Benjamin had expected it due to the dirt road, wooden town gate, and the wall around the town made from big chunks of rock, and, well, the fantasy aspect of this world, but the town on the other side of the gates was, simply put, medieval.
A cobbled road, wooden houses, and torches of oil to aid the travelers in the pre-dawn darkness. Carriages with horses clomping their hooves eagerly to get going.
Benjamin stepped to the side since he was apparently on the wrong side of the road. The coachman waiting to get out of the town tipped his hat at Benjamin before urging his horses to move with a crack of his whip.
Hugging his coat under his arm, Benjamin walked up to the guard with the polished helmet.
"Tim?" He asked to confirm.
"That's right. Welcome to Bellinger, Vrolas. You weren't kidding, huh." Tim nodded at Benjamin's clothes after welcoming him to the town.
"Did you think I was?"
Tim shrugged and gestured for Benjamin to follow him.
"We sometimes get late arrivals who don't want to spend the city outside the town. To get in, they cook up sob stories. As part of my job, I couldn't accept what you said as the truth."
"Got it. It feels like I've had an unbelievable day or two." Benjamin looked at the expression on Tim's face. He was lucky it was an open-faced helmet. He wanted to find out how strange his story had been.
Tim nodded, both at what Benjamin had said and to the townspeople they occasionally passed by.
"Hopefully, today will be a little better. I said I was going to help you, and that I will do. Unfortunately, I can't help you find your home. I wouldn't even know where to begin, and I don't recognize your clothes. But I can help you get settled here in Bellinger, at least temporarily."
"Thank you. I don't have any money, though."
Tim waved away Benjamin's concern.
"That's why we're going to an…acquaintance of mine. They'll help you find a way to earn money. They usually have a bunch of odd jobs available. On such short notice, they're your best bet to earn enough money to sleep under a ceiling tonight."
*Sounds too good to be true.*
Benjamin had to agree with Eluzan on that.
Tim continued,
"The only point of worry is that…" But then he trailed off and stopped walking. He stopped in front of a storefront on the main street. It was one of the few stores with a glass front to show off everything inside.
It was the only store selling weapons that Benjamin had seen during their walk.
"Just be careful, okay?" Tim tapped Benjamin on the shoulder before pushing open the door to the tinkle of a bell.
"Ardan! Great to see you! Is Rick here this morning?"
"Nope."
"Okay. Well, you will do then." Tim pointed at Benjamin, who was half a step behind him.
"This is Vrolas. He's not from around here and will be staying for a little while."
"He's broke?" Ardan didn't let Tim finish.
"...Yes. Do you mind getting him something to do?" Tim asked.
Ardan stopped cleaning his fingernails with his dagger. He removed his feet from the counter and put them on the floor as he stood up. He was taller than Benjamin first thought, but he wasn't as tall as Rydell.
Ardan took a close look at Benjamin. He felt a little unnerved.
"Sure." Ardan nodded toward the door while looking at Tim, telling him to beat it.
Tim nodded.
"Good luck, Vrolas."
"Thanks for the help, Tim." Benjamin didn't look away from Ardan.
The door closed behind him with another chime of the bell. Still, the two looked at each other.
Benjamin wondered what Tim had gotten him into.
"So, what can ya' do?" Ardan asked bluntly.
Benjamin hesitated. And while he did so, Eluzan voiced his opinion,
*This guy has a good smell. Tell him you want to fight.*
"...I can take a beating." Benjamin was doubtful about Eluzan's advice, so he played it a little cooler than Eluzan wanted.
They were in a weapon store. Ardan had decent muscles and scars over his arms. He could find something related to fighting here.
Benjamin needed to learn how to fight. It was a fantasy world, after all. Their revenge aside, he needed to learn how to survive against monsters. Benjamin had yet to see any, but in a fantasy world, monsters were bound to exist.
Why else did a small town in the middle of nowhere have such thick walls if not to defend against monsters?
After several long moments of silence, Ardan grinned, sending chills down Benjamin's spine.
"Vrolas, was it? Let's see if you live up to that claim. Follow me."
Ardan stuck his dagger in the desk, something he had done many times before, based on the numerous marks in it. He then led Benjamin to the back and out of the store. They followed the town's winding streets until they ended up on the edge of town in a part that did not seem as prosperous and visitor-friendly as the main street.
The houses were a little shabbier and dirtier. There weren't as many torch holders around, and the people Benjamin saw glared at him instead of smiling and nodding.
It was the bad part of town.
Ardan stopped at a courtyard with a simple outside gym in the middle and tiny huts around the lawn.
"Grab one of the free rooms." He handed Benjamin ten copper coins. "You can find food for cheap somewhere around here. Don't ask what's it made of. Meet me at the back of the store an hour before sunset. Don't be late." Ardan left.
Benjamin looked at the ten copper coins in his hand. He looked at the huts. The doors to four out of seven were closed. He sighed and chose one of the three available ones. He threw his coat on the skeleton of a bed and laid down.
It was better than leaning against the town gate.