Duncan sat in the common room of his inn in Chorley, talking with Pelleas and Zach from the Adventurers Guild. “I’m going to try to arrive a few days early so that I get a chance to explore Lanport,” he said. “I’ve never seen a big city, or the sea.”

Pelleas was an elf old enough to talk of things he witnessed a thousand years ago, but he appeared to be in the prime of his life. “Warriors of your level are not an unusual sight in Lanport, with the Academy of Steel there. You may be the most advanced student in the Academy, but there are many staff members at level seventy-five or beyond. The Lanport Mage Academy and Lanport Healing Academy have high-level faculty and staff, as well. Plus, there are many noble families with estates in the area, and it’s a busy port, so adventurers from all over the region will be passing through. All that is to say that you will likely feel less like you stick out there.”

Zach passed Duncan a thin leather case. “This is your formal letter of introduction to the Academy. They have already been informed that we are recommending you, and have tentatively admitted you based on that, but they will assess you themselves before making their final decision. If you’re willing to share the details from your soulgem with them, that will be the easiest way to convince them. However, it’s not unusual for people to refuse that, so they’ll be prepared to test your skills in other ways.”

Duncan thanked him and stored the case in his Personal Space Pocket, an extra-planar storage space he currently had attached to his belt buckle. He stood and shook hands with the guild representatives. “Thank you again for the recommendation. I will look forward to seeing you again. After all, I still have to beat the lower levels of the Endless Depths.” The Endless Depths was the name of a twelve-floor dungeon in the area that grew progressively more difficult as you descended. Duncan had reached the eighth floor, but had skipped threats as early as the fifth, so he had a long way to go.

“Safe travels,” said Zach. “There are plenty of communities as you approach the coast. You’ll have no trouble getting directions.” It would be a two-week flight for Duncan using his Flying Sword Technique. It was only rank three, so he still had to deal with wind resistance and that would limit his speed.

“I will see you around, Duncan,” said Pelleas. “Be well.”

Duncan took his leave and flew to the South at his top rate of speed, standing on the flat of his sword. Chorley was in the foothills of a large but old mountain range. Flying South, he skirted the mountains, staying over the foothills. It was bitterly cold, and he was grateful for the fur clothes he’d bought from the hunters and trappers around Clermont in the autumn. He’d also bought several sets of clothes suitable for a well-to-do adventurer from a seamstress in Chorley. No point in giving the rich kids another reason to snipe at the commoner.

The foothills receded to the East as he continued South, and the weather grew more pleasant. The forest gave way to grasslands and marshes. Towns and villages became more common, and he was able to sleep at an inn the last few nights he traveled. He corrected his bearing, turning Southeast toward his goal.

At last, he came to Lanport, and the sea. The city was huge and sprawling, having long since outgrown its original defensive walls. A low wooden wall surrounded the outer districts. The sea… it spread out before him to the horizon, constantly moving, deep and mysterious. It was enchanting. He had made good time and had over a week before the year began at the Academy of Steel on the first day of Spring. He spent an entire day splashing in the waves and flying out over the depths. He saw fishing ships and large trading vessels and huge shadows moving below the surface that made him fly at a safer altitude. The air was thick and fresh and smelled of salt.

Lanport smelled like a city, sadly. The docks smelled like fish and sewage, parts of the trades areas smelled of the chemicals used in dyes and in alchemy, and the smell of the tanneries made him think of Clermont. There were even some pulp mills on the outskirts of the city adding to the odors. And there was a distinctive scent to a city with millions of people in it.

Chamber pots had runes to prevent smells getting out, and many residences had toilet systems that did the same thing. Earth mages converted the nightsoil to fertilizer to use in the fields around the city, but in a city as big as Lanport there were always going to be problems with sanitation, especially in the poorer districts.

Duncan landed outside the city and walked in, having heard that local authorities everywhere frowned upon people flying in and avoiding paying the visitor toll. There was a long line up at the gate he’d chosen, but that was the case at every gate; Lanport was a popular destination. He had doffed his armor, storing it in his armband storage device – it allowed him to summon his armor directly onto his body in an instant, so he felt quite safe in doing so. He wore a good quality doublet and pantaloons with knee-high boots and a wide-brimmed hat with a feather for decoration. The seamstress had assured him he looked like a fine young gentleman.

