The night sky shown a deep a black as the two approached the gate to Magari. Leonidas pulled an identification paper from his breast pocket as he approached one of two guards standing at the gate. "The child is with me" he said firmly.
The guard eyeballed the paper, glancing between it and Leonidas. "Looks clear, you're free to pass. Safe travels" he replied, handing the paper back to Leo. As the two made their way into the city, Ketsueki cut his eyes at Leo "the child?"
The boy and the beast strolled the city streets, which were quite lively despite the late hour. The two came to an inn, where Leonidas stopped and entered, ducking slightly while passing through the door frame. Ketsueki followed him to the innkeeper's desk where Leo asked for a room with two beds. The innkeeper's key and Leo's coin exchanged hands, and the two travelers made their way to the room they had purchased.
As soon as they entered, Ketsueki sprawled out on the bed closest to the door "Im fuckin' GASSED" he exclaimed with his face in his pillow. Only then did Leonidas realize that Ketsueki was wearing no shoes or socks "Wha-? Why aren't you wearing shoes, Ketsu?" Ketsueki rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling "Oh yeaaah. My slides fell of while I was runnin' from that vampire from earlier."
"I see" replied Leo. "In the morning we should buy a change of clothes and other items we'll need for our journey. At some point we should buy cloaks of some kind for the cold of the north, but that can wait until we reach next city."
Ketsueki snored loudly as Leo finished speaking. "Goodness gracious" the beastman muttered to himself, walking over to the other bed. He took the katana from his hip and laid it against the wall as he climbed in bed, soon falling asleep.
When morning came the two went out to the market place, which took up more or less the entire city.
"This place is huge" said Ketsu. "So many people. Kinda like the human world actually."
"Magari is a merchant city, so it's more or less always this busy" replied Leonidas.
"So where to first?"
"First, clothes. Which I said. Yesterday. We need to be able to wash our outfits and still have something to wear. we've got quite the trip ahead of us."
The morning sun shone beautiful in the sky that day. The stone roads through the city were full of citizens, young and old, eating, laughing, buying and selling. young children played in the streets as mothers and fathers gossiped amongst themselves. It all came alive before Ketsueki's gaze - he had never seen anything so wonderful. Not that he recalled, anyway. Leonidas noted the boy's wandering eyes.
"Quite a sight, no?" Leo asked.
"Yeah. The human world never looked so... bright."
"Indeed. The humans have a knack for... auto-oppression."
"Auto-what?"
"Auto-opp... keeping themselves unhappy. The daily flow of life that they experience and that of this world differ greatly."
"Everyone seems a lot happier. It's kinda nice."
The two came to a small clothing store not too far from where they were staying. As they purchased their night-wear, Ketsu glanced over at Leonidas.
"Im gettin' kinda bored. We hittin' the road soon Leo?"
"Bored? we just got here."
"Yeah, but I'm bored. Ain't nothin' goin' on around here."
"I thought you said you liked it."
"Yeah, I do, but I like action too, and I'de rather have that."
"*Sigh* well, maybe the weapon shop will intrigue you more - you need some defense."
"*Hehe*, now we're cookin'" said Ketsu.
The two made their way to a nearby weapon's shop, and instantly Ketsueki jumped at the sight of a broadsword on the wall. "Ooooooo" he grinned.
"Yeah, not a chance" said Leo.
"Awww. Buzzkill."
Leonidas walked over to a seven inch dagger on the wall next to the sword. "This is your speed" he said. "Let's go."
Leonidas paid and the two walked out of the shop. After picking up more supplies, they headed back to the inn to pack. In the morning, they were ready to depart.