By the time the sun started to rise, we all welcomed it, as the night lasted what felt like an eternity had passed. We had a quiet breakfast and packed our things, hoping to get to town as soon as possible. Luckily, we only had a few hours until we were at Novrad, and we left shortly after sunrise, so we should reach town around midday, which I would be thankful for.
Although we still had to travel through the forest for a little while, once we did, we didn't have to worry about ambushes as Novrad was sat on plains and had a huge number of grain farms surrounding it. It was often patrolled by the city guard, especially the coach inns and their selection of ales on their patrol route.
"So, Cain, it's your first time in town, right? Want a guide to the best inns in town?" Garth spoke. We haven't spoken much over the time we've been together, but he seemed like a relaxed kind of person. However, I felt like his invitation had a different meaning and one what wasn't exactly PG.
"Yes, it is my first time." I lied. "But I was told about an alchemist in Novrad that I had to meet." Luckily, I knew of an alchemist in Novrad, and I was also lucky that most tried to avoid alchemists, due to their unique behaviour. So, it was the perfect excuse to escape his shady offer.
"Ah, ok. Another time then," Garth replied. It was obvious that he found alchemists uncomfortable as well.
"Well, if you did want to drink with good company, you can look us up at the guild." Darith, the mediator, spoke. He always knew when to back out of a conversation and when to change the subject. For someone as aggressive in combat, to also be this tactful was quite surprising.
After that, we spent a little time chatting about random things, until we passed through the rest of the forest and finally broke out into a flat plain.
There were still a few miles remaining so you couldn't see any city from here. However, the grasslands soon turned into fields with a few buildings, which I took to be farmhouses. And as we walked down the road, it was obvious to see that this path was well-treaded, as the dirt path was tightly packed from the countless feet pounding it flat.
It was strange that the path into the forest, which was connected, wasn't as well trodden. But I put it down to patrols and that nature wasn't as determined to reclaim the land of this plains rather than the forest.
The going was slow, but leisurely as we didn't feel the need to rush to get behind a stifling city wall. However, it didn't help that Garth complained about how boring it was, and we should stop at the roadside Inn that we were slowly approaching.
I wouldn't have minded stopping for a drink and some food, but I wanted to hurry in case someone stole my hidden treasures, although the like hood of that happening this early in the game was incredibly low. Still, I wasn't one for leaving things up for chance.
Plus, not to mention the inn, the crooked wheel, was home to thieves, bandits and all other manner of criminals. The only way it's able to remain open was because of the owner's strict policy of leaving your dirty laundry at the door. If anyone were to break that unspoken rule, not only would the owner be out for blood, but so would all the other patrons, including the patrolmen who frequent the inn.
I couldn't help but respect the owner for his ability to enforce some order to those lowlifes. But then again, it was true what they say, money talks.
As the three-story, lone building came into view, we slowly passed it by, much to the chagrin of Garth, who complained about missing out the chance for a quick ale. However, I did take note of the expensive-looking carriage that was parked in the coach House, attached to the main inn building. I put it down as some rich kid was here to play with the men and women of the night and then put it out of my mind. After all, what the rich get up to, had little impact on me.
Finally, a few miles down the road, the city walls came into view, as did the amount of people waiting to go through inspections to enter the city proper. Luckily, the queue was split into two, one for carriages and wagons, and the other for people.
Judging from the weapons and the armour that some of the people wore, I guessed that they were adventurer NPCs, as I doubted any players would be anywhere near leaving the beginner village, considering the number of minor quests you can get there. However, seeing that I cleared the goblin cave and reached the limit of how much I could level in the beginner area, it was for the best that I left when I did, as I might have sped up how quickly people left for the next areas.
"Next." A bored voice called out towards the queue of people or more specifically, me and my companions.
Darith, our appointed leader stepped forward, with us a step behind. Although Darith was good with people, I suspected that he did all the talking because none of us wanted to, so he felt responsible for doing so.
Thankfully, after a short exchange, we were let through the gate, after paying a small toll of ten copper for each person. I did wonder what the point of questioning us if they were going to let us in any way. But then it clicked, maybe there was someone who watches from somewhere and goes through bounty postings. And if there wasn't any signal, we were let through.
Either way, we made it into the crowded city streets which signified time to part ways with my new companions. Their destination was the adventurer's guild and mine was anywhere else. I needed the freedom to act, and they seemed to have become attached to me, especially Servose, as he has been eyeing me for an apprenticeship, or at least that's the way it looked to me.
We said a few words of parting and promised that if we were to bump into each other again, that we would go for a drink. Servose in particular insisted on this, and I simply accepted as I thought it would be best to remain friendly to friendly people.