Chapter Ten -- Burning Skies over Evergreen plains; 13 prisms

– Lewis –

The sound of bustling activity filled my ears and grew steadily stronger as I approached the village gate. Well… it was more of an open segment of a thick fence than a gate.

"Welcome to Miaenn!" Said a young, cheerful voice that broke my silent walk.

I lifted my gaze from the roofs of thatch and onto the girl's face. Murky green eyes stared back from behind blonde locks; mature, but with a contained sense of mischief.

"I know the village's name now, so what's the name of the one who introduced me?" I asked, the unfamiliar use of my voice slightly straining my throat.

"Oh? You're a bold one asking a name before telling yours. I assume you aren't from around here…" she stated, curiosity evident in her voice as her eyes scanned my leaf and twig infused garments.

I quelled the sudden anger that rose within me.

"Lewis. And you'd be correct in assuming that."

"Oooh, so you are a traveller~ Want me to show you around?" She asked, her serious undertone fading, being consumed by an almost cheeky sense of curiosity.

"That would be appreciated." I replied, hiding the wariness I felt.

Old habits die hard, huh.

--~~~~--

I watched the guard walk back towards the gate; my tour of the village over. Her name was Lily, and she was probably in her early twenties. She'd obviously been here for a while, as she knew everyone and everything in this village, memorizing every nook and cranny down every street or path; yet she definitely hadn't been here her entire life. Most of the villagers… they were kind, but uneducated, speaking roughly and improperly. One the other hand, she possessed a learned tone, carrying herself in a proper way, one you'd only see of a person with some form of education.

I turned back to the tower in front of me, I'd seen the village from the ground; shouldn't hurt to get an aerial view.

The old, wooden handle felt familiar, but I couldn't remember what it reminded me of. My mind flashed back to events from before that fatal night, the feeling of remembrance bringing them to the front of my mind.

What went wrong? Where did I screw up so badly that I costed me my life?

I had the food taste tested... scanned it with mana... there was nothing wrong with it.

Angela had put protective charms over us when we had entered the camp... hadn't she?

The thoughts lingered for a while; uninvited entertainment for me as I climbed the rustic stairs.

The sight that greeted me at the top was an unexpected mixture of an almost angry beauty mixed with a sense of peace.

I'd noticed that the sky here only briefly turned blue in the afternoon. Other times it was always pitch at night, and the rest of the time it was painted with shades of orange.

At this time, the burning orange complimented the ever-rolling gold and green grass that stopped only at the forest's edge.

'Tick'

I opened the mental map, reliving the sight of blurred vision, followed by the dark-beige overlay. It had expanded; the mist had retreated back around the area and the golden words morphed to say 'Miaenn.'

"It's a beautiful view, isn't it?" A familiar young voice said from behind me.

"It is. I had a view like this outside my… home, rolling plains under a gleaming moon."

"Oh? And where is this home?" Her trademark tone of curiosity evident.

"Rithveer. I am... was, acquainted with the King."

"I see…" Lily's expression faded as she explored the depths of her mind, likely trying to see if 'Rithveer' rang a bell.

"Anyway, do you have a place to stay tonight? If not... I know a place~" Once again, her cheeky expression returning.

"Well, considering it's only been five minutes from when the tour ended, I haven't had the chance to find any." I replied, a chuckle escaping my mouth.

A fake chuckle... I think.

Old habits...

"Hmmm... Do you have any prisms?"

Prisms… a form of currency? Would be nice to have a similar system as we did back in Rithveer.

"You'll need at least a few diamond prisms for a room…" She said, her eyes scanning my tattered garments and little possessions.

No words were said, none needed to be.

I wore the term 'dead broke' like a coat.

I felt through my pockets, seeing if some of these 'prisms' would be laying around. I do remember having Evelynne reading to me 'Fantasy Novels'. I wondered if there was some benevolent god watching over me; or whoever called me here.

And wondered if I'll ever get the chance to kill them.

"It appears I do not…" I said, the little strands of pride I still had pulled me away from asking for a loan.

"What's the innkeeper like?" I inquired, a plan forming.

"Oh- He's a burly guy -- used to be a dungeon leader. Retired after his core shattered. It's.. a sensitive topic for him, so I advise you don't bring it up. Anyway, he's a bit rough around the edges, but a pretty nice guy over-!"

She stopped herself from continuing.

"Ah- Why do you ask?"

"No reason, pay it no mind. The inn is… north of here, right?" I asked, recalling her directions from the earlier tour.

"Oh so you were paying attention~ You seemed to be focused more on your thoughts than on the tour~" She said, a smirk at the forefront of her tease-attack.

Without thinking, I placed my right hand on my left shoulder and did a shallow bow -- an act of respect to someone of equal or slightly higher standing than you who'd shown kindness to you.

"Is- that some sort of salute you did back home?" She chuckled, was it that amusing?

Why did I even bow? I hated doing it.

Had I been trained that much by Castine?

Trained... was I just a dog?

"Kinda, it's more of a thanks." I said to her feet as I disappeared down the stairs.

--~~~~--

"Welcome! 'Ome for a drink n' eat or a room n' sleep?" A deep and extremely masculine voice bellowed at me before I had even fully opened the door. The room was empty; I guess most people would've just left for whatever work they had here.

The source of the voice caught my gaze. Behind the bar stood the exact figure Lily had outlined, as if the very personality she had described was plastered over his face. Scars littered his arms, and his left side of his chest appeared to be slightly caved in. Yet he wore a big smile, with eyes that seemed to gleam with adventure.

"I…" I started, particles of doubt multiplying over my current course of action.

I could see his expression change to curiosity, but there was more than a hint of caution there. Did he think I would cause him harm? Try to rob him? I eyed the sword tucked to the side of the counter. I guess I'd find out what he thought of me if the tip of that sword moved or not.

"Aye? I got steak cookin' 'ere so 'urry up."

"I'm broke," I said in pure monotone, I was merely stating a fact after all.

The words seemed to linger in the air as he continued what he was doing without acknowledging what I had said. A moment passed. He raised his finger, a signal for me to sit. I pulled a chair away from the closest table and sat against the wall, waiting for him to finish.

A moment passed as he packed away the steak.

A moment passed as he cleaned up the counters.

A moment passed as he walked over.

The moment came to talk.

"A room here costs four diamond prisms a night, correct?"

"Aye, tha'd be right."

"Eleven diamond prisms then. I'll stay three nights and on the fourth day I'll pay you."

I had no idea on how the economy worked here, and for all I knew both Lily and the Innkeeper could be scamming me, but I needed a place to stay; to relax and hopefully find some answers.

"Yeh do re'lize ye're missin' a prism 'ere, and 'spect me to trust ye not to steal away aft'r the t'ird night, aye?"

How would I reply to that? Tell him to trust some ragged guy he just met?

"T'irteen di'mond prisms; twelve as the usu'l fee, t'ree as 'nterest and one to d'wnpay the gu'rds to hunt ye down if ye try to 'scape, deal?"

I extended my hand to him, "deal."