I get myself up without the help of Arla not trying to impose after walking in in her. I then adjust my bandages a bit. I think the bandages can be taken off now. Since the bleeding did stop quite fast yesterday.
As I take them off I notice a little scar on my chest now on my right pec. Welp it is fine its minor scar. I guess.
I then walk out without saying anything to get to the carriage. Some of the guards continue staring at me. This time it might be because I am bare chested, and the only caiman in this whole camp of humans. I am sort of the stick in the mud situation.
As I get to the carriage my body aches as I unload one of the suit cases with my clothes so I can get a shirt properly like a gentle man.
I then take my brown shirt out of the suit case and put on the shirt. Feels nice. I turn to Arla who is already half way to the carriage
"So you ready to keep going into the city?"
"Yes. I am also will be watching you more intently since your are injured so do not work your self to hard." she responds
I am mostly fine the arrow didnt go into me that deeply but I guess having my maid do some of the lifting for a bit isn't to bad.
Arla walks over to me with the intent of lifting my suitcase up but struggles to due to the weight.
*sigh* "Let me me help with that"
She shoes me away with her hands with a bit of a flustered behavior. She attempts to and I swear I even saw a small hint of sweat on her.
I ignore her desire and lift it up myself. Easily I lift it above my hips and move it back into the cart.
"I am sorry zi failed to do such a simple task..." she says while bowing
"Its fine Arla. I am just physically stronger than you is all. You tried your best and that is all I can ask for."
She lights up a little relaxed her shoulders. I go up to her and give her a nice pat on her shoulder and walk into the carriage. I hope I presented myself as a good person to her. She still seems to have a maid-like attitude.
Eventually, Arla gets into the carriage with me and we smile and wait for our cart driver to take us away from this place and into the city.
-2 minutes later-
The driver comes back and he finally gets us out of this place and starts moving. As we are moving I look out of the window I notice the city architecture looks the same as it used to. Guess not much has changed since then.
We however arrive at a tavern up in the east part of the city. We get out and our stuff and walk in the tavern and there is a man with a grey beard wiping off a shot glass.
"Hello? Can we rent a room or something?" I ask out loud waiting for a response
"Sure thing come over he-" he stops himself
"No not you. Get out..." he says
"What? Why?"
"I said get out!" he says while pulling out a knife from underneath the counter."
I am not threatened by him but I would rather avoid conflict this early in the city...We walk out of the tavern with confused looks on our faces and just go back into the carriage.
"Wonder what that was about...Didn't seem like we did anything wrong..."
"I...I was worried something like this might happened Coda. I just didn't say anything about it since things seemed so nice without the issue coming up."
What is she talking about? She kept something I am not aware of from me? I hope it is not a drastic issue here.
"You see...recently in the last few years the Kingdom of Brunich and Hestian Empire sub-factions have been fighting each other in various skirmishes and minor fights between armies and people. Again...So as a result the history of war and blood has caused some people to pick sides of who is right and wrong between the NA. As a result, discrimination has been running amuck against elves and beastmen alike. Some even moved out into the outside of the walls just to avoid the harassment."
So that's what is going on. Being in the countryside we didn't experience any of discrimination. At least I didn't think there was. There weren't that many beastmen or elves in Burmington but there were some and they seemed fine.
"Well, that's good to know. But how will we get a room for us to stay in while we apply for an adventurers id card?"
"I am not sure...But we might as well try other places for now and see if they are willing to give us the chance."
-10 minutes later-
"No I will not let warmongers in my tavern!"
-29 minutes-
"Why would I let a caiman have a slave in my hotel hell no..."
"B-but she isn't a slave she is a maid and-"
"I don't care if she is your sex slave caiman...get away before I call the guards."
*sighs* "Yes sir..."
We chose to walk around instead of the carriage as we needed to hold our money for elsewhere likely and spending it on the carriage was getting expensive. I held most of the luggage while she help 3 lighter bags. Carrying 5 bags is not easy but luckily they have straps for me to tie on myself.
*sigh* "I don' think we will be finding a hotel that will let us in. But we still have a lot of daylight left so I think we have time still."
"Indeed we should not give up. Let us keep searching."
-1 hour later-
We went to 3 other taverns and hotels and they all said the same thing and it was a no. God these people are starting to get on my nerves. I swear these people are just afraid about the war I guess but they shouldn't just start discriminating against us and potential customers.
"It is getting worse as people are even staring at us Coda"
"Yeah maybe it is because your an elf and I am a beast-man...odd couple with this war separating elves and beastmen alike."
We stop by this one called Lions Den. I hope we could have a place to sleep I am getting worn out carrying these bags and I bet Arla is herself. She is even sweating a bit in this heat. I am unfazed by the heat but this is getting difficult now.
"H-hello? Can we come in?" I ask nervously. We have been rejected so many times I am afraid of being rejected again.
"Yes come inside. Welcome to my humble estate. OR whatever you want to call it ahahaha!" the beastman says. He looks like a feline tiger. I have seen a few of them when I was younger been a while since I saw a fellow beastman adult with my eyes since a coma. Other than those children in Burmington.
"Can we rent a room for a while? We intend on staying for an uncertain amount of days. Please?"
"Sure thing mate, however she can't be here...elves ain't allowed after what they have done."
Damn...I had hoped for a moment. I won't say anything to him cause likely it will end the same way as it has before. I lower my head and turn around only to be stopped by a hand on my shoulder.
"Relax kid. Take a joke." he says in a serious tone " I will let you two get a room if you still want it. I can tell you and she has faced some of the discrimination recently and have low hopes."
"I am glad sir! We-we have been searching for rooms all over this part of the city and have been rejected to most of them for at least an hour. She is sweating for god sakes from all this walking and carrying bags."
"Its-it fine sir. I can handle this much longer..Just...give me some...time..." she collapse into my arms hot and tired and breathing heavily. I think we need to stop for the day.
"Thank you sir for letting us stay here. We just need a room for the two of us together."
"Sure thing. Room number five"
"Thank you" I leave some of my bags and carry Arla up the stairs into the the room number I was given. I look at the room and there are 3 beds all aligned with each other parallel. Good enough for me. I place her down on the bed and leave her there for the moment.
I am about to make my way back downstairs but suddenly walk into the tiger carrying my bags and he does it all on his own. He seems much stronger than he looks.
"Th-thank you sir! I am grateful for you help but I can take them now"
"Sure thing kid, here"
He hands them off to me and I place them into our room slowly so not to disturb Arla's slumber. She needs her rest after today and all the obligatory remarks against us.
"So kid...What with the maid...She your uhm...S word?"
"W-what? S word? define that for me please"
*sigh* "Slave"
"Hell no, I would never own a slave, especially someone amazing as Arla!"
"Well that's good to know. I don't do slave owners. But I must say it is odd to see a elf maid. Especially one that is serving a beastman."
"Well, she is helping me out on a quest if you will. A quest to become an adventurer!" I say sounding cheesy placing my hands on my hips while smiling with my teeth.
"Pffft hahahaha sure kid. Go ahead with that one. Especially in these times, adventurers are needed. Security over the city has been tight but crime has been on the rise as well. Who knows maybe I will see you fighting against thugs for a contract."
"Maybe. But for now we need some rest sir"
"Very well then. I will leave you two youngsters to yourself. She seems very nice. I would say a little to nice for my liking. Hahaha"