There were lots of people and a long string of markets lined up along the side of the road. I was fascinated by all sorts of displays like fire crackers and strange animals that were being sold.
This is the town of Treaven I suppose, many merchants set up here to make huge profit from all the traffic. There were so many people, ones coming and going from the road outside of town leading further inward.
It was almost like an endless sea of people, I almost couldn't believe there were so many living outside the royal castle. I felt like I didn't learn nearly enough about the world, almost everything in sight was a wonder. Id ask Shirone and he'd laugh in a jolly way while explaining things.
"Hey Sada, let's stop in here. You're hungry right?"
"Eh- um- sure but- well, I don't have any money Mr. Shirone…"
"Oh don't worry about that, this one's on me okay."
"Thank you very much."
I bowed, I feel like I can't repay Mr. Shirone enough for helping me out so much.
The food was delicious, we had stopped in at a little restaurant on the corner. Pasta dripping with well seasoned tomato sauce, lots of ground up cooked meat and melted cheese sprinkled on top. I first took a bite of the toasted garlic bread, it brought joy to my mouth as I chewed a piece off.
I have to say, this is probably the best garlic toast I've ever had. I washed it down with my drink, it was a bit sour but also sweet.
Is this real Lemon Ade?
It's so good that I drank the hole contents of the glass instantly and then felt a little bit sad that is was gone already.
The pasta was without a doubt the best part though, I slurped up the noodles and my eyes went wide at the pure greatness of this dish. I could eat this for the rest of my life. It is literally that good.
This is when I met my new apparent 'owners'-? It seems like a married couple that walked up after we finished eating. They were the ones who own this restaurant and cooked that glorious master piece of a dinner.
"Sadako, I'd like you to meet Kilen and Rafleen Whitpost. They agreed to buy you with a loose contract, they just need some occasional help in their shop. You're free to do whatever you like in your free time. They will pay you at least a copper coin (enough to pay for a whole week stay at an inn with meals included.) on the first of every week. Basically, You'll be in their care from now on."
"Thanks for having me."
I bowed respectfully, they seem like decent people. I feel like they were a little shocked at my human traits though.
From that day on I worked everyday to earn my keep. I wasn't of much use in the kitchen due to my clumsiness. Kilen laughed while Rafleen looked at me with concern after I some how spilt flammable oil and nearly caught the room on fire.
I was flustered and had no idea what to do until Rafleen came rushing to put out the fire. I was a bit embarrassed.
I suppose it looks like I won't exactly be a master cook any time soon...
After that the Whitposts mostly just had me run errands and deliver things. I always got paid a copper coin every week. Rafleen also taught me things like how to calculate and manage money as well as several useful lessons that I'd face at some point or other.
10 Tin = 1 Steel
10 Steel = 1 Copper
5 Copper = 1 Bronze
2 Bronze = 1 Silver
10 Silver = 1 Gold
In my free time I traveled the town and got to know the layout of Treaven. There were several huge sections that span a vast distance around the outskirts of the court yard of the royal castle. On foot it would probably take a number of weeks to explore Treaven in it's entirety.
If you were to just continue straight on the main travel route however you would cross the great Celestial bridge into the town of Illumious. This travel should only take about a week, or so I'm told. And then just at the ends of Illumious is the city wall that separates the entire kingdom of flames from the dangers of the wasteland.
I wonder if I'll ever explore that far? I think it would be a bad idea right now though, I'm still living day to day. If I were to find a way to make more money then it might be possible to make that journey one day. I might even find a Flaria flower blooming in the wasteland.
I sat on the bed starting out the window while making wild dreams like this. To be honest, I didn't know what else to do. If I were to find a Flaria then who would really care? Is there anyone I can really brag to about it? Is there really any value in going that far for such a reason as to find some flower? I don't know what I should do from now on, what I should live for.
It was a bright day, the weather was beginning to cool down. A gentle breeze carried autumn leaves down the street, I felt content. I found a lovely private patch of nature not too far from the inn I usually stay at.
I sat in the shade leaned up against the tree, I had brought with me a freshly baked banana nut muffin from the Whitpost restaurant and a book about various things in the wasteland. Despite everything, I was oddly fascinated with the wasteland after all.
However, not 15 minutes into cracking the book and getting comfortable I felt eyes on me. How strange, most people tend to ignore my existence.
Hmmmm, there!
I looked above me to see a huge lizard hanging out on the tree limb.
"What do you want huh?"
No use, the lizard can't talk.
Or can it?
Nope, it can't.
Anyways, so from then on that guy wouldn't leave me alone. I decided to give him some of my precious banana nut muffin.
"This is the greatest food in the world, so you better enjoy it."
He licked the piece of the muffin, and I don't know if it was just me but I think I saw stars in his lizard eyes right then. After that, the next moment that piece of delicacy was gone. The lizard ate the whole thing in one bite, he's probably about 2 feet long but I still didn't expect his appetite to be like that.
After that, the lizard crawled up next to me and went to sleep. I have never been one for lizards, but I think this guy is a good lizard. I think I'll name him Poe.