Chapter 15: Upon Arrival
Tyler watched in anticipation as the carriage drew closer to Veridia. Tall grey walls rose up ahead, stretching out in both directions. The stone looked ancient, marked by deep cracks that ran along the surface. In the center, a massive black gate stood open, guarded by two men.
The guards wore suits of leather armor and small leather helmets, each gripping a silver spear. The carriage driver offered a casual greeting as he passed through the entrance, and the guards nodded back. One of them locked eyes with Tyler, causing Tyler’s breath to hitch. He quickly looked away, focusing on James, who sat still with his gaze fixed on the road ahead.
The sound of the wheels changed as they hit the cobblestone road, creating a steady, rhythmic rattling. The air filled with the noise of the town, vendors shouting to promote their wares and the constant murmur of a crowd. Buildings lined both sides of the street, some constructed from dark wood and others from sturdy brick.
*That is a lot of people,* Tyler thought, his eyes darting across the busy scene.
The wagon eventually veered off the road and slowed to a stop near two empty wagons. "We're here," James said. He stood up and jumped out of the back. Tyler followed his lead, his feet hitting the ground right after James.
James walked over to the driver, fished one silver coin from his pocket, and handed it to the man. He looked over at Tyler. "It's ten copper coins to get here."
"Oh," Tyler said. He pulled one silver coin from his pocket and handed it up to the driver. The man accepted the payment.
"Tyler," James called out, nodding toward the thick crowd. "Let's go."
Tyler hurried to James's side as they started down the uneven cobblestones. He glanced back over his shoulder and saw the driver direct the horses, turning the wagon back out through the town's massive gates.
"This is the marketplace," James said, gesturing to the sea of people and stalls. "This is where people sell their goods. You will find shops here selling food, clothing, even armor and weapons."
Tyler felt a sharp, twisting cramp in his empty stomach.
James noticed and looked at him. "You haven't eaten anything, have you?"
Tyler rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a flush of embarrassment. "I haven't eaten anything since yesterday."
James led the way to a nearby vendor. They stopped at a wooden food stall displaying an assortment of produce, tended by an elderly woman.
"Hello there," the woman said. "Would you like to buy some fruit? I also sell bread."
James turned to Tyler. "Well, what do you want?"
Tyler swallowed hard, his eyes locked on the display in front of him. There were apples, pears, bananas, grapes, and more.
"How much are the apples?" he asked.
"An apple is one copper coin," the woman replied.
Tyler reached into his pocket, pulled out four copper coins, and handed them to her.
"Pick whichever ones you like," the woman said.
Tyler picked the four largest apples from the display. He took a bite immediately. Sweet juice spurted against his tongue and the roof of his mouth. It felt delicious, almost like the best apple he had ever tasted.
"Is that all?" James asked.
Tyler, his mouth still full, held the remaining apples close to his chest. "How much is the bread?"
"Buns are two copper and a full loaf of bread is worth three copper," the woman replied.
"I'll take two buns," Tyler said. He bit into the apple, holding it firmly between his teeth to free his hand, and fished out a silver coin. He handed it over. The woman took the silver and gave him six copper coins in change.
She turned to a large zinc bowl behind her. Removing a silver lid, she revealed round, golden-crisp buns and handed two to Tyler. He shoved the spare apples into his oversized pockets and took the bread.
"All right, let's go," James said.
"Please come again," the woman called out.
Tyler followed James through the dense crowd. He finished his first apple quickly and started right in on the second. As he chewed, a system panel materialized, floating just above James's head: *James: Level 49*.
*It updated itself again. Because I now know his name. I wonder if everyone here has levels.*
Spurred by his curiosity, floating panels abruptly appeared over the heads of everyone in the marketplace, displaying their levels all at once. The sudden influx of floating text made Tyler gasp in surprise, drawing a piece of chewed apple sharply into his windpipe. He choked and coughed violently, striking his own chest with his fist to dislodge the food.
James looked back at him over his shoulder. "Woah, slow down. The food isn't going anywhere."
