Beginnings

"So that's why I need a room."

The tavernkeep just stares at me, slowly wiping down a mug with a rag.

"...and does Mister Hero have any coin?" he asks, in a heavy orcish accent.

I've never seen an orc before! What a great day! But...

"W-well, no... but...!"

Doesn't he understand? I'm a hero! The greatest in the world!

Well, I guess technically I'm not yet. But I will be soon! Just give me a little bit, and soon people will be flocking to your tavern, singing my praises! The first tavern the mighty hero Cytchenrok, Lintel visited, on his grand quest! Could there be any greater honour?

The tavernkeeper doesn't seem to think so though, as he just shakes his head at me.

"This isn't charity, you know. Listen..."

He pulls out a sheet of paper from under the bar table.

"The world is big, scary, dangerous. No place for child, da? Right now, this is you."

He draws a crude stick figure. I guess it's supposed to be me? I mean, it has my three little horns, but other than that...

"You are just one little lizard. Scrawny, like stick. I could snap you with just my bear hands."

"...you got bear hands?"

Proudly, the tavernkeeper points to a collection of bear paws hanging on the wall.

"I could throw one of these at you. You would crumple like pile of ropes. Da?"

He keeps drawing. A house emerges, and then a taller stick figure of myself with what I can only assume is a six-pack?

"Go home. Become big STRONG lizard. Then be hero, da? You are young. Have whole life ahead."

Easy for him to say. I mean, look at him. He's a huge, muscly orc! He doesn't know at all what it's like back home.

Going back home? Yeah, right. I can practically hear what the others would say.

"Hey look, eggsitter's back."

"Heh, look at that loser."

"I bet he got scared and ran away."

"Oh, you were gone? Sorry, I didn't notice."

There's no way. No waaaaay.

I didn't spend a week planning my runaway just to slink back home, tail between my legs!

"I can't go back!!"

Slamming the table, my voice is filled with frustration. Maybe a little bit of despair?

It's not fair.

It's just not fair.

I can feel tears start to fall down my face.

Damnit! Why now?

This isn't how a legendary hero should start his journey.

This isn't the glamorous adventure I wanted.

I thought that if I could just get away, start over, things would just work out.

But now look at me.

I'm pathetic.

"Gnsskk! Oh my."

A lady beside me at the bar is stifling a giggle to herself.

Huh? Was there always a lady here?

I've never seen anyone quite like her. Tall, slender, with a long flowy robe. Her skin is an ashen red, and there are sleek curved horns coming out of her head.

Back at my village, I've never seen anyone but Drah'kin like myself. I was able to recognize the tavernkeeper as an orc, but I've never seen a creature like this before.

She tilts her head and smiles at me. A wry little grin.

I feel a little uncomfortable.

"Ahhhh, pardon me, boy... I couldn't help but overhear your... predicament."

She's staring at me like a wolf would stare at a juicy steak. I don't get what's going on at all.

"As luck would have it, I could help you out on your little quest... what do you say?"

What do I have to say? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. This is too weird. I look the other direction.

"Sis told me not to talk to strangers."

"Heuk?!"

Oops. That really startled her. I look over in the corner of my eye, and shes in a total state of shock.

"B-but... you... what?! Have you not been talking to this man the whole time?"

Well yeah.

He's the tavernkeep?

"And do you know him? Have you ever met him before today?"

No, of course not. I've never been out of my village before.

"So he's a stranger right?"

"No, he's the tavernkeep."

At this, the lady seems to completely break down. I feel kinda bad. That cool aura she was giving off before is completely gone, and now she's sitting on the floor like a nervous wreck.

The tavernkeep sighs.

"Sorry. That was Roxy. Demon. She is... weird. Harmless, I think? But weird."

A demon? Huh.

I've never heard about demons before. I mean, I've heard the word before. The elders in the village are always saying figures of speech like, "we all have inner demons", stuff like that. I never knew they were a real thing though.

How cool is that?

It may have been an extremely weird exchange, but I've now met a member of a species I've never heard of before!

If it wasn't for the fact that the tavernkeep was trying to shoo me out of the tavern, this would have been the best day of my life.

Ah, right.

That.

I have no money, I'm being treated like a little kid, and my adventure is over before it even began.

I almost forgot.

Clink!

From my other side, I hear the sound of coins being placed on the table. A boy is standing there.

This time, I know what he is! It's a real life human!

Oh my gosh this is the best day.

He looks young-ish. Not a kid, for sure. But from what I've heard about humans, he doesn't look like a full-grown adult either. Maybe he's right on the cusp of adulthood?

His head is covered in pure white fur. Er, hair, I guess it's called? It's short and messy. His eyes are kind, and he has a sweet smile. Unlike that demon lady, who just made me feel uncomfortable, this boy fills me with a warm fuzzy feeling. I feel safe.

"Here, Rufus. Two silver should be enough for the night, right?"

Huh? Is he doing what I think he's doing?

"Ahh, you too Ravana?"

Uh oh. The tavernkeeper looks really frustrated now. His head is in his hands.

"Listen! It's not about money! It's the principle, da? He go out, he get hurt, it blood on my hands!"

"I understand, Rufus. But it's dark out. Cytchenrok is what, a four hour walk from here? Five maybe, for someone of his size. You would really send him back out in the dark?"

"...fine. I get it. He can stay the night."

Oh. Ooooh!

"Hey, but if you say it's not about the money..."

"Leave it."

As the boy tries to take back his coins, the tavernkeep slaps his hand away. He looks at me and winks.

"Hey. My name's Ravana. What's yours?"

"A-ah! Cytchenrok, Lintel! But you can just call me Lintel..."

I shake his outstretched hand.

I know I'm not supposed to talk to strangers, but I can tell that the boy- no, Ravana, is a good person. I trust him wholeheartedly.

My stomach grumbles.

"Heh... I guess you must be pretty hungry. Hey, tell you what. I happened to get more food than I can possibly finish. Wanna help me through it?"

Yes... He's definitely a good person. A saint. An angel.

Hey, if demons are real, are angels real too?