After seeing the students flood the streets again, I finally got up and left my room. Those six or seven hours had felt like a lifetime. I was parched, but I'd been too scared to leave earlier because of that absurd school law. Now that the coast was clear, I needed water—badly.
I made my way into the hallway and headed toward the counter, slumping down onto one of the stools. The old man behind the bar was in the middle of pouring a drink for a customer.
"Hey," I said, resting my elbow on the counter and letting out a breath.
He looked over, a bit surprised. "Oh—you're quick. School just ended five minutes ago. Didn't see you come in."
"Probably blended in with the crowd," I replied casually, trying to steer the conversation away. "May I get a water?"
"Sure."
He finished up with the customer, then turned to a small barrel behind the counter. Pressing a valve, water streamed smoothly into a wooden cup. I watched it fill, the sound oddly calming. Once it was full, he handed it over.
"Thanks," I said, taking a sip. "I'm Axel, by the way."
"Konrur, kid. Nice to meet ya."
"Likewise."
He leaned in, wiping his hands on a cloth. "So… I heard you're Mortan's friend. Funny, though—I've never seen you before."
"Like I said," I replied with a small shrug, "I've just got one of those forgettable faces. Blending in the crowd and stuff."
He eyed me for a second, then gave a slow nod. "Huh… I guess."
I took another drink, the cool water washing the dryness from my throat. Stretching my arms, I glanced toward the back. "Where's Phoebe?"
"She's out back. Carrying ale into the cellar."
"Oh—does she need help?"
Konrur chuckled, leaning back and spreading his arms. "Do I look like I can help her?"
I cracked a small smile. "Right. I'll go see if I can give her a hand. She's letting me stay here for free—the least I can do."
He pointed toward a side door. "Head out and walk around back. You'll find her."
"Got it."
I pushed the door open and stepped outside. The air was cooler now, shadows stretching across the alley. Following Konrur's direction, I turned the corner and found Phoebe lugging a barrel nearly the size of her torso toward the back door. She had already stacked a few nearby, but seven more still sat outside, waiting.
I approached quietly, not wanting to startle her—but apparently, I wasn't quiet enough.
Phoebe's head snapped up, her hand flying to the dagger at her belt. She froze when she saw me and relaxed with a sigh.
"Gods above," she muttered, hand falling away. "Kid, don't sneak up on people like that. You almost got a knife in the gut."
"Sorry," I said, raising my hands. "Didn't mean to. You need help?"
"Ah, don't worry about it. I'm managing," she said, brushing sweat off her brow.
"I insist," I stepped forward, already reaching for a barrel. "Least I can do."
She looked at me sideways, then gestured to the stack. "Fine. Carry them in. Can you cast a wind spell? It'd be easier if you could."
"I… can't," I said, lifting one of the wooden barrels with both arms. "Sorry."
It wasn't as heavy as I'd expected. Actually, it was lighter than the stuff I used to carry back at my old job. Phoebe must've noticed how easily I moved, because she stopped and just watched as I carried the barrel smoothly into the backroom.
"You're strong, huh?" she called after me.
I returned, brushing my hands off. "Thanks to my old boss. He used to make me haul stuff around all the time. Builds muscle, I guess."
Inside the room was dim, lit by a faint shaft of light from the door. Barrels lined the walls—wine and ale mostly—and bundles of herbs hung drying above. There was another door that probably led behind the bar where Konrur had been standing.
As I came out for the next one, Phoebe's voice softened behind me.
"Mortan told me what happened to you."
I paused slightly, barrel in hand.
Her eyes dropped a little. "I'm sorry."
"He told you, huh?" I replied, forcing a sigh and slipping into my usual mask. "The goblins were… well, I'd rather not talk about it."
"Of course." She nodded, then frowned. "Still can't believe those little bastards are that close to Kinowa. It's scary."
She bent down to lift another barrel, but the moment she took two steps, she winced—and with a loud groan, dropped it. The barrel cracked as it hit the ground, ale spilling into the dirt.
I jumped forward. "Whoa—hold on."
Grabbing the barrel quickly, I turned it on its side so the crack faced up, stopping most of the spill.
"You good?" I asked, glancing at her.