Tyler swallowed hard, his eyes watering from the coughing fit. "I'm sorry. I just choked a little."
James turned back. "Well, eat slowly. I don't want you suddenly dying on me."
Tyler chuckled. "Yeah. I will."
As soon as James turned his back, Tyler's eyes darted around the marketplace. *Whoa. So everyone in this world really does have levels. Every single one of them.* A woman passed by him with Level 31 hovering over her head; another man followed with Level 28. Countless numbers floated through the air, but they all shared a common thread. *They are all higher than me. James was right, no one here is a G rank. Does that mean they are all stronger than me?*
Seeing James moving further away, Tyler picked up his pace, finishing the last of the apples. He took a bite of a bun and his eyes widened. The texture was perfect, the sugar and salt were balanced, but it held a subtle sweetness, as if it had been lightly coated in honey. It tasted surprisingly better than any bread from his own world. *Wow, how is this better than modern bread?*
He finished the first bun and quickly started on the second. Once he was done, he brushed his hands together to clear the crumbs. *Yeah, I think I am full now.*
James stopped abruptly, causing Tyler to halt just behind him. James turned to the right and cut through the crowd toward a specific building. "We're going into a shop," James said.
Up ahead, Tyler saw a wooden building. A sign hung above the entrance depicting a hammer and an anvil. Right next to it was another sign: a circle with two lines sprouting from the inside, facing each other and tapering to sharp points, leaving a small gap in the middle.
James pushed open the door, triggering a small bell that chimed overhead. As Tyler walked in, he felt a wave of amazement. Swords and armor were displayed along the walls. There was leather gear and polished metal armor that caught the afternoon sun, sending glints of light dancing across the room. A long wooden counter stretched deep into the shop toward the right. Behind the counter stood a heavy metal door.
"Hector!" James called out.
"Yeah, I'm coming," a deep, gravelly voice responded.
The metal door creaked open and a man stepped out wearing a short-sleeved tunic. He was heavily muscled, with dark brown eyes and matching hair. Beads of sweat clung to his skin as if he had just come from hard labor, and his hands were stained with a black, powder-like substance.
"You're back. How was the hunt?" Hector asked.
"It went great," James responded.
Hector shifted his gaze to Tyler. "Afternoon!"
"Good afternoon," Tyler replied.
"Can I help you?" Hector asked, nodding toward Tyler.
"He's with me," James said.
James drew the sword, the metal sliding against the scabbard with a dry friction before he lowered the weight of the blade onto the wooden counter. "I need my sword repaired," James said. "Or better yet, I think I need a new one. I've used the sword for some time now."
Hector wrapped one hand around the hilt and placed his other hand beneath the flat of the blade, lifting the weight easily to eye level. *At first glance it looks dull, but the more I look at it, the more I'm surprised he was still using it at this point.*
Shallow gouges marred the surface of the metal, and fine, hair-like cracks branched out from the center of the blade. Hector’s eyes narrowed into thin slits as he looked at James. "You haven't been using that skill too much, have you?"
James gave a single shake of his head. "No, not really."
*A skill.* Tyler watched James, the memory of the encounter returning, the way James had triggered a skill to bring down the monster. *Those skills back then, they looked pretty dangerous. Even though I was distracted, I could still see it. The way he easily defeated that monster.* Tyler’s gaze fell to his own hand, his fingers curling into his palm. *The system, it said that I would attain more skills as I grow stronger. Am I going to have skills similar to his?*
"I can fix it, but it's not gonna take long till it breaks again. I think it'll be better to just get a new one," Hector said, lifting his gaze to meet James.
James let out a slow, quiet breath. "I guess so."
Hector exhaled heavily through his nose, lowering the sword back onto the grain of the counter. "All right. I'll get you a new sword."
"I guess this will be the last one," James said.
"Oh, right. You're moving out in a few days," Hector said.
James nodded. "Yeah."
Hector cupped his chin in his hand, his brow furrowing. "You're moving to Lyria, right?"
James shook his head. "We're moving to Gamar."
