Running, the air was cold, the sky dark.) My name is Kolber Hunt, and I was brought here about a year or so ago. I saw nothing but a white light, and then I was in the middle of a room, standing over a circle. I had been looking for my older brother for a year. However, I found no trace or inkling of what had happened. From what I knew, Jack was on his way to a museum.
Now, here in this world, about a year later, I woke up. I was freed by my brother hitting me in the face. I had no memory of what happened; all I knew was that I was fighting with Jack. I felt a rush of anxiety come over me, and I ran. Jack wanted to stop me, but I flashed and stepped away.
(A day passed) I'm now taking refuge in this town about a day's journey from the capital city of the Dragon Empire. I don't know what to expect, but I need to regain what I lost in these last year. Why was Jack here, and does that mean that the kids who were with him were his students? Was he brought here like I was a year prior to myself?
I sat in a tree, taking a break from running. I don't know why, but I kept running. Then I received an alert from a magic crystal in my pocket. "Kolber Hunt, Our King requests that you give us your report of your mission." The voice said in a woman's tone. I could see it was the person who gave me my mission on the regular. She was a tall blonde woman who seemed to hate seeing my face. Never knew why, was it because of my face, or was it something more?
I looked at her and I sighed, saying. "Mission is a failure, you never told me that I would be facing my older brother." I watched her face go from pissed to shocked. "Who is your brother?" She asked me, and I looked at her like she was an idiot. "Jack Hunt was tasked with watching my targets. He's my brother, and you knew he was here, didn't you?" I asked, and she looked back to reveal that the King was listening in on the report.
"Young master Hunt, you must return home. We have bigger plans that involve dealing with your brother." He said, smiling like a villain as he looked away from me. I saw it and I said pulled off the pendant I had around my neck. "I'm not going to be doing that, my brother is here, and I'm going to go look for him." The King looked back at me through the crystal and yelled. "If you betray us, you'll be marked for death. We will hunt you down and execute you on the spot."
I laughed, crushing both the necklace and the crystal into tiny pieces. "I'll never fight Jack, he's my brother, and I never return to that hellhole," I said, bolting out of the tree and running away from where the humans could track me. I ran away towards the city I heard about. The dragon city of Dragonus, a city filled with the dragon people I've only seen in books.
I stayed in the shadows to make sure that no one would follow me. After hours of walking, I found out that the King had marked me as a traitor. I didn't feel anything about that revelation. I did miss the woman I used to spend time with in the training hall. But otherwise, I don't remember anything. But as I passed the trees and stepped passed the villagers. I started to become calmer with my choice to run away.
I finally made it to Dragonus after spending two days walking. Had to go slow to not draw focus on me. After all, I'm a Human assassin who almost took down the Dragon Empire. Then I arrived at the city gates, and I saw they were checking people at the front. I used my stealth skill called Shadow to slip from one shadow to another. Now, being on the other side, I found lodging near the center of the city.
The inn was a smaller one, maybe ten rooms, and it was run down. I grabbed a room and went up to it, taking a rest after traveling for two days. I set my bag on the bed, then I heard a knock on the door. I grabbed my knife and I went to answer it. The innkeeper was on the other side with a plate of food. She was an Elf woman with dark skin and hair that changed from black to white. Her eyes were green, and she was muscular. Not like a man would be, but I wouldn't try to mess with her.
"Mister Kolber, this is a gift from our cook. He noticed that you looked hungry and tired. Please accept this and have a good night." She said, handing me the food. I put my knife away after I felt there was no malice behind her words. "Thank you, miss, I appreciate this." I said back to her, and she smiled as I bowed when she left me to my dinner.
I closed the door softly, then ate my food. After which, I spent the moment before I fell asleep watching the city from my window. I saw people of all races mingling and chatting it up as they passed on. Then I heard, "Mister Jack is going to start that training course in two days. Are you going?" A couple of Elven kids said, running into a house.
"Wait, is Jack here?" I said as I passed out in the chair, thinking about him. (Next morning,) I woke up to the sound of birds chirping. I got up and looked at my clothes. They were all tattered and old. "Ah, I need a change of clothes and a proper haircut," I said to myself as I put my coin bag in my pocket. I went down to the lobby of the Inn to see that the elven woman from the other night was waking up a drunk man at the table.
"Miss, I need help with something," I asked her, and she looked over at me. "Oh, Mister Kolber, you can call me Celsia. I'm the Innkeeper and daughter of the owner and cook. What would you like help with?" She asked and I told her, "I'm new in town and I'm looking for a shop that sells cheap clothes. I'm also looking for a shop that cuts hair." I held up my coins and she laughed, "Ah, yes, you can find the shop across the street that sells clothes for less than one silver coin."
