"Hey Griff, wake up."
Griff merely yawned at the voice he was hearing and thought he was still dreaming so he kept sleeping.
"Griff, wake up I'm not gonna say twice."
"Is the kid awake yet?"
"No the brats sleeping like a log."
"Damn wake him up we're almost there."
"Griff!"
"Hmphm..."
Griff mumbled in his sleep. This was the last straw for James as his eyes were colored red like he was about to announce that Griff was already dead.
"I said... WAKE THE FUCK UP YOU DAMN PIPSQUEAK!"
James also kicked him in the gut to make his point clear. Griff suddenly bolted awake from the pain and flew outside the cart to the ground and was trying to get himself together. The cart stopped for Griff to climb on board again.
"What the... WHY DID YOU DO THAT FOR!"
"CAUSE YOU WEREN'T WAKING UP AND YOU GOT ON MY NERVES!"
Griff jumped on board the cart and started clashing heads with James.
"EEEH? WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR NERVES OLD MAN!"
"ARE YOU TESTING ME YOU DAMN PIPSQUEAK!"
"DAMN RIGHT I AM YOU COOL LOOKING MENTOR LIKE BASTARD!"
"WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE AN INSULT! MY UNBORN SON HAS A MORE FOUL MOUTH THAN YOU!"
"WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR UNBORN BASTARD YOU OLD FART!"
The two then stopped clashing heads as James flicked Griff's forehead and started to giggle.
"What a way to start the day kid ahahahah."
Griff started to laugh as well and James started rubbing his hair like a son.
"Wouldn't like to break your moment, but we're almost nearby Alfrum so I suggest you two look as presentable as possible for the guards to let you in and not think of you as beggars."
"Ah right, can we stop by that pond to wash our faces and trim our hair?"
"Sure thing."
After a few minutes the two adventurers boarded the Cart again, they were looking much more decent than they were considering they had escaped a sort of wretched slavery.
"This ought to do for now. Come on let's not waste any time!"
Soon, a large wall could be seen over the hill they were passing and a cool breeze hit the trio as they arrived at the top to come across the full beauty of Alfrum. The seaside trade city was booming as ever with the docks and ships in view.
The high walls of Alfrum were on view for everyone to see as well. There was also something very interesting... Some of the buildings were floating!
The architecture looked smooth with all kinda of houses ranging from cottages to high towers.
A few of the districts could be seen but all of them couldn't be made out. They could only see the trade district as it was closer to their view and the entrance of Alfrum, the vast city covered a lot of ground.
"Whoah..."
"Welcome to Alfrum kiddo!"
James smirked as he gestured the city.
"I presume you're new to Alfrum?"
"I'm not but the kid sure is."
"How do they make those buildings float? Is it magic? But in order to do that won't they need a wind mage to always stand beneath it to levitate it? Oh and also how are those ships moving that fast when there isn't a strong enough breeze and also..."
"ARGH! WOULD YOU SHUT UP FOR JUST ONE. DAMN. SECOND!"
James snapped at Griff as he was overwhelmed by Griff's questions.
"Well well looks like you haven't heard of magic circles?"
Brock decided to cut in before James melted his head trying to come up with answers as he was... pretty dull in these kinds of expertises.
"What? What are those?"
"Basically they help keep those buildings float because they're imbedded with float magic."
Griff's eyes were sparkling as he gazed at the city.
"Come on kid we still need to walk."
James slapped Griff across the face to bring him back to reality.
Griff held his cheek and looked at James a bit angry.
"Sad thing is I'm getting used to this and I'm not even surprised anymore."
James started laughing at this as he wasn't expecting that.
"I'll kick your ass one day I promise."
This time Brock also joined as he too laughed. As they laughed they were nearing the gates of Alfrum and a guardsmen called them to a halt.
"May I see your identification card please?"
"Sure thing."
Brock handed his Merchant's Guild card as did James hand his Adventurer's Guild card.
"Whose the kid?"
James decided to interfere before Griff caused a ruckus, having no common sense and all.
"He's an adventurer trainee under me. He was given a trial card by another guild master but on our way here we were attacked by bandits and he lost the card during the time. I'll vouch for him."
The guard simply nodded and opened up the gates, allowing them to enter Alfrum.
As soon as they entered Alfrum, Griff rose from his seat to look at the lively city. Trade was lively and the people as joyful as they can be. A passing by kid waved at them as his mother caught him and pulled him back.
Most people seemed well fed and compared to the silent bordertown Ange, the area was boisterous!
"So many people!"
"Welcome to Alfrum kid. One of the largest trade cities in the kingdom of Kulva!"
James said as he patted Griff on the back.
"So, should I drop you off at the Adventurer Guild Hall?"
"Yes that'd be great for us Brock. I'll repay you however I can in the future."
"No worries, consider it a favor."
The horse cart continued on its way through the town. In the town alongside humans, there were dwarves and elves as well. Griff even made out one person that seemed to have dragonic wings.
"What race is that guy?"
"He's dragonkin. Not many live in Kulva but here at Aflrum, half the dragonkin population lives due to it being one of the richest cities in the realm."
Replied Brock.
Soon they made their way to the entrance of the Adventurer's Guild of Alfrum. It was much more larger than the one in Ange. Hell, it dwarved it by a large margin!
The building was very large, it was probably as large as a mansion!
"Whoah..."
"This is how a real guild hall looks like."
James and Griff hopped off the cart, thanking Brock once more as they walked to the doors.
"We went through a lot to be here you know Griff."
"Yeah... who knew a journey of two weeks took nearly three months?"
"Well. We can put that behind us now and hopefully never see those pompous nobles again. For now..."
James said as he kicked open the door.
"Welcome to Alfrum!"
As soon as they opened the door a large table came crashing towards them but James sliced it in half. The guild was a mess! Beer jugs were flying and several adventurers were duking it out with jovial grins.
A few of them were even cheering them.
The guild was filled with all sorts of people ranging from wizards and mages to monks and berserkers!
"Is it... always so lively?"
"Sure it is!"
James said as he started to pull Griff inside even though he tried resisting it.
"I just escaped one crazy place don't put me in another one!"
James merely laughed as he forcefully pulled him in and tossed him towards the fight. He hit someone straight across the face and fell over them.
"Oops?"
Griff replied as he got off the person who he now could see to be a girl. A mage in fact. And she was definitely not looking happy. She was tearing up a bit after having a young man being tossed over her and the same person knocking her to the ground. She felt violated
"Shameless! Pervert! Go die in hell! Let the dogs eat your carcass! I'll kill you myself!"
She said as she started to charge mana.
"Oh shit no no no this is a huge misunderstanding!"
The girl disregarded his plea as she continued to gather mana and started firing pure mana projectiles at Griff, resulting in him running for his life screaming.
"JAMES YOU SON OF A BITCH I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!"