Guard: Sorry Kid, You're too young to leave on your own. I gotta take you to the guard tower no matter your situation.
Cashew was trying to think of a way out of this, he could attack the guard, but that would make him no better than the bandits he killed as well as making the guards even more adamant on taking him with them. Run? That might work, he doubts the guards will chase him.
Right when Cashew was deciding what to do, another guard showed up, wearing the same light armor as the first guard, but no helmet on. This guard had a sharp Jawline and a light beard, as if it's been a while since he last shaved. His hair was Short and dark red. He stopped the first guard from talking.
Guard #2: Stilh, as much as I agree with you about taking the kid to the guard tower, he didn't do anything illegal and he doesn't wanna come with us, so we can't make him go.
The second guard, who is apparently named "Stilh" (pronounced "Still") wanted to protest, but immediately stopped.
Stilh: I see... Yes sir. Kid, are you sure you don't want to come with us? We can have you sent to an orphanage in the capital, and you'll guaranteed find a new family there.
Cashew: Send me to an orphanage? That makes me wanna go with you even less.
Stilh: I see...
Guard #2: Kid, you said you had more questions? What's your name? I can answer them for you.
Cashew: My name? Im gonna dodge that question, but speaking of names... I never cared much beforehand, but what's the name of the Country we are in, what's the name of the Village you guard, and what's the Capital City name?
Guard #2: you want your name to be a secret, Huh?... Ok, fine. The country doesn't have a name, But people from elsewhere call it "The Province of Northmen", as that's the primary race that lives here. Northmen. As for the Village, the village is called "Clorilwood" and the Capital is called "Ravill".
Cashew: Northmen? That's a lazy name for a race.
Stilh: Well, the races actual name is too difficult for most to pronounce, so most settle with calling us "Northmen" as we are Men of the North. The Provinces territory expands to the entire Northern Half of the continent and we are in the southwestern half. If you exit the road on the other side of the village and keep heading south, you'll find yourself at the border of Drembord. Which we are at War with. So the entire border is a battlefield.
Cashew: How far is the border? And what's the races original name?
Guard #2: The border is about 143 Kilometers away. That entire side of the village is locked up, though. You can't enter without the proper paperwork. As for the original name, It's "Slarthilxit".
Cashew blinked a few times after hearing the name, confused as to what the end was. The start isn't too difficult, but that end is strange.
Cashew: You trying to summon a demon or something?
Stilh: You're still a kid, so people will forgive you for saying that, but if you say that when you're older, there's a chance a fight will break out. Us Slarthilxit are very proud and that would be an insult to us.
Guard #2: Stilh, you're dismissed. Go help those other guards with the cabin that the kid pointed out.
Stilh nodded and headed down the road.Guard #2 stepped closer to Cashew and crouched down next to him.
Guard #2: You have more questions? Or was that it?
Cashew: More questions. Bandits don't have rights, right? Since they are criminals, you can do whatever you want with them, assuming you're strong enough.
Guard #2: You won't get in trouble for killing them, if that's what you mean.
Cashew: Does that also mean I'm allowed to take what I want from them? Assuming there is nobody to claim the stolen goods?
Guard #2: Yeah. Nobody will stop you from looting a dead bandit. Why?
Cashew: Well, among the items i chose to keep from the bandits...
Cashew reached into his wolf skin bag and pulled out the strange Crystal and the rock with runes on it, showing them to the guard.
Cashew: What are these? I assume the rock isn't just a rock because it looks like it has Runes drawn onto it.
The guard took the two items and looked at them for a moment before handing them back.
Guard #2: Unfortunately, I don't know what the rock is, but the Crystal is a Mana Crystal. It's a popular item for mages who have small Mana pools. You inject your Mana into it and the Crystal holds onto the Mana. You can then use the Mana stored in the Crystal to cast magic instead of the Mana inside of you. Helps new mages last longer in a fight if needed. Mages also use it to make their Mana pool larger, pour all your Mana into the Crystal until you're about to suffer Mana Exhaustion, wait for your Mana to regenerate, so it again, rinse and repeat until the Crystal is full.
Cashew: I see... Thank you.
Guard #2: No problem. If you enter the village, turn left, then turn right at the first turn, then keep going straight, you'll eventually come across a general goods merchant. The merchant himself might not know much, but his grandfather should be able to help you with the rock. The Merchant store has a bright pink doorway with "General Goods" Written on it in white, impossible to miss.
Cashew: I was gonna ask you if there was a Merchant in the village, but you just answered that question, so I guess I can move on to my final question...
Guard #2: which is?...
Cashew pulled out some of the Copper Coins he found and showed them to the guard.
