The Poor Beggar
I opened my eyes and when I did, I found myself sitting on a sidewalk of a busy city street. There were many people walking in front of me, mixed with carriages and horses here and there and as they did they scatter a fair amount of dust to the air. I quickly lifted myself up so that the dust wouldn't get to my face, I looked around. It seems that what the goddess girl told me was true, I was transported to another world. The buildings around me have a distinct traditional European look and from what I can gather, it seems that it was mainly constructed out of stone and wood. The architecture looks old, almost medieval. Most of the building only has a height up to two or three stories but it seems sturdy and the more I observe it, it's actually quite charming and nice to look at. People around me also dressed differently, many wore simple and plain garments but there were also some who seemed to wear bulky and thick armor with them.
I looked down to myself, it seems that my clothes also change and I'm also wearing similar clothes that people around me wear. I wore a plain navy shirt with light grey pants held together by a simple leather belt.
"Hmm…? What is this?" I felt a bump on my pants pocket and when I reached down, I found a small leather sack. Inside it was a few scrap of gold coins, I was taken aback by how shiny and dazzling it looked so I quickly put it back in my pocket so as not to attract any attention. I need to find a place to gather myself and check my belongings, maybe I should go look for a nearby Inn.
I approached a man who stand idly near me and asked him
"Uhm… excuse me, mister? Do you know what city this is?"
"Huh? You mean this city? Are you lost young lad?" The man asked me back seemingly confused
"Ahaha... yes, it seems so"
"Well, you are now in the mining city of Mikha, this is the biggest city of this province"
"I see, uh… do you also perhaps know any nearby Inn that I can go to?"
"An Inn you say, well you can just follow east of this road and you can find some there you won't miss it"
"Ah, okay. thank you very much sir"
"You welcome"
I followed the direction that the man told me and after walking for a while and reading the signs in front of the building, I finally found a decent looking one that piqued my interest.
"Rosemary Inn" it says on the sign. confident with my choice I then opened the door and inside was a neatly organized reception room.
"Welcome, are you planning to stay?" A girl greet me from behind the counter
"Yes"
"Room for one?"
"Yes"
"Okay, how long are you going to stay?"
"Uhm… I'm still not quite sure, how long can I stay with one gold coin?"
"Oh, for one gold coins I think you can stay more than a week"
"I see, I think I'll be staying just for a few days but here, for advance payment" I reached towards my pocket and put one gold coin on the counter
"Alright, here is the key for your room mister. It's on the second floor, shall I escort you?"
"Ah no need, I think I can find it myself"
I grabbed the keys and quickly made my way upstairs. It said on the key chain that my room is room number 14, let's see.... Ah, there it is, I quickly unlock the door and let myself inside. It was a modest room with one small bed, a small table and chair in the corner and a wooden wardrobe. I didn't expect much since the world that I found myself in was quite primitive, at least compared to the modern world.
I then sat on the chair and laid all the coins I had on the table, I counted it one by one and at the end I now know that I have 19 gold coins. I cannot deny that having this many shiny objects in my possession does not make me feel happy or ecstatic but I need to compose myself as I still don't truly know how much all of these coins are worth. Perhaps I should go to a bank or something and exchange some of these coins that I possess with a smaller one. I then grab 5 gold coins and put it in my pocket and leave the rest on the drawer of the table.
I walked downstairs and see the Innkeeper again on my way, I approached her and asked
"Excuse me, do you know where I can exchange some of my gold coins?"
"Exchange coins? Hmm, I think you can find some money changer around the market"
"So, where might the market be?"
"Just turn right when you leave the door and head south after the first intersection"
"I see, okay. Thank you very much"
"You welcome"
I then opened the Inn door and found myself on the busy city street again, market huh… Perhaps I can explore for a bit to familiarize myself with this world's prices and economy. I definitely do not want to get scammed by shady people or merchants later.
As I walked down the busy street, a sight caught my attention. It was a girl who sat helplessly on the street with torn clothes and a wooden bowl in front of her, her appearance was very dirty and her hair was unkempt. Her sad pitiful gaze stares down to the ground, seemingly scared by the relentless chores of the passerby. Is she a beggar? a homeless? I would be lying if I said that I do not feel sorry towards the girl but there is also a possibility that she was just pretending to be homeless. I definitely cannot simply give a gold coin to a random beggar on the streets. Perhaps, if she was still there after I went to the market I would go and give a few coins to her so I remind myself to do that later.
---
It was almost sunset when I just got back from the market, after I exchanged my five gold coins it amounted to 500 silver coins. I also took a walk around the market and have come to know that in my world 1 silver coin would have a similar worth of about one dollar, so for example I can buy one loaf of bread for one silver coin or one piece of garment for 10 silver coins. Now that I have a grasp on this world's prices and economy I feel more confident in doing more activities.
