Chapter 43 — The Price of Fine China
Daichi spent the next hour thinking about the city.
It was, unfortunately, a sensible idea.
That was what bothered him.
The sensible ideas had been particularly dangerous lately.
They needed food. They needed medicine. Clark and Alex both needed proper rest. Their emergency supplies had either been lost in the black-hole passage or ruined during their rather undignified arrival in the lake, and continuing toward the World Tree with a handful of berries and stubborn optimism was the sort of plan that sounded heroic only until somebody collapsed from hunger. A proper city could solve all of that.
On the other hand, practically every city they had entered since arriving in this world had eventually involved explosions, monsters, betrayal, imprisonment or some combination of all four.
Daichi stared into the little fire.
"We'll vote," he whispered to himself.
That seemed fair.
It also meant he would not personally be responsible when the city inevitably tried to eat them.
His eyelids began dropping.
Daichi jerked his head upright.
"No."
A few minutes passed.
His chin sank again.
He forced it back up.
Clark remained curled against the roots nearby, sleeping so deeply that a falling branch could probably have filed paperwork before waking him. Daichi looked at him with mounting disappointment.
"Very useful."
Clark snored.
Daichi looked toward Alex.
The wolf lay beside Renji, apparently asleep.
Daichi reached over and carefully touched his shoulder.
Alex's eyes opened instantly.
No confusion.
No startled movement.
One moment asleep, the next fully awake, sharp eyes fixed on Daichi's face.
Daichi froze with his hand still extended.
Alex glanced toward Renji, then toward the forest, then back at Daichi.
He understood.
Daichi pointed toward himself, then mimed sleep.
Alex gave the smallest nod.
Daichi looked over at Clark.
"I hope you become this reliable someday."
Clark snored louder.
Daichi crawled into the dry hollow beside him, rested his head against the roots and was asleep almost before his eyes fully closed.
Morning arrived with sunlight in Daichi's face and hunger trying to consume him from the inside.
He groaned and sat up.
Renji was already awake nearby, hair flattened on one side from sleeping against a tree root. Alex stood beside him stretching his forelegs while Clark rolled onto his back and made a noise suggesting morning had personally offended him.
Daichi's stomach growled.
Renji looked over.
"Was that you?"
"Unfortunately."
"Thought something was approaching."
"Something is. Starvation."
They dealt first with the less glamorous necessities of travel. The boys disappeared separately into the bushes, returned several minutes later with considerably improved expressions, and then Clark finally demonstrated that living most of his life around water did occasionally have practical advantages.
He gathered moisture into a hovering sphere above one broad flipper and purified it before dividing it between them.
Daichi drank until his stomach stopped feeling like parchment.
"See?" Clark said proudly. "Useful."
Daichi wiped his mouth.
"You have restored some confidence."
Clark looked pleased with himself.
Once they had eaten the last of the berries Alex had identified the previous evening, Daichi told Renji about the Gloomimps.
He described the baskets.
The city.
The road.
The food.
The warning about the World Tree.
And, with particular suspicion, the conversation he had overheard after they flew away.
Renji listened without interrupting.
When Daichi finished, he looked toward the forest.
"So they knew we'd probably go."
"Yes."
"And whoever Goldvein is, they expected him to offer us work."
"Also yes."
Renji folded his arms.
"Sounds suspicious."
"Extremely."
Daichi adjusted his glasses.
"But we need supplies."
Renji nodded.
"Also extremely."
They both looked at Alex and Clark.
Alex sat calmly beside Renji.
Clark was attempting to remove a leaf from his tail.
Renji was quiet for several seconds.
Then he said, "I think we can handle it."
Daichi turned toward him.
Renji's expression was serious but not grim.
"We've trained. We've fought things much worse than a city full of strangers. We know what each other can do now."
He glanced at Clark.
Then Alex.
Then Daichi.
"We should trust each other."
Daichi blinked.
Renji continued.
"We've survived everything so far. We'll survive whatever happens there too."
Daichi stared at him.
This was Renji.
Renji, who only a few weeks ago had barely trusted anyone to stand behind him during combat.
Renji, who preferred doing things himself because relying on other people meant giving them the opportunity to fail.
And now he was saying we.
Daichi felt something surprisingly warm settle in his chest.
Confidence.
Actual confidence.
Not the nervous kind he manufactured by talking too much.
He stood.
"Let's do it."
Renji nodded.
Daichi smiled.
"We can do this."
Clark finally removed the leaf.
"We're doing what?"
The Gloomimps had not lied.
That was almost disappointing.
They found the road before noon.
And it was a real road.
Not an ancient stone path split apart by roots.