He was a large man, thanks to his outstanding Body Affinity. He stood two meters tall, a head taller than most men, and had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and well-defined musculature. He had a plain, youthful face, with no beard or moustache, dark eyes, and black hair that he kept closely cropped so as not to get caught between his helmet and his gorget or cuirass. Thanks to years of martial training, and the aforementioned outstanding Body Affinity, he moved like a predator, and he had to suppress his aura lest it make inexperienced people uncomfortable or afraid.

When it was his turn to enter the city, the Level 24 Warrior on guard addressed him. “Hail, Warrior. Your reason for entering Lanport?”

“I’m with the Adventurers Guild,” Duncan said, showing his medallion. Easier than explaining I’m here for the Academy. “I’m checking in with the local branch.”

“Very well, two silver admittance fee; get your chit stamped wherever you’re staying,” the guard replied. Two silver! Duncan paid the fee and entered the city with the chit the guard gave him stored in his storage device.

Duncan bought some questionable-looking meat on a stick from a street vendor and asked where the Academy of Steel was located. It turned out to be outside the city proper, on a massive plot of land to the East. The Adventurers Guild had a large building in the inner city on one of the main squares; it would take him an hour to walk there. “I don’t see anyone flying. Is there a rule against it?” he asked.

“Strictly forbidden,” the vendor said. “Else we’d have nobles and adventurers blacking out the sky, begging your pardon.”

“Understood,” Duncan sighed, and handed the man a couple of extra copper bits before making his way through the crowds towards the guild hall. Several people bumped into him as he walked, and he considered unleashing his aura to keep a distance clear around him but decided that would probably cause a scene.

A barefoot urchin spoke to him, “Hey mister, did someone steal your coin purse?”

“No,” he said, “Why do you ask?”

“Well, you look like a mark and you ain’t got one,” the kid said, snickering. “You’re dressed like a rube, and you’re looking around like you’re lost.”

When even the street urchins think you look like a victim, your fashion may not be exactly what you’d intended. “I see,” he said. He held up a hand and a silver coin appeared in it. “Can you lead me to a tailor who can make me look less like a mark?”

The urchin’s eyes bulged. “I sure can, mister! Follow me.”

“Just make sure you lead me to a tailor, not to some thugs whom I would doubtless kill for trying to rob me,” Duncan added.

The child nodded and led him into a crafting and trade district then pointed to a tailor shop. “Old man Gerint’ll set you straight. He dresses all the noble pricks. Listen, mister, I’ll be done by the guards if they catch me in this district.”

Duncan tossed him the silver and the child ran off as though the guards were already chasing him. Duncan entered the tailor shop and was greeted by a dour-looking man. “What can we do for you, young Warrior?”

“I’m told I look like a rube. I’m about to enroll in the Academy of Steel and I’d prefer not to give the young lords a reason to pick on the stranger in their midst,” said Duncan.

The Level 26 Tradesman snorted indelicately, “Those hellions don’t need a reason. But I suspect your level would give them pause all on its own. Still, we can certainly help you with clothes that will let you fit in better. How many sets will you be needing? The academy provides uniforms, so you won’t need day to day wear.”

Nice of him to mention that. “One immediately, and two others I can pick up later?” he suggested.

“There is a price premium on immediately, I’m afraid, but we can manage if that doesn’t deter you. Do you have something particular in mind?” the shopkeeper asked.

“I’ll let you decide and will just mention your establishment should someone comment on the clothes. I’m more at home in a dungeon than in social situations,” Duncan said.

“I see. Well, then, three outfits, one immediately. Four gold, and I’ll ensure no one has any cause to criticize the way you dress. I will acquire the boots and hats as well.”

Duncan coughed. Fashion is pricey. Then, with a shrug he produced four gold coins and handed them to the tailor. I should probably try that haggling thing, but the price is essentially meaningless to me. “I don’t haggle. I’m going to just assume your work will be worth the price.”

The tailor nodded emphatically. “It will indeed, sir.”

It turned out that immediately meant three hours later, after a pair of assistants had measured him thoroughly and been sent out to acquire the hat and boots for the immediate outfit. Still, in the end he wound up dressed in much finer clothes than he’d been wearing, in a similar style, though more restrained in terms of color. He arranged to pick up the other two outfits in a week and continued on his way to the guild hall.

He had no trouble finding the guild hall, getting directions from another street vendor selling a slightly higher quality variety of meat on a stick. Once there, he checked in, told them he’d likely be in the area for a while, and asked for directions to the Academy of Steel. It was getting late, so he took a room at a nearby inn and spent the evening meditating.