger. Then the ring's effects kick in. An easily missed flash of magic happens and her attire is changed. She is now clean and wearing a light pink dress. One wholly suitable for a girl her age. Along with with socks, shoes, and even a ribbon in her hair. Which is revealed to be blond, and her eyes a shining green.

I clap a little, "Wonderful, now you look more like a young girl should in a righteous world. The ring is now linked to you. No other can take it from you in any way. It will also protect you, as it can also cover you in armor. The ring also bears my signature which can show itself at will. Those that know me know this signature."

She swirls around in amazement, "The ring is wonderful! Since it can be armor, can I finally go be an adventurer?"

I sigh helplessly, "The age to apply is 13 years old. So you have a few years before you can. So I suggest you find work as a maid. Or something a little girl can do."

She says, "Elder, you haven't even asked me about my parents yet. You didn't even tell me to go home to them like other people have. Why is that?"

I sigh again, "I am an old man Nihla. In my wisdom, I didn't need to ask. I know you have no parents to go home to. I can also infer that no one has accepted to employ you as you came all the way here with no money and such raggedy clothes. Now that your appearance has cleaned up so well. I think you'll have a much easier time getting employment."

She starts to think for a bit, "Then I'll go try looking for work again then. Thank you Elder Oro."

I then stop kneeling, "No problem Nihla." I look out the window and notice the light leaving the sky.

I turn to Gabriel, "Gabriel my old friend, as the night is chasing away the day, escort young Nihla back within the city walls. To a non-dangerous area of course."

"Woof woof.", Gabriel gets up and goes by Nihla. He then gives her a playful lick on the face which makes her laugh.

"Good doggy!", she says happily as she pets Gabriel.

I say to her, "Gabriel will get you back to the city safely. Have a good night Nihla."

Nihla says before she leaves, "Thank you so much Elder Oro, I won't forget."

They then leave for the city. I then close the store for the day. I then furrow my brows in thought. Once again my revelry in fantasy is broken. No girl her age should ever offer...

...(sigh)anything like that. Damnit, so much is wrong with this society. First slavery, now this obvious indication of a lack of virtue and righteousness in society. To a degree that it may be nearly evil, at least vile.

Perhaps I should prepare Oroum to welcome inhabitants? Yes, that is what I'll do. I have transferred mnay crop plants, trees, bushes, flowers, and even some small animals. I can just use DE to create larger animals. Such as deer, wolves, pigs, cows, bears and the like.

While Gabriel was escorting Nihla, I went to Oroum to get started. He can return here himself when his task is done. He does not need me to travel home.

I add in a pond and a humble river that loops out from the pond and then back into it. That is 580,000 DE spent right there.

I use the rest I have left to create a herd of deer, one wolf pack, 4 bears, fish, insects, arachnids and birds.

Now Oroum has become fit for a small population.

Gabriel then appear next to me on the mountaintop as I am looking upon my work. I pet on the head, "Good job my friend. I have made some changes here. Hopefully we will have residents sometime soon."

"I am excited Oro, "Gabriel says to me.

In my surprise I ask, "You can talk now Gabriel?"

"Yes Oro, like you, I can accumulate DE too. Just not nearly as fast as you. I bought omni-speech. This way, I will always be able to talk to and understand anyone, especially you.", Gabriel says.

I give him some more pets, "Good going Gabriel. It is good to talk to you now."

We then go to our nice home on the mountaintop to rest. Before returning to Hendall the next day.

While lying in bed, I think a lot about Hendall. I think about slavery and the state of the lower class. I think about what I can do to enact change. I think back to Earth and what induced change there.

Books and ideas...

Ideas contained in books and propagated by learned and righteous men. I wonder if that will work here. I will try to create a book to present new ideas to the world. About slavery and society. Perhaps it will be enough to enact change.

Or else I will have to be...

...Heavy handed

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thanks for reading.