Here's chapter 3 guys, hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 3: Aurora’s Trial I (Part 2)

-7 years in the past-

A child sitting on a stool and reading a book

On the table there were two more books, but it laid closed. The books are similar, black colored leather that covers the front, the back and the joint section and with the pages that are yellowish, marks that it are fairly old. The boy is reading attentively the pages that are written with messy handwriting depicting in short sentences the drawings that appear, with every page that is turned one could think that more than a book, it is a big and long notebook. What are depicted in the drawings are beasts, and the sentences that accompany them shortly but surely transmit crucial information about said beasts. Things such as the name, where they live, size and how gender affects it, if they’re of the solitary type or work in packs, how do they behave in a specific time of the year, etc.

While reading, the boy shot short lived gazes to the figure that was behind him, a shape that was facing the small chimney of the room. A man with a big frame and the silhouette that resulted from the fire accented his presence in that small space

“Is something wrong Lean? Do you need me to tell what is written or what some word means?”

A deep yet serene voice escaped from the man, and with his inquiry he turned his head to look at the boy that had lowered the book on the table yet his hands were holding it still

“Father…do you remember…a year ago when I told you that I wanted to be a hunter?”

“Of course I remember…but… do you?”

Lean finally closed the book and left it on the table, he then rotated in the stool to match the gaze of Reidmo. After some sounds coming from the lumber being burnt in the chimney Lean opened his mouth again

“Is it really no good until I’m 13?”

“That’s right, and why do you have to wait until then?”

“…To have a body grown enough to start the training…”

“Good to know that you remember. So… what it is that you want from me?”

“…”

Lean knew that he had to wait 2 more years, if his father told him to wait then it was a reason enough to wait, still, he wanted to say more but casted his gaze upon the floor and remained like that for a while

*chuckle*

“Come here Lean”

At the small chuckle he raised his vision, took the stool where he was sitting and placed it next to his father’s, now both were facing the small bonfire

“I know that you want to be out there hunting with me, but it’s too early…wait a little more and before you know it, time will pass in a heartbeat... Is it so boring learning about the beasts in the books?”

“IT’S NOT BORING! I like the books you wrote father! There are so many things to learn!! It’s just…I want to do something more…exciting too…”

So much for the outburst of the child, nearing the end his voice was losing all of its strength becoming a low whisper that melted in the air, however Reidmo heard it very clear, grinning he rested his left palm on Lean’s head and started to rub it making a mess out of his hair

“Ah! What are you doing?!”

“Hahahaha, so you feel like doing something more exciting eh? Aren’t you something yourself? Hahahah!”

A little embarrassed for the small teasing of his father, Lean used the opportunity to ask something about Reidmo himself

“Hey dad… why did you become a hunter?”

The question made Reidmo stop his action, and shortly started to slowly caress his son’s head again but now a tranquil face replaced the quizzical look he had before

“Well…there are various reasons, but what sealed the deal were the beasts I guess…”

“The beasts?”

“Yeah, I like beasts. What about you Lean, do you like them?”

There was a short pause until Lean spoke

“Well…aren’t they delicious?”

*CRACK*

As if feeling the danger of the words, the small bonfire made a sound not befitting its size, also a strong gust of wind shook the cabin and nearby trees, making numerous rustling sounds of leaves rubbing each other

*Pfffffft….buahahahahaah!!!*

“Eh? What’s so funny?”

“Ah…that was a good laugh… (but leaving the funny feelings aside, now I feel bad for the beasts 2 years from now on).

But you know that beasts aren’t only good on plates right Lean?”

“Eh? They are?”

With the innocent yet inquiring gaze that was looking him straight, Reidmo made another outburst

“HAHAHAHA!! I guess the next 2 years are going to pass much faster than I originally though”

…

…

…

- Back to the present, 13th of Chaos –

“(Beasts are only good on plates uh… i guess I used to think like that… maybe that man thinks of them as nothing but carriers that follow his every order…)”

Lean advanced through the multitude and finally entering the perimeters of the city, the mass of people and beasts lessened and permitted a more fluent movement

While walking, Lean recalled two more things and stopped in his tracks holding his temple with his right hand

“…you will learn a thing or two there about how society or the world works…”

“…live in Veritas, learn everything you can…”

