It took him longer to find the inn then he would have figured. It was one of the few buildings that was three stories and still wood. The door squeaked as he stepped through the threshold, greeted by the sight that look rather close to a bar. Though behind the bar was a row of barrels instead of bottles. Glass must be expensive. The place was quite busy.

Several women in aprons darted across the floor, some serving beers while others carried plates of food.

“They seem busy… Oh, maybe I can ask him!”

Behind the bar, a grizzled man stood wiping mugs. He got plenty of looks as he made his way over to the bar.

“Hi, I want to rent a room, get a bath, and buy some information. How much?”

The grizzled man glanced up at him for a second before resuming his cleaning, not saying a word. A second passed, then five, then a minute. Before Ryder could tell the old man to fuck off though, a lady that looked to be in her thirties approached him.

“Hello their sir, what can our establishment do for you?” Her voice held experience, she most likely managed the place.

“Hi, as I told the bartender here, I would like to get a room, a bath, and some information.”

She smiled a merchant smile that reminded him of Rosalina.

“Ah, I beg your pardon about my bartender, he can’t speak. Tongue was cut out during one of the wars. The room will cost you Two Seps, baths included, and the cost of information will depend on its value and secrecy…”

He smiled and two Seps appeared in his hand, which he handed over to her.

“I think I’ll take the bath first”.

She nodded as she pocketed the coins. She gestured before heading towards a door at the opposite side of the entrance to the bar. Through the door and into a hallway, he was greeted by several doors. The one at the end of the hall was clearly labelled ‘Bath’

“Just through there. Your room will be this one here, room 3. There’s a key inside, and the doors unlocked. Oh and its mixed bathing!”

The woman chuckled and left the hall in a hurry, not giving him a chance to react before she was back out managing the business.

He sighed, and entered the baths. It was probably impressive by the standards of this city. To him, it was okay. A stone bath that encompassed most of the room, with room for more than ten people.

He quickly stripped and hopped in. The water reached his stomach. He tried not to wonder how often they changed the water as he washed himself. At least it was warm.

“I wonder how they get it warm…”

The door to the baths swung open, startling him. In walked in a beautiful woman, garbed in bloody leather armor. The armor stayed on for only a few seconds, before being deposited next to the pants he had left on the floor. She was half naked before she realized he was there.

Not that it stopped her. She was naked and in the bath before her clothes hit the ground. Her hair swayed as she moved. Its length would probably reach her butt if it weren’t braided.

She wrapped the braid into a ball and stuck a single stick through it to hold it. Her hair was something he had not expected to see, silvery blonde hair. It did not look dyed either. It had a natural color to it. He could not help but dart his eyes lower. Her breasts were perky, to say the least.

That’s when he realized he was staring, and quickly turned the other direction to give her privacy.

“Ah, it feels good. Nothing better to wash the blood off after a successful hunt than a heated bath… Did you like what you see boy?”

At first, he thought she was talking to herself, but the pointed question told him otherwise.

“While I bristle at the thought of being called boy, I will certainly admit it was a pleasant view. My apologies if my eyes lingered longer than might have been customary. I’m new to this land and culture.”

“Play it off like a gentleman…”

“Hehe, the oldest of your kind are but boys to me, even on their deathbed… So I assume you don’t have shared baths where you come from?”

She splashed him lightly as she continued to tease him.

“Don’t tell me she’s something like an elf… I didn’t see any pointy ears though! Well, I guess she isn’t as thin as most everyone I’ve seen here. She might be a different subspecies.”

“No, we do not have shared baths from where I come from, unless they are a couple, I suppose… I wish to ask your age, and why you would be able to live for so long, yet where I come from it is rude to ask a ladies age.”

He chuckled as he voiced his reasoning’s. A small giggle reached his ears.

“I mean no offense, but what an odd tradition. They must not get many visitors from my people, the Slai.”

“No, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of your people before. Though, unless that beautiful hair is a common trait, I could walk by one and not know.”

The water rippled behind him. She had gotten closer.

