Civilization

As we made our way down the trail back toward the entrance, more pieces of the cave ceiling broke loose and crashed down behind us. Out of curiosity, I stuck my hand into the light. It didn't do anything at first, but the light was hot. Really hot. After about five seconds, my hand began to blister, and I pulled it back and shook it until the sting faded. I glanced up at the widening cracks overhead. "Yeah, if the whole roof came down, this wouldn't be pleasant coming through. You may want to shade yourselves if you come back here and stay longer."

Lyris shook her head, her eyes dropping to my reddened hand. "You idiot, we already figured it was dangerous."

Horus smirked and glanced up at the ceiling. "Yeah, but we weren't sure, and at least the idiot found out for us."

I chuckled. "Thanks, I think."

Just as we reached the opening that led back to the entrance, the light in the cavern began to dim. I hadn't realized dungeons had day-night cycles like a real place, but I guess it made sense if this was supposed to be a copy of somewhere real.

Emiri stopped, her notebook appearing in one hand and her pencil in the other. She looked back toward the cavern and made what seemed to be one final note. Bhoarn paused at the exit and nodded to her as she made the items disappear again.

When we reached the marked exit, Bhoarn made his way through with his broadsword out and his shield up. A moment later, his hand popped out of the wall, waving us through.

I stepped out with Lyris stuck to my side like she was glued to me. The first thing that hit me was that it was already beginning to get dark and that it felt much colder out here than inside. Everyone started toward what I assumed was the old road, and a moment later, Bhoarn confirmed that thought.

“Let’s camp here tonight. We can make the city by lunch tomorrow.”

Emiri began silently pulling camping supplies out of her storage ring while Horus started collecting wood. I looked around, trying to figure out how I could help, and without a better idea, I decided to help Horus.

Before I could, Lyris grabbed my arm and pulled me toward her.

“Just relax, okay? We’re escorting you, remember? Besides, we know what we’re doing.”

She then pulled me toward a chair. “Sit. I’ll be right back.”

With that, she and Emiri set up the cooking equipment and began preparing a meal. I did as I was told and pulled out a book to study.

A moment later, Lyris grabbed the book from my hands and replaced it with a plate of steaming vegetables and meat that smelled heavenly. I hadn’t realized how hungry and tired I was.

With the camp set up and the fire roaring, I felt oddly comfortable with everyone here. Horus and Bhoarn were sitting across from us talking, and Horus noticed me watching and gave me a nod. Emiri walked over to hand them their plates.

It was strangely domestic in a way, something I’d only felt occasionally back on Earth when my mother was still alive.

Emiri sat next to me with a plate of food, and I noticed Lyris standing there with hers.

“Hey, Lyris, come sit. I’ll move so you can eat.”

She looked at me with her fork still in her mouth, glanced down at my leg, then shook her head.

I frowned, then smiled. “Fine. You can sit in my lap then.”

Before I even had time to react, she was in my lap, nearly causing me to drop my own plate of food.

“You know you messed up, right?” Emiri said beside me.

I shrugged and looked at her. “I’ve touched her organs. Somehow she doesn’t bother me as much.”

“You think you’ll want to do it again?” Lyris asked, turning in my lap, a bit of meat rolling around in her mouth as she spoke.

I watched the meat roll around for a moment before focusing on the question. “Do what again? Let you sit in my lap?”

She swallowed, then sighed. “No. It’s a good thing you’re cute. I mean enter a dungeon.”

I frowned at the question, not because I wouldn’t go back in, but because the thought of doing it again actually excited me.

What the fuck was wrong with me? I nearly died. Hell, she nearly died.

Blowing out a breath, I looked at each of them. Emiri watched me expectantly. Bhoarn and Horus had turned toward me too, all of them seemingly waiting for my answer.

“I... Well, I suppose I would do that again. Is that strange? Should I be excited about going in again?”

“Ha!” Lyris shouted in my face, making me flinch. “Told you he’s an adventurer!”

She bounced off my lap, laughing as she made her way toward Horus. “Pay up. A bet is a bet.”

