Feladonia....my breath was blown away.

Let me gather my thoughts.

Beautiful.

If you have seen 300 and thought Sparta was the same as Feladonia then you are mistaken.

Feladonia is beautiful. Beyond the hundred feet high ostentatiously imposing walls…what lays inside is truly beautiful…I can see low hills and waterfalls, small streams…and vast stretches of field….grass…trees…I wouldn’t believe we are surrounded by desert after seeing this.

There were farms….small cottages….children….

So many humans…I could hear a lady sing…and play the harp.

It sounded like a sad but very beautiful song…I did not understand it but I felt it.

It was truly a beautiful song. I would have cried if I could.

I was brought to reality with a small tug on my cuffs. Gustav pulled me.

“Come.” He said.

So this is Feladonia.

The image of Sparta that I had in my head was completely destroyed.

It more like Vienna or Hungary…in our world’s equivalent.

Stone cobbled streets, bustling medieval mood, delicious food aroma…

“Pizza! Pizza! Santo Pizza!”

I froze.

Did the man across the street just say pizza? Or did I imagine it?

“Pizza!” He repeated again.

I dragged Gustav with me. I am curious, it can’t be possible….

Impossible…

They had pizza in this world.

From the pictures drawn on the posters, it definitely resembled a pizza…

But how….

It took me less than a second to figure it out…I actually felt dumb for not figuring it out sooner.

It was us, the adventurers who probably introduced such things from our world to this world…

I should have figured it out when I saw the security at the fortress…it was just too modern…

So does Feladonia hate adventures or like us?

I think the Abbe lied to me….however, I can’t figure out why….why would he lie to me about such a stuff. What was he hoping to accomplish by lying to me? I cannot figure it. Especially since he has now sent back Gustav to collect me.

I am on my guard but I am not overly worried…must be some stupid reason.

Gustav tugged me again. “Come!” He insisted. It seems he was tired of being dragged off like this.

I simply followed him quietly till we reached an inn; the Blue Rose.

It seemed like a quite popular joint, since their diner was completely packed even during the day.

I just somehow managed to find an empty table and quickly occupied it before anyone else could. As I sat … “Here you are.” A cute waitress said to me as she served water to me…

Wait is that Maylon?

I stare at the woman closely….

She notices I am staring…her eyes then trail to Gustav who was sitting next to me.

Her eyes widen…before she faints.

Totally Maylon.

She is in a maid outfit….yes the cliché maid outfits that we see anime.

So delicious. I would have gobbled her had it not been the death stare I was receiving from everyone at the inn. A man draped in a cloak and a hot woman faints while standing near him…suspicious circumstances.

I would have explained myself but someone else came to my rescue.

“Don’t worry….I saw everything….he didn’t do anything.” An elf explained for me. “She just fainted…”

The silence broke and people resumed to what they were doing.

Someone from the inn staff came and collected Maylon.

“Thanks.” I said as I looked at the elf man suspiciously.

“No no….these things can happen.” The elf said as he quickly grabbed a chair beside mine.

“I see.”

“Are you out of town? Never seen you here before…”

“Yes…out of town…” I don’t like overly friendly people. This elf seems to be the type which could spell trouble later on.

“Are you a singer? Some sort of celebrity?” The elf continues questioning.

I am sure he isn’t bad at heart…but I don’t like being interrogated. I also find it weird that he knows things like singers and celebrities. I find it disturbing that he is aware of our culture…. women fainting when they meet celebrities….that culture….Maybe he is an adventurer?

“No…” I reply while keeping my guard.

“Then you must be a monster to have that effect on her? Are you some bad person?” The elf joked.

His words got to me. I am on my nerves here. I know he is joking but did his words have some kind of double meaning? Does he know? Can he sense I am a monster?

“You know her right? That is why she fainted when she saw you?” The elf continues questioning.

“Yes…I know her grandfather…I have some business with him.” That’s the best I can come up with right now.

“Two Rockafellas!” The elf shouts out to the bar tender.

Did he just buy me a drink?

The bar tender served some drink in an earthen glass and sent it along the waiters to our side.

“Drink up drink up!” The elf said heartily.

I don’t trust people….they need to earn my trust.

“I can’t…”

“Why not?”

“I am on duty. I must protect this child.”

“Oh I see. The elf said while frowning. Well more for me!” He quickly gulped down his drink and then gulped down the one he got for me.

His behaviour was so human like….I trust the Abbe….but I also don’t trust him….

“Are you a human?” I ask.

“Me?” He looked at me as if I were blind. “See the ears? Long? Pointed? Pure elf.”

I don’t think he understood me.

“Are you an adventurer?” I quietly whisper.

He spat out whatever he was drinking and then began cursing in some unknown language.

How do I know he was cursing? He looked pretty mad and was yelling at the top of his lungs while looking at me.

“HOW DARE YOU CALL ME THAT!” The elf went on and on and on.

Okay. I get it. Adventures are taboo.

Being an adventurer is wrong.

So to that extent the Abbe has vindicated himself…the Empire and its people hate adventurers….then who was that person I saw? And that black butler?

***

I asked for more alcohol to buy back peace. This was the second time everyone in the inn was staring at me. This time I received the death stare for breaking the peace.

Yes, I get it! Don’t break the peace.

As soon as the alcohol arrived the elf shut up and began drinking again.

I took the opportunity to apologize to him. “I am sorry….you just said something things which were very…”

“I understand.” The elf replied. “I have been a guardian…so it might be the influence of my ex-master.”

“Aha…” I could only say.

Now I would think the elf would go away…but he stayed on.

“So what really brings you here?” The elf asked with a sly smile.

I knew it, this damned elf is trouble.

“I am looking for someone…” I reply.

“Was she the one?” The elf asks while sipping his drink.

“No…it’s a small boy…” I reply.

The elf frowns. “They don’t like stuff like that.”

I froze…did he just ….the mother of all misunderstandings... “ GOD NO!”

If he could see my face…it would be reading; shock.

“Oh sorry…” The elf said as he lowered his face in embarrassment.

Yup, he was fairly drunk.

“If you find it difficult to search for him…post in Guild Association…they will help.” He said as he got up slowly to leave.

Finally, he left.

Just when I thought, I could relax, another cute waitress turned up at my table.

“Here you are!” She said cutely.

It was bill receipt.

“242 Ketas!” She chirped.

I know I have been duped.

I told you overly friendly people spell trouble.

“I don’t know him…” I tried to explain.

But the stare I got from the waitress was it didn’t look like that to us.

Before, I could protest and say I don’t have any money someone cut in.

“I’ll pay for him.”

The voice was familiar.

I look up; it’s the Abbe Faria.