With the sun sinking below the horizon, stretching shadows across the forest and town, I realize it's time to act. Equipped with the guard's spear held in my hand and the helmet fastened tightly on my head, I emerge from my hiding place. The strong walls of the town appear large and threatening the closer I come to them.
I cautiously advance, hugging the tree line until I reach within a few hundred meters of the gate. From this distance, I see the guards switching shifts. Perfect. The transition period means they're less attentive, more focused on their own routines than on a lone traveler approaching.
I feel my heart beating fast as I approach the gate, attempting to seem harmless. The guards talk to each other without paying much attention to me. I clear my throat and raise my hand in a friendly wave.
"Evening, traveler," one of the guards calls out, stepping forward with a lantern. "What brings you to Aldoria?"
'Aldoria,' I think, good to know the name of the town. "Good evening," I reply, keeping my voice steady. "I'm a wandering traveler, seeking work and a place to rest. My name is Quinlan."
The guard eyes me suspiciously but nods. "You're not the first opportunist migrant-wannabe we've seen today. Where are you from?"
I conjure up a rather relatable story; "I come from a small village far to the north. My older brother inherited everything, and after a big fight, I decided to leave and seek my own fortune. I've been traveling the country since then, stopping at settlements along the way. A few days ago, I was told Aldoria is a good place to find work, so I decided to try my luck."
The guard seems to accept my explanation, albeit grudgingly. "Fair enough. We could use all the help we can get. Head on in, but don't cause any trouble."
No entry fee? Unexpected.
Just then, another guard grabs my shoulder. "Excuse me, sir, my comrade is new. He used to work as a knight but got demoted for 'bad conduct.' He forgot to tell you first-time entries must pay a silver coin, which grants you a lifetime certificate of free entries. Of course, unless you become a merchant."
… I knew it was too good to be true.
"One whole silver? Isn't that too much?"
He looks at me, dissatisfied. "It is what it is, my good sir. I don't make the rules nor am I willing to bend them for you."
I nod reluctantly. "Before I pay, can you tell me how the wages are in the city? I don't want to part with a silver coin just to face harsh living conditions."
"Last I checked, a construction worker earned about 50 bronze coins for a day's work. My friend runs one such company, I can tell you the directions if you wish. He has a good name; you won't find a more fair employer."
Hauling bricks for 12 hours earns that much? I really want to ask how much bronze a silver coin is worth. I hope it's ten and not a hundred. I have an inkling it's a hundred. Though, I don't dare ask, it would instantly blow my cover.
"Can you tell me how much a loaf of bread is, a meal, and a room for a single night in an inn?" I ask, trying to gauge the currency values without sounding out of place.
He grunts unpleasantly. "A loaf is about 2 copper. A meal, 10. A room, between 10 to 30. Less if you sleep in the stables."
He's saying 10 bronze, not 1 silver- my fears are confirmed. I have 24 bronze and 2 silver coins if I pay the entrance tax. Should be enough to get by for a while.
I don't press further; guards are trained to sniff out trouble. I pay and receive my certificate. It's not a parchment but a touch on my hand. After which, I get the notification,
[Lifelong personal entrance permit to the city of Aldoria received.]
They then inform me that I only need to present my arm, and a guard will use an artifact to embed the entry permit in my system. I wondered how many people lose their certificates and pay this exorbitant entrance fee multiple times, but it seems they found a neat solution as you can't exactly lose this type of permit.
I really shouldn't underestimate the inhabitants of this world.
...
[Apologies for the shorter chapters at the beginning of the novel, I've decided to cut some content to make the story flow better while rereading the story.]