She rubbed her lower back and gave a tired laugh. "I… ugh. Getting old, Axel. It sucks."
"Sit," I said, motioning to a nearby spot on the ground. "I'll handle the rest."
"I—" She hesitated, then sighed in defeat and sat down. "If you're doing this to squeeze another night out of me, just know… I was gonna let you stay in the tavern anyway. After what Mortan told me, I couldn't toss you out."
"Oh?" I smirked as I lifted the cracked barrel again. "Then I'm off. See ya."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Brat."
I carried the barrel inside, placing it carefully in the corner with the cracked side up. I exhaled, then turned back toward the door.
"Why don't you want to go to Redwood?" Phoebe asked, watching me haul another barrel.
I paused briefly, the weight hardly bothering me anymore. "I'm just…" I started, making my way toward the cellar. "I don't know. I'm not ready. Not after what happened to my village."
"Mm," she murmured, arms crossed, her eyes following me. "I get it. You want time to breathe."
"Yeah," I said quietly.
We didn't speak after that. I continued moving the barrels one by one, the silence between us settling like dust in the fading sunlight. The day had begun its slow descent, painting the city in a golden hue. Another day spent here—and I still wasn't home. Maybe I needed to visit Redwood after all. A library might have something about that thing I saw… that giant eye from my world.
I carried in the last barrel, placing it carefully down. When I stepped back outside, Phoebe was brushing off her clothes and getting to her feet with a heavy sigh.
"We're done," she said, smiling faintly. "Thanks, kid. Come on, let's eat. I'm starving."
I hesitated. "I'll… I need to complete a quest first."
"You picked one up already?" she asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah," I nodded. "Can't eat for free forever."
"Well," she said with a shrug, "you can always come by later. There'll be food."
"Hmm. See you, Phoebe."
She gave a small nod and headed back inside, pushing through the back door.
I turned and left the alley, stepping out onto the street. The city was alive again—students scattered everywhere. Some were walking home in small groups, others chatting on benches, casting spells, reading… this district was different from Juz'n. The streets were wider, so it didn't feel too crowded. I could move freely.
I made my way toward the staircase that lead to the street below and descended slowly, step by step, my thoughts drifting. At the bottom, I spotted Mortan hammering away at a dented breastplate, sparks flying off the metal with each strike.
"Axel!" he called out, looking up from his work as I reached the bottom. "How are you doing? Settling in alright?"
"Yeah," I said, walking over to him. "Took two quests from the Guild."
"That fast, huh?" he chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow. "You don't waste time. Did Phoebe say you could stay another night?"
"She did."
He nodded. "She was pretty shaken when I told her what happened. She's got a good heart, even if she acts tough."
"Hmm." I kept it short. No use digging into that again. "Anyway, I should head out. See you, Mortan."
He gave a half-wave. "Aye. Be careful."
With a nod, I turned and walked toward the northern gates. Two guards stood there, leaning on their spears, keeping an eye on passersby. As I approached, one of them straightened up and stepped forward.
"Where are you going, kid?" he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Outside, sir. Picked up a quest. Just need to grab something."
"No torch?" He frowned, glancing up at the dimming sky. "It's getting late."
I couldn't exactly say I had a flashlight in my pocket. "I won't be long."
He folded his arms. "Just so you know, there's a curfew. After what happened with the goblins and that elf incident… it's risky out there. Be back before ten."
"I understand. I'll return before then."
"Alright. Open the gates!"
Both guards grabbed the handles and pulled the wooden gates open, groaning as they shifted. The fading light spilled in from the other side.
I took a breath and stepped out. Behind me, the gates slammed shut, the thud echoing in the distance. For a second, I stood there, uneasy. Being outside the walls… it felt too open, too exposed. Like something was watching.
Shaking off the nerves, I started walking. A couple of carriages rolled past me, heading toward the city, their wheels crunching against the road. I passed the stables, where a few horses nickered quietly, and slowed my pace. Pulling up the translucent map again, I checked my destination.
"Hmm… it's close," I muttered. "Should be back before ten, easy."
The river was just beyond the slope where I first woke up. With the sun already slipping down the horizon, I'd reach it right around sunset—just in time to look for the flower.
Time to find that mentema.