The next day, I woke up on the floor.....not sure how that happened.....
"Huuaaamm.....good morning Laura". I yawned and sat on the bed with my back arched.
"Morning, creep". Laura responded with a disgruntled expression.
"Creep?, what did–"
*Knock* *Knock*
"Come in"
"Miriam, good morning". I greeted with a smile on my face.
"Mm, did you sleep well". She asked as she sat next to me with a smile.
"Yes, but I think I fell". I said as I rubbed my back.
"Oh? Are you alright". She asked, her face full of worry.
"Nah, I'm fine". I responded as I waved my hand in front of my face.
"So what's up?". I asked as I stretched lightly.
"Oh yes, I came to give you some money for your journey". She responded with a cheeky smile.
'She's cute'. I thought
"Thank you very much Miriam, honestly I don't know how I would've survived here without you". I said sincerely.
"Oh it's nothing". A small blush appeared in her face as she responded
"I promise I'll make you proud the next time I see you". I added.
"I'll take you up on that".
"Here you go". She tossed me a dark pouch filled with coins.
"This is–"
"It's not much but it'll be enough for 6 months at least". Miriam said as she walked towards the door.
'Not enough?!'. I screamed internally as I opened the pouch.
"Wa–".
"Prepare quickly and I'll see you off". She shot a glance at me before closing the door.
"Damn....2000 valen, that's 200,000 miras..... that's....ALOT!"
Now you'll probably be wondering what the hell I'm saying but fear not for I shall explain.
1 valen= 100 miras
1 valen= ALOT
1 Mira = meh
So yeah that's it.
....Pfft
"This could last me my whole journey!". I said as I removed my robe (he got another one) and placed it on my bed.
"Such a cheapskate tsk". Laura on the other hand seemed like she had alot to say about Miriam.
As I walked into the bathroom, I said, with the door closed behind me, "She's a princess so I'm sure there's some kind of political procedure or whatnot".
"Highly doubt it". Laura answered instantaneously.
'She's on edge again'. After staying with Miriam the last few days, I noticed she had a hard time hiding her emotions and usually conveys them through her speech.
'I'll shower first. Don't wanna be late. '
I shoved the mess in my head to the back burner and hummed softly as warm water streamed down my chiseled frame.
After having a soothing bath, I stole....borrowed a few things I would need for my journey.
Skill books, a storage ring, and alot of underwear.
"I'm here my lady". I walked down the stairs in a relaxed manner with a small smile on my face.
"Grow stronger so as to not disgrace the Rothschild name". Ava said with a neutral expression.
'Aww she cares'. I thought as I bowed solemnly.
"I'll see you off". Miriam added.
"Thank you for your kindness". I nodded with a smile as we walked to the mansion gate.
"I'll....miss you". Miriam said hesitantly.
"I'll miss you more my lady".
"Miriam....it's Miriam". She corrected
"I'll miss you Miriam". I chuckled as I hugged her lightly and whispered in her ear, "Wait for me."
"Mm". With a small nod, Miriam retreated from the hug and I walked out the mansion.
"It's large alright".
This was the first time I left the mansion ever since my reincarnation so I was a little surprised at the sheer size and grandeur the Rothschild house exuded.
"Welp, time to begin my training arc". With a spring my step, I left the estate.
My destination?
An information hall.
"Every fantasy world has to have an information hall, I've just got to find one". I muttered as I strolled along the well paved streets of the belvedan empire.
Children playing on the roads, women clothed in casual attire bargaining at the numerous shops lined opposite each other with smiles on their faces.
"Luckily, Miriam knew of a relatively normal information hall". Recalling the memories of Miriam, I tried asking about the major routes to take to 'the crypt information hall'.
'Is it that popular?'. I thought as I followed the route the shocked civilians gave to me.
"This is..."
I was shock as I gazed at the cathedral–like structure carved from midnight gray marble, with a clear sign that said, The crypt.
'No wonder people looked shocjed when I asked of it so casually'.
Taking a deep breath, I walked into the hall with a neutral expression– neither timid nor overbearing.
After all I've been to countless large and well furnished places over the course of my past life, this much shouldn't be too much to handle.
"How may I help you today, sir"
As I walked to the reception area, I was
greeted by a very beautiful woman with milky white hair and emerald green eyes as she stared at me with a neutral expression.
