Chapter 2: A Place to Sleep

Eventually, the end of the day arrived and I began to count my money. "One, two, three..." I counted one at a time. "Only eight... Well, if I find cheap food, then I should be able to find a place to sleep, right?" I mumbled to myself as I exited the guild.

"Is something the matter, young one?" A gentle voice came from an alley.

"Nope! Just a normal day for me!" I said truthfully as I turned to face the source of the sound. After a moment, a cloaked figure came out of the alley. This guy gives me a bad feeling.

"Red hair..." He mumbled.

"What about it?" I asked.

"Nothing." He said as he went back into the alley.

Strange, well, anyway, I need to find food... I thought as I began to walk along the road looking for any food stands that might still be open. After a while, I spotted the one I usually go to and walked up to the stand.

"Hi, miss!" I said happily as I approached her kebab stand.

"Hello, Lana, it's been a while, I was worried you might've stopped coming by." The woman said with a warm smile. She always makes me feel comfortable, though I can't quite tell why.

"It's four copper for one, right?" I asked as I pulled out four copper.

"Yep, but will you have enough to rent a room?" She asked.

"I'll be fine, besides, food is more important!" I said as I placed the copper on the ledge of the food stand. "Also, if I'm lucky, the innkeeper will discount the attic again, so it would only be four copper, of course, that's if he's still willing to put up with me..." I said as I lost a bit of my energy. Of course, last time it was five...

"Did something happen today?" She asked me as she began to make a kebab.

"I made a bit of a scene at the guild..." I admitted sheepishly. She sighed.

"So, what was it this time?" She asked.

"I wanted to take on a quest that would go deeper in the forest than usual because it had a good reward, but the desk lady said it was too dangerous..." I explained. "I begged her to let me, but I wound up getting dragged out of the guild. I suppose I should think myself lucky that I wasn't completely kicked out given my history..." I continued.

"You shouldn't take quests like that, I know you think it's worth it, but the moment you're captured by a goblin, you'll think otherwise, it's better to be safe than sorry." She said.

"Yeah, I know that, I was just hoping that maybe I could afford a bit more than usual, you know?" I said as she finished my kebab.

"How about living with me?" She asked.

"I-I could never put such a burden on you! If it's this hard for me, I couldn't imagine how hard it is for you already with four people!" I said as I attempted to deny her offer. It sounds nice, but I think it would ultimately wind up hurting us both...

"Well, if history serves, asking anymore would be fruitless, so why not let me make you another kebab?" She asked.

"I... I suppose that works." I said as I eyed the kebab in my hand and imagined what I would do with more. Just thinking about it makes me hungry... I thought as I began to eat. After I had finished I went to the inn. As I entered, the woman at the front took in a deep breath.

"Howard! That girl is back!" She yelled for the innkeeper. Every. Time. After a few moments, Howard, the woman's husband, came down.

"You skipped breakfast." He stated.

"I did." I said.

"Tell me why you skipped breakfast." He demanded with a flat tone.

"I didn't have the money." I told him. He nodded.

"Five copper for the attic." He said.

"Could I do four instead?" I asked hesitantly as I clutched my clothes a bit.

"Five." He said. Tears began to form in my eyes but I tried to hold them back.

"Okay, sorry for wasting your time." I said as I turned around to leave the inn.

"Wait!" Howard's wife said, causing me to stop mid-step. "I'm sure we can arrange something, isn't that right, dear?" She asked. Howard sighed.

"Fine, only for tonight, don't expect me to be so lenient next time." He said sternly. I turned around and quickly walked over to him, then gave him a hug.

"I'm sorry I don't have enough for five..." I said as I began to cry. I'm beginning to feel a bit light-headed... I thought to myself.

"Hurry and pay before I change my mind." He said. I released my hug grip and stepped back, then tried to wipe away my tears.

I reached my hand into my bag and pulled out my last copper pieces, then handed them to Howard. Why do I feel so weak? I wondered to myself. He took the copper as something seemed to have caught his eye.

He crouched down as he pocketed the copper, then put his hands on both sides of my head and steadied my head. "Damnit. Jen, go get her something to drink, she probably hasn't had anything all day." He said as my tears began to flow onto his hands a bit.

"Alright!" She said as she hurriedly went into the back and grabbed a cup of water. After getting the water she walked back into the entry area and handed it to Howard who then handed it to me after releasing my head from his hands.

"I-I... I can't... Afford..." I said through my tears.

"Don't worry about that, just drink it." Jen said. I nodded hesitantly, then sipped from the cup.

"Now I feel bad..." I said quietly.

"Dehydration will do that." Howard said. I shook my head.

"You already... discounted the price... And now this... I feel bad because I can't pay..." I said through my tears. "I... I'm an awful person... I can barely work and I can't even pay for things... The lady at the kebab stand even gave me an extra one for free..." I continued through the tears.

"I was wondering what was making the food taste bitter, the pipsqueak from the guild is here" A man said as he exited the dining area. "Where are your parents, anyway? Shouldn't they be preventing you from working at the guild or something?" He asked.

"Richard!" Jen spoke with an aggressive tone as I began to breathe in unsteady waves. "You may be a regular, but that doesn't mean you can be rude to other guests!" She said sternly.

"I don't mean any harm by it, it's just what we call her at the guild!" He said. Soon enough the sound of shattering pottery filled the ears of everyone in the vicinity and after a few moments, I realized I dropped the cup, spilling its contents and peppering shards of pottery around.

"I... I'm... sorry...! Really...! I am...!" I said with sincerity through my tears as I stepped back, then turned around and ran. I didn't pay attention to where I went, all I know is that I ran. Eventually, I stopped and passed out from a lack of water.