"Marcos, we are coming up into the city of Calonia!" said a middle-aged man named Titus, a family friend the same countryside as Arin and his family, as they begins to approach the city gate. "Get the merchant's identification ready immediately!"
"Hey, Dad, what is this merchant's ID for, and can you please tell me about this city we're going to?" Arin asked, attempting to find more information concerning things that happened during the 1,000 years he was away.
"Fine, Arin, this merchant's ID is for identification," Marcos explained, producing the ID. "With this, we do not need to pay the 2 silver coins needed to enter the city. The city of Calonia is a city filled with merchants and nobles. It's a business city, located near the boundary of the Elfeng Empire."
"Wait, the Elfeng Empire?" Arin's eyes widened in wonder. He was familiar with the name of the empire.
"Yes, Arin, great Elfeng Empire," Marcos said. "It's the largest empire in the Western Continent, and the one who summoned the great hero who defeated the Demon Lord Zarel, bringing peace throughout all of the lands and all of this thanks to them and the hero."
"Oh, great, thanks to the hero, Dad," Arin said reluctantly. There was not malice in his voice, not aimed at the hero, but a disinterest. He harbored hatred for every heroes summoned by the Goddess of Light, Aria.
Soon, they were at the city gate, presenting the guards with their IDs before proceeding further within the city.
****
As they entered the city of Calonia, Arin was memerized by the technological advancements that had happened over the last 1,000 years. The streets were flanked with skyscrapers, good road construction, and a sophisticated system of waterways. It felt as if he had gone back to Earth, his true home, at least to 19th century Earth.
The city was filled with merchants, and a number of carriages loaded with various forms of goods were present. Beside the city gates was the Adventurers' Guild, which was a two-story building frequented by men and women armed with all forms of weapons ranging from axes to swords and even daggers.
"Arin, the city is beautiful, isn't it?" Titus said, still driving the carriage. "I was amazed too when my dad brought me here so many years ago, but now it's more beautiful compared to before, thanks to the viscount."
"Hahaha, that's it, man!" Marcos exclaimed, playfully hitting Titus on the back.
"Ai-ay-ay, it hurts!" Titus replied, clutching his back in pain as Arin and Marcos burst out laughing.
****
As they finally arrived at their destination, the farmers' market, they were to meet up with the merchant who bought their goods at a good rate. The streets were far busier compared to other places in the city, and more carriages could be seen.
"Arin, stay close to me, and especially be careful of the nobles," Marcos said. "Try as much as possible to avoid them, and always stay somewhere where I can see you or Uncle Titus can see you, so don't wander off."
Marcos dropped Arin off in the care of one of the farmers, Clark, whom they knew quite well, as they went about continuing their exchange of goods with other merchants.
"Oh, my boy Arin, you've grown so much," Clark said, laughing. "Now you're even being brought to the city by your dad. I still remember when you were still hugging your mom's breasts, not willing to let go."
Arin responded, feeling a bit annoyed but not too serious, as Clark continued to laugh. "Uncle Clark, I wasn't like that. I was always a big boy."
About two hours passed since Marcos and Titus left to meet up with the merchants, with Clark continuing to sell vegetables but still keeping an eye on Arin. Arin started to feel bored.
"What's happening? When will Dad be back?" Arin asked, feeling exhausted from the boredom. "Uncle Clark, where's the bathroom?" Arin asked Clark, who was busy attending to a customer.
"Oh, just go in that direction. You'll see a toilet," Clark responded, pointing towards a toilet not too far away and visible from where he stood.
"Thanks, Uncle. I'll be right back," Arin said as he immediately went towards the toilet.
"Finally!" Arin exclaimed as he relieved himself of the pent-up stress from having to hold his urine.
Knock! Knock!
A knock on the toilet wall, which Arin was inside. "Someone's in here. Please go to the next one," Arin said politely, and immediately the knocks stopped.
Shortly after, Arin opened the door to come out of the toilet.
THWACK!
A running blow landed heavily on Arin's face, sending him falling to the floor.
"Can't you see this toilet is for nobles only?" a young, well-dressed man said as he hit Arin, who was still lying on the floor, trying to make sense of what was happening, hitting the side of his stomach with his shoes.
Clark, who was not too far away, noticed this and immediately ran to Arin's aid, who was still being beaten by the nobles and their guards.
"My lord, please forgive him. He's just a child. He doesn't know what he was doing," Clark said, kneeling at the noble's feet.
THWACK!
Immediately, a smack on Clark's face. "Are you telling me what to do, you dirty commoner?" the young noble said, diverting his attention towards Clark, who was still kneeling on the floor, head bowed.
People started gathering at the scene as the young noble immediately started leaving with his guards, not wanting to draw the attention of the city guards.
"Tell this commoner never to use the toilet meant for nobles again," the young noble said, turning towards the road ahead. "I won't have him infect the place."
Immediately, Clark carried Arin, who seemed to have fainted from the constant beating, bruised all over his body. Clark immediately ran towards the local doctor, shouting Arin's name along the way.
To be continued...