“You're sweet. My hair is not a common trait of my people though, it is our eyes. That and our teeth.”

Her hands turned him around gently, showing him what she spoke of. Her eyes, which he was sure had been a bright green before, were now black as night, except for a sliver of white that ran horizontally across the eye. She was smiling widely now, enough to show off elongated canines. They were probably twice the length his was.

“Wow, those are quite beautiful. You don’t have to force a smile for me though…”

As he spoke, he gently touched her cheek, which he realized was quite pale. She was probably the whitest person he had seen so far. A sad expression surfaced on his cheek, though only for a moment.

Surprise donned her face, she hadn’t expected that answer. In fact, she had been trying to scare him. Most people that complemented her hair would turn tail when she showed off her eyes. It was something she was too used to, it happened enough.

She halfheartedly chuckled.

“What makes you so sure its forced?”

“I would never believe the mouth when the eyes are not smiling…”

He stood and turned to exit the bath. This had an unfortunate consequence. Seeing such a beautiful woman had put his other head to work, and when he stood, he accidently displayed it to her.

“shit!”

He splashed back into the water. All coolness lost.

“God, I’m so embarrassed!”

He glanced over at her to see if she was angry or something. What he didn’t expect, was her to be smiling mischievously with a slight blush on her face.

“Well then, I guess that proves the sincerity of your words… I am called Ryuri Kova Agata Olegouna, but please call me Yuri. I certainly hope we see each other again—“ She paused, waiting for his answer “Ryder, Ryder Guerra Cail’te”

“Then I hope we see each other again, Ryder”

She blushed more, before standing and exiting the bath. While she wanted to see if he was looking, she appeared calm as she donned a loose robe. She waved to him as she exited the bath. If only he could hear her thoughts as she left.

“Whew…”

He exited the water and dried off with one of the course towels that hung from a nail. Well, it looked like a nail. He donned his new clothes quickly, the only thing he now wore from his old world was the boots.

It was itchy.

He dumped his dirty torn clothes onto the floor as he sunk onto the bed. While not impressive compared to his old world, it could be considered quite the upgrade compared to the floor he had been sleeping on before. A sigh escaped his lips, his thoughts consuming his attention.

"I need more information, and i need to know exactly whats in this ring. I never bothered trying to count it before, i guess now is as good a time as any."

Several minutes of silence went by.

"Hmm, that makes roughly 30 of these royal Septums, maybe a few hundred septums, and a few more Sep's and iron Seps. Seems that the previous owner of this ring did not make small purchases. Im not sure how large of a fortune that is, but it should be able to see me through for a while. As for the other stuff...

Twenty different robes, seven complete sets of armor, and about forty weapons of differing types, some swords, shields, spears, other ranged weapons such as bows and throwing weapons. I see no crossbows, so maybe that they dont know how to make them? they're much better than the standard bow, and easier to use. though they tend to be harder to reload."

"I need more information, and i need some training if im going to make use of these weapons. I also need to decide what i want to do. What do i want to do? Im interested in the arcane, but thats mostly because its badass. I mean, it didnt exist on earth, so its definately interesting.

Thats what ill do...

Try to learn more about the arcane, and maybe some training to use some of these weapons. Lets go ask that lady about places of learning. I should be able to afford it..."

Ryder hopped out of bed, swiping the key to his room of the table, before locking the door and going to find the manager of the establishment.

The door squeaked as he reentered the bar area. He glanced around, looking for the lady he spoke to before. She was behind the bar, having a one-sided conversation with the bartender. Well she was talking, and he couldn’t. What could be more one sided than that?

“I have a feeling those two have more than a business relationship…”

That was just a feeling though. Influenced by the fact that the only time he'd seen the mute smile is when he's talking to her. None of my business though...

The place had only gotten busier, which made navigating the tables difficult. The lady was waiting for him by the time he finally made to the bar.

“Hello, enjoy the bath?”

“Yes, more than I thought I would. I’m here for that information we spoke of. Specifically, I need to know if there are places in the city where I can learn to fight? Maybe learn about the arcane?”

