Chapter 17 - Alican Inn

Jamaal was still in amazement as they entered through the towering gates. Large birds with saddles and people upon them flying around in the sky, casting shadows down upon the village.

Despite this being just a village, the number of people and commerce that seemed to circulate here was immense, at least from what Jamaal could see.

"Be careful, despite how cheery it looks; I can say at least a quarter of these people are dangerous and run criminal gangs or are part of them. It's like that in frontier villages." Arnold spoke, causing Jamaal to look around with more detail.

Sure it was clean and looked secure and safe. Once the boy looked around at the details, there were a lot more signs of poverty in the area than previously thought. People in ragged, torn clothes, begging and crying. The alleyways stenched of rotten flesh and other horrible smells that could be identified from miles off. There were slums as well, not nearby but in the far distance, hidden by the neat and proud stone houses and inns.

In the slums, there were some collapsed buildings, some rickety old ones. There were dirty, muddy roads, rubble and trash just lying around.

This was not the haven the boy had thought it was, it was just a facade, to bring in more merchants and trade.

All of a sudden, the amazement ran out and quickly, Jamaal was now fearful and insecure. It seemed like anyone could easily rob him, after all, with crime and slums came dangerous people. Not good people who used their powers for justice but muggers that robbed and killed with experience. Murderers that hunted their prey for fun, leaving bloody, messy scenes.

Now, Jamaal didn't know what to do or say so instead he remained silent. His mood already having crashed to a low point from its original high place.

All of a sudden, everything around him had changed and Jamaal could see the true nature of Aldmore Village. It was still amazing, just not as previously thought.

"Relax, nothing will happen while I'm here," Arnold said a few minutes afterwards, noticing his silence.

Hearing the burly man speak gave some sort of calmness and relief to him. A small trickle it was, but it was nice that someone, even if it was a stranger, had his back.

"Thanks..." He let out, already knowing that his wanderer tag was going to be going through some suspicion. If he had been this... 'wanderer' he would've known all this before. However, the fact that he didn't know this would be put-down as two things. Either he lied or, he was some lucky person who survived in these areas because God helped him.

Luckily though, the man didn't start questioning him. Instead, he led Jamaal to an inn in the surrounding area.

When they arrived, Jamaal read the sign that was on top of the double doors.

'Alican Inn' was what it said, a weird name, perhaps the name of the person who owned it?

Eventually, they both got off from the mount and had a nearby stable boy who was standing by the door take the unknown creature to the nearby stables, Arnold making sure to tip him a bronze coin as he entered through the oak doors with the boy.

He nodded his head at the innkeeper that sat on a seat near the door.

"I need another room, five days and with food. I'll foot the bill myself."

Quickly, the innkeeper slid a key from a chest behind him and put away the coins Arnold had put on the desk.

A few moments later, the pair was upstairs.

"Go to your room, get settled in, it's going to be a long day for you. I have to test you and then we also have to see your results at the Amerlyn Crystal." The deep voice said, guiding Jamaal to his room before going to his own.

The boy opened the door and entered inside, walking up to the bed and sitting down on it. It was comfortable, not like how it was at home but still, decent.

The decorations in the room were substandard, to him at least. A candle on a bed-side table. A desk in the corner with a wooden chair.

There was a small painting at the head of the bed. It seemed to be of an event, a battle that occurred in history. He didn't know. Non the less, it was a decent room.

As the boy lay on the feather filled pillow, he opened up the system, his character sheet coming into view.

[Name: Jamaal

Level: 4

Class: None

Title: None

Experience: 0/200

Health: 240/240

Mana: 8/8

Stats:

Strength: 12

Agility: 9

Endurance: 7

Intelligence: 6

Stat points: 5]

[Skills:]

Fireball

"I still have five stat points huh," Jamaal thought, immediately using them.

He put one into agility, three into endurance and one into intelligence. Gradually though, as he was levelling up, he was coming to the point that the stat points he gained from just levelling up weren't going to be enough. And considering the system was an RPG system, there must be other ways to gather stat points quickly. What was left now was to figure out how to get more of them, or else he would be weak, even when at a high level.

"System, how else can you gain stat points?"

[You can gain stat points from a myriad of different ways. Completing quests and purchasing stat points are just a couple of ways of growing stronger. You can also defeat bosses and destroy dungeons. Awards from achievements can also help you with that.]

"I see. What is best for my level?" After a few moments of thinking and consideration, Jamaal decided to ask one final thing.

[Quests and awards.]

With that information, the boy began to formulate a plan.

"When does the Quest Board unlock?"

[Level 5, for the grade one Quest Board at least.]

"I see." He noted everything down in the head. With what he had gained, he should be able to grow stronger without levelling up much, though that would still be appreciated.

And with that, Jamaal was ready for the Amerlyn Crystal and the oncoming test, something he was worried about.