I awoke to the same pattering of rain, the gentle sway of the train, and the sounds of the wheels on the track. It was still dark outside the window, with the dark trees skating by. I felt fully refreshed from the deep sleep I had just taken. All I needed now was a shower.

I looked down at my clothes and realized that I had bled on them a little.  A fresh change of clothes should help. Maybe there’s a fresh set of clothes in the chest like last time?

After I showered and checked the chest for the clothes, which luckily it did, I changed into them and then looked around the room for a bell. I wasn’t sure if the maid meant a hand bell, a table bell, or a doorbell. Either way, I couldn’t find anything. Did the room change when I opened the door? Maybe the bell is in that room. I headed out of the room, down the stairs, and to the front lobby. Since the green fruit didn’t completely heal me, I figured I might as well eat something to really top off my health.

Once downstairs, I found the doors to restaurant area and was seated by the maid that greeted me inside. There was no menu and I was poured a drink that was pink and purple in color and tasted slightly like orange juice with another flavor I had never tasted before.

Not a minute later, a platter was being brought to my table and when they removed the lid, I was met with two large waffles topped with a cream and fruits, I assumed, that I had never seen before.

“This is a passenger specialty. The recipe was given to Ag Inn personally by the king himself.”

“Thank you very much, this looks delicious.”

The waiter bowed before heading back towards the kitchen.

I started eating and was met with the most delicious tasting waffles I had ever had. The cream they had used with the fruit on top was a perfect combination that just made me salivate the entire time. The juice paired extremely well with it and at the end of eating it, I was full and I felt completely refreshed and like I could take on the woman that had beat me so badly in the railcar before.

The moment I was finished, the waiter had appeared. I was the only person in the restaurant, so it wasn’t too surprising that he knew I was done. I hadn’t even seen any waiters in the dining area, so the level of service was excellent.

“That was the most delicious waffle I have ever had.”

“Thank you, my lord. I will let the chef know. Might I ask what you will be doing today? The day has just begun and I’m sure Ag Inn can help you with anything you need.”

Just begun? It was still dark in my room. Or was that just my room?

“I plan to see K’ali today. I am in need of a piece of jewelry with a speech gem.”

“Ah, yes. Would you like assistance in finding her shop?”

“No, thank you. I plan to explore the city a little bit and I think I remember the way.”

“Then please take this.”

The waiter handed me a gold coin with a large “AI” beveled on it.

“If you hand this coin to any guard, they will escort you back to Ag Inn. As you are without a speech gem for now. I bid you caution on your journey.”

“Thank you. I will try to keep out of trouble.”

The waiter had grabbed my plate and cup, bowed once more, and headed back to the kitchen. I got up from my seat and headed towards the front doors of the Inn. I could see Milkrose flipping through papers at the front desk. He gave me a nod as I left the building.

With my sword at my side and my bag on my back, I headed in the general direction of K’ali’s shop. I passed by a few other people, but since I was in a strange world and couldn’t communicate with anyone, I kept to myself. I weaved around corners and headed towards the sound of what I figured was people talking.

I turned the next corner.  BUMP. I stumbled back and nearly fell on my ass.

“Shit. Sorry about that.”

I looked up and saw that it was a large hooded person, similar to the ones on the subway train. Oh no.

“You don’t belong here.”

I can understand him. Is he wearing a speech gem?

I went straight for my sword, but before I could grab it, he grabbed me. And threw me into the nearest wall. I coughed from having the wind knocked out of me. I fell to the ground for a moment. That was enough time for the hooded figure to kick me while I was down and I coughed some more.

I rolled onto my back and unsheathed my sword with as much speed as I could muster. He went in for a stomp, but sword stabbed straight into the leg he had planted to the ground.

“YAARGH!”

He leapt backward, pulling himself free of my sword. He moved the robes he was wearing to show a giant spiked mace at his side. Which he decided to pull free. Upon seeing this weapon, I figured it was not a fair fight and picked myself up with haste, grabbing some dirt along the way.

He two handed the mace and brought it down towards me, but I hurriedly threw the dirt straight into the shadowed face of the figure, causing him to stumble backward. I took this opportunity to dart in the other direction and weave around corner after corner, putting myself further and further away from the hooded figure. That was a close one.

I had no idea what that hooded figure was doing in this town, but I didn’t like the thought of it. What if he wasn’t the only one. I resheathed my sword, but kept my hand readily upon it and now took corners more widely.

I finally happened upon the market and saw the many shop fronts and stalls in the giant open square. There was a wide variety of humans and other species walking around buying and selling things. I even saw one of the Y’ati making a trade for what looked like green gems.

At the far side of the market, I spotted the anvil sign I had seen the day prior. How did I end up on the opposite side of this market? I started my way through the market, heading towards K’ali’s smithy. I smelled various spices at one stall, saw weird looking creatures in cages at another, and I saw someone selling various swords and armor pieces.

I stopped to take a look at what was available and after having seen my sword for so long, I could tell the quality of these ones did not compare to K’ali’s work. The creature that owned the stall, who looked like a giant lizard person, started to “speak”. I gave a polite smile and a shake of my head before walking off since I couldn’t understand it.

Once I made it outside of K’ali’s, I could hear the banging of metal on metal from within. Good, she’s here. I gave a knock on the door and stepped inside. The door shutting behind me.

