The sun was already up, and the streets were beginning to wake with it—beastkin vendors setting up stalls, kids darting around, people heading to wherever they needed to be. The old man walked ahead with purpose, and I trailed behind, lookingaround at whatever caught my eye.
It was my first time walking freely in this world, and it felt good to stretch my legs without someone ranting every now and then.
He still hadn't spilled where we were headed, just kept muttering about "the place we talked about".
Whatever that means,
The road got busier the farther we went, until it opened up to a massive stone temple. Easily the biggest building I'd seen since waking up here. Beastkin of all kinds milled in and out like it was a market.
The old man stopped at the entrance and shot me a warning look.
"Don't cause a nuisance in there."
"Mmm-hmm."
I nodded without really thinking, eyes still glued to the sheer scale of the thing—taller than any church back home, solid as hell. "This place is huge," I muttered, craning my neck.
He sighed, long and exasperated, then pushed through the doors. I followed, stepping into the dimmer light inside.
The interior was… disappointing: plain walls, simple benches littered around, and very little decoration. It looked very basic and generic, like the people who made it were too lazy to do as good a job inside as they did outside. Still, people milled about, with most wearing these white, weird-looking coats.
The old man led me to a spot near a pillar and stopped.
"Wait here," he ordered, then turned to go.
"Can I at least—" I started, but he cut me off sharp.
"Keep shut and stay put."
I frowned and crossed my arms. "Fine. Whatever."
He shuffled off without another word, leaving me standing there like an idiot.
Minutes went by, and I got bored fast. There was nothing to keep me busy. Nothing here was remotely interesting.
Finally, he came back, now wearing one of those ridiculous white getups himself. Flanking him was an elf, tall and lean, with sharp features and silver hair tied back, wearing the exact same coat.
I couldn't help it—a grin spread on my face, and I chuckled. "The hell are you two wearing?"
The old man's face reddened, and his eyes narrowed like he was about to snap, but the elf stopped him before it could escalate. He gave a soft, amused smile, fixing his eyes on me. "You've got a sharp mouth for someone in your position."
My grin faded and I folded my arms tight, meeting his gaze. "So? What about it?"
He chuckled lightly, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "Relax. We're only here to help you."
He tilted his head a bit. "If you don't mind, I'd like to know your name."
I hesitated, glancing at the old man's scowl, then sighed. "Ren."
His smile spread wider. "Good to meet you, Ren."
The elf's hand moved to his chest in a casual salute. "My name is Felix." Then he nodded toward the old man.
"And I'm sure you already know who this is, since you spent the night in his home. His name is Gaylord. Gaylord the Wise."