Chapter 74

Alex looked into the bag of coins while the other two went up and talked to the innkeeper.

'Gold silver and bronze. If going by the standard on earth bronze is the cheapest followed by silver. If it all adds up to ten gold then I can just plug in the total and find out their value.'

'That should be right. Nine gold coins, nine silver, and ten bronze. So, ten to one, a sort of ladder system. Very simple.'

The money followed the same ratio that a penny, dime, and dollar followed.

'It follows the same ratio of money back home, but it doesn't look like the value is the same. I don't think people pay a few cents to sleep in a room for a night.' Alex thought as he watched the two elves hand over a few bronze coins each.

He walked over to the innkeeper, Ospret, and Taeral.

"Are you the one who they are paying for your nights sleep?"

"I am. Does this inn have a place to wash up?" Alex asked ignoring her tone.

"Yes but that will be extra."

"How much?"

"Three copper, each. Although the mens room is currently occupied by an important guest, so it will be around six copper for you."

"That's fine, can you break a silver for me, I running a bit low on br… copper." He said while handing the innkeeper ten copper and a silver.

'Okay, show me eight copper coins.'

She counted out eight copper coins and handed them to Alex.

"Don't upset the man in there and enjoy your stay." She said with a smile before turning away and leading them to the washrooms.

Alex entered the the washroom to a refreshing sight. 'I guess you don't need electricity to have plumbing, I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe a barrel filled with water.' He shivered at the thought.

He heard some shuffling from beyond a wall, his spacial sense finding a man with curly hair checking to see who else was in the room.

"Oh hey, didn't expect to see a kid in here at this time."

"I'm not a kid and I'm just getting in a shower." Alex said as he held the lower part of his uniform in front of his, lower parts.

"Well, hey, wanna see something cool?"

"What is it?"

"Just come over, it won't last for long after I cast it."

Alex shuffled over and followed the curly haired man to a wall.

'Cast? So this is where the local wizard spends his time. He must be wealthy.'

Alex's thoughts were cut off as the curly haired man finished a short chant. He spread his hands and a window appeared in front of him on the other side the two elves Alex had been traveling with.

Alex turned to the side before speaking. "You know if you keep doing this you'll end up losing an eye or two one day."

"Oh that, that's just a fairytale. They tell that to kids so that they can keep them out of trouble. Oh yeah, look at that. Huh, they're coming over here thats never happened before, not that I'm complaining…"

Alex braced himself as he felt a quick movement in his spacial sense. He only looked up as he heard a thud come from the man next to him.

"Well I did warn you, but hey at least you were right, you didn't lose your eyes." Alex said while picking up the pieces of shattered wood.

They floated up from his hands and floated into place. He pulled out a putty from his bag and used it to keep it in place.

After he fixed the damage as well as he could he sat the wizard up against the wall and finally got to taking a shower.

——————

Alex applied a temporary rune to his uniform as the glossy damp color faded from it. After a few moments he put it on and headed out to the main room.

"Got anything big on the menu? I haven't had much to eat in a while, I think." Alex asked the innkeeper who had just finished speaking to a group of people.

"Sure three copper and I will bring it out to you in a bit." She answered.

'Definitely different.' He thought as laid his head down on top of his arms and got some rest.

He raised his head as he felt someone take a seat at his table.

"Ah wizard man. You got up pretty fast."

"I did indeed, although this bump on my head tells me that something went wrong when I was doing a bit scrying."

The wizard looked over to Alex. "You don't look so good yourself, don't tell me that you were assaulted as well."

"No, luckily I got away just in time. I'm just a little exhausted both physically and mentally."

"Mr. Griffin. It's good to see that your here. Have you made a new friend while showering?" The innkeeper asked while sliding a bowl of food in front of Alex.

"Why yes I have, bring us two cups of something to cheer us up… we definitely need it." He said while dropping a handful of coins into her hand.

"Will do. I will be right back." She said in a cheery voice.

"You come here often?" Alex asked.

