He ate the meal that consisted of mashed potatoes, steaming vegetables and whole fish, small but smelling delicious. The mash had a bit of butter worked into it, making it creamy and smooth, the vegetables still firm but harmonic together. The fish eyes still clear, showing its freshness.
His taste buds rarely had something that tasty, and before he knew it, he stuffed himself, loosing himself. He took a gulp of the jug, and a aromatic fruit juice that reminded him of apples ran down his throat.
20 minutes later, he sat back, holding his stomach when the pleasant warmth spread through his body.
"I wish that could be my meal every day." he sighed, already regretting not savoring the taste more.
"Glad it tasted good." the waitress said, removing his tableware. "But quality costs, so if you don't have a silver laying around per meal, I advise to cook yourself a bit."
'A silver?' he felt his mouth drying out. Remembering how much a bunch of these ingredients cost per unit, it seemed ridiculous, but reasonable at the same time.
She already continued, clearing another table and talking to a group of man that looked like workers, healthy laughing and giving her a cup, which she drank on the spot.
'They seem so friendly here, it's nice.' he thought, wishing over his mouth and leaving out into the village.
Every time he stepped out, saw glimpses or glances of the buildings, the sheer scale, it reminded him more of what a city would be like.
'Where to go then...' he looked at the sun, depending how it wandered since this morning he could say west is to his left a bit. Some clear space was in front of that massive Guild building, but then some smaller houses made also with whitewash and bottoms reinforced by stones. Many of them had a hole on the top, with smoke rising out.
He wandered through a muddy road, big enough for four people walking side by side, and because of the windows facing the road he could catch a glance into some houses.
Passing one he saw a chubby woman with a headscarf carrying a kettle, distributing the stew to the four waiting at the table.
In the backyard of another a child around his age sat next to her mother, braiding together strings making a more sturdy one.
It felt idyllic, making him miss his own home more than ever. He got also some curios looks, mostly because of his beat up attire, the compendium he carried and strangeness.
He touched his money bag every so often, afraid of losing it in a moment of negligence.
But it was still early, and compared to another, wider road he saw that more people traversed on this seemed safer.
The road curved as he followed, soon connecting to one of the main roads. Many man and woman walked past him, and he just wandered further west.
Different signs hang a bit off the buildings, indicating the start of a shopping district. The signs had both pictures and writing, making it easy for Mikael to sort each shop to its purpose.
A open vendor in front a small building showcased his ware in the open, either neatly put on the table, or the lesser wares in spare boxes on the ground.
"Hey young man, looking how the clothes on you saw better days, how about some new ones."
The vendor, a small man with a gray shirt and bleached out black vest called out. And it was exactly what Mikael needed.
"Are your wares expensive?" Mikael asked, unsure how the prices were here.
"Would wonder me if you found someone cheaper." he said, leisurely resting his arm on the table.
"For you and your height some clothes in the big box there should suffice. Buy a set and get a discount."
'Doesn't hurt to look around.' he squatted down, searching in the pile of clothes for some good ones.
Many had holes, were to big or just unsuited. But at last he found a combination of a thick brown shirt, a dark green tunic and some pants that could be held up by his belt.
He paid the vendor heavyhearted two big copper and getting a bit of change.
"Can I change into them somewhere? My clothes are as you said proper rags at this point."
"Just use a back alley, no one would care any way." He got told in a lazy tone, as if it was the most normal thing to do.
And doing that he did, careful going in a nearby alley, away from peeking eyes.
He had to be careful tho, as his arm still needed the support of a rag to uphold it straight.
The pain now was bearable, thanks to the effect of that mysterious flower.
When he came back out, the grayish pants, shirt and tunic together with his short brown hair and green eyes making him look quite handsome, even with his childish atmosphere and the slightly to big clothes.
"Aye, looking better now lad." The vendor said while nodding.
"Nothing else to expect from my hand picked ware. As if tailored for you. Had I a daughter, I could consider letting you two meet." he called louder than normal, confusing Mikael with these out of place phrasing.
'Ahh, I see.' Mikael noticed how some passerby slowed down, looking at him and the presented clothes. Others came forward, questioning the vendor, and he happily answered.
Now clothed more appropriate, he continued. He saw some carriages, together with some wares and furs he never saw before, some even guarded by what seemed to be adventurers.
