As the light was getting dimmer, giving way to onset of night. Skye opened the door to his room! It was a simple single room with minimal furniture. He went up to the bed and dropped down on his back and just lay there, mindlessly staring at the ceiling and thinking of what happened just before.
When Skye entered the city, he was baffled by its looks. It was completely different to his expectations. Observing the city gates and walls from outside he thought the inside would be like a large gated community but once he stepped in, he saw medieval styled stone buildings everywhere around him. In front of him was a broad road with different types of stone buildings on either side of it. He could see the sign boards of inn's, shops and hotels.
It seemed like a central street, with people moving about busily, in and out of shops and buildings. Far away he could see an enormous castle, ivy covered and gray, it looked centuries-old, ancient but strong. The central road extended up-to the Castle.
Skye heard a voice and turned to his right where he saw Alger signalling him to come towards him. When Skye came near, Alger said " Welcome young man. This city is called Carcassonne, it will be the starting point of your journey. Write your name and planet you come from and put a thumb impression on this paper"
When Skye asked why the thumb impression Alger casually responded " Formalities".
Since he got upto here Skye just shrugged it off and did what he was asked for.
" Take this key for now and go to the hotel at the end of this road behind me. This key is for the temporary lodging provided to you. You can freshen up and sleep for the night in there. Tomorrow morning, assemble in front of the castle." saying this Alger handed him a key and gestured to go on.
"Wait a minute! I have some questions to ask and you also said I'll get clothes if I enter the city, I haven't gotten any!" said Skye hurriedly.
"There are a lot of people still waiting behind you. I need to register them too, so I don't have much time today, your questions will be answered tomorrow. For now, please follow what I have said and retire to your room." Alger said.
"For now use these clothes, this is the only thing I can give you, if you don't like it, then you can buy your own clothes in the shop's tomorrow." saying this Alger stretched out his hand and a cotton poncho and pants appeared on his hand out of nowhere.
"Thank you", Skye said still amazed at Alger and walked aside to wear the clothes and then walked towards the hotel Alger mentioned. When he came to the hotel a receptionist saw his key and pointed him the way towards his room.
" Too many weird things have happened today, and I still feel like this is all a dream. Let's just sleep right now and hopefully I'll wake in my actual bed." Skye thought to himself even-though he knew his hope might not come true. He sighed and went into sleep.
Morning came and because the sun rays were shining on his face, making him uncomfortable, Skye woke up early. Looking around, he was still in the same room he slept in.
He let out a deep breath and got up from his bed, there was half part disappointment on his face and half part anticipation. With mixed emotions he went into the bathroom quickly freshened up and started out towards the castle.
Alger did not mention by what time they had to assemble, but still Skye started early, thinking he will explore the city a little before going to the castle. Early in the morning there were few people on the streets, and many of the shops have just started opening. He was walking along the central street and looking around curiously.
He spotted a shop made of stone with wooden supports and a tiled roof and went up to it. There was a fruit and vegetable sign hanging in front of the entrance. There were wooden cartons with fruits inside them, that were placed beside the entrance for the people to see. Skye thought it might be a vegetable and fruit shop and went inside.
Seeing Skye come in the shopkeeper greeted him " Good morning, how can I help you?"
"I just came in to the city yesterday, I don't know how things work around here. Can you tell me how much that apple is and how to buy it? "
"Looking at you, I thought you were one of the chosen, it seems I was right!" the shopkeeper said with a smile in his face, then he continued saying
" The apple's cost is 1 white life crystal a carton. You can buy them with life crystals or by directly exchanging your life force with me, anyway is fine."
Skye asked " What is a white life crystal and how do I get it? "
" Didn't they tell you even the basics? 1 white life crystal is equal to 1 day of your life force. Within the city, you can get them in exchange for your life force from anyone. You just shake hands and agree in your mind to transfer the life force and it will be done. Or, you can hunt down the beasts outside the city and trade it for life crystals."
"So you mean to say, if I agree to buy the apples and shake my hand with you, my life will reduce by a day?" Skye asked puzzled.
" Yes, just as you said." replied the shopkeeper.
"But why would anyone buy these apples at the expense of their own life? It doesn't make any sense. Don't you have other payment modes?" Skye asked.
Seeing as Skye was asking so many questions without a hint to buy anything, the shopkeeper sternly said " Look young man, even-though you are one of the chosen, business is business and right now you are wasting my time of business. If you are not interested in buying please take your leave." and then went-about doing his work.
As the shopkeeper was not replying to his questions, he thought of verifying some things and then said "Okay, I'll buy one carton of apples. Let's shake hands."
"Good man, now you are talking business" the shopkeeper happily shook Skye's hand and sold the apples.
Sure enough, when Skye checked his left forearm there were the numbers 13510 in small font." Wait!! 13510?
Wasn't it 13512 when I checked yesterday?
I just sold one day of my life; then shouldn't it be 13511?" Skye thought.
Asking the shopkeeper, he then found out that after every-night the number reduces by 1 since you have lived 1 day.
Thinking he should not spend anymore he refrained from buying and walked out of the shop because the shopkeeper started advertising his goods and asking him to buy some more. With a cloth bag in hand, filled with apple's he went along the central street, observing other residents while eating the apples.
Skye was not hungry, but since he bought them, he started eating them as breakfast. They were tasty and much better than any self-proclaimed organically grown apple's he ate on Earth.
As the day progressed little by little more people were coming out on to streets. When he saw some of his fellow chosen, who got inside the city yesterday, moving towards the castle, he also followed them. By 9 there were many of the chosen assembled in front of the castle.
From inside the castle, a scar faced, muscular and stout man walked out. He wore olive coloured leather shirt, bony shoulder guards, black leather belt, brown pants and heavy boots. He looked like a retired warrior. With a solemn temperament of a general overseeing a battlefield he looked at the chosen and said " Follow me" and then turned back and entered the castle.
Puzzled and looking at each other's faces the chosen walked into the castle and followed the man into a wide-open garden. Walking onto an elevated platform the man spoke, "From today onwards this castle will be your residence, you will each be provided a room with all the necessary furniture and any requests you have will be taken care of by the palace workers."
" You will be provided training to know your skills better and knowledge about this world in the coming month. There is only one expectation from you, that you will follow the training you will be provided and get ready for the battlefield." saying this the man clapped and then a dozen people walked out from the castle doors behind him, there were 9 men and 3 women and all wore a similar warrior outfit as the man. they looked younger than the man, and they all solemnly stood behind the man forming a straight line.