Leo and Liam walked to the gates and the guards opened the gate for them. They entered the castle walls and Liam looked around the place with his eyes widened.
There were a lot of people buying and selling food, weapons, potions and other stuff but he couldn't see the others since a person carrying a lot of mattresses in his arms, crashed into him. Liam fell backward and Leo caught him from behind.
"Watch where you're going!"He yelled at Liam and left.
Leo, who was holding onto Liam until he was able to balance himself, yelled back to the man.
"You were the one who was not looking! Geez...They're not so nice like their town's image."
Liam nodded and pushed himself away from Leo. He balanced back onto his feet and they walked deeper into the town. It was crowded with people and carts, which they could easily get lost like a child.
Liam held onto Leo's bag as Leo continued to go forward. The carts and the people's chattering sounds made the place so lively, it was so much different from Liam's hometown, which was always full of cursing about the dragon or some days no one came out of their houses.
He was not used to the noises but for some reason the mixture of noises made him feel at ease.
I wish my place was this lively. He thought and unknowingly his mouth formed into a smile but soon the feeling was gone when someone called him.
"Here!"Leo pulled Liam by the wrist."This way!"
Both of them squeezed through the crowds, all the people there were tall. Leo was fine with walking among them but for Liam, it was a living hell. He was squeezed in the center by the people most of the time but that's not the worst part. The worst part was that no one noticed he was coming through and blocked his path. They did see Leo but not him, which caused them a lot of trouble since Leo had to ask the people to make way for his small friend and it would happen again and again throughout their way.
When Leo stopped and pulled Liam out of the busy street, Liam gasped for air.
"Are you alright?"Leo asked, concerned about how he was gasping for air, greedily.
"Do I look fine?!"Liam yelled when he got enough air to speak."They were trying to suffocate me!"
"...You sure need to grow taller."Leo chuckled.
"Do I look like I don't know that?! I wish I was, all right?! Now...So...where is this place you wanted to bring me?"
"Oh, we're already here!"Leo told him as he pointed to the shop next to them.
"Good thing, I don't want to go back in there!"Liam said while Leo laughed.
"Let's head in!"
Leo pushed open the door and a bell rang. He stepped into the shop while Liam followed behind. He looked around the place and knew what shop it was.
There were weapons displayed on the shelves, they were colorful. All their weapons were painted with the colors of the rainbow as if all of them choose one color to make them eye-catching. Leo walked straight to a young man sitting behind a wooden counter while Liam continued to look around the weapons.
"What do you want?"The young man said in a rude tone while not betting an eye on him and continued to clean a pocket knife.
"I want a quiver, please, "Leo said, smiling while ignoring his rude tone.
"Go to the merchant next door and you'll get what you want."
"Don't you sell this kind of thing in your store? All the weapon shops sell this!"
The man looked him in the eyes and demanded him to leave.
"If you have nothing to buy then get out! Can't you see I'm busy!"
"Fine!"Leo had enough of his attitude, he turned around and walked to the door."Liam, let's go!"
Liam followed behind him and walked out of the shop.
"Do you get the...the..."
"The quiver? No."Leo sighed."He said he doesn't sell them..."
"Huh? But...don't you know where it is sold?"
"Well...usually we buy them in one go but that guy in your village sold the bow for 10 pieces of gold coin! Do you know how expensive is that?! And we haven't counted the quiver yet!"
"So what are we going to do now?"
"Merchant store, to buy your quiver. It's just next to the store. Come on."
Leo held his hand out and Liam grabbed it. They went back into the busy streets again, squeezing their way through. After a few steps into the suffering road, Leo was there.
"We're here!"He said while wiping his sweat away."Geez...there were more people than we first came here, right Liam?Liam?"
He turned around to find Liam but there was no one behind him.
Did he got lost in the crowds...Oh no!
"Liam! Where are you?!"He yelled to the crowds while the people on the streets walked past, looking at him with annoyed eyes as if he was insane.
