It was not too cold. I found it to be slightly chilly, but nothing remotely uncomfortable.
The town was by the face of a cliff. A small waterfall ran down its side, and cut through the houses and roads. I crossed a bridge over the splashing currents, and stopped to admire the view for a moment.
The crashing of the water filled the background, but not overwhelmingly so. It was like a nice, peaceful sound a person from my world would listen to as they went to sleep. It was like a white noise that only added to the serenity of the moment. Light chatter came from all directions but faded into the ambience of this town.
It was... relaxing.
Like a piece of art they came to life. My lips curled to a smile, as I took it all in. It was nothing like the Free Lands. Even if the towns and cities were exactly the same— which they weren't— I could never find a moment of peace while I was back there. I could never relax like this.
I slowly continued down the road, searching for an inn or some place to stay. I stopped a few people, asking them for directions. They always gave me an odd look when I thanked them and went on my way, but I was used to it by now. In fact, I could understand what they were thinking: a kid should not be traveling alone like I was. So I paid it no mind.
Eventually, I found an inn and wandered in. The innkeeper— a middle aged man with a beard— raised a brow as I approached him.
"Can I help you, Miss?"
"I was looking for a room to stay," I said, as I produced a few silver coins and placed it on the counter. "Just for a few days. Then I’ll be gone."
"Well, that’ll be more than enough for a few days. Lucky you, we just so happened to have one room left available," the innkeeper said with a smile.
No questions asked, huh? Not that I mind it.
"Been crowded lately?" I made small talk.
"Indeed. Many people have been fleeing the Free Lands in the past few months. Although the number has been dwindling as of late. We still have a full house for most weeks."
He counted the silver coins, and dragged it over to his side of the wooden table. He pulled out a key, before adding.
"By the way, it’s two silver per night. I know it’s a bit pricey, but we’ve had to jack up the cost due to all the people coming in looking for a room. Don’t worry, it comes with a complimentary breakfast and dinner. And since you’re still a child, I’ll make it one silver."
"Thank you, Sir—"
I was gratefully accepting the room key and the discount, when a voice interrupted me.
"Huh? I come here every day and you don’t give me anything for free. But to people like her— these refugees bringing their disease into our country— you’re offering a discount?!"
A man staggered over to us from a table; I frowned as I caught a whiff of alcohol when he spoke.
"Disease? What are you talking about?" I asked, more confused than anything.
The man wobbled, and then jabbed a finger in my direction. "Y-you heard me! People like you are bringing the Noxeus in from your poor and dirty countries!" he said, slurring every other word.
I was about to tell him that I was not actually from the Free Lands, when the innkeeper spoke over my shoulder.
"Go home, John. You’re drunk."
"Drunk? I’m not drunk. You’re drunk!"
The innkeeper sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You’re disturbing a child. And you spent the whole morning drinking every wine, beer, and whiskey I have in stock. You are drunk."
"A child?" The man leaned over to me and squinted. "That’s not a child."
"Yes she is."
"Yes I am."
The innkeeper and I both remarked at the same time.
The drunk man scowled, and took a step back. "Whatever," he said. Then he turned around and stormed off.
I watched him trip over himself and mutter curses under his breath as he left the inn. The innkeeper apologized from my behind.
"I’m sorry about him. He lost his wife a month ago due to the plague. He blames the refugees coming in for it, since many of them, unfortunately, bring the Noxeus with them. And while it is partially true, his anger is still misguided."
"I see," I said, feeling pity for the man.
The Noxeus was a terrible plague; its causes weren’t exactly known, although it was exacerbated in places with poor living conditions. But that did not mean you were immune if you lived in a rich clean city. Anyone could catch it.
And with all the chaos caused by the Abominations, slave revolts, and the Dark Crusaders— the latter two simply capitalizing on the first— it was no wonder that the Noxeus had been spreading in the Free Lands.
I saw many people who had it as I journeyed to Laxis through the Free Lands. And I saw more who had it that were already dead. My stomach twisted just remembering the sight.
I wanted to help these people, but I could not.
There was no cure to it; at least, not any that I had heard of. There were Alchemists in the Holy Xan Empire looking into the plague, trying to create some kind of potion to somehow heal it. But all they have managed to do was lessen the symptoms.
It was incurable.
So I tossed these worries aside.
I
