There were wagons and carriages spread out, with numerous strange insect-like beasts. Large pieces of cloth and hide stretched from mounted wooden poles, creating canopies of shade around the entrance.
The city had sand-colored mud walls with a wide, open wooden gate. Camouflage?
The guards on either side of the gate must have been used to seeing adventurers on the brink of dehydration as they barely spared him a glance as he staggered into the city.
Stein lifted a hand, squinting. The city might have appeared brown on the outside, but inside everything seemed to be painted white. He stuck to the side of the road, making way for traffic while walking farther in.
Stein approached a row of shops to his left. The women running the shops watched him with a hint of fascination.
"Water," he couldn't recognise his own voice. It sounded so strange and hoarse.
One of the shop owners pointed ahead, her face a mix of pity and bewilderment. Stein followed her finger to a well at the center of a clearing.
He somehow managed to get himself there and was about to lay his fingers on it when strong arms grabbed him and pushed him back.
He was so close. There was water right in front of him. Why couldn't he take it?
Like a Zombie he charged forward mindlessly again only to be pushed back.
"One Spiro per bucket," a harsh voice instructed.
Stein's thoughts were sluggish as he tried to make sense of the words. Spiro? Bucket? Then he remembered the coins were called Spiros.
He dug his hand into his pocket producing one of the bronze coins the girl had given him. He offered it to the man who lifted it to his face inspecting it.
Stein's heart sank at the thought of it being fake, but the man turned to his companion giving a single nod. A small wooden bucket was thrust into the well and a distant hollow splash followed.
The wait was agonizing. The whole process was so slow and tiring. Stein wanted to scream at them to be faster, but there was barely any strength left in him.
A bucket full of water was placed in front of him, and he collapsed into it headfirst, gulping and choking.
When he had had his fill, he turned the bucket over his head, dousing himself in the cool water before collapsing on the spot.
"Step back or you'll get the spear!"
"Scum!"
Stein forced himself to lift his head. The guards at the well were bearing their spears, trying to drive back a small mob of boys and girls.
Like Stein, they all wore brown sacks. They were pale and bony, with cracked lips and angry, wild eyes.
"He has spiros!" one of them pointed at Stein. "He'll pay for us."
Suddenly, dozens of expectant eyes were on Stein.
One of the guards turned to him with an impatient look. "Well?"
Stein pressed a palm to his face. Why did he have to get dragged into this?
He pushed himself up into a sitting position.
"Well, are you paying or not, boy?" The guard waved his spear impatiently.
A second guard approached Stein, going down on one knee before placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Save your spiros, adventurer. These vagrants will be here again tomorrow, begging. Your money wouldn't change that."
Stein's eyes drifted toward the sorry bunch who stared at him with hope and desperation. His fingernails dug into his palm as he looked away.
He had only nine spiros. He was hungry, dirty, and had nowhere to sleep. He didn't know how much anything in this new world cost.
He got to his feet, deliberately turning his face from the crowd. He had to leave immediately.
"Please," one of them called weakly. "You are one of us."
Stein's step faltered.
"Fuck this," he cursed, then threw two coins at the guards. "Two buckets for them."
"What the hell," he muttered as he walked away. A glance back showed a chaotic scene of people shoving and pulling at each other.
The guards tried to make them form a line, but they wouldn't listen. Stein could have been one of them if he had lost all his coins to the bandits.
He didn't know whether to feel resentment at having been robbed or gratitude that he had been allowed to keep ten spiros.
The streets of the unknown city were short and narrow, blocking sunlight from reaching the ground.
In wider streets, thin sheets of linen formed canopies above stalls and some walkways.
The streets weren't empty, but they certainly held fewer people than one would expect in a city.
There were no signs of modern technology or electrical appliances, which was strange considering this world was supposed to be of a higher tier than Earth.
All Stein saw was a city struggling to survive in a barren wasteland.
He soon found himself lost in the maze that was the city. He had been lost from the start anyway.
He had set out with no destination in mind, letting fate decide his encounters.
"Join the Adventurers Guild!" a voice caught Stein's attention.
It came from a boy standing in the center of an open square. He wore a brown leather coat that reached his knees, with thick gray boots and trousers.
The hot sun cast its merciless rays on his exposed head and improper clothing choice, but he seemed to be doing just fine.
He didn't even appear to be sweating, which was outrageous. Everyone Stein had come across in this cursed world was sweating. Who the heck was this guy to not sweat?
"Free lodging, free meals!
Earn up to thirty spiros a day!
Join the Adventurers Guild!"
The boy's eyes narrowed when he noticed Stein, then his lips stretched into a smile.
"Bro, you look like you could use some guidance," he said as he approached.
Stein was taken aback by the casual way he was addressed.