Fuwa looked like a farm girl from a remote isolated mountain, she got surprised by so many things. They were lucky enough to use the confusion of the moment when the caravan arrived at the market and could leave without being interrogated about what they knew. But then Fuwa was curious about everything, it seems at the islands where she got summoned there were no elven, nor dwarves, she had some prejudice against hobbits, and it seems she had some funny anecdote with one. Oh, and when she saw a girl with fox ears and tails she immediately wanted to touch her tail, which earned a smash in the head by Raven.
"You pervet! Be quiet and follow me!"
Fuwa rubbed the back of her head, pouting as she followed after Raven through the bustling streets of the dungeon city "I wasn't being a pervert! I've just never seen a fox girl before! It's not my fault she looked so fluffy..." Her voice trailed off, still a bit sulky.
"Keep it together!" Raven snapped, rolling her eyes.
Fuwa stuck her tongue out at Raven but quickly fell back into step, trying to act serious, though she still occasionally stole glances at the people around them. The city was nothing like the islands she had been summoned to. Here, the mix of races and cultures felt like a whirlwind of sights and sounds, and she was having a hard time keeping her curiosity in check, meanwhile, at the islands it was a refined culture, but mostly human. At the pirate port, she didn't really had time to appreciate anything, but now she finally found herself in a fantasy-like setting.
Raven quickly led her toward a known direction for her, but stopped midtrack, causing Fuwa to bump into her.
"Hey why are we stopping?" Asked the human looking at her with curiosity.
'Damn what the hell I'm thinking, I can't bring this fool to the slums, she would be dead in no time' Raven bit her lip while thinking 'I need a new hideout... but that it's gonna cost more...' In her eyes, Fuwa was too good for a place like that, she would probably quarrel over unimportant things like saving people from getting stabbed and stuff like that "Changed my mind, this way!"
Fuwa, still rubbing the spot where she'd bumped into Raven, raised an eyebrow "Wait, where are we going now? You seemed pretty sure before"
The places near the market weren't the cheapest, but at least they were way safer than near the slums and with all those madmen running around, it would be better to avoid unnecessary danger. Raven finally decided to enter a tavern that looked decent enough. The place looked kinda new, the furniture and the painting weren't old at all, well... in a city like this new shops spawned fast since the population grew and grew with the continuous arrival of new challengers. After they sat down on a table, they realized about how tired they were.
"Hey are you gonna undo that transformation of yours?" Said Fuwa with a hint of worry in her voice "You have cast it again and again how many times till now?"
"I don't know" Admitted Raven "I lost the account already" She looked around and using the chance that one had noticed them yet she undid her Masquerade spell.
It was the precise moment because when the waiter moved towards them he felt a little confused stopping for a moment, he believed that the girl with black hair looked different, but it must have been his imagination.
"Hello ladies, welcome to this small tavern" He said in a cordial manner, Raven felt strange, none treated her like that, and thus was annoyed by it, Fuwa looked way more composed "What will you have today?"
"Two meals please" Said Fuwa.
"And beer" Said Raven.
"No beer" Said Fuwa.
Raven looked at her, she was about to complain but the human in front of her was faster.
"Juice for both of us" Fuwa said touching the table with one finger.
Raven crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at Fuwa "Juice? Seriously?"
Fuwa gave her a firm look, not backing down. "Yes, juice"
For a moment Raven wanted to run away, and this girl gave her the chills. She is the first person that has ever forced her to drink juice, but she was too tired to complain, she just wanted to sleep for hour on no end. The young guy nodded and went away to bring their order, the worst part is that he didn't judge her either, this place was too good for someone like her, but was good for someone like Fuwa.
"Wait here, I'm paying up this time, gonna ask about the rooms" Fuwa let her seat and walked toward the counter.
'Fuwa seems reliable at times like this' Then she remember her display on the market 'When she is not being a pervert trying to grab tails'
Raven shook her head, leaning back in her chair and sighing.¿ "Of all the people to get stuck with..." she muttered under her breath. She rested her elbows on the table, looking around the tavern. It really was a far cry from the shady spots she usually frequented. The atmosphere here was warm, almost cozy, with a soft murmur of conversation from the other patrons. No one seemed to notice her... or more importantly, recognize her.... and that was a small blessing.
Meanwhile, at the counter, Fuwa was chatting with the innkeeper. Raven watched her for a moment, noticing the way she smiled so easily, even in this unfamiliar place. Fuwa's naivety was both a weakness and a strange strength, she supposed. People didn't expect much trouble from someone like her. But that could change fast if they got caught up in the wrong crowd. The owner seemed to laugh at something, looks like she was making friends wherever she went. In her mind, Fuwa was someone different from the people she knew...
'Wait, maybe I'm the one that is odd?' Raven thought, the people in this place talked to themselves, but they didn't seem like they were plotting something, none looked like were going to backstab someone at any time, this was strange for Raven 'Why does everyone here look happy?'
Raven shifted uncomfortably in her seat, fidgeting with her gloves as she scanned the room. The tavern was filled with the kind of calm, content energy she found unsettling. Back in the slums, no one smiled unless they were hiding something. Every friendly gesture had an angle, every smile was a mask for a dagger. Yet here, people seemed genuinely relaxed. Happy, even.
'This can't be normal,' Raven thought, tapping her fingers on the table. 'What kind of place is this where no one's on edge?'
Her eyes darted back to Fuwa, who was still chatting away at the counter, laughing along with the innkeeper. Fuwa's carefree nature made her seem like she belonged here, in a world that was safer and more innocent. But Raven couldn't shake the feeling that it was all a facade, a false sense of security waiting to be shattered.
The waiter returned with their food and placed the two plates of stew in front of them. The smell was rich and hearty, and despite her unease, Raven's stomach growled in response. The juice was placed next to her, and she eyed it with suspicion, as if it were some foreign object meant to mock her. She took a reluctant sip, feeling the cool liquid run down her throat. It wasn't bad… just not what she was used to.
Fuwa finally returned, sitting across from Raven with a satisfied smile "I got us a good deal. One room, with two clean beds, and even breakfast included"
"What did you do?" Raven said raising an eyebrow 'What is this?'
Fuwa dug into her food enthusiastically, as if she hadn't a care in the world. "You know, this place reminds me a bit of home" she said between bites "Everyone's friendly. It feels… safe"
Raven thought about trying to debate her, but she seemed happy and was enjoying her meal, so she continued eating without fighting her ideas. They enjoyed their breakfast in silence. Somehow Fuwa silly happiness was contagious.
"Once we recover, we will look for an acquaintance I know and enter the dungeon, what you have wanted so much, didn't you travel here for that?"
Fuwa perked up with interest.
"Ooooh I forgot about it!" Said the girl.
'Why you...' Then Raven laughed.
In the end. Fuwa and Raven survived the ordeal. During the escape of the port, both took damage from debris and splinters. They endured the wasteland, and with low energy and increasing wounds, they survived the encounter with monsters while carrying a dying man. Raven tried to not think about it, but for Fuwa, it was something different, at the beginning she didn't trust the cat girl, but now she had come to respect her and understood her a little. As she saw the girl drink the juice somewhat reluctant refusing to admit it was good she smiled.