For the haircut, I can help you with that. Come with me after we move him upstairs here." She said, pointing at the man still sound asleep. I helped Miss Celsia carry the man as she talked my ear off. "Yes, have many shops around here that can help you find equipment and supplies for cheap. What type of adventurer are you, Mister Kolber?" She asked and I said to her lying, "I'm a scout and I specialize in tracking." I watched her open the door. "Really, with a build like that, I thought you might be a thief." She said to me, and I froze as she began to laugh. "I'm kidding, but for someone of your class, Mr. Darrel Fring might be the best option. He doesn't charge a lot for standard weapons and gear. But he will for custom orders."
Celsia was telling me about all the shops I should take a look at. She had a lot of good information about everything. From goods to clothing to supplies hard to find. She had a place to recommend for everything. We went back to the lobby, and her father woke up. He was getting the daily produce from the stalls next to the Inn. He noticed I was watching and asked. "You know how to cook, kid?" The man asked me, and I smiled, "Not one bit, my brother took care of that when I was younger." I told him, and he smiled, so you watched him a lot?"
He asked and I nodded, "Yes, he would come home from classes and make dinner right away while I work on my studies." I said as more of my memories started to come back. I felt a twinge in my head, and I almost fell. But I stopped myself, and the Elf grabbed a drink for me. "You look like you need a refreshing drink. Please drink it and take my daughter when you go to get clothes. She's good at finding great deals."
He said, and Celsia looked shocked, he suggested that. "Father, I have…" She was saying trying to get out of helping me when her father stopped her from making an excuse. "Daughter, go and enjoy this great morning. I can handle the morning shift for a while." He told her, and she sighed, "Are you sure, Father? I don't want you to be here alone if something bad happens again." She said with a worried look on her face. "We can be quick, I don't need weapons today. But these clothes need to be burned." I said, and she nodded as her father pushed us out of the inn.
"Don't come back until you have everything you need." Celsia's dad said, and I felt a smile come over my face. Celsia looked at me and then remembered. "Oh crap, we forgot your haircut, well we can take care of that later. Let's go to the clothing shop first, then head over to Darrel's later. Making his acquaintance is a must if you plan on getting new gear later." She told me and I went with her to the shops.
We first visited the clothing store, where I purchased a couple of shirts, pants, and a new pair of boots for less than a gold coin. After that, we went to visit the Blacksmith known as Darrel. I had the chance to chat with him, and we seemed to agree on what I wanted in weapons. Then we left for the inn, where I saw him. I looked across the street to the food vendor and saw my older brother.
Celsia saw my face turn white. "Do you know that human?" she asked me, and I shook my head no. I wanted to go and say something to him, but then I saw a little dog beast girl run up to him with food. "Papa, you liked this kind, right?" I heard her say to Jack, and I felt a smile come over my face. "Oh, he's Jack Hunt, a local adventurer who came from another world. He's Princess Mayan's boyfriend, or that's the rumor. He's also saved the city from a dragon and stopped the vandal who was causing trouble with the supply wagons. From what I hear, he and his party are very kind people. You should go talk to him since you're also human." Celsia said, and I shook my head, "No, I'm good for now. Maybe after I settle in myself, I'll go and talk to him."
I said as we went back to the Inn. When I got back, Celsia had me change into my casual clothes I bought, and she burned my old ones. Then she cut my hair to what she thought looked good on me. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I heard yelling. "You pay me a small fee and I'll make sure you're protected." A heavy voice said to Celsia's father. The hair on my neck stood up, and I walked out to the lobby.
From what I saw, the men harassing the owner were two large Kolbot beastmen. (large fox-like beastmen known for being ruthless.) I walked right in between Celsia's father and looked at the pair of Kolbolts. "Leave, this place is under my protection." I said trying to sound like a bad ass. Knowing full well that I look like nothing special. The Kolbolt that threatened laughed and tried to sucker punch me in the face. I caught it and I then flipped him on his ass. The other Kolbolt took off running out the door. Then I said in a very dark tone.
"Leave these wonderful people alone, or I'll make sure this broken hand is the least painful thing that happens to you." I watched the man get confused, and I crushed his hand. He cried out in pain as he ran off after his buddy. I looked back to see that Celsia and her father looked amazed. I got rid of the troublemakers. "You need work, Mr. Kolber? We could use your services?" Celsia's father asked, and I looked surprised that he offered me a job. "If I get that room for free, I'll do whatever you need me to do, sir," I said, and he held out his hand. "Call me Pops, Mr Kolber, and you have a deal." He shook my hand I started working with the Inn from that day on."