The night fell quickly over the city, the air cooling as the first few stars began to appear in the sky. Aidan and Lyria walked side by side through the quiet streets of Velthar, the cobblestones beneath their feet clicking with each step. The sounds of the inn they had just left, a small but cozy establishment, still lingered in the back of Aidan's mind, especially the warmth of food in his stomach, which was a rare comfort since his arrival in this strange world.
As they walked, Lyria broke the silence, her voice serious, carrying the weight of a truth they could not ignore.
"Aidan," she said, her gaze focused on the path ahead. "We don't know how long you'll be looking for your answers, or how long you'll stay here. And we don't even know if you'll ever be able to get out of this place and go back to wherever you came from."
Aidan listened quietly, the uncertainty of her words sinking in deeper than he cared to admit. He had been so consumed with the idea of finding answers, but now the reality of his situation seemed to loom larger than ever.
Lyria continued, her voice softer, but still firm. "What we do know, though, is that you need to survive. I was here today to make sure you ate, but I'm poor. The copper coins I have are barely enough for me. I may not be able to feed you tomorrow, so you'll have to work."
Aidan stopped in his tracks for a moment, taken aback by her blunt honesty. His stomach growled in response, but his thoughts were far more consumed by the reality of their situation than his hunger.
"How am I supposed to survive here, then?" Aidan asked quietly, his voice heavy with the burden of his confusion.
Before Lyria could respond, Aidan spoke again, more urgently. "I need a weapon."
Lyria glanced at him, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Don't tell me you want to become a bandit, stealing from the passersby?" she said, the teasing in her voice light but with an underlying seriousness. "If you need a weapon, you need to work for it. We can go to the blacksmith tomorrow. But you'll need to earn some coins first."
Aidan nodded, trying to ignore the rising frustration that bubbled in his chest. "So how do we get the coins? And what are coins?"
Lyria stopped and turned fully towards him, her eyes softening as she realized how much he still didn't understand.
"Alright," she began, her voice gentle but instructive. "Here's how it works. There are three types of coins used here: gold, silver, and copper."
Aidan's brow furrowed as he tried to absorb the new information.
"Gold coins," Lyria continued, "are the highest currency. Used by the royalty, wealthy merchants, and noble families. Silver coins are a bit more common, used by traders, middle-class folk, and warriors. And copper coins… well, they're the most common. Used by the everyday people, workers, common folk, like me."
Aidan nodded slowly as he listened.
"One gold coin is worth ten silver coins, and one silver coin is worth ten copper coins. So, one gold coin is worth a hundred copper coins."
Aidan's eyes widened as he did the quick math in his head. "I see."
Lyria gave a small smile. "You're lucky you met me. I know how things work around here, and I'm not letting you starve."
Aidan gave a small, appreciative smile in return. "I'm lucky, alright. I didn't expect any of this."
"Yeah," Lyria said, brushing off the compliment. "I know. But now that you're here, we need to figure out how to get some of those copper coins if you want to survive. And if you want that weapon."
Aidan felt a spark of resolve, knowing that he would have to adapt to this world if he was going to survive. "What's the plan, then?"
Lyria paused, then her expression became thoughtful. "Well, we can ask Kara about a job tomorrow. The clinic might need some herbs, herbs that grow on the mountains. If we go out there and collect them, we can sell them for copper coins. It won't be much, but it's a start."
Aidan gave a firm nod. "Sounds good to me. I'll do whatever it takes."
Lyria smiled at his determination. "That's the spirit. But don't think it's going to be easy. The mountains are dangerous, and getting the herbs is no simple task. But we'll manage."
They continued walking through the quiet streets, the night deepening around them. The soft light of the lanterns flickered as they passed, but neither of them spoke for a while. Aidan's thoughts were preoccupied with what lay ahead the mountains, the herbs, the coins, but one thought stuck in his mind above all else: survival.
Eventually, they reached the small apartment that Lyria called home. It was simple, but comfortable enough. The small room above a shop was sparsely furnished, with a single bed against the wall and a small hearth crackling with a fire that warmed the room. The bedroll Lyria had prepared for him was tucked in the corner.
"You can sleep here," Lyria said, gesturing to the bedroll. "I'll sleep on the floor. I'm used to it."
Aidan hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. "I appreciate it, Lyria. Thank you."
She waved him off. "It's nothing. We're in this together now."
Aidan settled onto the bedroll, his mind still swirling with the events of the day. But as exhaustion began to take over, he closed his eyes and tried to push his thoughts aside. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but at least for tonight, he had a roof over his head and food in his stomach.
..