Both men came to a stop beside the woman, and the younger one quickly pulled her behind him. "State your business, sir," the older man demanded, his voice unfriendly and his expression severe. Dressed in the simple brown clothes of a commoner, with thick eyebrows and brown hair, he stood protectively in front of his family.
Why all this suspicion? Rafael thought, beginning to understand. I'm on a horse, with a sword at my side, wearing these unusual clothes. They must think I'm some noble or something… How could I be so stupid? The first guy I met already thought I was someone important. Rafael was still disoriented from the fight.
"I just want to know if Floutt City is near, that's all," Rafael replied. The family exchanged wary glances, their doubt evident.
"You just have to follow the road, and you'll be there in no time," the older man said, pointing down the path.
"Thank you. I'll be going now." Rafael didn't want to prolong the conversation, so he took one last look at them and the house before riding off. He noticed the two girls peeking at him from behind the door. What am I going to do when I reach the city? he wondered. First: find some food. Second: figure out how to get to Frederic's city.
As he traveled, Rafael spotted more houses similar to the one he had just visited. The forest began to thin, replaced by vast fields of crops where people worked tirelessly. Everyone glanced at him as he passed, but no one pointed or stared too long.
God, their lives must be hard—working all day, no wonder they look twice their age.
The houses became more frequent as Rafael advanced, and soon, he saw the outer walls of the city in the distance. A tower rose from the center, marking the city's heart.
As he drew closer, the number of people on the road increased, and the air buzzed with activity. About 100 meters from the city gates, vendors and small merchants lined the road with tents full of goods.
"Come, everyone! Three for just 9 coppers! Three for 9!" one of the vendors shouted.
"Cloths of high quality, only here! No tears! Different colors too!" another called out.
Rafael made his way through the bustling market before being stopped by four city guards. "Good afternoon, sir. May I help you?" one of them asked, his tone surprisingly polite and eager. Rafael had expected suspicion or hostility, but the guard seemed genuinely happy to see him.
No, it must be a ruse, he thought, anxiety creeping in. What if someone saw me kill Amis and reported it? No, no, that's impossible. Calm down.
"Good afternoon to you all," Rafael began, trying to steady his nerves. "I need a place with good food for now…" He hesitated, suddenly realizing he wasn't sure if restaurants or pubs even existed in this time period. "Does this city have a restaurant?" he asked, uncertain.
'Restau-what?' The four guards exchanged puzzled looks. "You mean an inn for travelers?" one of them asked.
"Yes, yes, exactly that," Rafael confirmed.
"Of course we have. If you—"
"I can take you to the best inn in this city, sir! Just say the word, and I'll lead the way," one of the guards interjected, eager to please.
Okay, they definitely aren't trying to detain or trap me, Rafael thought as he noticed the disappointed expressions on the other guards' faces. If they don't know me but are desperate to help… Do they want money? Realizing this might be the case, Rafael decided to take advantage of their eagerness. "Very well. You, lead the way to this inn you mentioned."
"It will be an honor, sir. Just follow me." The guard, younger than the others but still with a mediocre appearance, smiled broadly and beckoned for Rafael to follow.
"Fuck Wils! He stole my spot! I'll make him..." Rafael overheard one of the guards mutter angrily to the others as he and his guide walked away.
The city was vastly different from the village. The outskirts had houses made of clay and wood, but they were sturdier and better built. The main street was at least three times wider than the village paths and was paved with stone.
Hmm, it seems that only the main roads are wide and stone-paved. I can understand why—it must be expensive, time-consuming, and laborious to make these types of streets. Rafael noticed that the smaller streets branching off the main road were narrower and unpaved.
As they ventured deeper into the city, the number of people on the streets increased. Some carried goods, others worked, sold, or bought things. The sound of children laughing and helping their parents occasionally reached Rafael's ears.
Are these people really siding with the enemy? he wondered.
Let's see if I can get some information from this guard, Rafael thought.
"Beautiful city and people," he remarked. "Could you tell me about it?"
The scenery changed as they moved further in. The houses were now made of wood, with some entirely built from stone. The people seemed cleaner and wore better clothes, with colors like green, yellow, and other variations.
"Oh, is this your first time visiting our city, sir? I'm sorry for my bad manners! How should I address you, sir?" the guard blurted out, realizing he didn't even know the name of the man he was guiding.
As they passed by other guards stationed at various points, Rafael observed their well-made gambeson armor, reinforced with leather. Each carried a wooden shield and a lance.
Should I use my new name here? Better not. But what name should I use? Bob? Titus? Hmm, I'll go with Robert. It's simple and easy.
"I'm Robert, and yes, this is my first time visiting, but I'm just passing through. I won't stay long enough to meet the people or sightsee because I must go to Frederic's city."