I just shake my head and quickly wave his worry off. "I understand why you did that. Even I wasn't sure if I would make it here. I almost didn't, if it wasn't for Squad Six." I bow my head slightly in Myra's direction for what feels like the hundredth time.
Then I bow towards Keldric. Holding my posture as I ask. "But now that I'm here, I want to inform my parents as soon as possible that I'm fine. Can you do that for me?" Knowing that I had parents does change things, of course.
Because as much as I owed Myra and the others. I also owe the parents of this body for my new lease on life. So I want them to know. Everything. But I want to tell them personally. And for that, I will have to go back south. To this boy's home.
And to do that, I need money to pay for an airship trip. Which I'm fairly certain are pretty expensive. They are also the fastest way to get around. So it was the obvious thing to do.
"Of course, we will contact your family. But it will take some time. A few days to a week at least. In the meantime, you should head to Oridalis Academy. Their admission period is still ongoing as far as I know." Though, as I assumed, it will take some time for a letter to reach them.
Meaning I will have to stay here for a while. And right now, it seemed like my best choice was to go to Oridalis Academy to take part in their exams. As a potential initiate, I would get free lodging and food until that period is over. And after that, I could just find a job or survive off the money I get from selling the materials from the Skjálfhirta (Skal-fitra).
And speaking of that. "Then I'll go to Oridalis Academy. But before that. There is one more thing I need to ask." I slide my backpack off my shoulders and show Keldric the magical stone and antlers. "Where would I go to sell this stuff?"
Keldric takes the magical core and antlers out of the backpack and inspects them carefully. "Well. You can either go to the market district to see if you can sell these things for a good price. Or go to an auction house. Though that will cost you a little fee." He explains helpfully.
Myra steps in with a sigh. "But he lost his memories, remember?" Then she turns to me. "You don't know prices, right?" I just shake my head. "Nope. No clue." Then she turns to Keldric again. "See. Can't you guys handle it? View it as the same as handling monster materials we bring in."
As it turns out, the Guards handle monster materials the outriders bring in. Serving as a bridge between the outside, where the Outriders reside, and the inside. `I mean. Yeah. Obviously.` What they do is just a little more than I initially thought.
`But ey.` It's good for me. "Alright. Sure. We can handle the selling of those parts. But then you won't receive the full price for it. We have fixed rates for magical cores. Is that alright?" He asks, and I shrug and nod my head. "Yeah. That's fine."
Whatever amount of money I got out of this was probably enough to hold me over until I get back home anyway. So I wasn't too worried. And I also didn't think they would try to pull the wool over my eyes.
Keldric seems like the straightforward type. And with Myra right there, they probably wouldn't even try to fool me. Since she'd probably see right through it and make a fuss on my behest.
"Thanks. Really." I thank Myra again with a grin on my lips. Which causes her to turn to me with a raised eyebrow. "Hmm? What for?" I chuckle and reply. "Everything. For saving me. And for going out of your way to help me with this. Thanks." I bow again. A little deeper this time.
To really convey my continued gratitude. "Alright. Alright. I get it. You can stop doing that now." A flustered Myra quickly waved me off.
Our antics were interrupted by Keldric clearing his throat. "Hm. As I just said. If you leave these with us, then we will handle selling them to the right place. And you will receive a fixed price. For this mana core, that comes to two Lunthar. And for the antlers, you get four Lunthar, as Skjálfhirta (Skal-fitra) arerather rare around here."
The price is actually better than I thought. Better than it usually was in the game. I remember that much. Mana Cores were a unifying currency across the world. They cost about the same all over the world because of their many uses.
So knowing the price of one of them was a good indicator of what the rest of them would cost. Which in turn lets you roughly figure out how the economy is doing.
And from what I can guess, it's a bit worse than it usually was in-game. In the game. A two-star threat mana core would net you around one Lunthar. One and a half, maybe if you are lucky. `Meaning I'm almost getting double the money.`
Which in turn means that either things are twice as expensive. Or, more likely now that this is a real world, people are less inclined to risk their lives fighting monsters. This, coupled with the rarity of the material, also explains the higher price of the Antlers. Which I thought wouldn't sell for much.
I know all this, of course, because outside of combat and a few other minor things, the economy was the only other thing I paid close attention to in-game. Since it was responsible for how much everything cost. From potions to gear. All vital things for combat.
I remember the economy and different currencies so well that knowing the price of a single monster core, I can easily extrapolate everything else. Though, as before with the letters, it's all assumptions. But my assumptions have proven pretty precise so far. So now I'm no longer worried about getting ripped off by people anymore. At least not completely.
"That sounds just fine to me." I reply to Keldric with a nod. At which point he gets up and walks out of the room. Through a side door of the foyer, we are in. Quickly returning without my materials. Instead, on his left is a pouch jingling with coins.
"I figured you could use some smaller coins. So in this pouch are two Lunthar and forty Calden." He explains as he hands me the pouch. The first money I ever made in this world felt quite heavy.
Mostly because it's a bunch of metal coins. But also because it felt like responsibility and arrival. `I'm feeling more and more part of this.` A stray thought crosses my mind before I shake it off and focus on Keldric again.
"Thanks." Bowing my head slightly yet again. Keldric waves me off. "If you had sold them yourself, you could have potentially gotten more for the Antlers. But it's too late for that now." He adds as he rises from his seat. Stretching his hand out towards me.
Which I accept and shake back with a firm grip. "Either way. You are now free to enter the city. Expect to hear from us as soon as the reply from your parents arrives. Welcome to Eirdalore, Mister Blackwell."
