STRANGE WOMAN IN TOWN

Amber learned from her beautiful guide that she had arrived in Mananga Town. It was the capital of Asenguard Kingdom and the forest where she came from was also part of the kingdom.

The place was ruled by a King named Regis Asenguard whose family had been governing the kingdom for a very long time.

"Over a millennium," said Linares a moment ago. "I heard from the guards that you wanted a place to stay and you also mentioned merchants. Are you planning to sell something here?"

Amber nodded her head as she walked next to the sorceress. "That is what I have in mind," she said while looking around. Compared to the images that she found from the original Amber's memories; the town right now was completely different. It was bustling.

But there was one thing that kept bugging her.

"Do I look strange?" Amber asked Linares after a few minutes. "Or am I just imagining that people are looking at me in a strange way?"

Linares chuckled softly which was barely audible in Amber's ears, but she could tell because the woman's shoulders were shaking faintly. "Sorry," Linares muttered before wiping off the smile on her face. "They probably think you are strange. I mean, we've never seen a woman wear pants like men do."

Amber finally stopped walking and looked around her. She checked all the women her eyes could see and found that none of them were wearing pants. She gulped.

"Uhh... is it a crime?" she asked which caused Linares to laugh again.

[Where exactly did she go after all these years?] Linares thought while laughing softly. After a few seconds, she stopped laughing and smiled helplessly. "It's not a crime, but it is... uhm.... a... uhm, like a custom here. Do you get what I mean?"

"Oooh, I see," Amber said while nodding her head in understanding,

Since she lived in the forest, she found it more comfortable to wear pants instead of a dress or a skirt. Aside from that, she came from Earth where pants and shorts can be used by everyone. However, she could not say any of these to the woman in front of her.

She could only accept the fact that she looked strange in everyone's eyes. She no longer cared. [It isn't a crime anyway.] She told herself before she continued walking once again.

Linares showed Amber the important places in town and the places that she should avoid going to as well.

It turned out that the Kingdom of Asenguard was divided into three parts. The moment she stepped into the gate where she got her identity card; she arrived at the Kingdom's outer town where people of the lowest status live. Going further while taking the same long and wide road, one would reach another gate where you will get your identity verified. The gate would lead to the inner town where nobles live. If one would go further after the inner town, they would reach the sanctuary.

Sanctuary was for royalty. Most noble people could get inside the sanctuary for different kinds of reasons, but it wasn't a guarantee that they would see the King. If their purpose of coming wasn't really important, they would only see the butler, and sometimes, if they pissed off the King, they would even lose their lives.

Entering the sanctuary was a big NO for ordinary people unless their family sold them to become servants in the palace.

"It's okay to sell people here?" Amber blurted out and everyone who heard her looked at her in despise. This time, she surely crossed the line. It wasn't her intention, but the logic she knew from Earth was something different in this world. [I know that human trafficking is everywhere, but I didn't know it's legal here. They're nuts!]

System: "We've got the same idea."

In front of Amber, Linares was scratching the side of her face. Amber went missing for 13 years and now that she returned, she is a different person. She could tell that she was different, especially when someone managed to poison her. A poison should never get the chance to contaminate her blood.

"Selling one's children isn't against any rule in the kingdom. The child will be evaluated if he or she is capable of working. Then, the parents will receive money from the buyer. Although the child becomes a servant, he or she will get compensation like free clothes, food, a place to sleep, and other things. Some would even receive money after three years of service."

"What if - "

"Don't say anything else," Linares whispered to stop Amber from saying something that would incur the wrath of both the poor and the nobles.

"Well, yeah. You made sense," Amber said in the pretense that she understood and agreed to the woman's words, but deep in her heart, she was so against the idea.

Not wanting to gain more attention, Linares pulled Amber and led her into a plaza. "This is where people hold important events like festivals and merchant's fairs."

"I'm expecting that a public execution is also held here."

Linares looked at the pretty woman beside her who had a sharp tongue. She was causing her a throbbing headache. "Look, I can understand that you have different views about our kingdom, but I hope you would blend with everyone and the customs we have. That is a must if you want to live peacefully in our town."

Amber finally realized that she crossed the line, so she stopped expressing her opinion and just nodded. "Can you help me find a place to rest, instead? I think this tour is enough. I'll familiarize myself with the place later."

"Sure. Follow me."

Linares brought her to the most famous lodging in town. It was the one closest to the registry hall where Linares often spent her time and it was also surrounded by a lot of stores, including restaurants.

"How many nights do you plan to stay?" asked the receptionist.

"Can I stay for a week?"

"Cool! The normal charge is 100 Bronze Talas per day. Do you want us to serve you breakfast? That would be an additional 50 bronze talas per day. If you want a warm bath, we will charge you an additional 50 bronze talas per day."

"No breakfast, please. I'm not a morning person," Amber said and the woman immediately calculated the total amount using a clay-slate.

"That is 1 small silver tala and 50 bronze talas."

[Can you convert my money that way?] Amber asked the system since she only had bronze talas in her inventory.

System: "Of course."

Amber pretended to look for her wallet inside her bag while her system converted her money. After a few seconds, she took out the money that she needed to pay.

"My name is May," introduced the receptionist when she handed the key to Amber. "Call me anytime if you ever need anything. Your room is the third on the left wing."

"Thank you, May. Just call me Amber next time," she said before turning to face Linares beside her. "I'll see you around, Lina. Thank you for helping me."

"No worries. Just make sure to get along with the townsfolk."

Amber didn't dawdle anymore because she really wanted to get some rest and have a chat with her system. They needed time to figure things out and check the quests that she needed to do in town.

As soon as she disappeared from their view, May leaned over the counter and spoke in a low voice to Linares, "Was that really Amber? I saw the card and I'm sure as hell that there's no one else in town with the same name as hers."