“(Father and Aurora were on mark, I won’t deny that my emotions got the better off me back there, but it’s true that I took action with zero prior knowledge… I need to see everything for myself first and after building some experience I will know how to act…okay, that’s it for my plan of action for the next couple of days, what I need to do right now would be…)”

*gururururu*

“(Yep…finding something to eat first, after that lets search for a place and make it the base of operations, I don’t want to sleep in the open…if it comes to that, maybe I’ll be sleeping on a rooftop)”

With new resolution and goal planned, Lean restarted his march towards the inwards of Veritas

It didn’t take him much time to find a food stall, the scent of meat being cooked gave it away for a starving Lean that relied on his senses to hunt in the forest be it day or night, so he rushed to the place but he encountered his first enemy, an enemy that would bring despair to those that are not prepared enough to face it

It was a row of people

With anguish Lean waited and when his turn came, he was riding on his last strings of reason, the vendor noticed the state in which Lean was and skillfully prepared a meat skewer right away, when he presented it to Lean it was stolen from his hands and devoured in a fast pace, Lean also ignored that he used both hands to hold the skewer, so his luggage fell to the floor

“Woah... calm down boy, it isn’t going anywhere and it’s piping hot!”

Without listening, Lean ate the skewer greedily and asked for seconds which he devoured it again as if it was the last meat skewer on the world and he would not share anything of it. Finally calming down, Lean regained some of his humanity back and talked with the vendor

“Ah….that was glorious…thank you old man! You saved me!”

“No problem kiddo, but you better pay for those with the same enthusiasm…also you dropped your things…”

“Ah! Thanks! Then… how much is it?”

Lean didn’t pick the items up, but organized them near his left foot and after that he faced the man ready to pay

“7 eri for each skewer, that amounts to 14 eri in total boy”

“Okay, here’s 1 lurji”

“Here’s your change of 6 eri, thanks for your patronage young lad, now move to the side, there are others that want to eat too kid and be sure to pick your things”

“Sure, I will ask for some directions although”

“Sure sure…”

While the man managed his sales, Lean put the change in the pouch and now with his luggage in his left arm, decided to continue his path

“Do you know of a place where I can rest for some days?”

“A traveler uh... If you are tight with money go to the hostel that is at the end of this road you can’t miss it… and if you can spend a little, inn Bards&Beers is the best bet in this block of the city, when you reach the first intersection turn right and again reach for the end of the path, it has a grand signboard…”

“I see, thank you old man, now give me another skewer please!”

“Weren’t you full already?!”

“Yeah, but watching all of the people eat those made me hungry again…”

“Okay, 7 eri…”

In the end Lean ate 3 more meat skewers, the man had a variety of skewers to offer, with vegetables or with fruits, others were mixed playing with sweet and salty flavours, but Lean only turned to the juicy, firm and rich seasoned meat

Lean now with his stomach filled with happiness, moved forward and when he reached the first intersection, after some deliberation, decided to go to Bards&Beers. When he checked the pouch before he counted that he had some money to spare, in total he has 14 eri 16 lurji and 10 jaos

In Nemidos, the different states namely: Iracundos, Rente, Arsebeilt, Gedos, Schlie, Staberdurg, MinamiYiwang and Damia Valley; covenanted a monetary system of four types of coins and two types of papers, the currency goes like eri 1 lurji, 20 lurji -> 1 jaos, 10 jaos -> 1 vane, 100 vane -> 1 ri and 100 ri -> 1 hari. The coins are the first four mentioned leaving the last two the billets positioning.

It took him a good hour to reach the place but as the stall owner said, the inn had a very catchy signboard, with a lute and a beer jar, also the building was very large compared to the houses and other shops. Entering it Lean realized why the inn was called Bards&Beers. Music, music resonated with many bards singing while playing their instruments and doing some plays with each other or inviting people of the audience, the people on the tables were merrily chatting and drinking. It was a warm atmosphere and surely it stunned Lean for some seconds until a waitress came and brought him back to reality

“Welcome to Bards&Beers! Dear costumer, right now there aren’t any vacant seats, if you have come to have lunch you will have to wait, is that fine?”