I cringe a little at the "Mister Blackwell." "Just Daniel is fine." I respond as I let go of his hand. "If I fail to get into Oridalis Academy, I'll let you know and tell you where I stay." I add.
"Understood." The end of our conversation was quite clear-cut. So without saying anything more, I and Myra step back outside. Walking over to the middle of the plaza, I saw what I had seen before.
"So I suppose this is goodbye." Myra stops her steps and turns to me with a hint of sadness in her eyes. Before stepping forward and wrapping me up in her arms. Giving me a big, warm hug
Much to my surprise. I freeze for a moment before returning her hug. Very much felt like I was in the arms of a mother. "You take care of yourself. And if you need any help, you are always free to visit me. I don't live far from here. At Sixth Baker Street." Her words were similarly motherly.
Which brings a bit of wetness to my eyes. Which I blink away before she can see it as the hug ends. "Yeah." I reply while averting my eyes. Lingering near her. "You know. I really would have given you all my life. I would have done whatever you said. But knowing I have parents. I owe them just as much as you. So I'll have to retract that statement."
My words bring a warm smile to Myra's face. "That's good to hear. If anyone, then it's your parents you should be eternally grateful to. After all, without them, you wouldn't be here." A sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with.
"Even so. I promise I'll get you all some money as thanks. Even if I have to beg and plead with my parents. And if I do get in trouble while here. You'll be the first to know." I sink back into her arms for one more hug before finally stepping away. Though reluctantly.
"I'd better go now. Lest I actually fall in love with you." I wink playfully to hide my true feelings. Myra has very much become a motherly figure despite the short time we have spent together. My words are only half joking.
Luckily, she takes them as a joke. Rolling her eyes and sending me off in the right direction. "Yeah. Yeah. Now go. Oridalis Academy is in the northern district. You can't miss it." And with that, she waves goodbye and walks away.
Left alone, I stand around for a minute or two before turning towards my destination. The northern district. "What a woman. Holy shit, she'd make a great mom." I muse to myself with a fond smile. Already knowing I won't forget Myra any time soon.
The first connection I formed in this world turned out to be much deeper than expected. Which makes me kind of excited and a bit nervous about what further connections I'll form. So I reaffirm the promise I made to myself that I won't fall in love. No matter what.
Not that I dwell on these thoughts too much. Now that I'm in the city, there are constantly things drawing my attention, unlike in those boring snowfields before. The city was alive and bustling. People walking around. Going shopping. Doing their jobs. Everything you'd expect from a normal modern city.
The only real difference was that instead of cars, it was the occasional carriage going through the street. Most people, however, were walking around on foot, as I was. Not because the city isn't large, mind you.
Eidralore was a big city. One of the, if not the biggest, in Draumond, from what I remember. But that was just the way it is. Most people can't afford carriages or horses. That stuff was expensive.
And they didn't have to deal with urban sprawl too much. Like a modern person does. People tend to live near where they work. And shops are dotted around the city to provide for what the people need.
The large marketplace in the middle of town serves more as a central point for trade. Where people can go and find almost everything they can find elsewhere in the city, and more. Special wares sold on the marketplace are rarely found anywhere else. Since it's the place where most foreign traders set up shop.
And as tempting as it was to stop by there to see what kind of prices I'm actually working with. That could wait. Right now, my goal is to reach Oridalis Academy. To try and get into it. Not that I plan on staying.
But somehow I feel like I'm going to stick around. After all, it was very possible that my parents would tell me to stay in school if I made it in.
I know how this works, after all. Oridalis Academy was the most elite school in the whole of Draumond. Even I know that. I remember it from the game. A mere Baron family. The lowest official noble rank. Especially one from outside Eidralûn. They had to have pulled some strings or paid a large amount of money to get their kid into the school.
Unless said kid was incredibly talented. But...
Name: Daniel Blackwell
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Body/ Strength: 7/ Endurance: 8/ Toughness: 8
Mind/ Acuity: 25/ Wisdom: 5/ Intelligence: 5
Soul/ Destiny: 0/ Fate: 3/ Radiance 9997
For some reason, I don't think this kid had all that much talent. And considering the Ís smíðaðir were the most powerful kingdom in the game. At least economically. It was not too far-fetched to believe my parents had simply paid for my admission.
And if that was the case. I at least had to try my best to get into Oridalis Academy. Though I already know I probably won't make it. "The exam is probably going to be super hard. Even for nobles who have specifically been prepared for it by teachers and tutors for years in advance." And I haven't.
`I'm probably going to fail like the dumbass I am.` But I'm going to give it my best shot. I owe my parents at least that much. Even though I don't know them yet. I don't know if they are actually good people.
However. Based on context, I think they are. Or well. If they aren't good people, they at least care about their child getting a good education. Even though this lazy bum doesn't appear to have much talent for anything.
I base this on the fact that, back when I was training to cross the gorge. I calculated how much mana I have. How good my potential might be. And based on my observations, and how fast I ran out of mana while using low-level spells. I'd say I'm at the lower end of things.
"Still don't know if this kid was really smart or something, though." Of course, there was a distinct possibility that he was just really smart. But that wouldn't matter anymore. It was just me now in this body. So all I could rely on when it came to that was my own intelligence.
`And I'm no genius. That's for sure.` My thoughts are interrupted when I reach the entrance to the Northern District. A bridge and chasm separate it from the rest of the city. Just like the City was separated from the outside world.
Showcasing its exclusivity. But I'm a noble, too. And on top of that, a possible student of Oridalis Academy. So without fear or worry, I step forward towards the bridge.