Chapter 12

We walk along a streets of this village called ciciona when the lad says," We are near there. That's the lodge " He points to a lodge that can be seen in a distance.

It is far as I can see it. I can only see a small part of it from this distance. If that is the conception of 'near' in this world, then I do not want to know how much would 'far' mean.

We continue to walk and I am reminded by my memory that I just bought five of those fruits called crocoberry. I take out the packet and open it. After taking one crocoberry out, I give the rest to the lad.

" Why are you giving me this, sir? " He seems to be confused and baffled by me handing him the packet of fruits.

" Take one for yourself and give the rest to your family " I said, still facing and walking forward.

" No no! I could not! I could not take something like this! " He is shaking up.

"Are they poisonous? " I ask, " Let me take a bite ...."

I take a bite out of it and bloody hell. It tastes marvelous! The flavour and texture is very good, it might be the most delicious fruit I have ever had in my entire life.

" These are good. I don't think they are poisonous though ... Have them. " I continue to take a few bites of the fruit.

" But these are expensive, sir! " He says.

" Consider it as a token of gratitude for showing me around, lad. You really are one hell of a tour guide. " I keep facing forward, I am really liking this fruit, to be honest.

" Thank you for your generosity, sir. I will make sure to give them to my family when I get home. " He smiles and seems to be delighted that he got those fruits. I hope this world is filled with good people like him but ..... That's not always the case

" You are a good kid. " I pat him on his head, " Do not let anyone throw you off from your goals. " The world needs people like him.

" Yes, sir! " He is quite filled with joy.

We walk for a few minutes. Until we reach the lodge that his family owns.

" Here we are. " He welcomes me into the lodge as he holds the door open, waiting for me to get in. I step inside and .... Wow ....

" Woaaah " that just slipped from my mouth, I talked without thinking. This place looks great. It is even better than I had ever imagined. I thought it would look a bit old and would be kind of small but it is fairly big.

" What is it, sir? " The lad asks, being confused.

" Aah .... Um .. nothing, nothing. " I was left in shock when I saw this place that I zoned out. " So where should I ask for payment and all? Is there a counter or something? " I ask the lad. Well I do need to pay for me to stay here.

" Yes, sir. It's this way, please do follow me. " I do as he asks me to and follow him. He leads me to the counter and I see a woman standing behind it. She seems to be in her late 30s.

" Mother, " Laraye calls the woman behind the counter. So that is his mother, he did say his mother's family was the one running this lodge. " This sir wants to book a room " he tells his mother and points towards me. I bow my head and she does the same.

" Would you like to book a room sir? " She asks politely.

" Yes, I would like to book a room for a couple of nights. " I say that because I do not know how long I am going to be here. Since this is the only place I know and have seen, I should make the most of it and learn every single thing I can about this world, at the very least.

" We have rooms that are available with a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen. It's quite spacious if it is for one person. If you have company with you then we have other rooms with more more beds and all. " She suggests the rooms and what I get in the room.

Honestly, it does not sound so bad and having a bedroom and bathroom was enough but having a kitchen is a bonus.

Maybe they are getting me to buy such costly ones? I am not sure but by the looks of it, it might not seem so. They do not like they would do something like that but ... Then again I can't go just trusting people here.

" No, I am alone. " I don't know why but that hurt me when I said that, " I will take a one of those normal rooms. "

" Okay that should make it 30 silvers for staying a whole day, if you want food services along with that then it will be 40 silvers. If you are an adventurer on a quest then the price will rise to 60 silvers including the food services.

What?! Why is it like that? Is that not against giving them equal rights? Why do they have to pay more? Is it because they earn more or something? A lot of questions just barge its way into my head.

" Um ... If you do not mind me asking. But why is it like that? Why do adventurers have to pay more. " I ask as this is my only option of knowing the answer right now.

" No no, it's not a problem. You can go ahead and ask." She says, " It's not just this lodge that increases the price for adventurers. A lot of other places do the same and some even increase more than just 10 silvers. "

" Oh I see. Is it not rude to do so? " I ask.

I mean I would be furious if I heard about this and I was an adventurer. Is there a law that denies the adventurers equal rights or something along the lines? Are the normal civilians against people taking the profession as an adventurer?