Horus just shook his head and reached into a pouch while Bhoarn let out a low chuckle.

“You seriously had a bet with Lyris? Are you insane?”

Horus pulled out a coin and dropped it into her hand. She snatched it away and did a little twirl.

“I am the best at reading people,” she sang dramatically.

I just looked between them, dumbfounded, then turned to Emiri. “Why am I surprised? But seriously, am I crazy?”

She was smiling at the exchange and half turned toward me, still watching them.

“If I say yes, then I’d be admitting we’re all crazy.”

With that, I stretched and yawned. “I’m heading to bed. You guys want me to take a shift tonight?”

They all looked at me and simultaneously responded.

“No!”

I put up my hands, then looked at Bhoarn. “Same as before, then?”

He nodded, and I crawled into his bedroll.

That morning, I woke up to a body pressed against mine again. Lyris’s hand was draped over me, so I grabbed it to move her.

That was an extremely meaty hand.

Attached to a muscular forearm.

I shot out of the bedroll and looked down to find Horus snickering at me.

“Ew! Ew! What the fuck is wrong with you people? Gah!”

“Well, guess he doesn’t like men!” Horus shouted to the group.

Emiri was cooking, one hand pressed to her side as she tried not to burst out laughing. She suddenly failed, turning away from me.

Lyris, meanwhile, was snickering as she pulled Horus out of the bedroll. Bhoarn just shook his head.

“I tried to tell them,” Bhoarn said.

Lyris looked at him. “I had to know.”

I scowled at Horus first, then turned it on Lyris. “Had to know what?”

“Whether you liked men,” she said, looking at me like it was the most obvious answer in the world.

“I thought I...” I began exasperatedly. “You know what? You’re all fucking crazy.”

Then I laughed at the utter absurdity of them.

As things settled, I returned to the chair I had sat in last night. Lyris was already there with two plates of food. She handed me one and immediately sat on my leg again.

Shoveling spiced meat and some potato-like vegetable into my mouth, I pulled up my System and assigned the six points I still had. I put three into Agility and three into Dexterity, bringing them both up to twenty.

Lyris got up and turned to take my plate, so I handed it to her. As I stood I paused and watched as she walked away. How long had she been doing that?

Everyone started breaking camp around me while Emiri walked through, storing most of the items in her ring. It didn't take long before we were all walking, Horus vanishing ahead of us while Bhoarn walked at the front of the group.

Lyris kind of skipped beside me. Not quite a skip, but she certainly had a spring in her step for someone who nearly died yesterday. She noticed me watching her and turned to me.

“What?” She looked down at herself, twisting to look at her backside, then back up at me. “Do I have something on me?”

“No,” I replied, wondering if she had changed, or if I was just noticing her more now that I wasn’t overwhelmed by her. “Just... I don’t know. Are you acting different?”

“Oh, crossroads,” she said, looking ahead before turning back to me. “No, still me. Why?”

I glanced up to see that the odd, broken trail we were on had led us to a well-paved road. It ran north and south, and about twenty steps to the south, another road continued east.

“You just seem less annoying than usual. I don’t mean that as an insult, sorry.”

She crossed her arms and pouted. “That is insulting, you know, and I am not annoying. You’re just... an idiot.” She quick-stepped ahead.

Had I made her cry? Great.

“Lyris,” I said, speeding up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I meant you were a little overwhelming at first.”

Lyris stopped suddenly, and I nearly bowled her over.

“So, what, you like me now? Or maybe you just tolerate me? Because, you know, you are also annoying in your own way, but I never disliked you for it.”

I paused. Had I disliked her? Not exactly.

“I... never actually disliked you, Lyris. You did, however, steamroll every bit of propriety I ever thought I had, but I understand what you mean.”

I put my hand on her shoulder. “And you’re right. I’m the one who is changing, and yeah, I’m an idiot not to see that. I’m sorry.”

She smiled up at me then looked over at Emiri who shrugged.

“Guess you’re not such an idiot. Just one question. What is a steamroll?”

