[Aisy's POV]
We stood before the entrance of Hushvil followed by a large gate and surrounded by guards. We reached there because of the intel my skeleton falcons had given me.
As it said, there was no sign of Silver or Erio. However, they did notice one caravan driving in a ridiculous speed, of course, fleeing away. And that was our only hint. Quiet reasonably, my first assumption was that an enemy had ambushed us.
Which was plausible so I thought a lot before actually deciding to move to Hushvil. It didn't seem safe at all. But well, here we are.
As we stood before the gate two middle aged guards descended from the gate's tower and came to interrogate us.
"Who are you two?"
As I prepared for no concrete answer, to my surprise the Brave spoke up for me.
"Merchants, from the Liveland."
To this they looked with a mocking face as though declaring their hate to the people of Liveland. Well, it seemed a little logical to me. After hearing about the different privileges someone from Liveland gets, say education or even allowance to there at times, their hate towards the head of the country seemed really obvious.
"You two are too young to be merchants."
"Not really," said the Brave.
With that done, the guards moved aside and let us enter through not even caring about what might be inside our caravan and thus giving it a check. I mean, not that it would be a problem to us.
The guards were just stupidly lazy.
The environment of Hushvil was, lively. I could bet if Silver was here, he would boast how apparently 'symmetrical' this city is. People were moving around, everyone minding their own business. Children were playing. Both men and women crowding up in places to have a chat. There was such a lively feel to the city.
The Brave and I walked until we found an inn to stay for the day. Silver had left me with the three thousand and some coins before simply disappearing. Well, the Brave said he was a merchant. I didn't.
I decided to sign up for the guild in this city. Uh... Quiet hoping that I won't come around as someone suspicious. And then we will begin our investigation to search my fellow hopeless heroes....
The inn was two floored, and there was a garage right underneath it where we could keep the caravan. Just as we stood before the inn and an old man hurriedly came out and sort of shouted, "Welcome to the Front Hushvil inn!"
"Can we stay here for a... 7 days?"
"Of course, of course. Just come in."
Poor man, I could tell that he had no real customers for a long time. We parked the caravan in that garage and had it locked. Then as we entered the inn, the first floor appeared to be a complete bar. In fact, he actually did have quiet a few customers. Around ten I assume?
Seeing me enter, all of them turned their faces to me, which was very embarrassing. The Brave looked them face to face as if already suspecting the enemy from among them until we reached the second floor. Two beds, and two separate rooms. Do we take both or one depended on the price, frankly.
"About the price-"
"We take the lowest rent price in all of Hushvil!! Uh... So.. For one room and for a week we would take... 100 coins."
'Huh?' I told myself. That was far lower than I expected.
"100! This old broken house doesn't get more than 50, get your price right old man!" the Brave protested immediately. Well of course, I had no idea how prices go in this world. Excluding books, I had no good knowledge for other products even in my real world...
"50! That's too low kid. Listen, you are our first renter in a month. So we will lower it. 80. Final deal."
"50 I said! Or we are out!"
Like that, the bargaining heated up for a long while and at last the owner accepted his pure defeat with we having to give 60 only.
I wondered though, didn't 3500 coins make us really rich in that case?
With that done and the defeated inn owner taking his leave, I entered my room and the Brave entered his.
Like he said, it was old, made with poor wooden materials but it was okay to me. I was just simply happy to get a bed after three damn days...
Somehow though, I couldn't fall asleep as my back touched the bed. Not that I was supposed to. It would be stupid to fall asleep at that moment. But knowing myself, I would definitely suffer from deep sleepiness.
That didn't happen. Various thoughts rounded up in my head. Mostly concerning our future routes. Where exactly do I find Silver? And Erio?
Well, it may sound rude but why did I need to find them? Being a necromancer wasn't it only recommended that I fight alone till I become ridiculously powerful or something?
No, I was afraid.
Afraid of being alone. There was the Brave who only made me hurry to start finding Silver. As of course, the Face, for whatever the reason recommended him for Silver.
'Bam!' The Brave suddenly shut opened my door as I stared at him, irritated. Didn't he know entering a woman's room without her permission is... Wait.. Oh no. Or was it something normal in this world!
***
[The Brave's POV]
It was my second time coming to Hushvil. I still had faint memories of the time I once came here with my father when I was around six. The scenery was so similar that it at places gave me deja vu.
Aisy, who I was with at that moment, was well, great. And she was a necromancer! Literally! Could you believe it? Nothing dies before her. Even thinking about acquiring the same powers as her gave me goosebumps but sigh. A hero, she is. And I was no royalty that I could learn her skills.
Sometimes... I wonder. Was this obvious difference in the status of a Hero and a common person.. Necessary?
Well, doesn't matter. My problem was how I still had no idea what skill had the Face given me. I tried everything from uttering spells to doing weird moves. Nothing seemed to work so I left it on the future. Perhaps, the situation will subject me to learn it someday. Hopefully soon enough.
We had entered the inn. And I remember bargaining with the inn owner on the very first day. How dare he want a whole hundred coins! How very callous of him. In Antarah, average inn prices never extended over forty coins. And Hushvil be far richer than my village but that doesn't mean he could demand a whole hundred coins!
Sigh.
At last, he still made us pay 60 coins. Had Aisy supported me in the bargain, maybe he would lower the price further. Of course, those simpy inn owners couldn't possibly refuse a girl like Aisy's offer!
That said, she was like three or four years older than me. She was very pretty, let me tell you. For that reason, I sometimes have trouble to converse with her, I am pretty shy actually.
Whatever, I have zero chance with her... Mehhh.
NO! I am the Brave what weird things am I thinking, No!
I am the Brave! I have to find Silver and then go forth on a journey together to slay the evil demon king! Yes!
Aisy asked me quite a couple of times if the Face stated a particular reason as to why He chose me to with Silver. I had no idea. Neither had I the courage to ask it before the Face. But he did give me some hints. Which I figured, could possibly mean that Silver... He was... Nah, that's only some assumption.
Whatever, I entered my room in the inn and as I expected it was as old as I thought. Roofs were broken and any rain would flood me. Broken walls too, here and there, I sighed. That was the only inn with a garage we could find afterall. I sat on my bed. It had been a real while since the Festival of Rebirth.
So many absurd things happened. I didn't expect the Heroes to appear within my very lifetime. It is said that it itself is a blessing? Why, I don't know. Since we always contain the fear of the mythical, unstoppable... Demon Invasion.
Gosh.
I don't like to ponder about the past. As it will never come again.
I laid myself on the bed. Tired and gruesome. There was a broken desk near the bed. I only curiously opened it's desk and it was so damn hard. Only if it was as soft as foam....
And to my shock, the desk lock began to melt down. I watched with pure confusion. "What the hell?"
I blinked to reassure myself that it was actually happening. Then I touched the desk itself, and hoped if it was a liquid silly matter.
Well of course, it didn't work.
Who cares!
All of a sudden I had a hint to what my actual power could be. I descended from my bed and ran straight to the room of Aisy to tell her about it. And I broke open the door! Aisy! She has to hear it out!
But oops.
I couldn't speak a word to her. I tell you! Those eyes of her looked more dangerous than Silver's Crystal Eyes. Trust me! It literally felt like she would then come to kill me!