“Hmm, how old are you?”

“Why would that matter?”

“There are many academies that teach students to fight, and just as many that teach of the arcane, but most only accept students of a certain age. Not to old, yet not to young. “

The woman glanced down, appraising him.

“Ah, I see. I am Nineteen. What schools would accept me?”

The grizzled man glanced at him. Apparently he didnt look nineteen. It was probably the beard.

“Well almost all of the schools around here require you to be over 16. So that’s not a problem. There are several weapons schools, and a few arcane schools. I would recommend the Khan or prosperity academy if you want a weapon school.”

Ryder scratched his head, seemingly deep in thought.

“I want to know more about those Arcane academies!”

“What about the Arcane academy?”

“Well, assuming you have the potential, I mean real potential, then white stripes academy is the one you want. Best in the city. Teaches both weapons and the arcane, mainly because there are those of the heart path that need to learn weapons. It is extremely difficult to get accepted. Though it does come with a certain amount of prestige if you do. Most of the nobles in this area go there to learn.”

Ryder flicked her a Septum for the trouble. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Hey, this is too much!”

“The cost depends on the value, right? Well I valued that information. How do I get tested?”

‘Sigh’

“Head into the center of town, if you hurry you might be able to get tested today. There’s a plaza set up for the academies to test prospective students. Can’t miss it. Better hurry now!”

She shooed him out. Ryder laughed, chuckling out the door. The sun had started touching the edge of the buildings, and it would probably get dark soon.

“Shit, better hurry!”

Ryder took off the down the dirt street, weaving through the people.

Back at the bar though, a beautiful woman with green eyes and long silver hair suddenly appeared. Her face was red. She was wearing somewhat loose fitting clothes that looked just a tad damp.

“Wow Yuri, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you react that way towards a man before, what happened in the baths I wonder?”

The grizzled man had a small smile, probably laughing at the two women’s conversation.

“Nothing that your thinking of, pervert!”

“sure, you just felt the need to use the arcane to hide yourself so you don’t run into him. Totally nothing.”

“Nothing perverted happened Lisa, it’s just…”

Lisa leaned forward, hanging on every word.

“Just what?”

“Well you see, I um, showed him my eyes.”

“I take it he didn’t mind?”

“He didnt just not mind! It seemed like, to him, it was no different than my green eyes. It didn’t faze him at all. Wasnt scared a bit... He didn’t even know that the Slai are long lived…”

Lisa perked an eyebrow up at that.

“Wow, I figured he was from far away, but for him to not know what a Slai is. Just where did he come from, I wonder… Still, I bet your hoping White stripes academy accepts him. That way he would be your junior!”

“Theres no way he wouldnt be accepted.” Yuri seemed completly sure of it.

“Hmm, how? It didn’t seem like he had been tested before, considering how he reacted to the information?”

“I could literally feel the power rolling off of him. Any greater Arcane User would sense him coming from a league away. That sweet smell. It’s as if he bathed in pure arcane power for months…”

—Meanwhile, in the center of town.

The plaza was quite full, and large. There was probably a thousand people mulling about the area. Some were waiting on their children to be tested, while seemed to be rooting for friends. It almost seemed like the end of a festival considering all the colorful tents set up.

“I’d hate to see how packed this place is in the middle of the day… Ah! There’s the white stripes testing area… That’s a small line…”

The white striped testing area was impressive, and small. It did not scream best of the best, and he figured such a good school would be super popular, right? Still, he made his way over to the testing area, where a young man, not even thirty greeted him, with a sneer.

“This testing area is for the prestigious white stripes academy. Commoners need not apply!”

“And now I know why the line is so short. I already regret listening to that inn lady. Still, i enjoy knocking people like him down a peg, or three.”

“Hmm, are you saying that only nobles are allowed to enter this academy?”

The line the man was protecting was now down to one. A young man waited in front of a black and white tent.

“The testing fee is a Septum. Now move alon—.”

