When their food arrived, Fiona's question became secondary.
Tyrus's stew emitted steam that hit his face while he sipped. In under a minute, his plate was empty right after he tasted the food. Not even the poor bread and cheese were spared. He emptied his mug and let out a contented sigh.
The three explorers were giving him a piercing look.
Reo smirked and whistled. "Damn kid. You must've been starving. You gobbled it up in less time than a hungry hound."
"I haven't eaten since this morning," Tyrus said meekly. "This stew is delicious, too. First time having it."
Fiona gave him a friendly tap on the shoulder. "And there'll be more on the way once we arrive at Valis–"
Tyrus launched upward, throwing the sturdy chair and mug aside. The noise was so loud that he caught the attention of everyone in the tavern. Embarrassed, he pulled the cloak tighter around him and cleaned himself up.
"We... are going to the imperial capital?"
"Well," Reo began slowly, "to earn our reward from the contract, we have to turn in the spoils at the nearest Explorer Guild branch, which is in Valis. Your portion of the reward can be earned from there. Tomorrow, Grant, Fiona, and I will look around for a carriage to catch a ride on. It'll take two days at most to reach the imperial capital."
"But if you're worried about following three strangers around, you can stay here!" Fiona hastily added on. "I'll personally make time to bring your share over to you. I don't want to force you or anything."
Her friends let out a deep sigh and smacked their foreheads in unison. Grant peered at her through his fingers. "Fiona, this is unlike you to beat around the bush. Please stop stalling and get on with it. You've been itching to ask Tyrus a question, right?"
"Alright, fine! Don't rush me, okay?" Fiona took a swig of water and faced Tyrus. "I'm just gonna give it to you straight, Tyrus. Do you have any plans to become an explorer?"
"Of course," he said without missing a beat.
"That was quick. Any reason in particular?"
Tyrus had multiple reasons to aspire to be an explorer like them. To live the life he envisioned daily, he required both strength and money. Fiona has repeatedly mentioned that members of the Explorer Guild receive benefits. In addition, they are given rewards for completing contracts, such as sil. Joining the Explorer Guild was the first step to achieving that.
Money and strength weren't the sole motivators in his mind. Apparently, the Explorer Guild was located inside the imperial capital–a place Tyrus dreamed of visiting. That dream came sooner than he anticipated. A lot of his goals were close to becoming a reality. There were numerous positive results from joining the group, and he would be dumb to pass up the opportunity. Also, he was clueless about Valis' whereabouts and lacked transportation because of insufficient information.
Despite the positives, he knew better than to get tunnel vision. He had an aversion to sharing a carriage with strangers. His skeptical nature made him mostly guarded in unfavorable conditions. There was a possibility that the explorers were kidnappers who sought vulnerable children, using a warm meal as a way to win their favor before selling them for dishonest reasons. Killing him would do nothing for them. Being a sorcerer is also something they are aware of, so it must have some value.
Even with several scenarios on his mind, Tyrus would still jump at this rare opportunity. Taking risks was necessary to improve himself. It was an arduous climb for him to escape poverty. Tyrus was sick and tired of it. The best part, however, was the magic that would gleam from Fiona. While Tyrus was uneducated, he wasn't stupid. A trove of information sat in front of him, and only a fool would turn away.
"Money and sorcery," he said with a straightened spine. "If I earn enough sil, then I can live in the imperial capital instead of a run-down shack. In Valis, I can learn more about sorcery, elements, and the world. Someone advised me to not settle for an average life, and that phrase resonated with me. Nobody would mess with me if I become powerful."
Reo snickered as he laid down his spoon. "I like the way you think. For an orphan, you sure got big goals."
"While that is great, do not let it corrupt your mind," Grant said with a frown. "Lust for power can corrupt even the purest of minds."
Fiona waved him off, chuckling. "Come on, Grant. There's no way this kid is thinking about something that dark. You think he'll be the next Mad Sorcerer? Please."
Mad Sorcerer? Who's that? Is he some terrible guy?
Grant sensed Tyrus' restlessness and reassured him. "Fiona was merely teasing. Don't worry about it."
"If you say so…"
"Good. Now, let us finish so we can rent a room and cleanse ourselves in a public bath. Walking around with a terrible odor is bad manners to those around us."
Everyone agreed and began shoveling down their food. Tyrus remained seated and listened to their conversation. Once they finished eating, they left their server with two silvery coins. As for the entire meal, it was twelve in total. Tyrus asked the group about the currency system during their walk to the residential area.
"First off," Fiona started, "you know how different countries across Dharmere have their own currency system, correct?"
"…Maybe?"
"Sil is the official currency of the Lethos Empire. There's also royal sil, and that's used mostly by–you guessed it, royalty! Or just people with a lot of money."
"I did not know that. Thank you, Fiona."
The woman grasped her heart, as if she was struck by an arrow, and rolled an arm across his shoulders. "That's the first time you called me by my name! I can tell we're going to get along just fine~"
Reo appeared by his side and pointed at Fiona. "That's your cue to run. This harpy will make your ears bleed if you aren't careful."
"Keep testing me and I will light your ass on fire."
…They sure do like to argue. They must be close friends if they're still together. Would I be like them someday?
Thinking back to the rosy-cheeked kids playing, Tyrus's heart grew heavy. He imagined himself joining the joyful group–playing games until dawn and laughing until you couldn't breathe. It's a wonder if he'd be able to make friends his age at all.
