The three of us rested in silence for the remaining hour before the sun's rays drifted down past the branches that was acting as our shade, and I decided it was time to get going. It was probably around six o’clock now,and I didn’t want to be caught outside at night in a world full of ridiculous monsters, and likely some carnivorous plant life as well. Strong or not, I’d rather not sleep out here, and the town is hopefully not much further off, and we may still be able to make it before nightfall.

Ella yawned widely as I woke her stretching her arms and legs out in awkward directions as I carefully rubbed her shoulder while whispering “Time to get up” in her ear. With a small amount of complaint, I hoisted the pouting elf off the ground, her wrapping her arms around my neck to gain more security, and we set off towards the town. We were able to resume our previous pace with relative ease, and made it to our destination before nightfall.

I paused as it came into view, measuring it with my studious gaze and coming to the conclusion that this was not a town, but a city. A rather large one at that, surrounded by massive walls made of some sort of steel, but was finely crafted unlike the ogre’s ship, and was most likely many feet thick. Peaking over the top of the awe-inspiring wall were a couple of pointed rooftops, which made me strongly consider the possibility of this being a city of giants, since just the walls were approaching skyscraper height and the structures within were even more impressive. However, my thoughts of giants were hampered when I saw the normal-sized group of well-decorated officers standing just outside of a gate that made them look similar to small coins in comparison.

We approached, and I put Ella down to walk on her own, sustaining only minor burns thanks to my new body as one of the guards came out to meet us.

“Hey, you there! What’s your business?”

The soldier was wearing shiny bronze armor that had clearly been taken good care of, and wielded a spear, holding it warily in front of him with suspicious eyes. I noticed a small green cloth hanging from his leather belt, displaying the image of a white ring hovering in black fire. There was something written on the ring, but I couldn’t read it due to the constant swaying caused by the wind and the man’s jerky movements, so I simply let it be and returned to the issue at hand.

“We’re just passing through, and need somewhere to stay.”

I replied, but the soldier didn’t drop his guard or soften the suspicious look on his face, continuing to pry with both his voice and stance.

“I see the sky-dweller, but what race are the two of you?”

That’s right... I’m not supposed to exist in this world, and Brook is apparently something unusual in this world too. Now that I look at her, she seems similar to a human aside from her pointed fangs, but I had assumed she was just a vampire or something since it never came up in conversation. After a moment’s hesitation to figure out what to say, I responded with all the confidence I could muster.

“I am an elf, though a rare genetic mutation caused my ears to be rounded, and my facial structure to be more stout, which is likely the cause of your confusion. As for my friend here, she doesn’t talk much, and I am still unsure of her race, however I can vouch for her character and take her as my responsibility after we enter.”

I tried to come off as intelligent and trustworthy, but I’m pretty sure I just sounded like an idiot with a poorly hidden ego. Either way, I seemed to get my point across, and the soldier relaxed his grip on the spear, lifting it up, then planting it firmly at his side as the guards behind him made a path for us. The soldier’s eyes still seemed suspicious, and watched my every move meticulously as if I were planning on a surprise attack. I began to feel a little uncomfortable, but placed my hand on my head, feeling the comforting leathery surface of my hat hugging my head, and was able to remain visibly unfazed by the man.

“Aside from your odd looks, I have little reason to keep you out, but be wary of your actions. There are reports of powerful monsters sneaking over the gate and into the city, so any suspicious acts will not be tolerated. Remember this, and you should be fine. It is a big city after all, and there are many people here with varying backstories wandering around freely, so you most likely won’t be subject to any sort of discrimination due to your odd looks.”

A smaller gate made on the side of the much larger one creaked open, leaning heavily on it’s powerful hinges as the city beyond revealed itself. We began walking toward it, Ella clinging tightly to my arm with visible and audible excitement while Brook simply stared ahead with her usual blank look.

“Welcome to Balm’ak, City of the Gods!”

The soldier shouted out behind us as we entered the door, his voice fading away as the overwhelming magnitude of the city was fully revealed. Unlike the elven ship, each building seemed to be individualistically designed to fit each owner’s needs or personally style. They ranged from some the size of small cottages, to skyscrapers, some were wide, short, long, round, square, triangle, and even some odd shapes that I couldn’t recognize. People rushed about, performing various tasks for many different reasons that the three of us would likely never know.

I noticed many of the people were of races I thought only existed in fairy tales, and some I wasn’t even able to identify. I noticed the majority of the people were half-human and half-animal, though they came in many different species such as cat-people, wolf-people, large bear-like people, and one or two minotaurs casually strolling about. Most of these people dwarfed me in size two or three times over, giving me the feeling of being submerged underwater, though no one seemed to pay much attention to us which was a nice change of pace.

Moving through the crowd of people, I made sure to keep Ella and Brook close, grabbing hold of each of their hands while feeling some of the social energy drain from me. We navigated the ever-changing labyrinth for several minutes before we came to a decently large building about the size of a three-story mansion, though it seemed poorly maintained and unfit for a rich person. We stopped, reading the sign that hung out over the crowd displaying the image of a bed with the words [Wayfarer’s Lodge] imprinted on it with bold white letters.