A fine voice came out from the mouth of the young waitress, she had light golden colored hair, and the crop hairstyle suited her. She was shorter than Lean maybe around 1m 62cm, a slender build but with a nice waist, the attire that she wore had frills all over the upper dress, it has open shoulders and a ᴧ cut in the front showing some skin and her belly button. With short brown trousers and high white socks that go a little over the knees and brown leather shoes.

Lean had been brought back to reality only to fell in other type of daze, but managed to respond

“Ah…that won’t be a problem, I have come to check if there is a vacant room…”

“In that case, please follow me I will guide you to the check-in counter”

When they reached it the waitress made a bow and parted to reunite with the rest of the personnel and Lean now faced the receptionist, an elegant adult woman that had long straight hair. Particularly the eyes were bewitching, it were dark purple and seemed to draw you in

“What’s your business here boy? If you came to watch the girls here… it will cost you a sum…”

The woman rested her head on her left palm while talking half serious and half teasing and evaluated the potential customer, she had keen senses for possible ‘troublesome ones’

“Ah, yes, I have come to rent a room, is there any available?”

“(He doesn’t seem to be one of those… but his presence is a little odd, maybe I should try other approach) Yes, there are some vacancies but this is not some cheap inn…”

“I heard something about it, but how much is it?”

“A single room will cost you 1 jaos and 10 lurji per night, but it includes two meals, breakfast and dinner and bath”

“Then I will rent the room for 5 nights, here’s 7 jaos and 10 lurji”

“Okay, I have received the payment, here’s the key. The simple rooms are in the second and third floors, yours is at the end of the corridor once you enter the second floor. The bath is open until 00:00 pm and is located at the end of the corridor of this entrance… here’s a little advice, if you want a tranquil breakfast you better wake up early, as for dinner, you better give it up , the kitchen closes at 21:00 and is crowed till the end”

“That won’t be a problem, I like this atmosphere… I will take my luggage to the room and go out a little”

“Do what you will, but don’t cause trouble to other customers or the personnel, okay?”

“Yes”

Lean was about to leave but the woman called him again

“Ah boy!”

“Yes?”

“This was delayed but welcome to Bards&Beers!! I’m Veena this inn’s owner”

“Ah, thank you. I’m Lean and i’ll be in your care for some days”

After the short greeting Lean went to the second floor, the key to his room indicated the room number 9. Inside the habitation, Lean put the books and the box on the desk and left again, reaching to Veena in the first floor

“Do you need something Lean?”

“Yes, I want to buy a change of clothes”

…

…

“That will be 2 jaos and 3 lurji young customer”

“Okay”

“Thanks for your patronage”

“(This shop sure is a good find, 6 shirts and 3 shorts and 3 pairs of socks for only 2 jaos and 3 lurji… it was a good decision to ask Veena, now I won’t need to worry about the clothes. Let’s go back for now, I will take it easy and rest a little, I don’t know why but I’m feeling a little dizzy and my head hurts a little…)”

Lean did not waste time and walked back to Bards&Beers holding his temple with his right hand and massaging it but the pain did not fade or subsided at all and kept increasing little by little

“Welcome to Bards&Beers! Ah! It’s the young customer from before, welcome b- eh?”

Who greeted him was the young waitress from before, but Lean passed by her with unsteady footsteps ignoring her completely.

“Hey, at least greet back!”

The waitress got a little annoyed and rushed past Lean to make him stop and reprimand him, but now that she was in front she could see that Lean was not in a good condition

Lean could not react to the sudden blocking of the waitress and trying to go past her by going to the left, at the last moment, he tripped but the waitress held him and noticed

“Eh?! You’re burning!! Owner! A costumer is feeling ill please come here!”

With the shout of the girl, Veena appeared and seeing the condition of Lean she prompted some orders

“He is staying in Room 9, help him reach there and put him in the bed I will go shortly after”

With difficulty the girl helped Lean reach his room and made him lay in the bed, with good timing Veena entered too

“Good job Angel, you can go now, your shift ends in two more hours right?”

“Ah, yes, thank you Owner but what about him?”

“Lean, Well… I will take care of him for now, if anything needs of my attention call for me, okay?”

“Yes! I’ll be going now”

With Angel leaving the room, Veena took the chair and sat close to the bed

“Well… what to do with you boy?”

She asked him, but knew he would not answer back so she sat there in silence.