Just a little further, he thought, forcing himself onward. Doesn't matter how I look. I'll figure the rest out once I get there.
As he neared two guards materialized at the town's perimeter, blocking Vex's way with outstretched palms. They spoke, but their words were a garbled mess—like the squawking of birds.
"Uh, hello," Vex said, forcing a smile. He gestured to himself, then to the town. "I come in peace?"
The guards exchanged perplexed glances. The taller one barked something, his brow furrowed as he scrutinized Vex’s ragged appearance.
Vex ran a hand through his hair, immediately regretting it as his fingers caught in tangled knots. Great first impression. They probably think I'm a vagrant. Which... might not be inaccurate.
Thinking fast, Vex pressed his palms together and bowed—hoping to show humility. The guards only looked more perplexed.
Language barrier. Dirtiness barrier. At least they appear to be human.
The shorter guard murmured something, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Vex’s heart thumped. Come on, guys. Harmless. Just a lost, smelly puppy looking for a warm hearth. And a bath. Definitely need a bath.
After a tense exchange, the taller guard sighed, shaking his head. He said something to his companion, then gestured Vex forward with a curt nod.
Vex blinked. "Wait—seriously? I can go in?" He pointed to himself, then the town, voice hopeful.
The taller guard rolled his eyes and mimed walking.
Yep, clear enough. Relief surged through Vex. "Thank you!"
Blank stares.
The shorter guard waved him along, looking distinctly done with the interaction. Right. Quit while I’m ahead. Vex gave a final, exaggerated bow and hurried past before they changed their minds.
To his surprise, the taller guard fell into step beside him.
"Oh, a personal escort? I'm honored." Vex grinned. Or making sure I don’t pickpocket someone within the first five minutes.
Regardless, as they walked through the bustling streets, excitement flickered beneath his exhaustion. New place, new start… and hopefully, new clothes.
The streets pulsed with life. Market stalls overflowed with exotic fruits, bolts of shimmering fabric, and glittering trinkets. Vendors shouted over each other, their melodic language lost on Vex but strangely enchanting.
If only I knew what they were saying… He eyed a stand laden with golden-brown pastries. His stomach growled in response.
As if reading his thoughts, the guard—his escort? Babysitter?—glanced at him and nodded reassuringly. A silent you’ll get your bearings soon enough.
Vex offered a lopsided smile. I hope so. Waking up in a fantasy world with zero context isn’t exactly in my skillset.
They turned a corner, and Vex nearly tripped over his own feet. Before him, the harbor stretched out like something from a painting. Deep blue waves lapped against the docks where ships bobbed gently, their sails snapping in the salty breeze. Seagulls wheeled above, crying out against the cloudless sky.
Okay. I could get used to this.
Vex turned to his guard, ready to express his awe, but the man only gestured ahead, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Right. No sightseeing for the filthy vagrant. Got it.
It wasn’t until the guard stopped in front of a stone building, steam billowing from its open doorway, that Vex realized he had been steadily led throughout the city to this specific location. A squat, balding man inside scowled at them, arms crossed.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
He barked something at the guard, who responded calmly. Their voices rose in heated debate until the guard finally pointed at a wooden sign.
Vex squinted. Are those… prices?
Pretending to be fishing through his pockets, Vex produced a handful of mismatched copper and silver coins. He held them out uncertainly.
The bathhouse owner’s eyes widened. He jabbed a finger at the silver coins, then held up five fingers.
The guard shook their head, pointing at the copper ones, then back at the sign.
Normally, baths would only cost a few copper. Got it.
Deciding to not push the issue, Vex counted out the silver, handing it over. The bathhouse owner gave a curt nod. The guard—who Vex now realized was actually looking out for him—clapped his shoulder.
"Xièxiè," he said, then nudged Vex inside.
Steam swallowed him whole. A large pool gleamed invitingly under lantern light. Peeling off his rags, Vex sank into the delicious warmth with a groan, scrubbing away layers of grime. A bar of soap appeared beside him, courtesy of an attendant. He lathered liberally, relishing the clean sensation.
Money still talks in this world. That’s comforting.
Dunking his head, he let himself float, momentarily forgetting his predicament.
Clean, barely clothed in his rags, and feeling almost human, Vex stepped back into the streets. His guard—who he now mentally dubbed Sergeant Babysitter—led him back through the city to a tailor’s shop.