Thank god, an inn. After pushing through a small group of people we made our way inside, though the noise and density of people didn’t seem to change much from outside. I was a bit worried we wouldn’t have somewhere to stay as I approached the bar, craning due to the counter being about the same height as my head.

“Excuse me.”

I spoke while holding my hand up in the air to catch the bartender’s attention, releasing Brook’s hand in the process since she was less likely to be carried away. The bartender noticed me, and I returned my hand to it’s previous resting position where it was quickly snatched by the silver-haired girl, and brought close. I suppose that makes sense, since she probably doesn’t have much experience with creatures other than ogres. Heck, I have to imagine them as humans in order to keep from staring myself, though even then, these beings are incredible and very entertaining to watch.

“Hello, there! How may ah help you?”

A large wolf-man looked down at me from the other side of the counter, a big smile on his face as he spoke with an accent that sounded like one from Ireland back on earth. Memories are coming back more quickly now, passively surfacing in my mind as I come across things that seem familiar.

“Do you have any room?”

I asked above the noise that filled the background, leaning forward in hopes to project my voice more clearly to the bartender. The wolf-man just smiled with his humanoid face, puffy white ears twitching on his head as his gaze drifted to the girls at my sides, and nodded, holding up a single finger. Only one room in this whole place? Seriously? Ah... wait a second... I don’t have any money. I couldn’t get a room even if I wanted to.

I was about to awkwardly apologize for interrupting him, but that’s when Ella stepped in front of me, pulling three small copper coins out of a pocket I could barely even see. Seriously, it was just a line on her skirt.

“We’ll take it.”

Well, she was pretty well-known back on the elf-ship, so she probably had quite a bit of pocket change, but I still feel bad making her pay for the room. I need to find a way to make an income, preferably hunting monsters somehow since I don’t know much else about this world. I wonder if there is some sort of guild thing here...

“Where did a sky-dweller get surface-dweller currency?”

The bartender asked Ella nonchalantly, which piqued my interest since I was still new to this world’s economy. I guess the elves, along with any other flying cities, have a separate currency system than the so-called surface-dwellers. If that’s the case, then where did Ella get it? The only other surface place we’ve been was... no way... did she steal it from that fat ogre? I look over at Ella, who winked at me while putting her index finger in front of her lips.

“It’s a secret.”

What the hell... that means she stole it while still his captive. This girl needs to learn where the line is before something bad happens. I guess I’ll fill her in on real life when I ask her more about this world and it’s workings.

With a nod to the bartender, who had given me a key with a room number on it, I turned, gently pulling the girls behind me to the room indicated on the key. We settled in, though we didn’t have much more than the clothes on our backs and whatever Ellis was hiding in her Mary Poppins pockets. The room was pretty small, with bare walls, and one queen-sized bed that acted as the only furnishing in the entire area.

I opted to sleep on the floor, convincing them that I was much more comfortable there than on a squishy bed, and they eventually submitted. It wasn’t a lie, I would be up all night if I had made those girls sleep on the floor while I slept on a soft, warm bed, so this was much better.

“Don’t get under the covers now! You have to wash first!”

Ella complained about Brook’s state, which I had almost forgotten about during the insanity of finding a place to stay. Not only did Brook need a bath, but she also needed new clothes and probably some food as well considering how thin she was. I am such an idiot, I really need to pay more attention to these kinds of things. I looked around the room once again, and it was as I suspected; there was no bathroom here, and we would probably have to go to some public bathing area. Well, we need to go shopping anyway, since we need to at least get night clothes, and probably something to wear for tomorrow as well.

“Ella’s right. Let’s go find out where we can bathe and get some clothes. If your hungry, and Ella has enough money, we can also grab something to eat while we’re out.”

“Yay, a date!”

I coughed, forcefully holding the blush back from my face with all of the social power I could muster. I really am testing my limits here, ever since I came here it seems like I keep on getting into situations where I’m at the center of attention. I’m sure it will be alright from now on as long as I keep a low profile and tuck my ears into my hat to hide my differences.

I pushed my hat down on my head while the tips of my ears slid under it before turning toward the door and beginning to make my exit. The girls followed closely, Ella grabbing my left hand while Brook tightly gripped the back of my cloak in her small, yet powerful, fists. Now that we were ready, I opened the door, and the three of us made our exit, moving quickly and with intention as we walked across the bar, and straight out the front door.

It was about eight thirty or so, though I was just guessing since there wasn’t any way to tell time that I know of, and the streets were slowly draining of people, allowing us to see the surrounding buildings more clearly. It didn’t take us long to find a building with a small swinging sign out front that read [The Balm’ak Public Wash], and had a short list under it with admission fees, the cheapest being five small coppers while the most expensive was one steel coin.

Naturally, I suggested taking the cheaper option, however the [Commoner’s Shared Bath] title it had made me hesitate. Actually, unless you rent a private bath, all of the possibilities here are shared by both genders without any sort of separation! Ah... this is going to be pretty troublesome, especially since I’m not even sure if Ella knows the difference between boys and girls yet, and I really don’t want to have that conversation tonight.

