Jack headed towards the gate to enter the city. As he walked, he realized how magnificent and grandiose the gate was up close. Even the sheer height of it made him felt miniscule by comparison.

While looking up above and admiring the gate's archway, he failed to notice one of the guards approaching him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Hold up, peasant," the guard said.

Jack took a good look at the guards around here. They were wearing standard sets of chainmail and steel helmets that you would typically see in a medieval setting.

"Oh, good day to you, sir," Jack replied. "In fact, better than good. It's a great day!"

"You seem to be in a good mood."

"Well, it's just that I've never been in a city like this. So big and majestic! It's wonderful!"

"Big? Ingenwell is small compared to other cities. You should go up north to one of the elvish cities. I heard they're about ten times as massive."

"Really?! Wow, that sounds impressive! I can't wait to visit one of those as well. But, one at a time. I'm going to check this one out first."

Right as Jack was about to enter the city, the guard halted him by blocking his path. "Woah there, where do you think you're going? You can't go in there just yet."

"Why not?"

"You need to touch the cross first."

The guard pointed to a side of the gate's wall, where there was a large plaque in the shape of a cross that was hung on its surface.

Jack furrowed his brow in confusion. "Why do I need to touch it?"

"Are you daft or what? You need to touch it in order to make sure you're not a demon."

"Uhh, do I look like a demon to you?"

"You look like a peasant who fell into a pig sty and hadn't bathed in weeks. Smelled like one too." Jack made an annoyed face as the guard took a jab at his hygiene. "But that's not the problem. You could be a changeling for all I know and those demons could look like anyone. Haven't you heard? There's been a big scare around these parts. People are suspecting each other of being a changeling in disguise. Couldn't trust anyone around here anymore."

So there are demons out there who could basically shapeshift, Jack thought. That is honestly pretty scary. No wonder there were so up in arms about it.

"Okay, but how does touching this cross going to make sure that I'm not a demon? Is the Lord going to compel me to reveal my disguise and change my ways or something?"

"What? No! This cross is made of divinium. All demons are weak against divinium. Even just a light touch would make them react violently in pain and make their flesh burn. A changeling that touches divinium would be unable to hold their form. Everyone knows that."

"Ah, I see. So that's how it works." So there are demons out there and divinium is basically their Kryptonite. "So, basically, all I have to do is touch it and if it doesn't react with my touch, that means it proves I'm not a demon."

"Yes. Everyone has to do it in order to enter the city. Now, stop dawdle and get on with it."

Jack carefully approached the cross. It was similar to that of a Christian cross, but with some minor differences.

Firstly, the left and right arms of the cross were replaced with laurel wreaths that extended outward and curved upward. Secondly, at the top of the cross, there was a seven-petaled flower. He recognized that as the same type of flower that was on the coins the hooded stranger had given him.

The metal that the plaque was made of was quite interesting. It had a teal color to it---which made it look quite exotic as a metal---and its luster was unlike anything he'd ever seen. The brilliance it exuded almost made it seem more valuable than gold.

Jack placed his hand on the cross and nothing out of the usual had happened. It didn't exactly feel all that different from any other metal. He didn't quite get how this strangely colored metal was able to detect demons. Nevertheless, he was mildly fascinated by it.

Jack turned back to the guard. "There, I've touched it. Can I go now?"

"Yeah, you can go. But behave yourself, peasant."

Jack passed through the gate and was greeted with an amazing sight.

There were people everywhere and they all came in different shapes and sizes. Not only were there humans, there were also some fantasy races such as elves and dwarves. There were even a few cat people and lizard people.

Aside from that, the buildings around here were quite scenic and quaint---its architecture having a mix of both medieval and Renaissance styles. It was here, at this very moment, where Jack had truly felt he was in the midst of another world.

As he walked around the city, he soaked in the scenery everywhere he went. There were shops and stalls that littered the streets, selling all sorts of items.

One of the stalls he came across was selling apples, which he suddenly have a craving for. He wasn't sure he had enough money in his bag, but surely the hooded stranger had left him with enough money to buy one single apple.

"Good day to you, sir," Jack said to the apple merchant with a polite smile. The merchant was a middle-aged man with a grumpy face.

"Good day? You daft or something? Does it look like a good day to you?" the merchant replied rather rudely.

"I mean, it seems like a good day today. Nice weather and all."

"Yeah, good on you and your goddamn positivity. But it isn't so good for the rest of us. The king has his head up his ass, the Elrinthians are raising taxes, and they're bleeding us dry on the divinium mines. So, all in all, not a very good day."

Jack was taken aback by the merchant's sour attitude. He wondered if it was just this merchant having a bad day or were all people around here this grouchy. "Gee, I was just trying to have a friendly conversation."

"Do I look like I'm here to have a conversation, boy? I'm here to sell apples, so either you buy one or get out of my face."

"Alright, alright, I'll buy an apple. How much?"

"60 coppers. And no, I'm not lowering the price any further. The trade routes are a wreck right now, so you either buy it at that price or get out."

"Okay, then. Umm..." Jack took out a handful of coins from his coin purse. He couldn't make heads or tails of how much each of them cost. Feeling a bit stumped, he simply took a random set of coins and showed them to the merchant. "Is this enough?"

The merchant gave him confused look. "Do you not know how to use money, boy?"

"Well, umm, I'm from far away so I'm not quite sure how to use the money around here. Maybe you could give me a quick run-through on how this currency works."

