'All right, Meridonia's capital should be a kilometer walk from here. Let's get a weapon and look for an easy mission that I can do.' This was Ash's strategy—since he couldn't find a guild to help him grow, he would do it alone.
Ash walked through Meridonia's road to the capital and couldn't help but compare it to Earth. 'If this was Earth, monsters would have already jumped at my throat. You can't set foot outside town so easily.'
Meridonia was one of the best places to live in Agan, at least when the comparison was about natural occurrences. It had a mild climate all year around and very fertile soil, ideal for agriculture, which was its main source of incoming.
Meridonia was responsible for half the food source of the whole Allied Kingdoms. This was both a blessing and a curse. Because for that same reason, the Sidal Empire targeted it multiple times throughout history.
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a stunning blend of deep oranges and rich reds across the sky. 'I never knew the sunset could be so beautiful,' thought Ash. 'Maybe it's because I never had time for it.'
Ash shook his head. 'Concentrate, Ash. I must get stronger quickly to support me and my brother.'
Time quickly passed. Ash could already see wood and stone houses interconnected by cobblestone streets in his vision field, but even farther away, he could see a grand wall, no smaller than the one protecting Crystalmouth from otherworld monsters. 'That should be the place where the nobles and the royal family live,' thought Ash.
Ash stopped a middle-aged woman who had a gentler appearance and asked for information. "Excuse me, lady. Do you know somewhere around here where I could buy a weapon?"
The lady smiled at him before answering. "Hello, young man. You can go to the old Geraldi's place. You just have to follow this street and then turn left. You will see his sign on top of the door."
Ash thanked and followed the middle-aged woman's instructions until he saw the sign 'Wooden Leg Blacksmith'.
'What a weird name for a blacksmith shop.' Thought Ash, puzzled.
An 'open' sign hung on the door. Ash entered and saw a variety of weapons and armor. He went to the section with weapons—he knew his financial situation better than anyone, it wouldn't allow him to afford body armor.
When he looked at the prices, he noticed that he had been too innocent. 'Forget about the armor; even the weapons are too damn expensive!' The cheapest weapon was a dagger, but it would cost him all his savings.
A resigned smile tugged on his lips. 'I thought this money could last longer, but it seems that won't be the case.'
Ash decided to talk with the clerk. Maybe he could find something cheaper. Sometimes there were disposables or inferior goods that would be discarded.
He saw an old man with grey hair but a strong build. 'That guy should be the clerk and blacksmith from the shop.'
"Excuse me, sir. Do you have cheaper weapons than those on the shelves?" Asked Ash.
The old man glanced at him and walked a few steps closer to him before saying. "Kid, I know what you are thinking, but I don't make inferior goods. An inferior weapon could cost your life in a battle. I'm sorry."
Ash noticed the sound of wood hitting wood as the clerk walked. 'Oh, so that's why the shop's name is Wooden Leg.'
"I understand, but do you have anything cheaper than 20 silver coins? Any weapon will do." Ash insisted.
The blacksmith, Geraldi, thought for a while, then said. "A customer requested a wood-cutting axe a month ago. He already paid half the price for the commitment. Since he never came to get it, you can just pay me the other half, 5 silver coins, and it's yours. What do you think?"
Ash's smile widened. "Yes, that will do, thank you!" He passed 5 silver coins to Geraldi, leaving him with 64 silver coins.
Ash left the blacksmith happily looking at his wood-cutting axe. "It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but it's a beginning. My very first weapon; should be good enough for now."
Ash was excited and forgot something important. 'Oh, I should have asked the blacksmith where the Mercenary Guild was located. Never mind, I'll just ask someone on the streets.'
Grrrble!
'Ugh, I think that is my stomach. I better find a restaurant to eat.'
Although Ash had dried rations on his backup, those would be better used in the wilderness, where he would need the most.
Ash looked around and soon found a small but cozy restaurant near the Wooden Leg Blacksmith. He went inside and found an empty chair. A waitress soon came to take his order.
"Good evening, sir. What do you wish for today?"
"Uuh. I'm from Earth, I can't eat the menu. Can you recommend me something cheap?"
The waitress left out a surprised expression at Ash's words. "Wow, from Earth? First time seeing one, I think that explains that weird thing on your shoes and back."
Ash noticed she was referring to his battered backpack and worn-out shoes. It's not that they didn't have tennis or bags here, but the styles were so different that she couldn't notice them as such.
Ash gave her a wry smile. "So, what do you recommend for a poor guy from another world to eat?"
The waitress noticed she had acted improperly because of her surprise and soon corrected herself. "Ah, I'm sorry, sir. How about the chef's special? It's only 4 copper coins, and it should be able to fill two people."
Ash nodded. He never ate any food from Agan, so he didn't have any preferences—as long as it could fill his belly and wasn't expensive, that was good enough for him.
"It'll be ready in twenty minutes at most, sir." Said the waitress before turning around and going to serve another client.
Ash glanced at the wood-cutting axe at his side, wondering if he should have tested this 'weapon' before buying it. Just then, a conversation from the table next to him caught his attention.