“We don’t need a bath! I can clean with magic!”

Ella said something surprising, which actually made me feel relieved. Of course! There is magic in this world, and we have, what I assume is, a top-class mage standing right in front of us! This will help save money and delay the birds and bees conversation until much later.

“You choose using magic over being naked with master? You surprise me with your sudden maturity.”

Brook complimented Ella on her mature decision, however Ella seemed disappointed for some reason, and the familiar pouty look reappeared on her face. I don’t really understand girls’ thought process, but I did understand my innate passion for saving money via cheap methods and tricks. It probably had something to do with my past life’s oppressive debt, though no specific memories came to mind like the other times. A couple of images seemed to pass, but they were fleeting and I was unable to catch them before they returned to the part of my mind that had been locked away from me.

Anyway, this was great news and Ella deserves a little praise for her suggestion, though it did come a little late. I reached out, patting the elf gently on her head, and her usual optimistic self resurfaced through the disappointment. She seemed to be in an almost drunk state of mind when I did this, giggling and leaning into my hand, kind of like a cat does when it wants attention.

“Good job Ella, we should probably get cleaned up befo-?”

I felt something shift off to my right, something big. I heard heavy breathing coming from a dark part of the street behind the bathing house as if some monster was lurking, hiding in wait for it’s prey. This isn’t good. I really don’t want to attract attention or cause any damages that I will have to pay for in the future, so we should leave before we get caught up in a fight.

Luckily, the girls seemed to notice it too, though it was odd how it just appeared without warning or any apparent ability to hide it’s presence, however I didn’t really have time to think about that right now. I turned, grabbing each of the girl’s hands, and pulled them along, this time making sure there was no reason for me to stay behind and fight.

The monster shifted again, then began to move in our direction, lumbering down the street while staying hidden from my sight. I could get the basic outline of it from the air that moved and swirled around it, noticing it’s humanoid shape and crude movements that made it seem like something out of a horror story. It’s raspy breath sped up slightly, and it’s pace quickened as if it had become excited at my decision to leave. The streets had emptied, and the three of us were the only ones left, fleeing from a monster that would be terrifying if we were normal people. However, any one of us could likely take it down with ease, but didn’t want to risk collateral damage and expenses that could put me deep into debt in this world as well.

I released the girls’ hands, and settled with letting them run in front of me so we could move at a faster pace, though the buildings around us limited our overall speed. The monster seemed to have no trouble navigating the buildings, it’s once clumsy movements becoming refined as it was likely anticipating our deaths at it’s hands.

We were still a little ways away from the [Wayfarer’s Lodge] and the creature would most definitely be able to catch up to us before we reached it. I have to fight it. Damn it, I guess I could hit it upwards, though it would only come back down, and break things. Hitting it over the walls would create a shockwave, and downward would shatter the concrete, both of which would most likely end with a couple of buildings collapsing. Maybe if I get swallowed by it, then killed it from the inside? I suppose the worst thing that could happen then is getting forced to clean up the mess, and Ella could probably use her magic to do that somehow. Okay, that’s what I’ll go for, hopefully it decides to eat me.

I stopped, turning to face the monster while mentally preparing to be eaten, when something flew past my head and smashed into the monster. A brilliant white light lit up the street revealing a large, green monster about fifteen to twenty feet tall, covered in green slime that dripped down to the dirt, then sizzled as it buried itself in the ground. Sticking out of the creature’s forehead region was a white staff, which also acted as the source of the brilliant light.

Shocked by the sudden blow, the monster stood in place, dumbfounded. The light grew brighter, flashed, then disappeared along with the monster, and the staff fell to the ground clattering as it landed. Still trying to figure out what just happened, I stared at the staff with an intrigued look, weighing the idea of whether or not I should pick it up.

“You should be more careful when out at night.”

The voice came from behind me, and the staff lifted off the ground, then hurled itself in the mysterious voice’s direction as if to return to it’s rightful owner. I turned to see who it was when I was met by a beautiful girl about nineteen years old wearing a silver robe that seemed to be able to reflect light even in the darkest of crevices. However, that is not what caught the majority of my attention... no, my eyes were focused on the two large, white bunny ears that stuck about two feet out from her solid white hair.

Standing in a pose that projected confidence, the girl propped her staff up, holding it out in front of her in a gesture I didn’t really understand, but she didn’t seem to be threatening me, so I decided to ignore it for now and focus on her ears.

“Your girlfriend is quite beautiful, though your slave looks rather abused...”

I continued to stare at her ridiculous bunny ears in awe as the temptation to touch them growing inside me, and I completely missed what she said. Her face showed a bit of irritation at my silence, but calmed down, and introduced herself with a patient voice.

“I am known as Grace Divilet, the Hero of Balm’ak, Protector of the Weak, and Slayer of Dragons. I am the Chosen One of the Gods, and was given the divine power of the Goddess of Life. My brilliance outshines the sun, and my wrath is second only to the gods themselves. Be aware of who you are addressing boy, I already disapprove of how you treat your slave, and could easily end your pitiful existence with a flick of my wrist.”

I wonder if they’re as fluffy as they look...