"Do I look like a school teacher to you?"

"Oh come on, is that how you treat a paying customer? Besides, it's just one quick lesson."

"Oh, alright, I'll teach you. The currency around here is basically pretty simple. It's separated into four different metal types: copper, silver, gold, and divinium. 100 copper equals 1 silver, 100 silver equals 1 gold, 100 gold equals 1 divinium."

"Hmm, sounds simple enough. But wait, some of these coins are larger than others, even though they are from the same metal. There are large copper coins and there are small copper coins. What's up with that?"

"The large copper coin is called a deca-copper and it is worth 10 copper. Meanwhile, the small copper coins represent 1 copper each. Each metal of coin has a larger version that is equal to ten times the smaller version. There is the deca-copper, deca-silver, deca-gold, and deca-divinium. For example, 1 deca-gold equals to 10 regular gold coins, or 10 gold. Likewise, 1 deca-silver equals to 10 regular silver coins, or 10 silver. You get it now?"

"Oh, I see."

Jack could understand the currency system well enough, though he had noticed that the metal known as divinium was brought up again. First, it's used as a metal to ward off demons and now it's used as a currency? Also, based on the merchant's explanation, divinium must have been super expensive, probably at least several times as much as gold.

After learning the basics of currency of this world, Jack searched through the coins in his hand to find the right amount to give to the merchant. One apple cost 60 copper, so he took six deca-copper and handed it to the merchant.

"Here you go. That should be the correct amount." Jack then took one apple from the stall and took a bite out of it. For someone who had been living on nothing but rabbit, fish, and wild plants for an entire week, the taste of apple was beyond refreshing. "Mmm! This is trucking delicious!"

The merchant gave him another confused look. "You are a weird one, boy."

"Like I said, I'm not from around here." Jack continued taking bites out of that apple like it's one of the best apples he'd ever eaten, even though it was, in all honesty, just a regular apple.

"I've seen plenty of people that are not from around here, and none of them are as weird as you."

"Let's just say I'm one of a kind." After finishing the apple and tossing the core away, Jack thought of something else to ask the merchant. "Hey, now that I think about it, I don't suppose you'd know where the nearest tavern is, do you?"

"What do I look like, a tourist guide?"

"I'll buy another apple if you'll tell me."

Jack beamed at the merchant with an overly friendly smile. The merchant looked annoyed at first but eventually relented.

He pointed towards a certain direction. "Walk straight ahead this way until you come across a fountain, then turn left. There, you should see the Green Jay. The sign even has a picture of a green jay on it. You can't miss it."

"Thank you kindly, my good sir," Jack said with a courteous bow. He then handed him another 60 copper and grabbed another apple before merrily skipping away. "Have a nice day!"

After finishing his second apple, Jack had finally arrived at the tavern the apple merchant told him about. Indeed, it did have a green jay on the sign, which let him know he was in the right place.

Stepping inside, he saw a bunch of people sitting around, having drinks, and chatting with each other---pretty much what a normal tavern in a fantasy world would look like. The fire burning in the hearth at the center gave off a nice and cozy atmosphere to the entire place.

A young elf woman came by from behind the counter. She seemed to be the tavern keeper around here. "Greetings. What can I get for you?"

Feeling confident, Jack straightened himself before leaning his elbow on the counter and showing off a charming smile. "Yes, I'll have a double cheeseburger, a medium fires, and a large Coke. No pickles on the burger and extra ketchup packets on the side, please."

The tavern keeper merely stared at him with an utterly bewildered expression, almost as if she was staring at a crazy person. "Umm...I'm sorry. I don't quite understand what you mean."

Jack lowered his head and let out a defeated sigh. Of course the tavern won't have McDonalds menu items. Even so, he couldn't help but ask, even as a joke. He just missed fast food so damn much.

Jack let out a friendly chuckle. "I'm just messing with you. Forget what I said. I'm actually looking to stay at the inn for the night."

"Oh, in that case, that will be 50 silver a night."

Jack gawked at the price. "Wow, uh, 50 silver, huh? I don't mean to be rude here, miss, but...you sure this is the lowest price I could get for a night around here. I'm not going to step into another tavern and find it to be like 5 silver a night, am I?"

The tavern keeper made a slight pouty face against that presumption, almost as if she was offended by it.

"Well, pardon me for being blunt, mister, but the Green Jay is renowned for being the best and most affordable inn in all of Ingenwell. 50 silver a night is the best you're going to get around here. You could probably find cheaper stays, but those likely won't be of a legitimate profession. You're more likely to get stabbed in your sleep if you stay on one of those inns."

That statement sent a frightful chill down Jack's spine. "Alright, alright, I get it! I'm just asking, that's all! Geez..."

He then hesitantly checked his coin purse. Counting all the coins he had in his possession, he could definitely say he doesn't have 50 silver. In fact, he barely had 10 silver in hand.

"Umm...I'm sorry. I don't think I have enough," Jack said. "Uhh...you wouldn't happen to take rabbit pelts as payment, do you? I've got plenty of those."

"I'm afraid not. You could perhaps go visit the marketplace. I've heard the merchants there would pay good money for all sorts of items. Maybe they might buy the rabbit pelts off from you."

"Well, that is one option, at least. Alright then, thank you kindly. Have a nice day!" With that, Jack walked out the tavern and headed to the marketplace.