Prince of Pigeons

Market Square

"Why are we having a field trip this early in the year?"

I turn to look at the student next to me, although he isn't asking me the question. Mr. Spik just told the class that we were going to go on a field trip to Market Square next week. With how far we were from our parents, Spik said "you need to talk to them about signing the permission slips on the website."

My parents signed the slip without much fuss. My father took the time to talk to me. "I've heard this place used to be brown." He said. "Really? How did they change the color of an entire castle?" "I don't know, I've never been to this place." "Alright then, I have to go though." "Bye son, but remember, don't drink any potion offered to you and stay away from the basement." "What basement?" I ask.
He doesn't respond.

The bus sits all the way out in the courtyard, and during the walk I realize just how big the academy truly is. It's been like ten minutes of the orange and brown corridors of the school with a brief walk through the cafeteria. It's another five minutes before we reach the front hall. And then I notice how long it takes to walk across the courtyard.

The bus is a normal school bus, bright yellow. The ride to the square is uneventful as the scenery outside the windows changes from green to orange. As the bus starts climbing a path upwards, speaks. "Settle down everybody! We're nearing the market square! SETTLE DOWN!" The bus driver said.

Market Square has many different people selling many different goods, once I saw some guy selling monster droppings, like goblin fangs and kobold tails, in a stand covered in purple stains. Many of the stands had sheets colored the same orange shade as the leaves, with the rest of their parts being made out of cheap wood or spare metal. As we walked out of the bus, the chaperone was telling us the basic things like "don't wander too far," and "do not buy anything from the stands." Then she started guiding us around the square, telling us about the fountain, the nearby bank, the history.

After she summed up the history of Market Square, something involving two families and two lovers, she told us to walk around and see what the people had to offer, but not to buy it, and so we did.

I found myself walking away from the shops and to a nearby tram station. I saw a river heading out from under the station, one that I had already seen a couple of times in my life, but never from this angle. I got closer, resting my hand on the railing and spending a few minutes looking at the scene. The river stretched out in a wavy pattern, on both of it's sides were hills, with homes and a few other towns on them. Nearby is a slanted sign, I turn over to read it. The river is called Dragon River, and it is the source of water that has apparently fueled the most important settlements of this country, I wonder how long it goes for? With nothing more to focus on, I end up turning back and returning to the market. People are offering elixirs of varying colors, random equipment like shields and staffs, monster parts that still seem to be moist, pieces of scrap metal like bars and plates, flags for you to wear on your back, orbs that are warm to the touch or electric enough to make your hair stand on end. Stuff I haven't seen before in my life, but I am going to have to see more of it, stuff like that.

"Again, why are we having a field trip this early in the year?"

I turn to stare at where the voice was coming from. I see another student, he's taller than me and has blonde hair, he's wearing an orange shirt and brown pants, with a dark blue backpack. He's staring aimlessly at a stand selling staffs and bows. I find myself wandering off and doing the same thing.

Eventually, the time comes for us to leave Market Square, I turn to see the bus driver walking down the lane, a few of my fellow students behind her. She tells me that we are leaving, and to follow her, and so I do.

We walk into the bus in a line, and fill the seats. The bus starts up with a jump and I look out the window to see us leave Market Square.

"Do you think they just wanted us out of the school?"

I turn to look at the person I'm sharing a seat with, it's the blonde haired kid from before, he's looking at me like he's hoping I respond, he is hoping I respond.

"I-I don't know." My sentence starts with a few sputters, his look turns to mild confusion, then he turns to look forward. "I was just thinking, I wonder why they wouldn't just tell us, though." I find myself thinking up a response to his mutterings, but I can't find anything to think up, so I pull out my phone. "What's weirder, we still have half the day to get through." I turn to gage his reaction, he seems to be confused, "...Well its not like they can let us loose for the whole day." I find myself waving my eyes back and forth thinking of something new to say to him. "D-do you have an affinity?" He's a bit surprised by the question. "Well, no. But I do have something interesting." He unzips his backpack to show a staff, I recognize the staff from one of the stands, "Wait, w-we weren't allowed to buy anything." "Eh, they never check to see if we break the rules, they just expect us to give ourselves away." "Huh." I don't really know what to think now, or what to say to this guy. He seems to think the same.

"Hey, my name is Dane, by the way."