Not the remnants of some civilization whose inhabitants had disappeared several apocalypses ago.
A maintained road.
Smooth grey paving ran between the trees, wide enough for carts or large Aetherkin to travel comfortably in both directions. Drainage channels ran along either side, and polished metal markers stood at regular intervals.
Daichi walked to the nearest one.
Letters glowed across its surface.
GILDED HOLLOW — 11 KM
Beneath that:
WORLD TREE ROUTE — NORTH-EAST
And in considerably smaller writing:
UNREGISTERED VIOLENCE WITHIN GILDEN TERRITORY SUBJECT TO FINES, CONFISCATION, EXPULSION OR ALL THREE.
Daichi read the final line twice.
Renji came up beside him.
"That sounds promising."
"Which part?"
"The fines."
Daichi looked at him.
Renji shrugged.
"If they're fining people, it means they're planning for people to remain alive afterward."
That was disturbingly reasonable.
As they followed the road, the forest gradually changed.
Wild undergrowth gave way to managed woodland. Irrigation channels appeared beside the road. Then fences.
Beyond them stretched rows of fruit trees.
Actual orchards.
Workers moved between them carrying baskets while larger creatures hauled carts along side roads. A little farther on came vegetable fields arranged in neat sections, followed by low stone buildings and storehouses.
Daichi stared.
"So the lake..."
"Probably part of the territory," Renji said.
"The forest too."
Alex sniffed the air.
"Many creatures."
The city appeared shortly afterward.
A wall rose from the landscape ahead of them, tall but not absurdly defensive, constructed from pale stone reinforced with dark metal. Towers stood at intervals along its length, and banners bearing a golden coin crossed by a black quill moved gently in the breeze.
Beyond the walls rose rooftops.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Daichi slowed.
It was the first large city they had seen in weeks that was not broken.
No collapsed towers.
No burning districts.
No giant monster currently standing on city hall.
The gates were open.
And busy.
Creatures entered and left in an orderly stream. Some resembled animals, others machines, plants, demons or things Daichi would not have known how to classify even with several biology textbooks and a generous amount of imagination.
But nobody was fighting.
At the gate, armored Aetherkin inspected travelers and collected entry fees.
Daichi winced when they reached the front.
"There's a fee?"
The gate clerk looked unimpressed.
"There is a wall."
Daichi glanced upward.
"Yes."
"Guards."
"Yes."
"Road maintenance."
"Yes."
"Sanitation."
Daichi looked toward Renji.
Renji looked away.
Daichi reluctantly opened the little pouch containing the money they had accumulated over more than a month of travelling. Different territories used different coins, chits and trade pieces, but Gilded Hollow apparently accepted almost all of them after conversion.
That was convenient.
It was also painful.
By the time all four entered, their remaining money looked alarmingly unimpressive.
Gilded Hollow was strange.
Not because it was dangerous.
Because it wasn't.
Daichi had become so accustomed to Aetherkin settlements operating somewhere between military camps and disaster zones that seeing ordinary life felt suspicious.
Shops lined the roads.
Food stalls sold roasted meat, noodles, fruit and things Daichi decided not to identify.
Mechanical Aetherkin repaired parts beneath awnings.
Plant creatures argued over vegetable prices.
Dark-winged creatures carried parcels between buildings.
Large rough-looking beasts sat outside cafés drinking tea without threatening anyone.
A pair of creatures who looked perfectly capable of tearing one another apart were engaged in a heated argument beside a fountain.
A uniformed city warden walked past.
Both immediately lowered their voices.
Daichi watched them.
"That's terrifying."
Renji followed his gaze.
"What?"
"They have functioning law enforcement."
Signs appeared regularly throughout the city.
NO UNREGISTERED COMBAT.
NO FEEDING ON OTHER CITIZENS.
ALL CONTRACT DISPUTES TO BE FILED WITH THE GOLDVEIN COMMERCIAL COURT.
And, beneath one particularly large notice:
THE BOSS DOES NOT CARE WHO STARTED IT.
Daichi stopped.
"I like whoever wrote that."
Renji pointed toward a supply shop.
"Food first."
That was enough to restore priorities.
Inside they found exactly what they needed.
Travel biscuits.
Dried fruit.
Preserved meat.
Bandages.
Antiseptic compounds safe for both humans and Aetherkin.
Basic medicines.
Water containers.
Daichi felt hope rise with every shelf.
Then the shopkeeper told them the total.
Hope died.
Daichi emptied their remaining money onto the counter.
The owner stared at it.
Then at the supplies.
Then back at the money.
"You can afford the bandages."
