Pre-Read: Travels of Anne: Eccentric Dragon - Chapter 4.

Chapter 4

Anne stared about in awe and excitement as she wandered up to Outreach’s entry gate. Everywhere she looked, there were humans. Merchant wagons, loaded with wooden crates and rough woolen sacks, strolled by her as they left the town and headed toward their next destination. Going about their daily lives, ordinary humans trailed past her, oblivious to her true nature. The clacking of hooves from the horses, the smell of freshly cut wood, and the ambient sound of people talking amongst one another filled her senses as she took in the border town.

She followed Jack as they entered, and she was surprised that nobody stopped them on their way in. Even her father had Goblins stationed at their mountain's various entrances and exits. This lackadaisical security was either a good sign or a bad one. On one cla—hand… On one hand, the lack of security spoke about the frequency of attacks. On the other, they were prone and most likely unprepared for future attacks, should they come. 

“Enjoying the sights? It’s not much, but you look enthused.”

Anne swiveled her head to find Jack standing with his arms crossed in the center of the street, a wry smile tracing his lips. She had kept him waiting.

“Your security is lackluster.”

Jack barked a joyful laugh as he turned and continued down the busy street. People flowed about her, weaving through one another like it was instinct. Even without looking at those in front of them, some quickly stepped aside at the correct moment to not bump into others. They all had places to be, and she was growing flustered by the nonstop movement. 

“That’s because the most we get are some critters. We had a stampede of boars appeared a few months back. That was interesting. Right now, half of us would be sick at the sight of a slice of bacon or honey-roasted ham.” 

Anne had expected a lot, but what surprised her the most was everyone's varied attire. Some wore what she would classify as leather armor. She wondered if they were adventurers, judging by the bow that they carried, but Jack explained that they were hunters going out into the forest. Others wore a mix of mundane cloth and leather—daily wear for the humans who called this place home. She saw pants and dresses, very few robes, and something she wanted on everyone she passed—Socks. 

“Jack, I would like some socks. Where would I go to get some?” Anne asked nonchalantly, trying to hide her eagerness. 

“Tailor should have some… Wait, you’re telling me you’ve been in those boots for gods knows how long without socks?” 

“Yes. But I don’t see how the gods would know about my foot situation.” 

With a heavy sigh, Jack changed paths. They arrived at the tailor's after about a minute of wandering back and forth down winding paths, across narrow streets, and bustling shops—past people of all vocations, trades, and ages. 

This was everything she had ever wanted. While there weren’t grand adventures or mighty quests, arriving here and being amongst the crowd felt like a reward in and of itself. Right now, she was one of them. She needed to keep it that way if she wanted this moment to last.

Anne, completely engrossed in observing the town, didn't even notice as Jack slipped into the building. In what felt like seconds, he returned and tossed two pale white pieces of L-shaped cloth toward her—Socks. 

“Take those as a bonus for helping me with the tree. They’re cheap anyways.”

Anne dropped her chest, hugged the socks, and shook from excitement. She pretended not to see Jack's weird emotional display, wiping his tears while he turned away to hide his face. While they were mundane, they were socks. Something she had never had in hundreds of years. They were the first of their kind… socks for a dragon. 

Without further ado, Anne eagerly tossed off her boots and put the fabled socks upon her feet. They were snug and comfortable, making the rough soles of her boots more bearable. It was She found it a tad awkward to have boots on her feet. After all, this was the first time she had to wear anything on any of her appendages.

“They’re nice. I like them.” Anne commented as she did a few test jumps, launching herself a few feet into the air with each hop. 

Jack's head bobbed up and down, following her movement as his gaping mouth hung wide.  “Th—That’s good to hear. Let’s head down to an inn; then I’ll show you to the adventurers’ guild.” 

Anne exaggeratedly twirled on her heels as she continued following Jack through the wondrous town. She would need to see if she can get a proper set of socks sooner or later. The mundane versions were nice enough, but nothing beat out magical or enchanted pieces of equipment. 

The Inn that Jack led her to perfectly met the descriptions she’d read about—a tall brick chimney with billowing black smoke, inviting aromas that oozed from the food inside, the cheerful ambiance of people chatting, and wide wooden doors, open and welcoming to all weary travelers. It was perfect.