"Ah, she's still there"
The poor girl that I saw previously is still sitting on the same spot as before, now that I have smaller change in my hand perhaps I should give her some coins but, how much should I give? 1 silver ? 5 silver ? I thought to myself as I approached her. Soon after I found myself standing right in front of her and when I did she seemed scared and instinctively flinched backwards towards the wall.
"Ah, don't worry… I'm not gonna hurt you" I said as I bend my knees
"..." She didn't say anything, only look at me with half scared, half curious eyes
"Do you have a home? or any place to stay?"
"..." She didn't say anything
"Do you have anyone with you? like family?"
"..." She didn't say anything, but her expression turned more bitter and sadder than before. Perhaps I shouldn't have asked that question. I looked towards the bowl in front of her, it was empty. It seems that nobody has given her any money, I feel saddened by that fact and now I definitely can't just leave her alone and hungry in the street like this, especially before the night fall.
"Hey, are you hungry? I can give you some food if you'd like"
"..." her eyes sparked, it seems like I has piqued her interest
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you. Come" I said as I waved my hand signaling her to follow me. She lift herself up and quickly follow my steps, after walking for a while we finally found ourself in the front of the Inn. I opened the door and let her in, as we went the Innkeeper seemed a bit surprised by what I just did.
"Hi, can you get this young lady a bath and a meal please?"
"Uh… sure, but you need to pay those separately "
"Of course, just take it from the deposit I made earlier"
"Alright, come with me" The Innkeeper said to the girl, she seemed a bit hesitant at first so I nudged her a bit and told her that it's okay. The Innkeeper then took her inside to seemingly give her a bath. I assume that it's gonna be a while before they finish so I sat on a table nearby to wait for them.
After a few minutes they finally appear from behind the door but the sight that I saw surprises me. The girl who was very dirty and filthy before had turned into a beautiful young girl, she had beautiful grey hair and fair white skin. She was a bit shorter than me, her head was just around my nose. She had a gentle and yet adorable face but that was not the most surprising trait that I saw, it was her cat-like ears that were sticking from her head and a fluffy looking tail from behind. It was like I was looking at an adorable leopard plushie doll.
"Alright, here she is. Beautiful and clean, please wait a moment while I get her meal " The Innkeeper said with a smile before rushing back
I smiled and pointed at the spot in front of me allowing her to sit, she then walked towards the table and sat right across from me.
"Alright, one meal for the young lady" The Innkeeper comes back and puts a tray of food and a glass of water on the table. On the tray there was bread, sausages, egg and a few leaves of cabbages. Her eyes sparked and she looked at me in disbelief
"Go ahead, don't be shy" I said
She was hesitant to touch the food but finally she picked up the bread and took a small bite from it. She ate slowly and took a small bite each turn. The way she eats is very polite considering that she was a beggar from the street.
"So, young lady, I believe I have not introduced myself before, my name is Ryo, I'm new to this city and I guess you can say that I'm a traveller or some sort. So, may I know your name? "
"Viola" She said quietly
"That's a beautiful name, do you have any home? or any place to stay?"
"No" she answered quietly
"I see, Uhm… Innkeeper, may I reserve another room for this lady here"
"Ahh, No no please don't!" She yelled surprising me and the Innkeeper
"Why so? I thought you didn't have any place to stay?"
"Yes, I mean it's just that you already done so much for me and I don't want to bother you even more"
"It's alright I don't mind, I would feel even worse if I let you stay on the street at night"
"Yes but I'm okay, I will leave after I finish the meal"
"No, I insist. Please stay here in the Inn, I will pay for you"
"But...but... it's gonna be expensive"
"Hmm..." She is actually right, while I have quite a bit of money it's still limited and now I also don't have any source of income. If I'm not careful I might exhaust my money too quickly for my own good
"If that is the case, you can book a room with two beds. It would be cheaper than if you were to book two separate room" The Innkeeper said
"Ah, yes but that is… " that is such an awkward proposition, while it does make sense financially it would be presumptuous of me.
"..." The room come to an awkward silence
"Alright, Viola. I don't have any jobs right now so booking one room would be better for me financially but I don't mind if I need to pay for two separate rooms so I'm not going to force you, the choice is yours. But I definitely cannot let you sleep outside alone at night like this"
"I uh…" She muttered "I don't mind staying in the same room as you" she said finally with a shy tone.
Oh Goddess Esta, what have you bestowed upon me?
"Sigh… one room for two please" I said reluctantly to the Innkeeper
"Alright, here's the key" she picked a key form the wall and put it on the counter, I approached and picked the key
"I'm going to prepare and switch the room, you can finish your meal in the meantime" I said as I made my way upstairs.