"Almost every day, although recent events tell me that I should probably hold back my urges more. Maybe it'll help to improve my character, imagine it Damien Griffin, the most gentle of men."

He paused for a moment before speaking again. "Nah, that would bring shame to my families name."

"Ahh there it is."

"Drink up and don't be shy to ask for more." The innkeeper told the two and walked over to check on other customers.

Alex took a sip and noticed a strong amount of sugar in the drink.

He shook his head. "It's like drinking candy, that can't be healthy."

"Healthy for you soul, the sweetness helps it go down though."

Damien squeaked, and Alex looked over.

"Those are the two broads from earlier, we should hurry and get out of here they're heading this way." He said before taking attempting to chug down the drink.

Alex put a hand on his shoulder.

"You are safe, urp, just keep your cool and I'll do the mediating." Alex said

"There you are…"

"Alex." Alex finished Taerals sentence.

"Alex, and you're with the peeper, great." She said sarcastically.

"It's all fine, he said he would like to pay for your meal and apologize for what he had done. Isn't that right?" Alex said while elbowing the wizard.

"Wh, why yes, and while I don't like to squander my money, i would ask you to get whatever you like, after today I have learned my lesson." Damien fibbed.

Alex chuckled as Ospret sat next to him.

"Look at you, only here for a day and already drinking."

"What's wrong with getting a drink?"

"Nothing I just thing you would be one to get drunk."

"Drunk? This is beer isn't it?"

Ospret nodded.

"Well there goes that." Alex sighed before taking another sip.

He channeled some light mana to fight the effects and got to eating his meal.

Taeral walked up to the table with two plates and tossed a key to Alex.

Alex looked at it, it had a symbol etched onto it and with a quick scan he found the room with a matching symbol.

"So Alex what brings you out here?" Damien asked to lower the tension.

"Not really out here on my own accord, but I guess at this point I'm just sightseeing until I get home."

"You're a brave k… ahem, young man. My own parents refused to let me leave until I was twenty."

"Thanks I guess."

"No problem, will you be staying in town for long?"

"Not really."

"Ah well if your ever back around come find me, I hope to show you what I truly spend most of my time on rather than what I do while messing around."

"I'll keep that in mind."

'Although I hope I don't have to return here.'

"Well ladies and gentlemen, it's getting late and my cup has long since emptied, I hope you enjoy the rest of your meal and have a good night. I'll be taking my leave now." Damien put on a robe and walked away.

"I understand why you were worried about wizards spying on you now. So that was how magic works here."

"I'll head up now, enjoy your meal." Alex said feeling exhausted.

"Wait a moment, we are nearly done and we still have a few questions." The two forked food into their mouths while Alex waited and tried to ignore the tiredness.

"At least the room is decent. Hold on a moment while I check the room." Alex told the two while applying temporary rune formations to the room.

"We've got twenty minutes."

The two elves looked at each other before nodding.

"You said there were no gods, where you are from."

"Plural, the only 'god' I know that ever talks to humans, only speaks through one person. Terrible being that only seek to bring conflict and have absolute control. Other kingdoms, or continents as you call it, have many gods, that have never been heard from."

"Did this god overthrow the rest and claim everything to himself."

"No, he's just a power hungry puppet."

"He, so you know this being?"

"Not really, well maybe, no I don't know. I do know that if he doesn't have a good explanation for it though, I'll… i'll." Alex paused as he held his head.

"We'll leave that subject alone. Your invisible magic, what is it?" Ospret asked.

"Spacial magic, the foundation that all of reality sits on. It's funny when ordered spacial energy is pulled apart and you try to put it back, it becomes chaotic. If an arm passes through it, it could be trapped in time and severed without being felt at all."

"Scary magic."

"Yeah, but you don't have to worry about it, I can feel it before we would ever get close enough to be hurt."

"We will count on you for that." Taeral said before standing up.

"Is that all of the questions?" Alex asked.

"For now yes, we have plenty of time to ask more later, but right now you look pretty tired."

"Okay, that works I'll just be sleeping here then."

Alex kicked off his shoes and laid down to get some rest.