This one was much smaller than she had imagined, but it was to be expected since this inn was in a border town.

Anne followed Jack to a young, sickly looking female human who gently frowned upon their arrival. She was pale, much too pale to be normal, and her long, straight hair was pitch black. The light from the fire gleamed off it like it was reflective as she twisted and turned. 

So far, Anne had thought she had a general grasp of the attire of the humans, but this young woman made her second guess herself. Unlike the others, who wore a mashing of white, brown, and grays, this young woman wore black—everywhere. She had iron bangles, studded eyebrows, and even a crescent moon-shaped piece of metalwork connected to her nostrils!

The young woman spoke to Jack in a voice that sounded like the world was unjust and that she didn’t want to be in it anymore. Hope was lost, and there was no will to find it. “Welcome to Outreach’s one and only Incredible Inn. How may I help you today?”

Jack remained nonplussed and acted as if everything was normal. So, maybe it was? 

“Hey Lizzie, I need a room for…” Jack looked back at Anne for a moment. “...Four days?” 

Anne nodded her affirmation. She could sell some of her items if she still struggled for money when her stay expired. 

Lizzie reached down, grabbed a rusted iron key, and slid it across the receptionist's desk. “Four silver. One for each day.” 

Jack quickly rummaged in his coin pouch for some coins and then paid the fee. He then scooped up the key and held it out to Anne. 

“See this number etched on the bottom? That’s your room number. When you’re finished at the guild, you can just walk right in and go straight to your room. Understood?” 

Anne nodded and stashed the key in her large stone chest when they walked back outside.

The adventurers' guild was only a street away, and she would have missed it if not for Jack pointing it out. It was a smaller, single-story building with nobody entering or exiting it. It looked dilapidated, with peeling paint and fallen shingles being the most apparent issues. 

Jack gestured toward the guild and then gave her a forced smile. “It’s not much, but that’s it… It may not look like it, but it's got a skeleton crew working at all hours of the day—Mandated by the kingdom…” His smile was cracking, but he carried on.  “There are only two adventurers stationed here at the moment. You’ll be number three… I guess this is where we part ways.”

Anne nodded along, but his meager descriptions didn't discourage her. This was the guild. It would be where she made a name for herself and would accept epic quests! With a little bit of work, she could return it to its former glory. One befitting her station.

As was customary in her books, Anne held out a hand for Jack to shake. Much to her pleasure, he smiled and shook her hand. “It was nice to meet you, Jack.” 

“It was nice to meet you, too. Good luck and remember to be safe!” 

Jack released his grip and waved over his shoulder as he strode back the way they came. Anne gave him a little wave, and once he was out of sight, she turned and strutted confidently toward the entrance to the guild. She couldn’t wait any longer! 

Anne thrust the two large double doors open and walked inside. Her red robe fluttered from the movement, and she paused just past the doorway to scan the interior of the building. She needed to assess how they received her grand entrance. 

There… were only four people in the room… 

Anne gently placed her stone chest onto the worn floorboards and inspected the others watching her with questioning gazes. First, there was a receptionist. A young man similar in age to the sickly woman who worked at the Inn. He gave her a hesitant smile and a subtle nod, which she returned.  

Across the room from him, were a huddled group next to a worn down wooden table. After seeing their equipment, Anne smiled, showing all of her teeth. Standing a head above the rest of her companions, a woman with long blonde hair and a gray suit of armor stood casually. She must be a knight! 

Next to her, a man who looked to be around Jack's age looked down worriedly at the third member of their group. He wore fairly simple attire, blacks and greens, but he also had an extremely unique pack hanging on his back. Pots, pans, tools, nets, ropes, and more dangled across it. He was prepared for their mighty quests, surely. 

The third and final member of the group sat at the table. He looked to be grieving. With red puffy eyes and streaks of tears making their mark. He hiccupped as he took lungfuls of air and didn’t seem to notice her arrival. He wore robes similar to her own, except that they were mundane and stark white. 

