Squad, Soldier, Gate Guard
City of Valenwood, Main Gate
-Hmm... What did you think of the brothel I recommended?
-It wasn't that bad... But there was one high-quality whore, HAHAHAHAHA, damn! She was very beautiful...
-Don't tell me!
-Yes! I spent 5 silver coins on her.
-Brother, I can't believe it! What will you do for food this winter... Your wife will surely kill you if she finds out you spent 5 coins on a whore... I pity you, brother...
-Don't worry, man, she won't find out... I hope.
-Sigh... What boring days... Don't you think? Damn, I'd kill for a bottle of beer right now...
-Not really... Haven't you heard? According to rumors, the city's noble house is gathering people...
-For what?
-From what I've heard, it's for a plant... His daughter is sick, the city's doctors don't give her more than 2 months to live... Normally it wouldn't be a problem, Noble Agustin has like 5 wives... but undoubtedly the most beloved is his first daughter.
-What kind of illness does she have?
-I'm not sure... but they say the fever is very high, and she has some black spots on her body.
-Has he asked the church for help?
-Yes, but the priests couldn't do anything either... but they were the ones who recommended looking for this plant... it's the only salvation his daughter has right now.
-But why is he gathering so many people?
-The priests said the plant is in the mountains of Riberland... inside them...
-Huh?! Wait... do those men not want to live?
-No, but the reward for just joining the squad is 10 silver coins... it's too much money, even I was tempted but in the end, I decided it was better to keep my life, after all, I can earn the 5 silver coins in a month of work... I just have to guard the gates, a very easy job...
-Hmmm... His main daughter... I heard she was a beauty... Damn hot...
-I see you don't want to live either... If someone heard you right now your head would be hanging on a spear tomorrow.
-Hey! Unlike you, I still don't have a wife... damn, I'm in need... but I can't spend the little money I have right now...
-Why don't you join the suicide squad? If you survive you won't just earn 10 silver coins... if you come back alive you'll receive 5 more silver coins...
-No thanks, I'm better off breathing for the moment...
-Coward...
-Do you want to die?!
-Dare, bastard! I'll kill you.
-You bastards, what do you think you're doing?! You sons of bitches, I'll kill you both! Behave!
-Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!
****
Twilight Initiator, Zed, Son of Shadows, Shadow
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 3, Day ??
City of Valenwood, north of the Imperial Territory
Zed watched as the guards were hitting each other like animals... they both had rough expressions, each almost two meters tall... Why are they so tall? They're intimidating, although height isn't always the most important, it makes them much slower, or so I think, but seeing how their punches were as fast as bullets shut my mouth...
Aside from the spectacle they were putting on, Zed thought to himself... he had arrived at the main gate a few minutes ago, and when he was about to enter, he heard their conversation, 15 silver coins... that was a lot of money, in fact too much money, not even the real Zed had that amount in his hands... now he knew the value of money in this world.
It's quite simple
1 gold = 100 silver
1 silver = 100 bronze
Bronze coins are the lowest quality coins and for some reason, they are the ones most in circulation... well, they are the most moved due to the commoners, like me, I still haven't gotten used to this kind of radical hierarchy, almost at the bottom of the barrel, only below the slaves...
15 silver coins... I have no money, I'm literally worse than poor, looking at my clothes... worse than a beggar, meaning they might mistake me for one of them...
Thinking for a few moments...
-You bastards, what do you think you're doing?! You sons of bitches, I'll kill you both! Behave!
-Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!
An extremely loud shout sounded apart from the hard punches the two guards... those two bastards almost lost their souls being reprimanded by a senior officer, he had armor that looked like silver... a breastplate, pauldrons, helmet, and knee pads, he also had a mesh between his legs, and a large sword at his waist with its handle...
A strong presence... in fact, my senses are screaming at me to run away from this place...
Zed was in the shadow cast by the enormous city walls, watching intently as the two guards knelt and begged for mercy, his eyes shone, moving quickly his figure seemed to become invisible...
Without anyone noticing he entered the city easily, the reason he didn't enter earlier was, first because he wanted to finish listening to the conversation about the 15 silver coins from the guards and the second and most important... to enter people had to pay 50 bronze coins... no way, he had nothing in his pockets except a dagger and a map...
He ran at great speed and hid against a wall, sitting on the cold ground he let out a sigh, cold sweat running down his forehead, shaking his head, he breathed deeply...
-That was exhausting...
According to his calculations, he could stay in the shadows for a maximum of 20 minutes, if he exceeded that limit he would instantly faint... he had tried it, not wanting to encounter unexpected setbacks.
Raising his head, he looked around, people, many of them, walking towards the city center... beyond the thousands of houses there was another wall.
-A division?
Well, it doesn't matter for now... on the main street people were crowded, buying different things, fruits, or food... children happily playing with a stone, laughing among themselves, they seem very happy...
****
-Father... Why can't I play like the other children?
-It's a waste of time.
-It looks fun....
-Training your body is much more fun.
-I don't think it's fun to break an arm during training... It hurts a lot...
-The pain is only in your head.
-And in my arm too...