Daichi swallowed.
"And food?"
"One packet."
"Medicine?"
"No."
Renji asked, "What if we reduce everything?"
The owner folded two thick arms.
"You still cannot afford it."
Daichi looked at Clark.
Clark looked at the food.
This was becoming unpleasant.
The shopkeeper swept the coins toward them.
"Either buy something or move along. You're blocking paying customers."
They left.
The park was irritatingly pleasant.
Daichi sat on a bench beneath a broad tree while Renji leaned against the railing nearby. Clark lay across the grass. Alex sat beside Renji, watching pedestrians pass.
Nobody spoke for a while.
Daichi finally sighed.
"If we leave without supplies, we're going to have problems."
Renji nodded.
"If we stay, we're spending money we don't have."
"We don't even have that anymore."
Another silence.
Daichi watched the city.
Creatures everywhere were working.
Carrying things.
Selling things.
Cleaning streets.
Repairing buildings.
Serving food.
He sat up.
"What if I get a job?"
Renji turned.
"A job?"
"Yes."
"What kind of job?"
"I don't know."
Daichi gestured around them.
"They're all working. Somebody has to need help."
Renji frowned.
"Would they hire humans?"
Daichi adjusted his glasses.
"Only one way to find out."
They spent another few minutes discussing it, then decided splitting up would cover more ground.
Renji took Alex toward the commercial district.
Daichi and Clark headed toward the restaurants.
The first three places rejected him.
One because they did not hire travelers.
One because he had no local references.
The third owner stared at Clark for several seconds before saying they had recently repaired the floor and did not want aquatic animals inside.
Clark was deeply offended.
Then Daichi saw the notice.
A polished board stood outside one of the largest restaurants in the district.
KITCHEN STAFF REQUIRED
STEADY HANDS PREFERRED
COOKING EXPERIENCE DESIRABLE
BREAKAGE WILL BE DEDUCTED
Daichi stared at the final line.
He should have paid more attention to it.
The restaurant was warm, busy and considerably more elegant than Daichi expected.
Dark polished wood covered the floors. Golden lanterns hung overhead. The smell of broth, roasted vegetables, spice and freshly baked bread rolled through the dining room.
Daichi approached the attendant.
"I'm here about the kitchen position."
The attendant looked him over.
Then Clark.
Then Daichi again.
"Human?"
"Yes."
"Bonded?"
Daichi hesitated.
Clark lifted one flipper.
The attendant nodded as though this answered everything.
"Boss wants to see you."
Daichi's stomach tightened.
"Before the interview?"
"The Boss is the interview."
That was somehow worse.
They were led upstairs.
The office door opened.
Daichi stopped.
The ruler of Gilded Hollow was an egg.
A very large egg.
A very large, cracked egg wearing expensive robes.
Green clawed limbs emerged beneath the shell, and within the enormous broken opening where a face should have been there was only swirling darkness and two glowing golden eyes. A feather pen rested in one claw. A rolled contract sat in another. Gold chains and ornamental seals hung across the shell, and the creature sat behind an enormous desk covered in ledgers.
Daichi stared.
The egg looked up.
"Ah."
Its voice was relaxed.
Almost cheerful.
"The tamer."
Daichi blinked.
"You know about us?"
The egg set down his pen.
"Of course."
He leaned back.
"A good businessman knows what enters his territory."
Daichi glanced at Clark.
Clark offered nothing.
The egg continued.
"Daichi Moriyama. Clark. Separated from your larger group following a spatial incident."
Daichi's expression tightened.
"You have a lot of information."
"I pay for a lot of information."
The egg spread his hands.
"Information is usually cheaper before you desperately need it."
That was difficult to argue with.
Daichi cleared his throat.
"I came about the job."
The glowing eyes narrowed slightly with amusement.
"Yes. I gathered that you didn't climb three flights of stairs to admire my shell."
Daichi decided he liked this creature more than expected.
"My name is Vellum Goldvein."
So this was Goldvein.
Daichi remembered the Gloomimps laughing.
That became concerning again.
Vellum tapped one claw against the desk.
"What do you want?"
"A temporary job."
"Obviously."
"I can cook."
Vellum paused.
"A cook?"
"Yes."
The golden eyes brightened.
"Now that is useful."
Daichi had expected questions about fighting.
Or the Virtue Sigils.
Or why humans had appeared in his territory.
Instead the ruler of the city seemed genuinely interested in whether he could make soup.
Vellum rose.
"Let's test it."
The test lasted an hour.
Daichi cooked three simple dishes.
Rice with vegetables.
A meat stew.
