After his eyesight clears and he adjusts to the brightness of the day, Kazu hears a "clop, clop, clop, clop", and sees a horse with a rider walking past. He is just a few kilometers outside of a small town, or perhaps just a village.
Looking around he sees a wheat field on one side of the road and a cotton field on the other. In the distance he sees rolling hills leading up to the mountains in the far distance. Close by are some old growth trees lining the road with benches under some of them. Kazu thinks to himself, "Either everything is a little smaller here or I am a bit taller. I wonder what the people are like here, I hope they are at least a little welcoming. Looks like the crops are familiar, the air is breathable, the sun is not burning everything. So far so good."
Lost in his thoughts he did not hear the person walking up to him. "Excuse me... um... sir." the voice behind him said. As he turns to face the voice, he sees an attractive young woman In a yellow dress carrying 2 bags. She is in her early 20's, 1.63 meters tall, with light brown hair, and green eyes.
"Hello young… Madam, how can I help you?" Kazu replied.
She comes to stand in front of Kazu. She looks over at the man standing before her. He is 2.15 meters tall and muscular, but not bulky. He is dressed in new clothing, a light gray shirt under a thin brown leather jacket, black belted pants and black buckled boots. A small bag hangs from his waist belt.
"Wow you are much bigger up close. How tall are…" She shakes her head and continues. "Not important right now... Ummm... I am new to the area, I was hoping you may know of a business that is hiring, I am a seamstress by trade." She replied.
"I really wish I could help you, but I am also new to the area. I have not even stepped into town myself. To answer your unimportant question, I'm not sure how tall I am, am I above average around here?" He smiles as he continues talking. "Sooo... What brings you here, besides your feet."
She smiles at his attempt at a joke, and replies, "Just looking for work… You are the tallest person I have ever met… you are closer to orc size. Are you half orc? You have the build and height, but a kind face… and not green… so I'm gonna say, not part orc… part ogre?"
Kazu replies, "I'm a fighter, a hunter, and a researcher, but definitely not an orc or ogre. Did you have to leave your hometown, it's usually easier to find work there?"
She replies, "That's good to hear mister tall, broad shouldered, non-orc, handsome man… Yeah, okay… sorry… hometown... About a year ago my hometown was taken over by a warlord… All the men in the village were either forced to join his army... or killed as cowards if they refused to join. Those of us that remained, the women, young children and the town elders escaped before… they found a use for us... I have been traveling from town to town since then… This is the 8th town I have gone to look for work in since leaving, hopefully a tailor needs an assistant... or at least a tavern that needs a server..."
"I understand getting a job in a new place is hit or miss, usually miss. I have worked many jobs over the years." Kazu looks at the extending shadows and says, "Please walk with me, I'd enjoy the conversation as we head into town. My name is Kanada Kazu, just call me Kazu, nice to meet you." Kazu said as he gestures, indicating he would carry a bag for her, she decides to trust him and hands him a bag. "Did you lose your family to the warlord?" Kazu asks.
"Oh... It's nice to meet you too... My name is Anna Paxton, call me Anna... and no. I was lucky in that regard." She replied as she caught up to him, "Actually my "fiancé" luckily died when I was 18 due to a sickness, before I had to marry him. He was a real piece of… work… My parents passed away when I was 15… while I was delivering goods in town, bandits attacked our farm, killed them and took our livestock. At that point my legal guardian became the Mayor, and he engaged me to that… "fiancé"... While waiting to marry that…. Man, I became a seamstress' apprentice, and took care of what was left of the farm... until the warlord showed up... Ummm, do you have any family?" She looks up and puts on a fake smile.
"No, I have no family anymore, and no friends… currently you are the only person I've had a conversation with... So…" Kazu contemplates for a moment then continues talking. "I guess I can call you my friend… if you are ok with that." Kazu genuinely smiles at her.
Anna smiles back with a real smile, "You... I... Sure, you seem interesting, strong, handsome… Ummm... I have no problems with calling you my friend either. "
"Ummm... besides tailoring, do you have any other skills... like fighting… juggling… making balloon animals... magic?" Kazu asked inquisitively, hoping she was at least familiar with the concept of magic.