"I would like a map of the belvedan empire and other related locations".
"..... that'll be 9 miras".
Raising her eyebrow slightly– probably because of my unconventional request, she told me the price of the map.
"Thank you".
As I walked out of the hall, I could feel multiple gazes lingering on me, most likely trying to see through me.
"Laura.... you've been awfully quiet today". I muttered lowly as I sat on a bench, placing the map in my storage ring.
"What? Are you that lonely?". Laura flew out of my head and floated above me with her arms crossed.
"That's not fair and you know it". I responded as I scanned the map, looking for a place to stay the night.
"Whatever". She said flatly.
'She's like a needy girlfriend'. I smiled wyrly as I walked to the inn we would stay for the night.
"Here we are". Exhaling lightly, I looked at the modestly sized building, painted with white and a sign that said, Vossier inn.
Looking at the lush courtyard decorated with shrubs, I nodded to myself in admiration .
I went inside after inspecting the surroundings and walked towards the reception.
"Welcome to Vossier inn, how may I help you?". A petite elf pushed her glasses upwards as she addressed me with a polite smile.
"I would like a room for a month please". I responded as I leaned on the counter.
"A moment please". With a small nod, the elf wrote down a few things on a piece of paper and handed them to me.
"That'll be 1 valen, you can pay in advance or pay whenever you choose to leave". She said as she handed me my keys and a small handbook on the rules of the inn.
"I'll pay now, thank you". With a polite smile, I dropped the purple–colored coin on the counter.
"Have a pleasant stay".
"Thank you".
With a curt nod, I walked to my room upstairs.
'Room 25–B'
Entering the room, I lay on the bed with a sigh, "I'm pooped and it's not even evening yet!"
Yup, it was still morning and the sun was shining intensely.
"This place is too cramped, why couldn't you look for a better inn you cheapskate". Laura, still in her sour mood commented with a disgruntled expression.
"I didn't choose it because it was cheap, it's because of the beast rampage that had been going on".
"So you plan to use this opportunity to train and use your skills, yes?". Laura said as she looked out the window.
"Yes, but obviously I'm not going to be a hero and charge head–on to the beasts". I spoke as I removed my top and folded them on the blue mattress.
"You'd be extra dumb if you did that". Laura said.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I called out to Laura, "Laura, come sit". I patted the space next to me as a tired sigh escaped my mouth.
I could sense that Laura was annoyed about something but I couldn't tell why.
Did I do something wrong?
Have I not been giving enough attention to her?
No that can't be right, maybe she wants to go back home.....that must be it.
"I'm fine here". Laura refused.
"Come on, don't be like that". I pleaded
"I said I'm fine". She responded, not even looking at me.
"I know you want to go back, and I get that you being with me wouldn't help that cause, that's why I'm trying my hardest to know the basic layout of stuff in this world". I continued.
"I'll know everything there is within a week or less, coupled with the information I got from Miriam I–"
"What are you talking about?". Laura interrupted me with an annoyed expression.
"It's always Miriam this and Miriam that, even when she's not here!". Laura exploded, letting out the emotions she bottled up.
"I was here before Miriam yet she gets all the attention!".
"What about me? Am I just skme annoying guardian you want to get rid of as fast as you can?"
"Laura...."
I was at a loss of words for the first time since I and Laura met.
I didn't realize she felt so...insecure and here I was thinking I knew everything about her when she told me her backstory.....or at least that's what I think it was.
"Let me give you a massage". With a serious look, I asked Laura.
"What?". Laura asked angrily.
"I tell you all this and you want to give me a fucking massage?".
".....". I looked at her in silence, waiting for her response .
"....fine". Laura stared at me for a while and lay on the bed. "But you better not do anything weird".
"Remove your clothes first". I asked calmly.
"What are you–".
"Just trust me". I interrupted her.
After a while of silence, Laura lay down on her tummy and her clothes faded like they were never there in the first place and she was only left in her white underwear.
"Let us begin". Seeing her state, I stretched my fingers and brought out the oil I purchased from a nearby stall.
I planned to use this session to get Laura to tell me everything about herself, the guardians and everything in-between.
"Relax your body and take deep breaths". I applied the oil on my hands as I spoke.
Operation Laura is a go.