Chapter 65

As Aaron reached a store for clothing, he was again asked not topretend as a mage when he asked for a mage robe.

Turned out, Robes were something exclusive to the mages alone. Only the mages were allowed to wear them. It was kind of a status symbol for them. It was usually taken as a symbol of a person being a mage if one was wearing it. And Aaron in his current state didn't look like one.

After a little display of magic, he was able to convince the shopkeeper that he was indeed a mage. The shop keeper did loose his colour after knowing Aaron was indeed a mage. He was very apologetic and was even willing to make the robe for free. Aaron managed to pay him after he was given a huge discount.

Aaron usually had his mother cut his hair while he was a kid. As he grew up to be a mage, he did have the luxury to ask someone to do it for him. But it was in this world that he first saw a barber running a shop. Although it was a small thing, but it showed the difference between the societies.

He felt a lot better after getting groomed. He was starting to feel like a civilized person once again. That desolate area and the forest had him start feel like a barbarian.

He had also enquired about the way to Blossom city. It was about a week away. The road to the city was considered to busy enough, so Aaron decided to forgo the carriage and use his own gates. He would ask for directions on the road.

He was much more 'adventurous' now as compared to the him before. He still got a general geist of the way.

By the time Aaron was done with all of this it was time for lunch.

Aaron went to one of the better restaurants to have food. He was hungry and was craving good food.

As he reached the door to the restaurant he was denied entry.

"We are sorry. We can't let you in. " Said the person on the door.

"I can pay for my meals. " Aaron said. He was sure enough that he could pay the bill with the gold remaining.

"It's not about paying. This place has a standard, a decorum you can say which needs to be maintained. We can't let you in being dressed like that." He pointed to the patched up clothing Aaron was wearing.

Aaron had enough of this. He was already fed up of the fancy restaurants on earth having a dress code, the same was here as well? He won't be taking it here. Here he had something which he didn't have on earth.

Power.

He just looked at the man, opened a gate and appeared right behind him.

"Are you sure you want me to leave. "

The man was shocked first, then scared.

"I.. I. ..I..... am sorry My Lord. Forgive me." "How could I dare stop you. I was just mistaken by the clothes. I should have known better. I will do anything you say."

"Don't worry. I just want to have a good meal. Point me to a table and serve me whatever is good." Aaron felt bad for the poor man. It wasn't that he did what he did on purpose. He probably acted on instructions given to him.

The cooking method of this world had indeed evolved in a different direction, but good food was good food everywhere. He had a sumptuous meal and paid for the meal once again after he was offered huge discounts.

It seemed not wearing a robe wasn't such a bad idea.

Aaron thought about what to do for the rest of the day. Going back to the association wasn't worth it. The more he talked to them, the more suspicious they would get. His best chance was to reach Blossom city. He needed that access to a library.

He had enquired, this world didn't have a system of public libraries either. Books and education still lay in the hands of the rich and mages.

One thing he did find out was that the four big families had a large sway in this world.

Jhonson, Xia, Mitr and the Oberisk were the four main mage families. The rest of the mage families were more or less inclined towards one of the four. There were rarely few free families.

The power struggle on the surface atleast looked complicated. Complicated meant good for Aaron. Maybe he could use it to his own advantage.

Staying in the desolate had changed Aaron a lot. It seemed only six months from the outside perspective, but for Aaron it was a lifetime. The free time he had allowed him to introspect his life. He realised in planning to lay a little low, he had let others push him around a little. He had stopped thinking for himself and had become too docile. Thunder king had perhaps taken advantage of this very aspect of his.

The situation there had also made him think quick on his feet and plan better.

There had been a qualitative change in Aaron. The short display at the restaurant was an example. The old Aaron would have never acted that way.

The rest of the day, he spent his time visiting the different shops this place had trying to gain more information about this world. He didn't try to pry too much about the ancient history. He tried to know about the current affairs. That's how he was able to know about the mage families. The common people didn't seem to know much about the mages. From what he could see, mages had a completely different society.

After he had got his letter of recommendation from the old man and he collected his robe. He looked for an inn.

He fell asleep early that night. He did have a lot of sleep to catch upon.

Come morning, he would be ready to leave for Blossom city.