Hector's eyes widened. "Gamar? That's far north, isn't it?"
James nodded. "We changed for a couple of reasons, but one of them is renting a house is pretty cheap there."
"Oh." Hector nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I think I've heard that it's pretty cheap there as well."
Tyler stood nearby, his chest tightening. *James is moving? In a few days, too. Shit, that means in a few days he's gone.*
"Well, let me go get you one of the swords," Hector said. He picked up the damaged weapon from the counter and pulled open the metal door, the heavy hinges grinding with a harsh scrape. As Hector stepped through the doorway, James turned his attention to Tyler.
"You're moving?" Tyler asked.
James nodded. "Yeah, in a few days."
Tyler dropped his gaze to the floor, his shoulders slumping.
"You don't need to worry. I have a plan in mind," James said, the corners of his mouth lifting into a small smile.
*A plan?* Tyler thought.
" Don't worry. I'll make arrangements. Things won't be as hard as you think once I'm gone."
The heavy metal door swung open, and Hector returned carrying a replacement sword. The weapon mirrored the one James had surrendered, but the metal gleamed under the light, the edge honed to a sharp, flawless finish. Hector set it on the counter. James picked it up, inspecting the polished surface. "Thank you."
He slid the blade into his scabbard, the metal gliding smoothly against the interior.
"You're welcome," Hector replied.
James shifted his focus to Tyler, then back to the craftsman. "Hector, can I have a word?" he asked, tipping his head slightly in Tyler's direction.
"Yeah," Hector said.
James walked to the far end of the counter. Hector pulled the metal door ajar, and the two men stepped through the frame, leaving Tyler standing alone in the shop. *What's going on?*
Tyler's breath hitched as a thought struck him. *Wait, he's not telling that man that I'm from another world, is he?*
He sidestepped to his right, angling his body to peer through the open doorway. The back room had a rough, uneven floor stacked with heavy wooden crates, though shadows obscured the rest of the space. James and Hector stood close, their voices lowered into a harsh, urgent exchange. Tyler strained his ears but couldn't decipher the words. He watched James make short, sharp gestures with his hands while Hector leaned in, listening intently.
"Wait, really!?" Hector's voice spiked in volume, his posture stiffening.
James gave a curt nod and resumed his low whispering.
*What the hell are they talking about?* James suddenly snapped his gaze toward the doorway, locking eyes with Tyler. Tyler jerked backward, pulling himself out of sight and retreating to the left. His heart hammered rapidly against his ribs.
*Shit, he saw me.*
Several seconds passed before James stepped out from the back room, circling the wooden counter. Hector followed him through the doorway.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Hector said.
"See you tomorrow," James replied. He shifted his gaze to Tyler. "Let's go."
Tyler glanced back, locking eyes with Hector for a brief moment. The corners of the craftsman's mouth pulled up into a smile. Tyler stiffened. It was the first time he had seen the man smile, and the expression was aimed directly at him.
They stepped out through the shop door. Tyler hooked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing back the way they had come. "What were you two talking about back there?"
"Don't worry about it," James said. "I'll tell you about it later."
Tyler fell into a silent pace behind James. As they moved away from the marketplace, the roar of the traders and the scent of raw leather and spices began to thin. The air grew stiller, smelling of damp stone and woodsmoke from the nearby houses.
Their boots clicked against the uneven cobblestones of a narrow street. The road ahead branched into several paths, winding between timber-framed buildings that leaned inward, casting long, cool shadows across the ground. James steered them toward the furthest path on the left.
A few yards ahead, the sharp color of a red dress stood out against the grey stone of the houses. A woman moved at a slow, measured pace, the woven straw of a basket creaking slightly as she held it against her hip. Her dark hair caught the light, shifting as she turned her head.
Tyler’s steps faltered, his brow furrowing as James maintained his course, walking directly toward her. "Who's that?" Tyler asked.
"That's Lisa," James said, his voice softening. "My wife."
"His wife?" Tyler stopped moving entirely, his eyes widening.