It looked like the same door I had come through on the train, but there were no numbers on the back of any of the doors. Strange. I could feel the heat radiating from the other room down the hallway. I walked towards it.

K’ali actually stopped what she was doing this time as she saw me enter. She went to grab her bracelet.

“You’re not running through this time?... and disappearing into my rooms?”

“Haha, no. Not this time. I had an urgent matter to take care of elsewhere on the train.”

She raised a brow at the word “train”, but chose not to question further.

“I am in need of your help once more, K’ali.”

I grabbed the violet gem from my bag and showed it to her. She immediately perked up.

“Where did you get this? These are very rare to come by.” She paused, while eyeing it. “I can make this a ring for you, but it will cost. You have given me a tooth, which will cover the cost of the spell, but there is another material used to make these rings that is hard to come by. I have some on hand and it will take some time to forge, but I will need it paid for or replaced.”

“How much would it be or where could I get it?”

“It would cost 5,000 gold to replace it, or you can find some in Terror Mountain. It wouldn’t be as far down as the violet gems, but it’s still a dangerous journey. You may be able to get some help from the Y’ati. Just tell them you are looking for epohite.”

“I would need the ring to speak with them, though. How about this. I can come back later, pick up the ring, then head to the mountain to get the epohite. And since it is rare, I will also try to find a little bit more, since you would be giving me an expensive item without the pay.”

“And what if you die?”

“I wouldn’t worry about that. You’ll have to trust me on this, but that won’t be a problem.” For you at least. I still feel pain.

“Fine. Deal. It may be a few days before this is ready, come back later.”

She placed the gem in a chest, which she then closed and whispered something. A small black circle with various glyphs appeared over the lock of the chest for a moment and then disappeared. She went back to what she was doing previously, our business finished.

I made my way to the front door, but had noticed a change. The numbers were back on the doors. “94” and “88” visible on the doors opposite the one I came through. That one now had a “96” visible on it. No, no, no. I need to go back to Agrathea. I don’t want to have to go back through the mountain. I’m not ready for that yet.

I opened the door with the “96” and saw the subway train I had originally come through. This can’t be happening. I shut the door, seemingly stuck.

Then it came to me. The maid had me open the door in the inn, because when I open doors, it takes me through the train. But if she was to open it, it would have taken me to the actual room that is located in 90i. So, if I have K’ali open this door, it should take me back to Neron.

I awkwardly walked back to K’ali.

“I need you help once more…. Could you perhaps open the door for me?”

She kept hammering away, but slowly came to a stop. And then proceeded to stare at me, dumbstruck.

“Can you not open it?”

“I can…. but then I have the issue of moving through the train I told you about. You must be the one to open the door for me. Please.”

She continued to stare at me. But after a moment or two, she made her way past me and headed for the door. I followed and stared at the door she was about to open. When she opened it, I was still half expecting to see the subway railcar, but was happily met with the street in Neron. Thank goodness.

“Thank you.”

I walked out the door, trying to find my bearings and remember the route N had taken me to get back to the inn. The only thing is. I couldn’t remember and I didn’t want to run into another hooded figure again.

I spotted a pair of armored guards walking in the distance. I ran up to them, which probably wasn’t the best idea, since they immediately went for their swords.

“Can you help me find Ag Inn?”

They both looked at each other and then back to me. One of them spoke, but I couldn’t understand them. This is getting old. You’d think the guards would have speech gems, or are they really that rare to come by.

I reached into my bag to grab the coin the waiter had given me, but that also caused the guards to be wary. Slowly, I pulled out the coin and showed it to the guards. They looked at each other once again, said something I couldn’t understand and one of them waved for me to follow as he started walking. The guard took me along the same path N did and we made it to the inn without incident.

Once inside, I had figured there wasn’t much for me to do in Neron, or Agrathea for that matter since, I couldn’t understand anyone and I was still getting tossed around by enemies. So, I headed to Milkrose to ask to use the elevator.

“Good afternoon, Milkrose. Could I use the elevator you had mentioned yesterday? I do not have a key, though.”

“Of course, my lord. One moment while I get the key.”

Milkrose reached under the desk and pulled out a very dusty small chest. After clearing away some of the dust, he checked the journal that the king had given him. He opened the journal up to a page, read something fervently, then went back to the chest and whispered something under his breath. I could see a small white circle with glyphs appear above the latch and then I heard a click as it popped open.

Milkrose pulled a small key from the chest and inserted it into the hole on the wall behind him. He gave it a turn until he heard a click, but nothing happened. I could see as he stepped back that the back of the key was diamond shaped and had what looked like a “68” on it.

After a few moments, there some more clicking and creaking as a seam appeared in the wall and the double elevator doors opened up. I could see the surprise on Milkrose’s face; clearly he had never seen this before.

“Right this way, my lord.”

He gestured for me to enter the elevator.

I walked around the counter and made my way into the elevator. It was the same one I was in previously before making it to Neron. Milkrose stood outside the elevator, not entering.

“You may press the button for the 89^th' railcar', my lord. But please note, this is a one-way trip.”

89^th. Yeah, that makes sense.

“Thank you for your help, Milkrose.”

He gave a slight bow as I pressed the ninth button in the ninth row. They really should number these things. A green light illuminated around it and “89” appeared on the digital screen. The doors began to shut and I gave Milkrose a nod.

A few moments later the elevator stopped moving and the doors opened up to railcar 89.