Balara is a town constructed on top of a river that falls from the top of a cliff. It is the river called Erritia that is connected to the highlands. Its waters were transparent and most of the houses were part of the structure itself, and they were on the rock and mud platform that is keeping the town afloat. There are large struts under the river that allow the water to flow through them.
The town was buzzing with activity. Hawkers shout out their goods, travelers congest the streets, and there is a smell of spices and ingredients once you enter the town. There is a cattle market in front of the city gates. Traders gather anyone, and mercenaries are waiting near the entrance to entice people who are about to travel outside.
We entered through the first gate, navigated the streets, and stood in front of a tavern. The exterior of the tavern was made of timbered wood. Inside, there was a heavy smell of roasted meat, beer, and grease permeating the air. There were people smoking inside the tavern, most of them were on the side of the tavern, letting the smoke from their pipes out of the square windows.
The interior was mostly wood as well with a few carvings on the walls that support the upper floor of the tavern. We sat on the table next to the wall as well where we were far from the crowded round tables where skin meets.
We ordered a meal, drank some beer, and stayed on the benches while watching the barmaids get groped on the butt and laughing it out loud. I noticed that there were sultry women sitting on the benches, enticing men to come with them. I even saw some of my fellow travelers bringing the women to the upper floor of the tavern.
"So you want to get yours wet?"
"What?"
I looked at Bren who placed his chin against his palm.
"I mean I wouldn't blame you, but you shouldn't do it here. I know a place."
"I am abstinent at the moment."
Bren looked at me oddly. "For sure?"
"I am."
He looked at Meris. "You aren't just saying this to get into Meris's pants, right?"
"Of course not. How can I do that to my teacher?"
"Stop involving me in this," she bit her roasted meat. "You two do what you want."
"Well, I won't argue what you want to do. So, see you later folks, this man is going to have some love."
Bren walked out of the tavern with a skip on his step. I shook my head and turned my attention to the beer that was going cold. I created an ice cube and placed it inside the tankard.
"You aren't going?"
"No, I won't."
"Don't do it while traveling, trust me, you don't want to smell like that while traveling."
"There...are people who do that?"
"Yup, and it's awful by the fourth day."
I groaned. I drank my tankard and placed it on the side. I looked at the travelers, the bartender, and the minstrel ogling the coins in the hat. His smile looked like it was about to tear through his face.
"So, uh, what about you, Meris? You want to be relieved?"
"What? Is that something you asked a woman?"
"No offense, but I heard that your people are not that bothered by it."
"And I also heard that because of that, there are many religious organizations who think that we are immoral as we are long-lived. It's an insult to us and you should think clearly before you ask that, and in the first place, you shouldn't say that to a woman. Aren't you shameless?"
I looked at the door where Bren came out from.
"Don't you dare compare that fool to me? We have different values, and again, isn't this rude of you to even think of?"
"Well, pardon me for that then."
"Tsk, please don't be a fool like him."
I nodded. We continued drinking and eating until it became too noisy to even stay in the tavern. We went out of the tavern and waited on the Inn that we talked about. It was an Inn made mostly of wood and stone, shingles for the roof, and there is a chimney on the left side of the Inn that blows smoke. Inside, the interior of the Inn was decorated, there was a monster's head behind the innkeeper and he noticed us when we entered.
"Good noon!" said the innkeeper. "Single? Double?"
"Do you have three beds?"
"Ah, travelers then? There are a lot of you these days. How's the weather in the east?"
"Mostly fine," I said. "No rain, and there was a lot of harvests before we crossed the previous river."
"Wonderful to hear! You folks must have come from that caravan."
"Yes, we are, if you have any goods that you want you should tell them. I think they are heading in the direction of the Capital now."
"I'll think about that later," the innkeeper said and dragged out a book and a pen. "Would you mind if I list you down?"
"Not at all."
I told him my name and Meris gave hers. We also told the innkeeper that there was a friend who was going to come later. After that, we clambered up the stairs, searched the room, and entered.
The Inn seems like a dormitory more than an Inn. But the beds were soft and worth the price. I settled my saddlebags and placed my mantle on the side. Meris placed her cloth-covered staff and leaned it on the side.
"Mind if you just go away for a moment? I really need time to take a bath and all that. You can just wash on the river, you'll know when you see one."
"Gotcha then," I pocketed one of the keys.
I went back to the innkeeper and asked him for the tub. There were fees for it so I instead offered him to create a block of ice with my prana. He thought about it for a second and agreed. If there was one thing that I learned from traveling so far, is that there are many people who really like their drinks cold.
