It was noon now. That means it's time for lunch (and the gossip of villages, probably!).
They had some bread and soup for that lunch. This village is built near a very small chain of mountains. At the other end of the chain lies the border of Bajista.
The village was very noisy. The villagers were chattering in the stalls and near the fish pond. Near a small farm where Dan found cows and goats. Dan found a house with the board: BLACKSMITH STORE: ALL METAL ITEMS AVAILABLE.
Fayette entered first, rushing past Camb. They found a small showroom where swords, muskets, armoury and their ammo were placed neatly. At one section, there were utensils. There was a man near a shelf who was cleaning a sword with a cotton cloth.
"How much are these armoury, sir?"
"That combat helmet you see there is around a 100 basils. These metal breastplates in here are 100 and those are 150. Well, the strongest metal breastplate is here, plated with Nickel and Cadmium. It gives you the highest comfortability and protection. Its price is...185"
"And what about hand and leg coverings?"
"They're not coverings, they have special names. Anyways for hands and legs, both the same rate, plated with Nickel and Cadmium and are 140."
"I wanna buy all of those which I had asked."
"Okay, sir. So your subtotal is...425, but, another 400 basils for metal tax and 50 for selling tax and 10 as additional money, plus 500 for premium tax and 100 for customer tax...and minus 100 for customer discount, minus 500 for premium discount and...minus 10 for additional discount and minus 50 for selling discount and last but not the least, minus 400 basils for metal discount. So your grand total is 425 basils. Hand me the money."
"Take it please, for heaven's sake."
He came out of the house frustrated. Fayette understood him. "What a frustrating village! I can understand." She told "Well, let's leave from here. It's time."
It was just two hours before sunset. We would reach Bajista in just moments after sunset. There, Dan thought of hiring a hotel in there and sleeping there, planning about the next day later.
As they were sailing through the river overlooking the mountains, they remembered their joyful days in Gorrion. Dan got many friends and support. He would never forget those.
The three could feel their heart thumping. Dan felt that he was entering a battlefield, where a pre-planned conflict is about to begin.
Time went fast this time. They were discussing their favourite moments in Gorrion. Dan said that he liked his two old friends, Georges and Maxim. Fayette said she devoured the sweets and toffees. Camb barked. "Bow-Bow...Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow"
"Maybe he likes to bark," Fayette said. "at everyone, enjoying his life."
They came across a big tunnel, full of security. It was the gateway toll to Bajista. Two boats were in the queue before their boat. As their boat's turn came, the security asked for the toll fee. "25 basils, please."
Dan gave the required money. They moved on. The tunnel was long and large - large enough for a big sailship to sail easy. As they came to the end of the tunnel, Fayette noticed something:
"Look, Dan! Look! There's a lot of light."
"What could it be!"
"Good heavens! I guess we're gonna see a new Bajista, huh."
"What is this, exactly?"
"We're reaching the end. Dan, bend down and look what it is. I can't wait anymore!"
"Lemme see..."
"What's there?"
"No way! There's a city! A massive, technological city!"
"Are you pulling my leg, Dan, for there's no such city in Fantalasia!"
"No, for God's sake, I am true. See for yourself..."
Fayette was very surprised to see that city. It was just like Tokyo back at earth, Dan said. But most surprising of all. The city skyscrapers were surrounded by a magical glowing air effect. It was so magical. There was its port nearby. Ad they got down off the boat, taking only their essentials, the sun was getting down the horizon.
They walked for a few distances. Fayette sat in a bag pocket. Camb accompanied back. They found the city square after walking a few minutes. The town-dwellers were enjoying the spirit of music. In the centre, there was a man sitting on a throne. The town-swellers were hypnotised with music, one person said. He said to join them and feel the music and the lively beat. From another person, he got to know that the man sitting on the throne was the King of Music on this whole planet. His nickname is "Beatz King". He also has a special name:
Slave to the Rhythm
Dan went to a nearby hotel. It was the Beatz Hotel. As Dan was waiting for the reception to give him a room, Dan looked around. There were a lot of people sitting in the table chairs. Many of them wore dressers like pop singers. But they were not pop singers - they were M-POP singers (magic-POP).
Dan thought of lying in his bed for some time for a nap. But he could not even sleep because of the music outside. Those beats were so loud and frustrating, but for others, it was like a healing song from heaven. He heard from one of the M-POP singers that crazy singers and impersonators praised the Beatz King. They had the power of music.
"We don't want to be in trouble. Though we're M-POP singers, we are not mad at music. Music is just a way of life, not life itself." One of them said straightforwardly.
At the dinner time, the sounds relaxed and there were only mild beats. Dan ate the food very fastly. Fayette and Camb were staring at him in awe. He wanted to sleep. Quickly, he ran to room 387 (their room) and slept in the bed. Fayette and Camb came in to see a 17-year old sleeping sound in his bed.
"Maybe he'll be a 'Slave of the Rhythm' in his dream. Who knows!" Fayette said and went to the balcony to see the awesome lights with Camb, the best dog she had ever been with.