The road was so different than what he was used to. No mud, no rocks, no roots growing from the ground...just wood and stone, neatly put down on the floor and arranged in patterns for the eye to watch.
The air was different too, cold, thin and without a taste, unlike the smell of wood, taste of rot and sap and the thickness of the swamps. So weird. So like...nothing.
Kaelen was skeptical about it at first and was clinging to the side of the road, where the Tree met the human designs and was at least a bit unpredictable, but the further he went, the more normal it looked for him.
Buildings started to appear in the side of the Tree with voice coming from inside and the lights illuminating the area.
When he saw the first person walking the other way, he hid behind at the wall as fast as possible. The other guy ; shrugged and walked away.
The higher he went, the more of them were walking around. Sometimes they went down, sometimes up. Sometimes there were houses on both sides, hanging on the edge or built inside the bark. And people walked from one side to the other.
"Hey umm feather" Kaelen whispered to himself while moving in the crowd "Is this normal?"
What is normal ?
"You know.." He hesitantly talked while turning around on every step "The people. There is so many of them"
Hmmmmm
We assume its the same as when our last host was living still
Humans don`t change
It is...often to see this
Yes
Normal this is
"Okey then" Every step from then on he slowly stopped turning his head and avoiding people, moving a bit closer to the middle, looking in people`s eyes instead of away from them. Just acting more like he lived here.
And someone started waving at him, others politely nodded, some people tried to small talk with him. Kaelen still not in the place fully, nodded back awkwardly and speedly walked away.
He was in a city at this point. Houses left, houses right, clothes above him and light everywhere. Lamps, lanterns ,torches ; a lot of them.
I can see that you are enjoying yourself
However
Do you know where are you going
Human
"Well....up. This path only goes two ways and well...we were below"
And
"And we will find that auction place...And Mira. Simple"
Kaelen was forgetting about that part for some time now and enjoying himself in the city, looking at everything once he felt safe in it.
But it was true ; he had no idea where he was, or where the auction house was.
Sigh
GO
Ask someone
"Did..did you just sigh?" He only focused on the first part from the feather.
Yes. We did.
Now find the auction house
Before we decide to let you die
"Fine fine. .... Excuse me sire" Literally the first person he saw was his target "I`m looking for the auction house, do you know where it is?"
The guy gave him a look and walked away.
And the next person.
And the next.
Like everybody knew but decided not to tell specifically him.
"Huh...that`s not good"
But just like he was hiding from the people at the beginning, someone was hiding from him.
Human
Look left. Slowly
Kaelen side viewed on the left side of the road, where a suspiciously dark corner caught his eye where a person nonchalantly stood against a building while starring at him.
"Well he looks like he knows his stuff" and of course "Hi. Do you know where the auction house is?"
"Depends. Why do you need to know that"
"I ummmm need to participate in it" While puffing out his chest
"He he, sure thing buddy" And the man looked at him from head to toe " How about this mr rich auctioneer. 10 bronze and I`ll tell you, hell, I`ll bring you there"
Kaelen froze. Money. Right. His hand went to his pockets to grab his life savings....and there weren`t any. Only food and a stolen dagger.
"Tsk.. I don`t have any on me"
"Awwww who could have guessed" He bounced off of the wall and put his hand on his shoulder "The guy in stolen clothes has no money. So sad"
A woman behind him appeared, another guy in the alley and another person smiled from above him.
"Listen here you little shit" The voice instantly changed to serious rough and commanding "You have one chance to answer me - why"
Blades were taken out and he was pushed into the alley, away from the lights and the people.
"Alright listen" Kaelen put his hands up slowly "I need to get to the auction hall"
"Yeaaa but WHY?"
"One of the people there has my ... friends. Slaves"
"....go on..."
"Tell me where the auction is. I`ll bring them out of there"
The group looked at Kaelen for a while in silence and after a slow talking things over session with each other the same guy came back with a smile.
"You know what? Why not."
"Really? Nice"
"Yes. And for that, come with us. We have to show you something first"
------
In a basement of a deep tree house, Kaelen was sipping some unknown liquid, that tasted a bit funny, while having a nice conversation with the fellas that brought him there.
"So...Mira was it? That`s your girlfriend right?"
"Yea yea .... I think. I mean she`s not that...I just like her.....A lot" His words stumbling around as his face turned redder and fuller.,
Stop talking human
You are being turned into a fool
The drink
Poison
"Sh..,shut up man" Kaelen grabbed another cup "They are nnnnice ppeople"
Rook and Pip, the two people in the room were already confused as it is, but this was getting annoying. They leaned in even closer to him to get some actual information.
"Let me just...get this straight Kaelen. You. A slave. Want to rescue Mira. Another slave. From the auction house.
"Yea yea , now you get it. I need to save. Burp Mira from thh he Overseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer"
"He is just stupid. That`s all . Why are we wasting time on this idiot.??"
"I`M NOT..stupid." Kaelen potued ,his face flushed into even deeper red color.
"I have my...ways. I can punch...The tree...Really hard. And I can...blow people.....And kill them....Myself...." Every word his face was lower and lower until it hit his chest and his eyes closed.
"He hits the tree. Terrifying" The woman by the door snickered as he started snoring.
"Hey..ummm you might wanna look at this Rahiena" Rook was examining Kaelen when he stumbled upon his hand.