Bhoarn had stopped when our conversation started and turned toward us. I hadn't noticed that we'd all actually stopped until Bhoarn gave one of his great big smiles.

“You two going to kiss and make up now?”

Emiri snickered and started walking again while I looked at Bhoarn, my ears burning.

As we rounded the corner to continue east, I heard a cart I couldn't see yet rattling down the road. Bhoarn, of course, moved to the left side in anticipation of it.

It finally came into view as it crested the hill. It was a standard-looking cart, the kind you might see in a movie, with iron-rimmed spoked wheels, a man sitting above actual horses holding the reins, and a tarp covering boxes and other bulky items.

The man's attention immediately focused on us, appearing to assess us before he nodded and looked forward again.

As he passed, I realized his attire was very similar to how the group was dressed, except simpler. Not poor-looking, but more faded... A bit more threadbare but still very deliberate. His head was wrapped in a sash tied behind it, the loose ends hanging over one shoulder. His clothing was layered, with a white blouse under a thick vest. Leather belts crossed his shoulder and waist, with pouches and a sack tied to them.

It wasn't long before we started seeing patrols and a large city ahead. Well, large, I guess, was relative. I could see a wall and towers, with a few large buildings poking up over them.

The guards and patrols mostly carried pikes and wore leather armor. The ones at the gate itself, from what I could see at this distance, wore some kind of metal armor.

More carts passed us on the road, many joining it from other roads splitting off to the northwest and southwest.

I turned to Lyris, who was fiddling with her pouch. “What does that symbol mean on the banner hanging from the tower?”

She jerked out a piece of dried meat and then looked up. “Oh, that is the Adventurer Guild’s standard. Most cities have one if they have a guild inside.”

She pointed toward the larger building near the center of the city, where a long flag lazily flipped in the breeze.

“That standard there is the city’s standard. That one signifies the city of Jamana. The color palette says it’s part of the Bandares Kingdom.”

“What about the other ones?” I asked, gesturing toward a few more dotted about the city.

Lyris followed the general direction I was pointing.

“Ah, yes. A few belong to nobles, and others are guilds. You'll figure it out once we're inside.”

Emiri slowed enough to allow us to catch up to her and leaned in toward me.

“When we pass through the gate, we'll head to find a place to eat.”

Horus suddenly spoke into my other ear, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“I know a good spot.”

I recoiled, clearly never going to get used to that.

“God damnit, Horus!” I shouted unexpectedly. “You're going to give me a heart attack!”

He snickered and patted me on the shoulder. Emiri rolled her eyes before a smile crept onto her face.

“I'd like it to be a quiet place, Horus. I know how much you like a loud atmosphere.”

“Why?” Horus asked, his eyebrows knitting together.

Emiri gestured at me with her thumb.

“We need to discuss Adam here, and I'd like to have some privacy screens up.”

I looked at Horus and then Lyris, both giving me a shrug, just as baffled as I was.

“What is so important about me that you need privacy screens? Are you about to strip me naked in this place or something?”

Lyris giggled beside me. “That sounds a bit kinky.”

Emiri just looked at me, confused. “What exactly led you to believe I wanted to strip you naked?”

“I mean,” I started, looking between them, “why would we need privacy screens unless you wanted to block people from seeing us?”

Horus laughed, and Emiri shook her head.

“No, a privacy screen blocks what we're saying and blurs us so people can't make out what we're saying. And I suppose we could have this conversation in a private communal tub.”

My eyes must have looked like they were popping out of my skull, judging by how hard Horus was laughing. Lyris' grin nearly ate her face.

“I mean, we are rather dirty,” she said, rubbing her hand along my arm.

We arrived at the gate not a moment too soon. Bhoarn was waiting for us to catch up.

“I've paid the entrance fee. Where are we eating?”

I jumped right over next to Bhoarn, giving the other three suspicious looks.

“Thank you. Where would you like to eat?”

Bhoarn smiled. “I know this place where we can bathe, and they'll serve us lunch.”

“Oh,” Lyris exclaimed, “I know where you're talking about. Isn't The Bathing Dragon a bit crowded, though? Emiri wants a place a bit more private.”