Other vendors had some in season fruits and vegetables, and the amount of mushrooms presented was overwhelming.
The road split, to one side more foodstuff and ingredients were present, the other had shops and handcraft, like tailors and barbers.
He followed the road, always careful not to bump into others, what proved to be difficult, as more and more people crowded the street, looking for a good price, or a merchant with exotic wares.
After a short while, he heard the first bright sound of steel hitting steel, and suddenly more vendors had materials for smithing, tools or weapons in stock. The clients had another air around them, too.
If before they radiated a more merchant vibe, or the common customer, now they wore mostly equipment, weapons and armor, showing clearly their occupation.
Mikael saw on one vendors carriage some scales, looking dark brown and guarded under the watchful eye of a man sitting next to it.
A man in an apron, with a wide build and thick arms, pointed at them and handed over a satchel of coins, looking quite bulging, and only receiving a handful of them.
'What are these materials? What kind of Creature has these scales, that are so valuable to purchase.'
He wondered. His father only worked with the most common materials, eventually using the hide of a more common monster as it was more durable. But that already was quite luxurious.
He knew materials of more dangerous species could be used for equipment and weapons, but never handled some or saw someone trading them.
From afar he could make out a roofed area, a open pit radiating a bright orange with an anvil next to it, and a barrel of water ready.
The wood, as he saw open coming closer, was still not completely burned, cracking loudly as the water inside evaporated.
He got on the doorstep, nervous and expecting. 'What kind of work should I help this person with? Am I really the right person?' Considering he may work with these materials presented here, his confidence wavered.
'But I need that money. My dept won't just vanish if I do nothing, and this may very well be the best I can do here.'
He took a deep breath, and knocked on the wooden door.
A deep voice came from the inside, not sounding moody but more stressed out.
"Yeah, Come in!"
When he entered, a big man sat there, sipping on a cup and massaging his temples. Deep dark blue bags under his eyes showed his sleeplessness, and his beard was messy.
He wore a long, brown tunic under his thick leather apron, and on the table laid the fitting leather gloves.
"Hmm, a young lad? What are ya doing 'ere."
"I came from the Guild, and your request was suitable for me, I think, so..."
He couldn't finish, as the man nearing the 1.9 meter stood up and bellowed:" Really, you think you can help me out here?"
He came over, towering over him.
"You think that this job is so simple to make some quick cash by the side? How would your puny arms even lift a hammer and hit the iron properly? And your hurt arm won't make that easier. What do your parents say 'bout that, lad."
Mikael was overwhelmed, the presence of that giant intimidating him.
But he knew that this was some sort of test, as this man looked like he was in dire need of a assistant, but despite that would chase him away when he couldn't work.
So he answered with a firm voice:" No Sir, I would never make light of this work. After all my father was a blacksmith as well, and when I worked with him, I had nothing but respect for his work. Sadly my parents passed away, so I came here to earn money myself. My arm won't hinder me, my right is enough till it heals."
"Hoh, so already worked in one, eh. Not so hopeless then. But how old are ya then, lad? Wouldn't an orphanage take ya in?" he asked, a bit calmer then before.
"Have never considered going into one, as I lost them quite recently, and got aided into working as a hunter, here..."
He showed his card, letting it light up so the man could read the information it contained.
"Okay, but wouldn't consider this hunter , more handyman work, but oh well. Whom I to judge. Can I see your token?"
After taking a look at both his card and that token, he said finally:" Alright, Mikael, I accept and employ ya for the duration I need your assistance, okay with that?"
"Sure. By the way, are you working with these monster materials they sell outside? I never held them before, even less worked with it."
"Rarely, and then only personally. Don't worry, ya only have to help with common orders and braiding. If you could help in the house ya can earn a bit extra. I pay you at least a big copper a day, more if the work ya did exceed a certain quota."
He stretched out his hand, shaking Mikaels tiny hand, nearly whopping him up and down due his sheer strength, but Mikael bit through it.
"Name's Roàn, but call me Boss while we are here."
"Got it Boss." Mikael said, retracting his hurting right.
"'Bout that arm of yours, see a healer tomorrow, they should work over by the Guild House, just a stone's throw away."
"But I don't have the money." He said, glad to hear someone would be able to help him, as his arm made changing into the new clothes already pretty challenging.