“Here ya go, now move.”

Ryder flipped him the coin and stepped around him just as the young man was called into the tent. Another man stepped out, obviously sad.

“Guess he didn’t get in.”

“Take your money back, we’re closed for the day!”

Ryder sighed in disgust.

“Listen here you twit, are you really going to turn away potential just because they aren’t from a Noble family? I can’t possibly see how this academy is so great if it turns away those of greater talent just because they have little money or connections!”

Ryder spoke loudly on purpose, drawing attention to the both of them. The young man’s face turned purple at this, most likely not used to getting talked down to. His hand was inching towards the curved blade on his belt, obviously thinking of drawing it, when an old and tired voice called from the tent.

“Those are some provocative words young man.”

The tent flap opened, the young man that had went in not long before had come out with the same expression as the last. He was followed by a man of great age. The old man barely reached Ryder’s chest in height, and was as thin as a rail. His beard almost touched the ground.

“You say provocative, I say truthful. What kind of academy claims to be a place of higher while suckling the tit of those with wealth?”

The shrill of metal sliding against metal whispered through the pavilion. The foolish noble had drawn his blade. The old man ignored the drawn weapon.

"That blade gets any closer to me and ill roast you, dickhead."

“hmm, I see your point. I must admit that I agree. Very well, I will test you. I assume you have the test fee? It’s a Sep.”

The angry noble now had both a shocked and nervous expression. Then he smiled and relaxed.

“I’d be willing to bet that if I say I gave the coin to him, he’ll deny it and accuse me of slander... Im really starting to dislike the people in power. It has all the hallmarks of an abuse of power, if the rest are like this one..."

“Here you go.”

Ryder flipped him a coin just as he had the noble. Shock was becoming the nobles normal expression. He had certainly figured that he wouldn’t have any more money after losing a septum.

“Very well, follow me. Ishim, stay here.”

The man walked back into the tent, and Ryder followed.

The tent flap closed behind them, and the man settled into the only chair in the room. It was a bland room with a single crystal sitting on a pedestal in the center.

“So what’s the test?” Curiosity got the better of him.

“Normally you would put your hand on that crystal on the pedestal. If it lit up, you would be accepted. The brightness determines the potential. You have already awakened though, so you’d only shatter that pitiful crystal. No test is needed of those that have already awakened.”

Surprise. the old man knew he could use the arcane. He wasnt sure how though, he didnt think itd be that easy to detect.

"Thats not good, if its that easy to detect, ill have a tough time escaping from someone that can sense it..."

“How'd you know? I wasnt aware it was so easily sensed.”

“Young man, for those with a greater hold on the arcane, we can sense someone like you, who is leaking arcane like a sieve, from very far away. I felt you coming from before you entered the center of town. You must have quite alot of arcane in you to be leaking so much unconciously.”

"I just met the guy, and he already more than id like him to. Hopefully he doesnt become an enemy..."

Silence.

"I do need to know if you are a brain path, or a heart path though, mostly to determine what classes you will be eligible to take. Though those of the brain path are allowed to take classes aimed at training the body, it does those of the heart path little good to listen in on brain path lectures."

"Umm, im both?"

The man, who was reclining in the chair, suddenly sat up. His eyes that had been barely open beforehand, were now alert.

“Thats not a very funny joke young man.”

Ryder let out a chuckle at the old man’s words. "Check if you'd like, though id appreciate it if you didnt spread it around"

The old man stood, the chair falling back as he did.

“I will check, if you would allow me to place a hand on your heart and head?”

There was a nervousness in his voice.

“Sure! Just don’t ask me to do arcane stuff, I’m not too good at controlling it yet. I’d probably burn half the city down on accident.”

The old man ignored his words and placed his hand on both head and chest. The tingling feeling encompassed him.

The old man pulled his hands away with a smile. He left one out in front of him.

“Welcome to the academy!”

Ryder shook his hand with a smile.

"Find a place to learn more about the arcane, check. Find a place to learn how to fight with the weapons in the ring, check"