Bhoarn frowned, then sighed. “I suppose that's out, then. We can bathe later in our rooms, I guess.”

I relaxed with a sigh. I did not want to bathe while waitresses, or maybe waiters, served us.

I stopped to look around. This city was very busy. Most of the buildings looked like storefronts with living quarters above, like a few small towns I'd been to.

People were talking in pairs and groups along the sidewalks as carriages went to and fro with supplies. People browsed while others ran through the streets carrying large packs, likely delivery people.

But the thing that struck me most was how familiar it looked on the surface.

Of course, spotting a group of elves and a dwarf pulling a cart full of tools shattered that illusion.

Bhoarn looked up and tapped his chin thoughtfully before turning to everyone. "Why don't we just get a room now and talk there? We can order something to be brought to us."

Lyris gave Bhoarn a disappointed look, then nodded. Emiri gave him an approving nod, and Bhoarn turned and made his way toward the inn. Or hotel, I guessed.

We made our way through the busy street, and I spotted a hanging sign depicting a dragon lying on its back in a tub full of bubbles, its wings, head, and tail sticking up out of the water. I guessed that was the Bathing Dragon.

I peeked in as we passed. The place wasn't exactly shuttered for privacy. Most of the people wore something resembling bathing suits, while some... not so much, which was more than I actually wanted to see.

I had imagined the waiters and waitresses handing food down to the patrons, but that wasn't exactly how people were served.

The whole place seemed to be one large pool, about three feet deep, with benches for people to sit on. The servers used steps on the far side to reach what I guessed was the kitchen, then came back down to place food on tables sitting just above the water.

Several people bathed with cloths and soap between the tables while they waited.

Above the noise, I heard someone complain.

"Damn it, Jurell! You got my sweet roll wet. Would you calm down?"

Then there was a splash, followed by several people shouting and laughing.

"Hey, uh, guys," I started, furrowing my brow. "Why didn't you tell me that people wore bathing suits to these things?"

Horus, Lyris, and Bhoarn turned to look at me, then toward the bathhouse we'd just passed. Horus slowed, put a hand on my shoulder, and leaned in.

"Did we ever say you had to be naked?"

Lyris giggled, turning toward me. "Besides, your face changes colors so fast, it's funny. It'd go white, then red, then white again. I've never seen anyone go pale and flush that fast in my life."

I grumbled under my breath. "I'm so happy I amuse you guys."

Emiri turned her head just enough to speak over her shoulder, though her hair hid her face.

"It really is extraordinary, though."

After passing several more shops and market stands displaying arrays of fruits and vegetables, we finally came upon a building tucked between two others. It was three stories tall, and its sign depicted a bed with an owl hanging just below it, its eyes closed.

Looking up at the sign, I commented, "Let me guess, Sleeping Owl Inn?"

Lyris cocked her head. "Not exactly. This is The Tired Owl. But yeah, it looks like a sleeping owl."

I wasn't sure which question to ask first because I had several. As we walked into the inn, I settled on one.

"So, exactly how do you guys know the names of these places? It's a picture."

Emiri just pointed at a sign beside the door that read, "Welcome to The Tired Owl."

I shook my head, looking at the plain sign. "So, why not just put the name on the sign?"

Lyris answered without a hint of judgment. "A lot of people can't read. They know the names because people tell them."

We walked inside. The first floor seemed to be a bar that also served food. Emiri took the lead, renting a single room for the group and asking for a meal to be brought up.

After some debate over what everyone wanted, I just said I didn't care and would eat whatever the others decided on.

The bartender, or receptionist, both, I guessed, handed Emiri a key and told her the room was on the third floor, the farthest one to the right.

Once we entered, I noticed that the room had four beds. The temperature was comfortable, and the air smelled nice, like wildflowers.

There was a pretty typical set of furniture and a bathroom, though the tub was large enough to fit four people.

Aside from that and the four beds, all it needed was a TV, and I wouldn't really be able to tell this room from a typical hotel room back on Earth.