Chapter 3 - Recognized

I reached the city gates early enough in the morning to catch most of the traffic going inside. Listening to the people speaking around me, I also learned its name: Korvar. They were mostly local farmers herding livestock or peddlers of this particular region, dragging their carts into the city. And, of course, the mixture of mercenaries and adventurers. I tried not to look too much, only scanning them, seeing some of them wearing light armor, but not one with bulky plates or a knight-like setup. However, what I did notice was that all of them were loaded with pouches and potions on bandoliers or belts—all of them filing toward the entrance of the city. Above the gate, I noticed the large banner stamped with a black raven, wings spread in a stark silhouette, most likely either the kingdom's crest or the city's. Not that it mattered, but it matched the emblem on the guards' tabards, marking them as the city's guard force.

I caught a few curious glances as I fell into line, but most people were too busy to pay attention to a youngster. Good for me, the last thing I wanted was attention, so I waited for my turn. When I stopped before the guards, I was a bit unsure what to do, but thankfully, I didn't need to stand there like a suspicious idiot, waiting for something to happen. One of them, a stern-faced man with tanned skin, gave me a quick once-over.

"State your name and business," he ordered, his eyes flicking to the battered short sword at my side.

"I––" My heartbeat fluttered, but I caught myself as my voice cracked. I'm an adventurer, right? That should count to something, so slowly, I held up my left wrist, revealing the small metal plate on my bronze-colored bracelet. "Auriel," I said, forcing confidence into my voice. "Bronze-tier. I'm… returning from a job."

"Welcome back, Bronze-tier," the guard said in a practiced monotone voice, looking at the bracelet, confirming my name on it, though I didn't miss the slight eyebrow twitch at my ragged attire. "Guild membership covers your toll. Don't cause trouble in the city."

"Sure," I murmured, stepping past. No other questions were asked. They were even ushering me out of the way. The tension in my shoulders eased a little, but a new wave of uncertainty replaced it... now what?

Inside the walls, Korvar teemed with life, more than I expected. Men and women jostled around market stalls, some of them hawking vegetables or bread, others offering brews or hand-made tools. As I walked the streets, I noticed how smoke rose from a blacksmith's forge in the Artisan Quarter, the apprentices already at work, forging swords from the looks of it. After taking a few turns, I ended up at the main square; at least, I guess it was the main square. It was already full; street vendors sold skewers of spicy meat, reminding me how little I'd eaten, causing my stomach to growl at me the moment their smell reached my nose. But rather than slow down to sample the local fare, I wandered toward the main square, trying to get my bearings. I had way too little funds on me... I had to be thoughtful about how to spend it. Hell, I don't even know the prices yet, what is expensive and what isn't!

Still, even though I'd never been here—unless I counted the faint half-memories belonging to the other Auriel—I felt an odd sense of familiarity. Probably because of the other cities my previous self did visit. The city's stone-paved streets and squat, thick-walled buildings were of a familiar style. But for me, when I shook out my other self's feelings, it was nothing like the modern world I'd left behind. It looked... alien. The juxtaposition between these two feelings made me absent-minded, and probably that is why I failed to pick up on the fact that I was noticed.

I'd barely made it five steps when a voice called my name.

"Auriel! Hey!"

Hearing my name called, I turned to see a tall, lightly armored man with cropped brown hair approaching, his stride quickly closing the distance between us. He wore a light leather jerkin decorated with a small raven crest, and a short sword clattered beside him, strapped to his belt. From the way his gaze flicked across me, I guessed he was assessing injuries or danger—standard adventurer reflexes...

"Uh, can I help you?" I asked, a bit guarded, knowing that it was the stupidest thing to say, but it had already left my lips. Damn it. My nerves were getting the better of me!

"..." The man's eyes narrowed at once, looking over me once again, now even taking in more details, especially of my face. "Damn, you look rough. You are Auriel... Are you not? I still remember your face... From the caravan that was due yesterday? The one carrying… special cargo?"

"..." I felt a chill run down my spine. This had to be the contact the other Auriel's group was supposed to meet. Damn... I managed to find the place we were heading to? Great! Just my luck. "There… was an attack," I said slowly. "Bandits hit us in the forest. Everyone else…"

"Dead?" he demanded, his face hardening, one hand resting on his sword.

"Y-yes." I nodded, noticing the change instantly. "I'm the only one who got out. And I'm not even sure how."

"Fuck..." The man cursed under his breath. "They were supposed to check in here, safe and sound! Now you show up alone—no wagons, no cargo, no others?"

"I was lucky..." I answered while my body tensed, wondering if he was about to accuse me of deserting or theft. Instead, he let out a frustrated sigh.

"Come on," he said, grabbing me by the arm. "We need to take this to the Guild. You realize the local branch was responsible for coordinating that caravan's defense?"

"I… guessed," I managed to mumble, stumbling as he pulled me along. His grip was painful... and strong.

Without further discussion, he led me, or in this case, dragged me down a side street to a sturdy two-story building. A wooden sign carved with a simplified raven's head and a crossed sword marked it as the city's Adventurers' Guild. Despite my own misgivings, some part of me relaxed seeing the symbol. A real guild outpost, a half-familiar memory told me. There should be a job board, a clerk, maybe a lounge for adventurers upstairs… The question was, would I be able to use them?