Anne gently kicked her stone chest to get it out of the way of the door, causing it to slide across the wooden floorboards with ease and settle along the far wall. Then, she strode up to the receptionist who had turned as pale as that sickly woman from earlier… Maybe it’s part of their job? 

“Hello! My name is Anne, and I would like to be an adventurer. I am new to Outreach, and someone directed me here to join. Tell me, what do I need to do?” 

The dark brown haired man stammered for a second before calming down and answering with seriousness. “First, I’m sorry for your loss. Although you appear to be taking it rather well…” 

Anne raised a hand, cutting him off. “I have lost nothing. What do you mean?” 

The man, once again, stammered until recognition dawned on him. He smiled sadly and thought for a moment before answering calmly. “You can’t return home…” 

Anne nodded, that was expected. She would be welcome by her father, she was sure, but she would not live there. But, how did this man know? How could they have possibly uncovered her disguise already?! A little bit of unease settled on her face, and the receptionist nodded. 

“Many like you have come before, and many will continue to come after. Klide, that young man over there, arrived not an hour ago. He’s taking it rather hard.” The man nodded off toward the sad lad who had been crying. “For you, I need your name and profession. Nothing else from your past life matters much here. We understand you don’t have any documentation.” 

Anne nodded along, but something was nagging her in the back of her mind. Something was off, but she couldn’t put her cla—finger on it. “Well, as I said, my name is Anne. What do you mean by profession? I would like adventuring to be my profession.” 

The receptionist didn’t seem to mind her question. “What is it that you’re skilled in? Miss Dent is a knight, for example. To my understanding, you all had some options?” 

What in the world is this man talking about? Anne thought. 

While she had many talents, she didn’t quite understand what she was being asked. She was skilled in many things. Reading, magic, identifying magic items, and not to mention, that she was better than humans at 99% of what they would try to do. She could barrel through the very walls they called their defense. She could breath tremendous fire, fly, see farther and clearer—the list goes on. 

“I can do many things. I think labeling myself as a standard adventurer would be apt.” Anne explained. 

He nodded along. “Can you at least list some examples? It’s so we can gauge your abilities and seek you out so that the tasks handed to you are fitting.” 

Oh! That makes much more sense. 

It would be foolish to have a simple farmer handle a manticore, for example. This was to get a baseline for her greatness. 

Anne straightened her back and smiled with all of her teeth. “I can cast magic, have strength unbound, and would call myself an expert in magical and enchanted items. Would you like a demonstration?” 

The receptionist quickly waved his hands. “No, no. That won’t be needed. Even if i’m not an expert, even I can tell your robe is magical in some capacity. Not to mention, you kicked that stone chest like it was a ball. I suppose, if you wanted to prove your magical capabilities, you could cast a simple spell if you’d like.” 

That was an easy task, and showcasing her abilities might open up some doors in the future. Anne flicked her wrist and cast one of the lowest levels spells, Mage Hand. It was one of the simplest spells known to exist, along with Light. While she could cast much more devastating spells, there was no need to ruin this city she was going to be staying in. 

A blue spectral claw appeared off to the side and floated there harmlessly. It was about as large as her human form, which caused her to smile widely. It no longer looked as small as it did before! Although, it did appear to still use her claw as a base. 

The receptionist looked at the floating claw with bulgy eyes, shock apparent in his rather pale face. Anne looked between him and the spell, and figured that he might not know it. “That’s Mage Hand. It’s one of the simpler spells that exist.” 

“That’s Mage Hand?! It’s huge!” 

Anne preened under his praise. “It’s quite astounding, yes. I assume that’s good enough for an example? I can cast Fireball if that’s not enough...” 

“No, no… That’s fine. I’ll go about getting your adventurers’ guild tag made… Those three over there are rather new too. Maybe you’d like to mingle with your guild mates while I get this sorted?” 

Anne slapped the counter with enthusiasm as she nodded in acceptance. “I will! Thank you for your help…” Anne trailed off. 

“Joseph…”

“Joseph!” Anne boomed. “I shall be over yonder, mingling!”

Anne quickly left Joseph to get her affairs in order as she met the other adventurers. The first ones she’s ever met in person! While the third member of their party looked to be devastated, perhaps tales of their future endeavors will cheer him up?