10 AM. After a lot of shouting and screaming, I was finally back on the ground, thanks to Nea. The process was something I have sealed deep inside a locker, in the furthermost closet, of the most distant room in the darkest alleys of my mind. Therefore, I can't elaborate on it.
After tidying up the campsite or whatever this site classified as, we went back to the town gates. One guard we saw yesterday was still on duty, but didn't recognize us because of how unkempt we were.
The inside of the station town was exactly what one would expect. Small buildings were placed here and there and most of the space was occupied by taverns and shops that sold traveling necessities. Deeper inside was the terminal where the trains would pass by. Many of the taverns were 2 floored and probably provided temporary lodgings for people who would only stay for a few hours. There hardly seemed to be any "houses" around, since this wasn't a place where many stayed.
"Ahh my head is killing me~" Nea complained
"Go get rooms for us, I'll get the tickets."
"Don't you dare skimp! Get us on the luxury train!"
"Hah! A merchant of my talents won't even think of traveling in anything less."
I went towards the terminal first. Many people would be on my trail by now, and if I went to any stores, then I will be damned. As much as I disliked it, getting information on the train I will take was impossible.
I walked over to the terminal, 10 minutes from the city gates. Stupidly enough, I had to buy a platform ticket before going inside and buying whatever tickets I wanted. Of course, for a merchant of my talents, something like this is even less trivial than sneezing.
In a room that peeked out from a glass pane stood the ticket counter that would get me on a train. A hole large enough to fit your hand was cut on the glass to carry out the exchanges. There was no one else around right now. I guess 11 AM isn't the right time to expect sizeable crowds.
I walked over to the counter. The blonde staff at the counter hadn't noticed me. I coughed deliberately.
"Oh- Ah! How may I help you?" said the man.
"I'll take 2 tickets for the Xeonodan Express..."
"Certainly, sir. Luxury trains need your details, so can I please ask for the names?"
My back itched. Tsk.
"Nea Alba... and Oscar Wilburn"
"Oscar... Are you sure it's not... IVAN?!"
The blonde looked up with a devilish face and thrust his hand through the glass pane. A blade of lighting emerged from his hand and lodged itself deep into my stomach.... not. I had already moved to the side.
The blonde's face was painted with surprise. What did you even expect? Not looking at your opponent? I grabbed his outstretched hand. My ankles twisted, and the momentum went to my torso as I pulled the man. His entire body rose, and he shot through the glass. The man was now in front of me, floating midair. Without losing my momentum, I unstrapped my dagger and swung its handle on his head.
A blunt hit on his forehead knocked the man out. I simply bashed him on his head, but a lot of blood fell on the floor. I didn't have enough strength to move his body, either. Damn this! I just decided against using the stores.
First things first, I went to the ticket counter and made some tickets for us. The ticket was made of special paper and used a unique stamp. The stamp would make a mark with the names in a register and that will be handed over to the trains when they reach the station... I wonder which of the names sold me out? Well, I just wrote whatever came to mind first and left.
There were still very few people around. No other train was supposed to be here before the Xeonodan Express at 8 PM.
I left the train station and walked on the roadsides, letting the air lead me. A new town, I knew nothing about, so many kinds of shops. Roads led to roads before they moved to smaller paths, then to alleys, and eventually to the deep, dark corners of the town.
In front of me was an old dry-cleaning store. I went in and was greeted by what looked like a smiling buff man. Maybe, despite seeing him, I couldn't register his face at all. I walked up to the counter and removed a bag of money wrapped in some cloth.
"Yes?" the clerk asked.
"Ah man, I spilled some red tea on this cloth."
The man took the cloth from me and felt the money inside. "Sounds rough, is it just this one cloth?"
"Yes. I don't really need it back; I have a train to catch at 8," I replied.
"Alright then, I will take the cloth off your hands, clean the stains and all."
"Thank you very much." I struck him with a thankful smile and left the store.
**
Back in front of the town, I somehow found the inn Nea got us lodgings in. That bitch, wasn't it obvious to wait for me out front? What's worse, the girl bought us a room for two! How Indecent!
I went up to the room and went inside. Nea was plopped on the bed in sleepwear. She barely lifted her head and spoke. "What took you so long?"
"I had to deal with one of your boyfriend candidates..."
"Ahh! Well, I don't think there was ever any chance you could deal with them."
"Couldn't agree more." I removed my coat and set it on the chair. On a table, there was a bowl of soup. "What's this?" I asked.
"Soup, hear it cures paramada."
"Oh, a post drink remedy? This existed?"
"I don't really think it works," she replied.
"Well, whatever." I sat down on a chair with the soup in my hands. I groaned and turned towards Nea. "Sleep while you can. The train leaves at 8... I think there'll be a ton of guys for you to choose from."