As we stepped inside, I noticed the interior was all polished wood floors and stone columns. A warm hearth glowed in one corner, and multiple large boards on the left side of it were pinned with stacks of parchment—ongoing quests, bounties, and city announcements. The guildhall was filled with commotion and with people in mismatched armor. Some looked like rangers in cloaks, and I managed to spot a pair of dwarves conferring over some mechanical blueprint. So, are there more than humans in this world? Or are the midgets? It's best not to ask, or I may get a few teeth knocked out, especially with how thick their arms were. A few paused to glance at me but quickly returned to their own chatter.

My escort guided me to a side chamber behind a heavy, dark wooden door. A broad table stood in the center, ringed with chairs, while various maps, lists, and scrolls littered its surface. Against one wall, a tall man with gray-streaked hair leaned forward, examining a parchment with the official raven seal, probably coming from someone important.

"This is Guildmaster Reagan," my new acquaintance explained. Then he added to the Guildmaster, "I found him wandering the market. The descriptions of him fit the list we received when we took up the request to guard Zoltan's caravan. He is one of us from the border town of Lazlow's Retreat assigned to the mission, Master."

"I see." Reagan looked up sharply, and his gaze pinned me like a hawk. "So you're Auriel—the Bronze tier assigned to guard that caravan." He said, stealing one look at my bracelet.

I nodded, unsure if I should say more.

"Report," He snapped, getting angry that he needed to repeat himself.

I swallowed at once. Well... here goes nothing. I told them about the ambush: the hooded bandits, the chaotic fight, the double-cross by a caravan insider, and how everything ended in blood and death. I kept my personal shock and confusion to a minimum, focusing on the bare facts: Everyone else was slain, the cargo taken, and I survived through some fluke, probably knocked out, and they didn't bother to check if I was still alive or not. When I finished, silence hung in the room for a little longer than I found comfortable. The man who'd brought me in kept his arms folded, eyes darting over me like he expected me to spontaneously confess, standing precisely in the door's way. Like I would try to run... Finally, this Guildmaster Reagan let out a low exhale, collecting his thoughts.

"Quite the story," he said. "You claim not a single other survivor?"

"No." I dipped my head. "Not that I saw."

"You didn't even check, did you? Brave little adventurer." His eyes flicked to the side of my tunic. "You sure don't look injured for someone who survived a massacre."

"I got knocked out." I forced myself not to flinch. "But I know. It's… complicated. I blacked out during the fight. Came to sometime later, alone, there was not much fighting I did."

"..." Reagan exchanged a meaningful look with the man, speaking without words before he turned back to me. "Auriel, let's be clear: you're not under direct suspicion, but this situation is problematic. A full caravan was wiped out, cargo evaporated, and only one man walked away unscathed. Without even coming to me, instead... wandering the city like a lost puppy. Doesn't look great."

I wanted to argue, but a part of me realized it was fair. If I were in their position, I'd be suspicious, too.

"Haaah..." The Guildmaster's tone was calmer when he continued after a deep and long breath. "We have to investigate this. In the meantime, you'll stay in Korvar—only in Korvar—until we figure out the truth. Understood?"

"I..." My stomach twisted, hearing him. "So… I'm stuck here?"

"Of course you are." He nodded. "You can move about the city freely, for now. But if you try to skip town, the guards will know. We'll put you up in the Guild's tavern—a safe place to keep tabs on you. You won't be locked away or anything, but consider this a probationary measure."

I swallowed back a retort. A younger me might have pleaded or tried to talk his way out. But I'd learned the hard way that the world doesn't sympathize with excuses. They don't trust me—and they're probably right to be wary. At least, this Guildmaster looks honest on the surface, telling it as is without munching his words. That's something.

"All right," I said quietly, trying to project calmness, but I didn't know how well I succeeded. "I understand."

"Smart." The man at my back finally relaxed his shoulders, stepping away from the door. "Good. Now come on, I'll show you to your room."

He led me to an attached tavern next door, connected to the guild hall by a short corridor. The tavern itself was a cozy place: broad tables, a well-worn bar, and a handful of patrons already nursing their morning ales. Alcoholism is everywhere, huh? In the back, a sturdy wooden staircase led to an upper floor of small lodgings for adventurers passing through.

I climbed the stairs behind my escort, ignoring the curious stares from a few people below until we disappeared and my guide shoved open a door at the end of the hall. Inside was a spartan space with a single bed, a rickety chair, and a narrow table... At least it was free accommodation, so I can't complain much. And it wasn't a medieval prison cell either.

"You're not a prisoner, Auriel, but don't go thinking we won't keep track of you. The second you try to slip away, we'll know. Best if you cooperate with the Guild's investigation."

"Sure." I managed a stiff nod. "I get it."

"..." He hesitated, thinking what to say, then sighed, shaking his head. "Look, if you truly had nothing to do with the ambush, that'll blow over once the facts surface. Let's hope that we find evidence soon. You are young; I wouldn't blame you if you escaped, fearing for your life."

With that, he stepped out, pulling the door shut behind him. I heard no click, so I wasn't locked in from the outside.

"Well..." I shrugged, "Alone again."

I dropped onto the small bed, tension radiating through every muscle I had. So much for quietly exploring the city. Now, I was under a kind of house arrest, stuck in this Korvar until the Guild decided my fate. My instincts screamed for me to run, but I wasn't sure if that was even possible. Could I sneak away, or would that just confirm their suspicions?

Pressing my eyes shut, I rubbed the bracelet on my wrist. Great job, Auriel. Two lives, and in both, you're knee-deep in complications from the get-go.

Tomorrow, I'd figure out which way I wanted to play this—clear my name or vanish into the city's underbelly. Today, though, all I wanted to do was rest and eat... Then, wait for whatever came next.