Anna replied, "I never really learned to fight, and I'm not sure what "jogulung" nor "balune animals" are… I do know a little magic. My flame magic is just good enough to use for a cooking fire, and my water magic is just good enough for creating water for drinking. The mayor's wife taught me what I know when I was 8, so I would not call it more than basic magic. Do you know any magic?"
Kazu replied, "I was told that I can use magic, just have not had any training yet. Can you... show me how you... make water? Like a pulse cannon, once I know how it works, I'm sure I can figure out how to do more with it."
Anna responds, "Well... not sure what that is either… but, Yes... I guess I can teach you. I've never taught anyone magic, so I hope I can teach it well enough for it to make sense."
Anna stops on the side of the road, and tries to explain to Kazu how to use magic. "The world around us is full of energy... to use magic, you have to adjust your inner energy to draw in the energy around you. The stronger your inner energy is the more you can draw in. The more you can draw in, the more you can use. The more you can use, the stronger your magic... Does that make sense?" Kazu smiles and nods. Anna continues, "Most people that can use magic are limited to 3 or less types of magic, I can use 2... Let's start with the way I was taught, put your hand on mine."
Kazu places his hand on Anna's, matching her hand's alignment, with their palms facing up.
Anna continues, "I am going to manipulate the energies in my hand, I'll probably get your hand wet... ummm... Just concentrate on feeling the energies, and not how w... ummm… not the water."
Anna and Kazu concentrate, and she begins to alter her energies to create water. Kazu concentrates on feeling the difference in the energy, and how it flows. After a few seconds he feels the energy flowing in her hand, and a thin layer of water begins collecting to his palm. He feels a slight wind swirling around his hand. While he is concentrating on the energy she is emitting, his energies suddenly align to match hers. A sudden burst of energy from his hand causes a large stream of water to fly straight up into the air, reminding him of dropping Mentes into a soda. Seconds later gravity took over and 80+ liters of water came raining down on them.
Anna, now soaked to the bone, looks over and up at Kazu, who is also soaked. "Looks like you figured it out... Now how about you learn some wind magic so you can dry us off." she says while giggling.
Kazu responds laughing, "Yeah... sorry… I was concentrating so hard on matching what you were doing, I did not think of what happens next. As soon as we matched, I thought 'is this when I create water?' Then my hand became a geyser... " He smiled at her. "Well... I think I'm gonna try your suggestion... I'm pretty sure I can figure out wind magic. Right before the geyser erupted, I felt a lot of wind hit my hand. If I'm right, wind should be the easiest magic to use. Get behind me just in case. It might get a bit windy."
Anna shrugs, then steps behind Kazu. He extends his arm, pointing towards a tree on the side of the road. As he begins concentrating, wind hits them both from all sides, pushing, or rather pulling Anna towards Kazu's hand. As she clings to Kazu's arm as he releases the gathered wind towards the tree in front of them. The wind comes out with enough force to imitate a category 3 hurricane hitting the tree. Leaves fly, branches bend, wood cracks.
Kazu thinks to himself, "Wow... that was frighteningly impressive. I was only wanting a 20kph gust, I think that was closer to 200kph. I really need to focus on control." He looks over at Anna. She has a look that switches between confusion, pride, and amusement. "Are you ok Anna?" Kazu asked.
Anna slowly responds, "That was... the single most... impressive use of magic I have ever seen... You caused wind to go to your hand... to send out wind... and a tree moved... not branches... the whole tree... leaves flew off... and I think I heard the trunk crack. You even partially dried me off... haha... "
With a smirk on his face, Kazu states, "I guess you are a better teacher than you thought… I really want to see what else I can figure out... but it's getting late. Thank you for teaching me magic. We should probably head into town before it gets too late, I really don't want to sleep in a field tonight."
Anna agrees, "A field does not sound comfortable at all." She begins to gather her bags.
Kazu asks, "Want to get together tomorrow? I'd enjoy spending more time getting to know you. I know a little about what you have been through, I know you are pretty, but I do not know the most important things to know about you. Who you are… things like what you love, what you hate, you know… what makes you you."
Anna smiles at him, "I'd enjoy that. You are an interesting man, and I'd also like to get to know you better." They finish gathering her belongings and continue heading to town, conversing as they walk. Every 100 meters they seem to learn more about each other. As Anna talks with him she keeps touching his arm, and brushing against him.
