Rewriting His Past

Town

"Step aside," a gruff voice said, pulling him from his tourist-like wonder.

"My apologies" Dusk moved aside the instant he noticed the large man with a bear for a head walking past. Dressed in brown robes, he strode away from him, leaving a breeze in his wake from his mere size. Even a martial artist would envy his size. Dusk wondered at his animal physique, though his back looked human as he walked away. His head looked like a brown bear's. Was he beast folk too? Dusk only knew that he had so much more to learn than mere books and school flyers could tell him.

"Focus!" Dusk reprimanded himself. It was easy to get lost in the view of the far-off towers giving off a pale rose glow. Or to want to see the inner workings of the large, central, white clock tower. He could play tourist later; right now, he needed to get his essentials. Straightening his robes, Dusk took a step forward. Off the mountain path, he was now on the outer ridge of the town of Lapidary. The town worked like the inner turn of a nautilus shell. Spreading itself until the center castle of the royals sat in all its glory. There were several markets; to his understanding, the further in you went, the higher the cost. He would start with the ones in front of him.

Yet, how could I pass all this? Dusk thought the streets were more than diamond-cut brick. It was a hustling neighborhood, lined with vendors farther than he could see. People were talking, laughing, and shipping. It wasn't only that; it was the variety of people! Elves, both male and female, walked the street dressed in short tunics. With plunging fronts and even lower backs. He didn't know where to look; his face was heating at the sight. Dusk turned and focused on the stalls. Ran from the stoutest and strongest of bearded dwarfs to the strangest fish beast-man. Who was breathing with a helmet filled with water on his head.

It was all very strange and wonderful at the same time. Reading couldn't have prepared Dusk for it, and now she's stepping aside armed with only an outsider's knowledge. He was going to thrust himself into it. Sidestepping another fast walker Dusk made his way to the first stall, called Household Tokens. Just what the cabin needs. A young dwarf stood behind the white wood stall. She was all blond curls with a small button nose. He could tell she was a dwarf from her short but broad stature. Her eyes were darting around, and Dusk saw her turn around three times in the few minutes he had noticed her. She looked almost as nervous as Dusk felt.

"Welcome to Household Tokens," her voice came out in a plain and even voice. "Please let me know if you need help."

"I will," Dusk said with a nod of his head. Looking at the rows of weaved baskets lined up on the wood stall's shelf. Small labels with their prices made it easy for him to browse on his own. The first basket held small tokens, like the teleportation token he had used to get to the cabin. Teleportation coins would be handy for getting home or to school once it started. Lifting the price tag, he saw that he could buy them for two pebbles each. Donmiad currency...

"Pardon me," Dusk said, raising his head toward the shock shop keep. "Do you offer deals for those who use universal coins?" He would like to save money where he can. If only he could make them himself... Something to look into. Dusk tucked that thought away for later.

"Um!" She was sweating while her hands failed in front of her. Dusk waited for her to calm down enough to answer, but it seemed to be making her worse.

"Teleportation tokens," A gruff voice broke in. Dusk took a step back, and a large arm darted in front of him, making his robes blow in the breeze. The large hand was accompanied by wide, sharp black talons. Scooped up the tokens Dusk was looking at. Looking at the man, he appeared rough, from the gravel tone of his voice to the clothes on his back. Dressed in tattered robes, shoes torn open, and a broad blade on his back. That appeared to be in better care than the man himself. The sword didn't intimidate him; they were common in the martial arts country he was from. His eyes were another matter.