Then a pan-fried meal using ingredients he had never seen before and desperately hoped were meant to be eaten.
He had always been good in kitchens. Not professionally good, perhaps, but practical, careful and patient.
For once, knowledge he possessed was immediately useful.
Unfortunately, nervousness also remained immediately useful at ruining things.
He knocked one plate off the preparation table.
Then another.
The second plate struck a third.
The third broke because apparently tableware traveled in packs.
Daichi stared at the shattered porcelain.
One of the kitchen workers stared too.
"Expensive?"
The worker slowly nodded.
Daichi closed his eyes.
"Of course."
Still, the food itself came out well.
Very well.
Better, judging from the reactions, than Vellum had expected.
The demon ruler sampled each dish personally.
He ate in a manner Daichi could not understand because the food simply disappeared into the darkness inside his shell.
Vellum finished the stew.
Paused.
Took another spoonful.
"Hm."
Daichi waited.
Vellum pointed toward the kitchen.
"You're hired."
Daichi exhaled.
"Really?"
"You're better than half my current kitchen."
That was encouraging.
Vellum continued.
"And considerably cheaper than the other half."
That was less encouraging.
He rested one claw against the table.
"Good specialists are becoming difficult to find."
The casual humor faded slightly.
"Once the purges began, everyone understood what time it was."
Daichi knew what he meant.
The strongest beings of the world had been dying.
Transcendent Aetherkin.
Most of the Apex survivors.
Ancient powers that had stood above nations.
The Grand Archive's chosen knights had been cutting through them as the current age moved toward its end.
Vellum's golden eyes dimmed slightly.
"Cities collapsed. Kingdoms stopped pretending tomorrow mattered. Some creatures decided to spend their final years killing everything they disliked. Others simply went wild."
He gestured toward the window.
"Gilded Hollow is for the ones who would prefer dinner, wages and a roof while waiting to discover whether existence intends to explode."
Daichi looked over the peaceful streets below.
That explained much.
Vellum's city was not peaceful because the world had spared it.
It was peaceful because Vellum had stubbornly kept civilization running while everything around it fell apart.
The moment passed.
Vellum produced a contract.
"Sign here."
Daichi took it.
Then stopped.
He had learned enough during the past month not to sign mysterious magical documents without reading them.
He read every line.
Employment.
Kitchen duties.
Meals included while working.
Basic lodging.
Protection within Goldvein territory.
Damage deductions.
Daichi frowned.
"What's this?"
Vellum looked over.
"Compensation for damaged property."
"The plates?"
"Yes."
Daichi swallowed.
"All three?"
"Naturally."
"They fell by accident."
"Most broken plates do."
Daichi stared at the contract again.
"The cost comes out of my wages?"
"Correct."
Daichi hesitated.
His instincts told him to leave.
His stomach reminded him they needed food.
His mind reminded him Clark needed supplies.
Renji needed supplies.
They were isolated.
They had no idea where the others were.
Daichi was the oldest human in the group.
If he could make things even slightly easier, wasn't that what he was supposed to do?
He took a breath.
Then signed.
The contract glowed briefly.
Vellum gathered it neatly.
"Excellent."
Daichi looked up.
"So now?"
"Now you're under my protection and employed as one of my cooks until your debt is cleared."
Daichi's expression changed.
"Debt?"
"The plates."
"How long will that take?"
Vellum tilted his head.
"Give or take two months of wages."
Silence.
Daichi stared.
Clark stared.
Vellum reached for his tea.
Daichi slowly said, "Two months?"
"Approximately."
"Why are the dishes that expensive?"
He paused.
"Or is my salary that cheap?"
Vellum looked offended.
"Nonsense. I pay market value."
"Then why—"
"Collector's pieces."
Daichi's mouth closed.
Vellum sighed wistfully.
"Hand-painted. Limited series. One of my favorite artisans."
Daichi looked toward the kitchen.
"I broke three."
"Yes."
Daichi slowly lowered his head into his hands.
He had negotiated nothing.
Not the wage.
Not the breakage value.
Not even whether there was a probationary cooking test during which accidents should reasonably be expected.
The terms had been written clearly.
Vellum had not tricked him.
Which somehow made it worse.
Daichi looked up again.
"Can I negotiate now?"
"No."
"Of course."
Vellum sipped his tea.
"You should negotiate before signing."
"I understand that now."
"Excellent. Employment is already educational."
Daichi stared at him.
Vellum seemed genuinely pleased.
"The dishes really were worth that much?"
"Absolutely."
"What happened to the artisan?"
Vellum became solemn.
"Ran directly into a beam attack during the Purge."
Daichi stared.