Half an hour later they are just outside the town's northern gate still laughing at Anna's latest joke. A guard stands just outside the town gate. The gate guard is 1.7 meters tall, long unwashed gray hair, wearing old armor with blue leather, and a sword on his hip.
The guard looks at the man heading to his gate, he towers a full head height over him. His attention then shifts to the woman walking next to the "giant". He smiles creepily at seeing the pretty young lady walking his direction, then turns his attention back to Kazu and scowles.
"Stop... I have never seen you two before... I'm pretty sure someone of your size would be memorable." The guard looks at Kazu scornfully, "We do not get… any people over 2 meters tall around here... So tell me, what is your reason for entry this evening?" The guard asks.
Kazu responds, "Looking for work and lodging." Realizing that the guard said meters, Kazu is a bit relieved that the measurement system here is similar enough to what he is familiar with for it to directly translate.
Guard continues questioning, "What kind of work are you looking for?"
"I am a tailor, and he is a hunter and both of us are magic users." Anna responds with a smile.
Guard smiles at Anna and asks, "Simple magic, or are we talking advanced magic? If it's advanced, you have to register at the hunters lodge, or with the guards if you are not going to be a hunter." After speaking he looks at Kazu with a scowl.
Kazu answers the guard, "I already planned to join the hunters lodge, Anna just uses it for drinking water and starting cooking fires."
The guard responds, "Alright mister... make sure you register tomorrow... I will check… The inn is just inside the gate to your right. All the other businesses, including the Hunters Lodge are closed for the night... Do not cause me, or any other guard, any trouble and we'll get along fine, understand?" Without waiting for an answer, the guard turns his attention back to Anna, smiles creepily at her then turns back to the road.
With the conversation apparently over, and Anna slightly creeped out, they make their way to the Inn. It was so close to the gate that the journey took less than a minute.
Upon entering it was abundantly clear that the tavern on the first floor of the inn was the place to be that night. Between the servers rushing around, and the patrons moving about, the whole town seemed to be here.
After a few minutes of snaking their way through the crowd, they finally reached the front desk. Looking up at Kazu, then at Anna. The startled clerk greets them, "Wow… Ummm… Hello sir, mam, will you be needing a room tonight?"
"Yes, we will need two rooms. Does the cost of the room include food, or is that a separate fee?" Kazu asks.
"Breakfast is included in your room fee, all other meals are not included. Breakfast is served till 30°after dawn." The clerk answers. "Each room has either two beds or a single large bed, which would you prefer?"
Before answering, Kazu feels a tug on his sleeve, he turns and sees Anna tugging on his sleeve. Anna is apprehensively looking down at the floor. Stepping away from the front desk and leaning down he whispers to Anna, "Are you okay?"
Anna whispers back, "The board says it's 20 coppers for a room, I only have 14 copper and some iron coins left... I can't afford to stay here."
Remembering that the god said his money was transferred into coins in the bag, Kazu reaches into his spatial bag and feels a bunch of coins. "I am not familiar with the money system around here, but I have some coins... just not sure of their values." Kazu Explains.
"Oh, how did you get the coins if you do not know how much they are worth?" Queries Anna.
"Well, I have been hunting for food, and gathering stuff I found in my travels. When my bag gets too full I sell the unwanted stuff in it. I just figured I'd learn their worth later... Plus, I have not had a reason to buy anything yet, so value was not important yet." Kazu explains, making up a plausible explanation. Anna nods, indicating that she understands, and takes a moment to explain the coinage to Kazu.
1 Iron buys 6 grams of salt
1 Iron is the lowest value coin (worth 2 yen)
100 Iron equals 1 copper coin (200 yen)
100 Copper equals 1 bronze coin (20,000 yen)
100 bronze equals 1 silver coin (2,000,000 yen)
1000 Silver equals 1 gold coin (2,000,000,000 yen)
100 gold equals 1 platinum coin (200.000.000.000 yen)
Kazu pulls out a handful of coins. They count out 6 gold coins, 1 Silver coin, 22 bronze coins, 8 copper coins and 3 iron coins. Kazu thinks to himself, "I have over 12 billion yen worth of coins, just in the few coins I pulled out of this bag. Due to the acquisition I was about to make, my Japanese bank accounts held about 21.8 trillion yen, yeah that should last me a while..."
