Ves’ra left the immigration building and immediately went towards the next guard - she had been told they would help her if asked. Guards were easily identifiable by their armor, so she had directions for a place where Arvog could rest. Keeping up with the caravan had been hard on him.

Once she had secured him a place inside a house for flying familiars she set out. She really wanted to explore the huge human city, but humans wanted money for everything and so she opted to visit the merchant’s guild first.

There were seven streets that led directly into the middle of the city, so she returned to the first one and turned towards the middle. She was glad to be back on a main street - walking in the smaller side alleys felt a lot like walking in a narrow canyon, not something she wanted to do normally.

There was a definitive difference between the houses on the main and side streets - there were murals adorning the walls, all paint was fresh and most had some kind of shop on the ground floor. They showed lots of interesting stuff - sadly she had to get money before being able to buy stuff.

She needed about twenty minutes to get to the middle of the city, a huge plaza filled with different stands selling everything she could imagine and more. The eight biggest buildings she had seen in the city so far were surrounding it. One of those was the headquarter of the free merchant’s, though she did not know which one.

All of the eight buildings had a very distinct sign, but she didn't know the meaning of any of them. That was a problem she’d have to take care of as soon as possible - there was no way she could stand being this obviously unknowledgeable!

For now she’d have to ask one of the humans around her. She wouldn't have a problem finding a human - there were hundreds of them all around her!

The free merchants were located in the third biggest building on the main square - its sign were a bunch of crates behind a feather. She should have made the connection - the caravan was filled with crates.

She set out without further ado - she really wanted to explore the human city. Perhaps she’d even be able to get rid of her wyvern parts that would open up a great deal of space in her bag.

After entering the building through the huge doors Ves’ra felt like she stepped in a new world. All humans around her were dressed in bright clothes that no sane kobold would ever think of wearing and ran around with a sense of urgency the rest of the city lacked. She didn't really know what she was supposed to do once she was here so she decided to wait for a human to enter and copy them.

She didn't have to wait long, the next human entered only minutes after her. He was dressed differently, using the metal garment humans seemed so fond of. He approached one of the people - for there weren't only humans there - standing around the edges of the room and started speaking with her.

With her next course of action set she left the immediate vicinity of the doors and went to the next attendant.

“Hello there, are you lost? Can I help you?” The being asked, sniffing its nose in the process. The being looked a lot like a humanoid cat - full of fur and inverted knees, a nuzzle and sharp teeth. Ves’ra didn't know if she should be insulted - she knew why she was here!

“Yes you can help me, and why should I be lost?”

“Well, what would a child like you do in the free merchant's headquarters otherwise?” Now she was being insulted. Just because she wasn't as tall as all the other stupid humanoid didn't mean she was a hatchling!

“I'm a fully grown kobold and I have business here!” She hissed.

“Oh, you are no lizardkin? I'm terribly sorry, what can I do for you young lady?”

“I'm here to get my pay. I helped protect Argen of Redrisk’s caravan when we met on the road. I didn't have any identity back then so he told me to come here to pick up my pay.”

“I’ll check your story and be right back, wait for just a moment.” The cat excused herself. She didn't take long, coming back out of the door she vanished in only moments later.

“You story checks out, if you would accompany me please.”

“Sure.” They left the main hall through one of the many doors, entering a long hallway filled with dozens of doors. They entered a spacious room, filled with only a table a chair and a very broad chair with a hole for people with tails - she approved of that!

“Sit down please, do you want any refreshments while one of our employees gets your reward?”

“What do you have as refreshments?”

“Water, various fruit juices, coffee.” Ves’ra had to suppress a gag - who in their right mind would want to contaminate their drink with plants?

“What's coffee?”

“Hot water mixed with coffee beans.”

“Are those plants?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll take a hot water than.”

“Very good, this will only take a moment.” The cat left her chair and inserted magic into a table on the side of the room. Ves’ra could feel the water being sucked out of the room while she saw a transparent glass of energy coming into being.

She watched - fascinated - as water filled the energy. She’d have to try that - she didn't even know you could use energy like that!

“There you go.”

“Thank you. Can I sell something here too?” She asked.

“Depending on what you want to sell yes, I’ll have to disappoint you though, we don't need any bone or fur implements.”

“You really think I'm a savage don't you? Are all of you cats so bad?” She asked, anger seeping into her voice once again. The cat looked taken aback, all fur she was able to see standing up as she hissed at Ves’ra.

“What did you just call me?”

“Cat. If you want to insult me so can I.”

“When did I insult you you little savage, be glad I even took time for you!”

“What about all the time. Do you think me stupid enough not to notice the veiled insults, if so you aren't smarter than you think me to be.” There was a knock at the door before the situation could escalate any further, and soon a normal human entered, carrying a contraption that looked a lot like the one she had seen on the way into the city. Ves’ra spoke before the cat had a chance to speak up.

“I would like to have someone else attend to me if possible, that person didn't stop insulting me.” The man didn't bat an eye and instead turned towards the cat.

“I will attend to the young kobold than, if you have nothing against it miss Nerru.”

“Go ahead.” Just as she left the room Ves’ra heard her mutter again. “Damn savages! It can be happy I didn't throw it out with how hard it stank!”

“Would you like to file a complaint against miss Nerru?”

“No, she’s not worth the hassle. So what do I have to do?”

“I read the esteemed merchant Argen paid for a full Identity?”

“So I was told, yes.”

“Very good - if you would let me see that so I can confirm your data with the data I have been given that would be very much appreciated.” She did, inserting her energy to show it was her card, and soon enough the merchant was comparing the symbols on her plate with those on a piece of paper he took out somewhere.

“Everything seems to be in order miss Ves’ra. If you insert your card here than the money will be transferred to your account, redeemable in any house of our guild - just ask at one of the counters. I’m obliged to tell you that I have only transferred the money for the escort and a second payment will be made once all materials have been processed. Can I do anything else for you?”

“Yes, I would like to sell something.”

“I can't guarantee we will buy everything, but you can certainly show me what you have.”

She nodded and took her pack on her lap.

“Can I really put it on the table? It’s so clean and you’d have to do so again.”

“No problem, the table is enchanted.” With permission she dumped all her wyvern products on the table, causing the merchant to raise an eyebrow.

“I hope you didn't harvest those from you familiar?”

“Of course not, why would I do that?”

“How did you get them than?”

“I killed one of his parents.”

“And you still managed to bond him? That's impressive. We will certainly take those. In addition to the four hundred coins you got for escorting the caravan I could probably take all of this for five hundred coins. Though the adventurer’s guild would be more profitable.”

“That's fine for me. I don't understand your fascination with money. Can I have a quarter of that coin on hand? I don't have anything I saw nowhere where I could pay with the card.”

“Certainly. It was a pleasure doing business with you.”