Clark stared.
Vellum remained silent for several seconds.
Then his glowing eyes curved with amusement.
"I'm joking."
Daichi's shoulders dropped.
Vellum continued.
"He died when the Demon Realm was erased during the purge of its lords and emperor."
The shoulders rose again.
Clark looked at Daichi.
"I preferred the joke."
"So did I."
Vellum rolled up the contract.
"Welcome to employment."
Renji returned an hour later.
Daichi was wearing an apron.
Renji stopped in the restaurant doorway.
Alex stopped beside him.
Daichi looked at him.
Renji looked at the apron.
Then at Clark.
Then back at Daichi.
"What happened?"
Daichi sighed.
"I got a job."
Renji glanced toward the kitchen.
"That doesn't explain your face."
"I also got debt."
Renji stared.
"How?"
"Plates."
There was a pause.
"Plates."
"Very expensive plates."
Renji closed his eyes briefly.
Daichi explained everything.
The cooking test.
The contract.
The salary.
The deductions.
The estimated two months.
By the end, Renji had developed an expression that suggested he was attempting to choose between sympathy and laughter and found neither socially appropriate.
Daichi handed him a small pouch.
"What's this?"
"Advance."
Vellum had agreed to provide part of Daichi's first wages immediately so Renji could buy food, medicine and traveling supplies.
"You and Alex can go."
Renji looked at him.
Daichi tried to smile.
"It's fine."
"It isn't."
"Renji, you don't have to stay here because I broke some dishes."
"We came here together."
"Yes."
"And you're stuck."
"Temporarily."
"Two months."
Daichi winced.
Renji looked toward Alex.
Then toward Clark.
Then at Daichi.
"I'm not leaving a friend behind because he was stupid around expensive plates."
Daichi stared.
"That was strangely supportive."
"It was supposed to be."
Renji walked past him.
"Where's Goldvein?"
"Upstairs."
Renji headed toward the stairs.
Daichi caught his sleeve.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting a job."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
"Renji."
The younger boy looked back at him.
"I said yesterday we trust each other."
Daichi fell silent.
Renji continued more quietly.
"I'm not walking away now."
He pulled his sleeve free.
"And besides, if I leave you alone for two months, you'll probably break the building."
Daichi stared after him.
Alex followed.
Clark looked at Daichi.
"He's getting better at jokes."
"Unfortunately."
Vellum looked delighted when Renji entered his office.
"Another tamer."
Renji stopped in front of the desk.
"You already knew I was here."
"Naturally."
"I want work."
Vellum folded his claws together.
"Can you cook?"
"No."
"Excellent. One disaster is enough."
Renji's eyes narrowed.
Vellum chuckled.
"What can you do?"
"Fight."
"Useful."
"I can carry things."
"Also useful."
"I can serve tables."
Vellum paused.
Then slowly leaned forward.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
Renji immediately regretted mentioning it.
An agreement was negotiated.
Unlike Daichi, Renji asked about the salary first.
Then deductions.
Then working hours.
Then exactly what counted as property damage.
Vellum answered every question without complaint.
If anything, he appeared pleased.
"See?" he told Daichi when the older boy joined them. "Your friend understands contracts."
Daichi folded his arms.
"I was under pressure."
"You were hungry."
"Exactly."
Renji signed.
The contract glowed.
Vellum collected it.
"Wonderful."
He spread his claws toward both boys.
"Daichi Moriyama. Renji Kuroda. You are now employees of Vellum Goldvein and therefore under my protection for the duration of your respective agreements."
Daichi raised a finger.
"Subordinates?"
"Employees."
Renji relaxed slightly.
Vellum added, "Contractually obligated employees."
Renji's eyes narrowed again.
Vellum laughed.
"Relax. I don't eat staff."
Clark looked toward the dark opening in his shell.
"Can you?"
Vellum turned toward him.
Clark immediately reconsidered the question.
The demon ruler leaned back comfortably.
"Now then. Daichi, kitchen. Renji..."
He looked at the younger boy.
Then toward a neatly folded uniform waiting on a nearby chair.
It had a bow tie.
Renji's face changed.
Daichi looked at the uniform.
Then at Renji.
Then very carefully looked away.
Vellum's glowing eyes brightened.
"Welcome to Gilded Hollow."
For the first time since falling through the black hole, Daichi felt reasonably certain they were safe.
He was fed.
He had shelter.
Renji and the partners were protected.
They could recover, earn supplies and work out how to find everyone else.
Admittedly, he was now indebted to an enormous demonic egg because of three collectible plates.
But compared with being eaten by lake monsters, that seemed almost respectable.