"Wow... That's a lot of gold coins you have there" Anna whispers, "Don't let anyone know you have all that... as imposing as you are, some people might still try to rob you for it."
Kazu nods as he responds, "I'll keep that in mind... Did you want a room, I have no problem paying for yours, you did help me out a lot today."
"I appreciate it, but even If you are rich, and don't have a problem with paying for my room... I can't ask you to do that... It's just..."
Kazu interrupts, "I am offering, I know you are not expecting me to offer, but I am offering anyway. As we discussed before, you are now my friend and I do not want my only friend sleeping on a bench, or in a barn, or somewhere where you can not feel secure. I would never be able to sleep knowing you may not be safe."
Anna looks timidly at the floor once again. She then thinks about the creepy look the guard gave her, a chill runs up her spine. She looks up at Kazu and says, "If we can get the double bed room... I will agree... I would feel bad having you spend more than you need to... I feel secure around you... You have made a good impression on me... I trust you..." Her voice trails off, and her face becomes more flushed as she talks.
Kazu turns back to the clerk, "I saw you helping another customer a moment ago, do you still happen to have the two rooms we were talking about earlier?"
The clerk looks at Kazu and Anna with a smirk, "I only have the doublebed room left tonight, that last customer took the other room I had available."
"Well... I guess that answers that question Anna... looks like we will be sharing a room after all. I guess we'll take it sir... thank you." Kazu says as he hands the clerk a bronze coin, "Not sure how long I'll be in town, just let me know when you need another coin."
"Of course sir, the room is yours for 5 days." the clerk said with a smile. "The kitchen is open for a few more hours, you have plenty of time to go up to your room and relax, or bathe... each room has a bathing tub, but water, hot or cold, is a separate charge."
Anna responds with a smile, "I think we can handle the water. Um... Kazu, I am starving... I, ummm... I have not eaten today... So... Let me buy you a meal before heading to the room?"
"Absolutely Anna, I have not eaten today either, and I'm looking forward to a hot meal, and some drinks... preferably cold drinks... with alcohol." Kazu says with a smile.
Anna smiles, "Ohhh, I hope they have a good mead." she says as she scans the room for an empty table.
Kazu and Anna spend the next few hours eating, drinking and chatting. During dinner Kazu figured out how to use wind magic to cool their meads to about 10°C. Eventually, as the evening progressed, the tavern started to empty, and they decided it was time to head up to their room. While Anna was distracted he paid for the food and drinks. In her slightly inebriated state it took them a while to find room 2-1D.
After making their way to their room, still chatting and laughing with each other, they opened the door. As they entered the room, they both noticed that it is not a double bed room as they expected, it is a bed that sleeps double in the room. Kazu looked at Anna with an I didn't know look on his face.
Anna shrugged her shoulders and said, "At this point I am too drunk and tired to care... If you are good with sharing the bed with me, great... because I am going to bed, and that chair does not look comfortable at all." She moves to the bed giggling as she stumbles to the side furthest from the door.
Kazu chuckles, "I am fine with sharing, Just don't get too handsy young lady."
"Awww, is the big handsome man afraid of little ol' me?" She giggles. "I'll try my best to stay on my side of the bed... but I make no promises. Mama said I was a cuddler." Anna giggles again as she begins tugging on her dress. Kazu turns away from her, and strips down to his shorts.
While she is changing into more comfortable clothes, Kazu decides to try to magically lock the door like he saw in a book, he touches the door, sends energy into it and whispers, "cincinno ostium." The door glows slightly. Kazu slides the latch to the unlocked position and pulls, the door does not move, happy that his spell worked, he turns back towards the bed. He sees Anna has finished changing into an oversized shirt that she uses as a nightgown. He smiles at Anna as they both get into bed, one of which is more graceful than the other.
Five hours later Kazu wakes from his slumber, Anna is cuddled up to him. Her head is on his shoulder, her arm across his chest and her leg over his hips. Kazu amusedly thinks to himself, "Been a while since I was used as a body pillow, I guess her mom was right… she is a cuddler." He moves his arm that was stretched out under her head, just enough to move his hand to caress her hair. She sighs contentedly and snuggles closer. He smiles to himself and goes back to sleep.