After a ten minute ride, the two got off at a large plaza. In front of them were multiple huge boards with hundreds of papers posted on them. A few people were directly staring at the boards while many others walked by.
The two walked to a nearby board, which held several dozen papers and signs.
Kevin scanned them. His Yankish studies allowed him to read them on his own, but gaps in his understanding meant he had to ask Clay to clarify whenever he got confused. At the very least, Kevin could clearly understand the numbers on the posters, which usually specified the monetary rewards for completing the tasks. The jobs offered were a mix of the mundane, dangerous and bizarre.
They ranged from simple odd jobs such as delivering packages, finding lost pets, and cleaning, to more complex and dangerous tasks such as an escort through dangerous areas, guarding positions, finding rare items and materials, some even explicitly stated the need for weapons, and combat skills. intriguingly there were a few posters which didn't have tasks on them simply having addresses, a time, and a date along with some sort of symbol.
Kevin turned to Clay and asked, "What are those for?" pointing to a blank poster with an address and date.
Clay examined it. "Those are for more discreet requests. If a person has a specific job or a request, they don't want the general public to know about they will set up a poster like this. Usually they're either very illegal or very embarrassing, so I'd stay away from those. It's up to whoever posted it if they want to hire you or not and there's no guarantee that it will be safe."
Kevin nodded and went back to scanning the board. His eye caught a row of posters with sketches of faces on them, each having a number next to them.
"Are those bounties for criminals?"
"Yes, I wouldn't waste my time, but who knows, maybe an angel will bless you"
Kevin looked back at the posters. Most of the sketches were mediocre, but some were detailed, and lifelike. One that caught his eye was that of a handsome man with short hair, a chiseled stubbled face, and a scar on his right cheek. On top of his face was the name "Death Andarsun." Below the sketch were words which read in Yankish "Wanted dead Reward: 1000 gold dollars, Contact: Federal Office of Bounties."
He internally shuddered, thinking of the unimaginable crimes he must have committed to warrant such a huge bounty. The posters to the left and right only offered 50 and 40 silver dollars respectively for their criminals. Staying for a few minutes, he noticed that many of the people who came to the bounty board wrote on their own notepads and books when they had decided on jobs to take. People who finished a job and collected the rewards would come back and take down posters of the jobs they had completed. After another ten minutes, Clay asked, "Are you ready to leave?"
Kevin nodded, "Yeah, let's go"
As the two left the bounty board, Kevin asked, "How far is the University from here by foot?"
Clay replied, "Around 20 minutes. Why?"
"I want to walk back to learn the way here from the campus"
Being able to travel without a babysitter holding my hand every step of the way is also an extra perk.
Clay shrugged, "Go ahead if you want, just follow the road and make a left at Flagler street. Once you get to West Flagler, head down until you see the university gates."
With a smile on his face, Kevin started walking, stopping 30 seconds later when he realized Clay hadn't come with him.
Turning back, he saw Clay standing still, watching him.
"Aren't you coming!?"
"I never said I'd walk with you."
Kevin was taken aback. Looking back and forth between Clay and the street, he felt a sudden sense of vulnerability, as if he were a fish out of water, alone and exposed.
Clay chuckled and continued, "Don't worry, the streets are pretty safe. Just keep your money and valuables close, and try not to talk to anyone!"
Kevin hesitated, wondering if he should just walk back to Clay and ride a carriage with him. He didn't know the city well, and without Clay, if he got lost, he likely wouldn't be able to communicate with anyone for help. At the university, Dyson and his assistants were always there to guide him, but here, Kevin had no one. He took a step towards Clay. Then another. Then a few more.
Then he stopped.
The whole reason he'd come to the bounty board was to explore and learn how to reduce his dependence on the University of Myami and its associates. This was a chance to do that. How could he ever be independent if he turned around and ran back to Clay at the slightest problem? If he had to ask for Dyson's permission to do every little thing? How could he ever leave the place which fed, clothed, and sheltered him in this new strange world if he couldn't do this?
He steeled himself and waved to Clay before turning around and walking away.
As Kevin walked out of sight, Clay's heart sank in horror. He'd gone too far, he was only joking when he said he wouldn't come with Kevin. He didn't think the guy would actually go off alone.
Clay chased after Kevin, running faster than he had in a long time.
After a minute, he caught up to Kevin and grabbed his arm, causing him to stop and turn around, a look of confusion on his face.
Out of breath and gasping for air, Clay said, "I'm sorry. That was a joke. I'll walk with you."
Kevin had a complex look on his face. He was a little disappointed, but also internally relived. As the two walked back to campus, Kevin took special care to memorize the route, noting the buildings and names of streets along the way.
They reached the university gates around seven and were let in by a guard. The two parted ways and Kevin headed back to his dorm, where he lay in his bed.
It had been a long and productive day, and Kevin was eager for the next one. As the day came to a close, the clouds gathered in the sky finally let down heavy rain. Kevin watched as the rain fell outside his window.
The rain was loud and rhythmic, and created a soothing sound that made Kevin sleepy, but his mind was racing with too many thoughts for him to succumb to sleep just yet. Through the rainfall, he heard the sound of sweeping outside his dorm room. Kevin got up and opened his door, seeing Carmita, wearing her black dress and apron, sweeping the hallway, while singing a song in Myamian.
When she saw Kevin exit his room, she beamed and said, "Good morning!"
Kevin scowled
The scoundrel who taught you Yankish needs to be given a beating.
Politely nodding, Kevin decided to practice his Yankish with Carmita before heading to bed.
He closed his door and said "Who teach you Yankish?"
She shook her head. "Good try. It's who taught you Yankish. Not who teach you? You should say: Who taught you Yankish?"
Kevin rolled his eyes and said, "Who taught you Yankish?"
"I taught myself it hard so no give up ok."
Kevin gave a wry smile and said, "Thank you. Do you have advice?"
Carmita replied, "If you want to get better at Yankish practice as much as possible. Try to listen to conversations and read books. Talk with the staff and other students. You should no be scared ask question"
"How long it take you to learn?"
Carmita smiled and said, "You are making a lot of progress. As long as you keep practicing, you'll master it in a few months. It take me hard year to learn and I no smart. You should have no problem."
Is your Yankish bipolar? One second you sound like you're a native speaker, the next you're barely comprehensible.
The two continued their conversation for a while, Carmita giving tips and correcting Kevin's mistakes as he spoke.
After conversing for an hour, Kevin retired to his dorm and changed his clothes. Kevin then lay in his bed, listening to the rainfall, his eyes closed, his body relaxed.
His heart grew heavy as he thought of his old family and friends.
He hadn't expected to be frozen this long and now they were all gone, taken by the dust of history.
Now he had no one to confide in and no one who actually understood him.
Kevin tried not to dwell on it. Tomorrow he'd try his hand at taking on a job at the bounty board and for that he'd need plenty of sleep.
As he tried to sleep, he felt water build up beneath his eyes, but paid no mind to it and soon drifted off to sleep.
Under the pouring rain, no one could hear his breathing, no one heard the plotting of the wicked, nor could anyone hear the screams of twisted souls lurking in the depths of the city.
All were veiled by the blanket of heavy rain.