The tailor, a reedy man, eyed Vex before yanking out tunics, trousers, and cloaks, holding them against him in quick succession.
Vex blinked at the prices, surprised at how affordable everything was. Grinning, he eagerly pointed to different fabrics, clearly enjoying the novelty of choosing his own clothes. The guard, however, simply grabbed a plain white tunic and dark trousers, his expression leaving no room for debate.
Without hesitation, Vex counted out the silver. After the exchange was complete, he changed behind a screen, marveling at how well his new clothes fit.
Stepping out, the guard gave an approving nod and clapped him on the shoulder. A small, ridiculous thrill of relief surged through Vex.
At least I don’t look like a lost vagrant anymore. That’s progress.
Their next stop was a bookshop. The scent of parchment and ink wrapped around Vex like a comforting blanket. As Vex stepped inside, his escort immediately engaged in conversation with the elderly man behind the counter. Their words, still indecipherable to Vex, flowed back and forth with the ease of familiarity. Vex could only stand there, shifting his weight, waiting for some clue as to why they'd come here.
The old man eventually nodded and shuffled behind the counter, retrieving a small stack of books. He placed them down in front of Vex, tapping the covers one by one as if explaining something important.
Curious, Vex reached out and activated his Identify skill. A translucent overlay flickered into view over the books, displaying their properties:
Basic Language Primer: Elandrian (+1 Language Skill)
Intermediate Elandrian: Patterns and Structure (+2 Language Skill)
Mastery of Elandrian: A Linguistic Approach (+3 Language Skill)
Vex raised an eyebrow. Skill books? That’s a thing here? He pulled out a few coins—one copper, one silver, and one gold—and pointed at each book in turn. The old man studied him for a moment before tapping the counter and holding up a closed fist for the first book. For the second book, the shopkeeper tapped on the silver and flashed all of his fingers three times in succession at Vex. Finally, the shopkeeper tapped on the gold and held up two fingers while pointing at the third book.
Vex exhaled. Figures the good one costs a fortune. He took a moment to consider his options, then scooped up his coins and exchanged what he had for two gold pieces from the guild vault. Firmly placing them on the counter, he met the shopkeeper’s gaze with determination. If mastering the language was the key to surviving here, then this was an investment he wasn’t going to skimp on.
The old man gave a slow, knowing nod and slid the most expensive book toward Vex. With a reverent touch, Vex picked it up, feeling the faint hum of magic within its pages. He glanced up, only to find both the guard and the shopkeeper watching him expectantly. A moment passed before realization dawned—they were waiting for him to open it.
Furrowing his brow, Vex carefully flipped the cover open. Instantly, a glowing prompt appeared before his eyes:
Would you like to use 'Mastery of Elandrian: A Linguistic Approach' (+3 Language Skill)?
Vex didn't hesitate. He selected 'Yes,' and immediately a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred for a split second as unfamiliar words and grammatical structures slotted into his mind, filling in gaps where nothing had existed before. It was a strange, almost invasive sensation, like a skill being forcibly uploaded into his brain. He swayed slightly, gripping the counter to steady himself.
As the haze cleared, the sounds of the shop—the murmured conversation between the guard and the shopkeeper, the distant chatter of people outside—shifted from meaningless noise into something recognizable. Not entirely fluent, but far, far clearer than before.
Vex exhaled slowly, blinking in awe. That... was intense. He blinked a few times, then muttered under his breath, "I know kung fu. Wait, no I don't! Why would I say that?"
After an awkward pause, he blurted out, "Uh… thanks?" Then, realizing that probably wasn’t quite right, he hastily bowed, hoping to cover his uncertainty.
The guard clapped Vex on the shoulder and said something to the shopkeeper—words Vex only half understood but took to mean something along the lines of 'He's your problem now.' Without another word, the guard turned and strode out of the shop, leaving Vex alone with the elderly man.
Before Vex could react, the shopkeeper grabbed him firmly by the arm and led him outside. The old man pointed at a bench near the shop's entrance and said, with an air of finality, 'Stay.'
Vex blinked at him, then at the bench, then back at the shopkeeper. 'Uh… thanks?' he tried, hesitantly lowering himself onto the seat. The shopkeeper simply nodded in approval before heading back inside, leaving Vex to sit and process everything that had just happened.