#
I left the inn and followed the river. It was then that I saw a place where men washed. I thought to myself that men really didn't care for bathing as nobles do. Then again, I was ignorant of the affairs of common men so I just thought it was a common custom around the Empire.
I took a dip into the cold transparent river and sat on a stone. Although I said that this place was where they washed, some of the more brazen females entered the river, attracting the eyes of the travelers.
I rested on the side while keeping quiet most of the time. I gathered prana from the water elements and circulated it around my veins to keep myself steady. As I closed off my mind I saw a person walking towards my place. She wore quite a wonderful top, and there was a black lace that was wrapped around her neck. Her red hair reached up to her neck. She was well-built and chiseled.
She sat to my left and kept herself quiet for a second or two, she then said. "Don't mind me, keeping myself away from their gazes."
"And what about me then?" I said.
"You don't look at me that way, besides, you don't look occupied thinking about how to drag a woman from this place."
"So why here then? Show off your body?"
"Partly, and that is that I don't have enough money. Do you know how expensive inn and bathhouse baths are these days? Could use that money to buy provisions and some arrows. Ah, Shanie's my name by the way."
"Kiran Irving."
"You a noble?"
"Landless, but I have a title," I said.
"So trying to earn renown and get your land?"
"Just going to study in the Academy. Need to make sure that I have the ability to refine my control over my prana."
"Hmm, you're traveling with someone?"
"I am. Two could-chants are with me."
She nodded and crossed her arms, lifting her ample chest. "Although we've just met if you're going that way, then might as well join you."
"Are you going there?"
"I am a mercenary and I heard that they'd be allowing people to have second chances there. Others might not see merit in this, but I do."
"Second chances huh," I stopped circulating my prana. "I understand then."
"Not going to ask for any intentions?"
"I won't. But if you have the guts to try and rob three could-chant's then go ahead."
"Wait, you're a magic-user?"
"I am," I was sure she noticed the prana circulation.
She looked at me from bottom to top. "You don't look like one. Ah, you must be a Martial Mage then?"
"I like to learn more about prana-control, but yeah I can fight in close combat."
"You don't look proud saying that."
"It's personal."
"Ah, I get it then."
She placed her back on the walls of the river. There was loud cheering on the other side as the men and women started a party with a few ales on the side. It sounded like it'd end in one hell of an orgy after they're done here.
"See now why I don't want to end up there?"
"Are you reading my mind?"
"Easy to tell when someone gives that eye. Been roaming around since I was sixteen so things like this don't surprise me."
"Been into one?"
"Not yet, but for reasons called dignity I won't. Who'd want to be pumped and dumped in places like this? Not me, that's for sure."
"You sure are trying too hard to explain this."
She snorted. I returned to circulating my prana. After ten minutes of dipping into the pool, I scrubbed the dirt on me and looked over my left.
"Are you getting out soon?"
"I am, without my shield I'd be invited into that place," she looked me in the eyes for a moment before sighing, "I actually saw you three before here. I was in the caravan, wearing a hood to mask my features and all that."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why? It's hard to be taken seriously as a merc if you aren't a cold bitch. This isn't the east where they don't care about women that much and prefer merit. I know the Jakian Empire is merit-based as well, allowing women to take on warriors as they do in those portraits, but can you say that most of the common people think that? Well, I ain't going to be some homely woman either. That way of life didn't suit me, and I am not going to be some maid or a whore. I am not suited for scholarly tasks either, so this is the only path that I can take."
I looked at her with my brows meet.
"What? Going to laugh at me?"
"No, I respect that. Better than me who has to make amends," I raised my fist. She bumped it with hers.
"Glad you understand."
"No, no, I don't understand. I ain't a woman so I don't. But picking yourself up, and finding your own path, and struggling on? That's something a silver spoon bastard like me can't understand."
"That so?" she laughed. "Well, the first time that happened someone didn't just laugh it out loud. So, you're better than most of the muscle brains I've been talking to," she leaned in. "See you later, Kiran. I guess this was worth a gamble after all."
"Gamble?"
"Well, I was willing to take the risk that you're a lecherous man when I approached you, but well, I guess sometimes there are good gambles that can come our way."
"If you really are coming with us, then I hope we get along well."
She nodded and grabbed onto her coat. Many eyes swooned to her, but she looked back and directed the gazes to me. It was getting cold so I took my clothes, dried myself a little by heating up my body with prana, and left the place.
It seems that we'll have a new travel companion.