"AH!!!" a scream booms through the room.
I wake up eye-opening and blinded instantly by the light. I throw my head up and get dazed from the transition from sleeping to waking up to a scream throughout the hotel
I get up stumbling a bit and grab a candlestick and a weapon next to my bed. As I open the door and run down the hall I bring my arm up and look around only to just see a mess of white powder, eggs in random places, and many baking tools and bowls stranded all over the place...
They are baking, aren't they...Who did the hell screamed?
"Honey! Please stop egg raw eggs! OPEN YOUR MOUTH!" a woman yells near me
I look over to my right side and see Lula of all people trying to pry Simba's mouth open which has flowers all over his brown fur and orange-yellow-ish on his mouth. Why are they here and what time even is it?
I glance outside the window and the sun seems to be up but the air for some reason doesn't feel like "morning"
I place the candlestick on the main table and walk over to the kitchen to see a hunched-down figure sweeping some flour off the ground. They are dusty but it is not hard to tell who this brown-haired person is.
She is sweeping and I just check out the mess on the island and the counter. There is flour, eggs, bowls, sugar, and other items thrown around. If it got this messy how did I not wake up to the noise of it until now?
I check one of the bowls out more deeply and stick my finger in it to taste it. When tasting the dough it tastes like a mix of vanilla and sour lemon flavor. As I am thinking, Arla begins to stand up and I lean against the side of the island and cross both arms waiting for her to notice me.
When she does she gets startled and jumps a bit. Spilling some of the flour back on the floor.
"So..." I say gesturing to the entire kitchen as a mess.
"We uh....had an unexpected visit. She says looking behind her and seeing Lula and Simba still in an altercation. He is a strange kid. But he is a beastman so I assume he won't get food poisoning from an egg. At least I hope so.
"They decided to visit us and give us some good news. Lula and Simba both were permitted to live in the Uchida's home. Take your old room and Lara's old room. So they came here to thank us. Lara was out, and you were asleep." she says finishing her sentence
"That's it? What about all the eggs and flowers all over the place?"
"Well, they came here simply to thank us, but since she wanted to thank everyone she asked if there was much they could do while being here. I said baking so we went shopping, got some groceries, and began baking. For about 2 hours..."
"Huh..." I look around the mess and realize we will likely be cleaning this up.
"What are you guys baking if I may ask?"
"Angel food cake," Arla states wiping her hands on her apron and walking around me
I go towards Lula and Simba, who seem to still be fighting his mother for whatever is in his mouth.
"Hey...What did he put in his mouth this time?" I ask placing both hands on my hips and slanting a bit.
"Urgh! Stop being so difficult!" she throws her arms up in annoyance but stops he beings to swallow something down.
My eyes widened and I feel like they even bulge out from the concern
"Ugh," Lula states wiping her forehead with her right forearm, "he had been eating who knows how many eggs raw with the shells when I wasn't looking.
"Oh...That's a bit....well for me at least eating a raw egg with the shell still holding them is a bit gross. But I think he will be fine. His immune system is like most other races. They can drink stagnant water, more resistant to disease and poisons. Plus at times I think Arla told me that if a beastmen is physically exerting a lot of energy into something their body can overwhelm any drug effects. Quite fascinating. So I think the kid will be fine. But I..." I stop and look at him who is just standing there like an insidious antagonist from those movies. He needs to socialize like, now..."I would very much suggest that he doesn't eat things raw, as it isn't as tasty, and also maybe get him to socialize when he can in Burmington."
"Yes, I understand the first one. I want to make sure he just doesn't get hurt or sick under my care. But I will also do my best at having him socialize with other kids. Hopefully...." she says walking away back to Arla.
I look back at Simba who is just looking up at me.
"So...what are your interests kid? Do you like farming? Fighting? Reading?"
He continues to look at me as a bit of raw egg is hanging off his fur a bit near the mouth which he licks.
"You like eating?" I ask
He nods his head once and begins walking away from me back to the kitchen.
"Hm...Well, I guess that's a first"
I go back to the kitchen where Lula has a carton of eggs and she places them on her far right where Arla is to n doubt keep them away from Simba.
"Hey, Arla I gotta tell you something," I ask tapping on her shoulder and she is folding the dough.
"Yes?"
"I notice a guy put a contract on the board just before I left and it was a contract about going to Danville. Something about an escort mission or security. I hate to admit it a bit, but I'm a little bit curious about the events that took place and want to head there. But it seems you are busy so"
"Oh I uhm...I...I think you will be fine. Lara went to a gym to 'relieve' herself of some stress. But you can tell her yourself or I can when she returns."
"I will head there now. Apparently, they are in the White District. But I think I will be good. Gonna suit up and head out."
I walk away giving her a small slap on her shoulder.
*10 minutes later*
I have finished clothing myself and equipping my gear and begin to head out of the hallway seeing Arla attempting to stop Simba from eating the ladle in his mouth.
*Hours later*
My ass is cramping as I've been sitting in one position for too long in armor. I am not sure if it is because of the cushions or not, but I am blaming the cushions. Ah, to wish for a car again.