Cashew: I was never taught Money. Well, I assume these coins are the common currency here, but can you tell me how they work?... Well,I know how money works, if an item cost 65 Copper coins, you hand over 65 of these coins in exchange for the item, but how many would be a lot? I remember my father using a Gold coin for a Coin flip, but these are copper coins. Was my dad using a fake coin? Are these coins really old? Can you help me out?...
Guard #2: your dad had a gold coin. He must have been rich... Ok. We Have Copper Coins, Silver Coins, and Gold Coins. 1,000 Copper Coins is the same value as 1 Silver coin and 1,000 silver coins is the same value as 1 Gold coin. Most of your average people only make about 1-3 Silver coins a month and most will never see a gold coin at any point in their life. A Room at an inn would usually cost anywhere from 30 Copper Coins a night to 10 silver coins a night if it's a really nice room. The nicest room in this village is only 600 copper coins a night, though. A meal at a Tavern would also be about 30-50 Copper coins. Usually Nobles will be the only ones who see Gold Coins, but really successful adventurers might see Gold Coins too. Not to mention criminals, such as assassins.
Cashew: I see.... Thank you. I'm done with my questions now. May I enter the village?
Guard #2: Yeah, but are you sure you don't want us to help you? The Orpha-
Cashew: No thank you!
Cashew cut him off before he could even finish the word "Orphanage". Heading into the village and heading towards the general goods store that the guard mentioned.
The Guard watched Cashew enter the village and sighed. Not enjoying the sight of a homeless kid, but he can't do anything about it if the kid doesn't accept help.
Cashew followed the directions he was given and kept looking for a bright pink door, people were looking at him while he walked, finding a young child that nobody recognized walking through the village without an adult strange, but they decided to mind their own business. A few adults approached Cashew, asking where his parents are, But Cashew avoided the question and said he was in a hurry.
Finally reaching a bright pink door- or... A door that was bright pink in the past, Cashew approached the door and knocked twice before peeking his head in.
Behind a counter, Cashew saw a man with thick muttenchops on the side of his face and neatly combed jet black hair, the man looked a bit older, maybe in his 50's, but he was looking at Cashew peek his head in, still holding a book in his hands as if he was reading before Cashew came along.
Cashew: Is the place open?
Cashew politely asked the man who he didturbed.
Store owner: We are always open. Only closing at Midnight to sunrise and on the day I die. What do you need kid?
Cashew: Long story as to how I got the items, but the Guard with Dark Red hair told me that your grandfather might know what this item is?
Cashew asked, Holding the Mysterious Rock with Runes drawn on it up for the Store owner to see.
He looked at it for a few seconds, Shown Zero interest in it, and pointed to a door to his right.
Store Owner: The old man is down there. Make yourself known when you enter, can't have him suffering a heart attack because you sneaked up on him.
Cashew: Thank you.
Cashew said as he approached the door, he opened the door and stepped in.
Cashew: Sir in the basement, I'm coming down here.
Cashew Shut the door behind him and stepped slowly down the stairs. As he made his way down the stairs, he noticed an old man sitting in a chair with a blanket on his lapa bald head and a long thick white beard on his face, he was watching Cashew.
Cashew: Hi. I have a question for you.
Cashew asked the old man.
Old man: It's rude not to introduce yourself.
Cashew: I'm the new kid. I don't know how long I'll be in the village or if I'll ever come back, but I'm new here.
Cashew held up the Strange Rock for the Old Man to see. He glanced at it for less than a second.
Old Man: That rock is a makeshift Mana Crystal. It does the exact same thing as a regular Mana Crystal, but it does worst. Not even eorth having, but a young kid like you might find it useful for a few months. Before it becomes useless. Now tell me your name, boy.
Cashew turned around and headed towards the stairs again.
Cashew: Sorry, I'm gonna dodge that question. Thank you for your help!
Old Man: Don't dodge the question! name yourself!
The old man stated firmly, meanwhile, Cashew was making his way up the stairs to leave the basement.
Cashew: Sorry, dodging the question!
Cashew started one last time before exiting the Basement and finding himself upstairs with the Store Owner again, who was looking at Cashew.
Cashew: ...
Store Owner: ...
Cashew: What could I buy with 98 Copper coins?
Store Owner: Directions to the door.
Cashew: Fair enough. If I had animal Hide, would you buy it from me?
Store Owner: Depends on the animal and it's condition, but I won't refuse to buy animal Hide. I would refuse to buy the meat, However. There is a butchers shop near the Villages South gate. Take any meat you have there.
Cashew: Thank you.
Cashew said as he exited the door, heading towards the Gate he used to enter the village.