What should I do? He's so small, how am I going to find him in a busy street full of tall people? Should I find him? I did tell him where the store is at, so...Maybe I can go buy his quiver first?
Leo walked into the merchant's shop and to the counter. He asked for a quiver and the guy gave it to him, he was a rather polite and friendly guy.
Leo walked out of the store after purchasing the quiver and trading the poison smile they fought and the deer's antlers and meat. He got a lot of money from all the trades and paid little price for the quiver.
The moment he shut the door, he turned around and saw Liam, standing in front of him.
"Oh, you're here!"Leo said, shocked that he could find his way.
"Why do you look so shocked?!"Liam yelled, angrily."You think I can't find my way here!"
"No, no, definitely not!"
"You didn't even try to find me!"
"Well, that was because there were too many people! And how do you know I didn't try looking for you?"
"I feel it!"
"...alright and here's your quiver."
Leo handed Liam the quiver and Liam stared at it with mesmerizing eyes.
"You forgive me yet? I picked the most suited design to match your bow."He said, smiling and leaning in on Liam.
Liam backed away.
"I guess so..."
Leo chuckled and Liam yelled.
"What?!"
"It's nothing. Let's go, today we won't be sleeping on hard logs. We're sleeping on beds."
Leo and Liam were able to walk side by side now as the streets were almost clear out. It was in the evening, which a lot of shops had closed down. They entered an inn with a sign of a wooden mug overflowing with beer.
The place was filled with people that don't seem to belong to this town. They were drinking and talking about their discoveries and adventures. Liam followed Leo to the counter with a young lady. She has beautiful long black hair with a flower on her ear.
"Hello," She greeted them with an elegant and lovely voice of an angel."What do you need?"
"I would like to stay here for the night."Leo requested with his usual friendly smile."Room for two, please."
"Would you like me to guide you to your room?"She asked as she pushed her hair behind her ear which revealed her gorgeous face.
"We would love that!"
"Right this way."
She walked as they followed from behind. They walked up to the third story and at the very end of the hall. She unlocked the door and pushed it open. Then, gave them the key.
"This is your room."She said with a gentle smile on her face.
The room was brightly lit with two separate beds. Liam entered while Leo tossed a gold coin to her.
"Keep the change."He said as it landed on the girl's palm.
"I wished you a good night."She said as she backed away from the door.
"Thanks!"Leo replied as he shut the door.
He turned around and Liam threw his bag onto a bed and jumped on it. He lay there and yelled.
"It's so soft!"
Leo chuckled, seeing his childlike attitude. He then walked to the other bed and placed his bag on the floor. He sat down on the bed and touched the fabric.
"It sure is soft."He said as he lay on the bed.
"So...when are we going to leave this place?"Liam asked as he turned to look at Leo.
"Huh?"
Leo sat up from his bed.
"Well, Tomorrow."
"So quick?!"
"Yup! I signed the entry paper for a day. So tomorrow morning we need to leave."
"Oh, that's what you were doing when he gave you the paper. Then...where is our next stop?"
"Ah...right.I haven't planned yet...Wait a sec, I'm going to find my map."
Leo rummaged through his bag.
"Isn't the map gone?"Liam said while Leo looked at him."You know...from the slime."
"Right! I forgot about that! Guess we have to buy a map tomorrow."Leo sighed as he zipped his bag.
"I ain't going back to that hellish street!"Liam yelled angrily while turning away from Leo, his back facing him.
"Is it that bad?"
Liam turned back and glared at him.
"I guess it is...Welp...guess I'll be going on my own. Take my bag with you when you check out."
"Huh?! You want me to take that heavy bag of yours?!"
"Well, yeah. I don't want to take my bag with me. You take care of it while I'm gone."
"But...I...You...Fine..."Liam sighed.
"Then that settles it. Good night!"
"Good night..."
Leo shut the lights and both of them fell into deep slumber.