*Creak*
"Alright, here we are, White District! Make sure to have your travel book on hand. Doubt you're here casually kid."
I open the door and jump out with my armor justling a bit and clanking. I take both hands on the collar of my breastplate and adjust it. I don't think I tighten it all the way.
"By the way, kid comes here," he says gesturing to me closer.
I walk over pulling on a strap to make it more fitting for me.
"Yes?"
"Be careful around here. I have been telling anyone who is an elf or beastmen when they ask to go to a district or area that is primarily of a race that has a habit of 'not so favorable' behavior."
"I will keep that noted. Thanks."
I move away and head to Cohal Center where he wants to meet. If it is a he. I assume the elf who put the contract up there is the contractor.
As I get to the Cohal Center which is just a town square. A very clean one at that. Seems this entire square has shops against the building as well as tables where people are having what looks like tea maybe. The people here all wear clean bright clothing and colors.
I feel so out of place. I would say people are either humans or elves. Plus I am wearing armor in such a chill-looking place.
I start walking around and pull out the folded contract and re-read it again. It doesn't state anything about where specifically in this in the Cohal Center. I guess walking around wouldn't hurt.
*26 minutes*
I wonder if I'm too late and if he had placed other contracts around New Arcadia. So he might've already left. *Sigh* Well, I guess exploring this district wouldn't hurt. My time.
I walk over to a vendor which is a stall that has some jewelry and other cosmetic accessories. I gave Lara a necklace as a kid and I don't remember if she still wears it. Always wearing that damn Kimono and hiding her features.
I look around and most of them look flashy and overly "bedazzled". None is very practical for someone like her. I guess maybe Arla would like something.
"Excuse me do you need something?" someone asks me
I look up and see the stall vendor. A Tall brunette with brown eyes, and a white sundress is in front of me both arms crossed. Oh boy, I know where this is going...
"Just looking for something nice for this elf girl I know. Nothing else ma'am." I say calmly trying not to appear threatening.
"Well, look but don't touch. The moment you touch any of them you pay for it," she states.
Damn. Could be worse. I don't touch jewelry often anyways. Unless she means if I breathe on it then all hats are off and I'm running.
As I look closer I notice a necklace that is shaped like a snowflake with a single blue crystal in the center. The flame details intricately mimic a complex pattern going out from the center of it. The gem is shaped like a star. I think Arla would like that. Now what to get Lara...
As I scan again I see a necklace that is shaped like a rose and as I look deeper I can see whoever made it had put effort into detailing the petals on it giving it more texture and depth. I know Lara wears a lot of kimonos with flowers and roses are pretty. Beautiful but prickly. Just like her. I likely won't tell her the second part of that.
I gesture to the woman who is on the other side of the stall. She only eyes me a bit.
"Hey, I think I will get the rose and the snowflake one."
"She walks over to me and sees inside the display of what I am choosing and looks back at me.
"Sorry, but those are for display only. Ooooh, sorry. Maybe something else."
"Eh...Then why don't you have a display that says 'Display only' so as not to get it mixed up...
"I would've assumed you would have the intelligence to ask first and not assume that you can take everything," she says in a sour tone of voice. She really is trying to get her head turned 180 degrees...
"Ugh...You are so damn difficult" I state rubbing both eyes with annoyance
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me"
"Why you scummy dirty-" she gets cut off and footsteps appear behind me. I only glance backward slightly to see who it is.
An elf man walks over to us and is not standing next to me being maybe about 6'1, with blond hair, and blue eyes, and is wearing the same armor as the man from last night who put up a contract.
"Is there a problem here?" he asks very politely to her.
"Yes, this dirt-Ahem...This kid was becoming rowdy and was insulting me and my establishment, sir," she says confidently
He turns around and looks at me for a moment and I just stand firm in my position. I shrug my shoulders in response.
"I didn't 'insult' her and her establishment. I only said she became difficult because of the way she was addressing me during a misunderstanding."
He then looks back at her and she begins trying to put on a delicate face with the invisible sign on her face saying "I am the victim of an animalistic person save me"
"Please let us all calm down. Please forgive him and his behavior. If he has harmed your establishment I am sorry. But to make up for it I will personally purchase it myself to compensate. I will take the rose and the snowflake necklaces in the display. They are for sale, are they not?"
"Oh of course! Here give me a moment."
What...That damn lady got double standards...
"Here sir. That will be 2000 old for both."
"Thank you, ma'am. Sir,' he says turning back to me, "please come with me"
"Oh great...Lovely..."
As we walk away and I see the smug ass lady counting the bag of coins. Wanna slap the coin out of her damn hands. Make her pick it all up herself.
As I follow him with my hand on my weapon just in case we walk to what looks to be some kind of cafe. He opens the door and lets me in first. I walk in cautiously.
As I am in I notice most of these people are a bunch of different races sitting, drinking, reading, and chatting. This is the most diverse thing I have seen in this entire District.
"Please take a seat somewhere while I get us some beverages," he asks.
I turn around and find a small round table and 2 chairs that are all white. All this white glassy cleanliness is overpowering that I just want a spec of dirt to be somewhere.