A short while later, they reached an inn situated deep within the residential area. Connected to the inn was a public bath. The inn they walked into had the layout of a tavern, but with a fireplace, paintings, and other decorations that added a homely feel to the atmosphere. An innkeeper was waiting at the front desk. Grant went ahead and paid for a one-night stay for two rooms. The males would occupy one while Fiona used the other. Tyrus didn't mind the arrangement. He would feel guilty for having them pay extra for him to sleep separately.
Upstairs, the innkeeper showed everyone their sleeping arrangements. Luckily, the rooms were right next to each other. Each room consisted of two beds, a desk, and a large chest. Grant placed his armor and armaments in the chest and finally relaxed. Now free of his load, he stretched and flexed his fatigued muscles. Tyrus and Reo watched until he was ready to bathe. Fiona was waiting near her door as they left their room. Tyrus handed her the robe she lent him.
Fiona pinched her nose and said, "Yeesh, Grant. You smell like a pile of dung. Walking around in armor must be sweaty and tiring."
"Hmph. Carrying some metal on my back is nothing."
"Alright, tough guy. Come on, let's go."
The public bath was owned by the innkeeper. It was also free for everyone who wanted to wash off the grime. They separated the bath into three compartments–a male bath, female bath, and mixed bath for families. Fiona separated from the group and happily trotted to her respective place. At the entrance of the male bath, there was a little area where a man was quietly reading. When he glanced from his book and noticed them approaching, he set it down and got straight to business.
He provided each member with their own towel, soap, and robes after finishing. He also took their smelly garments to wash later, which Tyrus appreciated. Who knew a public bath was nice enough for that? Once they received the items, the group was ushered into a new room with a fragrance of plant-based soap. The interior, made of wood, was lit by hanging lanterns. Large bins filled with clear water were arranged in a row, each separated by dividers. Next to each bin was a bowl and stool. On the floor was a small funnel that led to a hole.
The man bowed and left the group on their own. Grant and Reo had already started washing while Tyrus watched the man leave. Not wanting to lag, Tyrus took his spot and started the cleanse. First thing he did was store his hat into the storage ring. For whatever reason, no one questioned why Tyrus still carried his hat to the bath. Although it was odd, he was relieved not to have to give an explanation. They either didn't care or assumed he would remove it, eventually.
He checked for observers and then hastily used the icy water and soap to clean himself. Tyrus put on the hat as soon as he finished drying himself, shivering occasionally. Exiting the bathhouse with his robe on, he quickly made his way to the booked room and shut the door.
"Why was that more stressful than fighting goblins?"
During his bath, Tyrus stayed alert and listened for any unusual sounds. Whenever he couldn't keep his eyes open to prevent the eye stinging, he would use his acute hearing. Following that, it was a glimpse through the blinders. A clear view of his ears would mean no trip to Valis.
Exhaustion set in, causing him to wander to the bed farthest away. The white fabric and pillow beckoned Tyrus forward, and he stared at them. With a gulp, he tapped the bed gently. His palm sunk through the surface like it was as light as a cloud. He entered silently and lay down, his arms and legs spread out like a bird, gazing at the ceiling.
"So this is what it feels like. Way better than a bed of straw! I can get used to this."
The comfort was divine, and it had a pleasant scent, as though it had been washed recently. The pillow wasn't lacking behind either. If the nobles slept on beds like this, Tyrus would need to gather as much sil as possible and buy the best one. He could see himself purchasing lavish meals and residing in one of the legendary manors he's heard tales of with no financial concerns.
"What about a palace? Nah, too big. I might get lost in one. I'll start off small and work my way up."
He whistled a soft tune, thinking about good fortune blowing his way until he heard multiple footsteps approaching–probably from the explorers. Tyrus waited for their arrival, until the sound of footsteps dissipated. Soon, he heard muffled whispers from beyond the door. Just as he was getting curious and ready to leave, the door was propped open. Fiona poked her head through the cracks. She had her hair pulled back into a bun.
"Hey, Tyrus! Good thing you aren't sleeping yet. Can I talk to you for a bit? It won't take long… Probably."
With nothing better to do anyway, he nodded. She sauntered in, gave him a warm smile, and plopped herself right on the bed next to him. "Remember how I asked you if you wanted to become an explorer and you gave me a long answer?"
"I remember."
Out of nowhere, her face turned serious. "You know, becoming an explorer isn't easy in the slightest, right? I just want to be absolutely sure you're serious about it."
Tyrus returned her hardened stare and adopted a firm tone. "I became sure of myself when I first found out I could become a sorcerer. To reach my goals, then I would accept that profession in a heartbeat, even if it costs me my life."
Fiona held her gaze, looking for any doubt in his eyes. "Okay, so you are serious about this. Great! Now that I've confirmed your intentions and all that, I'll just set it straight. Join Blue Dawn alongside Grant, Reo, and I. If you do, I'll make sure you'll never regret the decision–"
"I'll join," Tyrus interjected. He sat upright and flashed a smile. "I feel like I'll learn a lot if I'm with you guys. Also, you don't seem like bad people so fa–"
This time, it was Fiona to interrupt him. She jumped forward and wrapped Tyrus in a bear hug. He immediately held his cap with a firm hand, afraid it might fall off. A moment later, her burst of happiness ended; she stood up and extended a fist.
"It's unofficial right now, but welcome to Blue Dawn, Tyrus. With an Elemental Sorcerer of your caliber, our group will surely get to the top in no time."
Grant and Reo burst in at the end of her sentence. They stood over Tyrus and joined Fiona's gesture. He rose and followed along. A strange sensation grew in his heart. He couldn't determine if it was the adrenaline, the fear of his future, or just happiness. He knew one thing for sure–they welcomed him.
For now, that was all he was satisfied with.