Caedus was still reeling from all the new information he had learned. Ever since he came to Iridia, his mind had still been trying to get a grasp on things. From the sheer size of the Endless Plains, a giant talking crow that can turn into a human, the weird interaction between the gate guard and Umbra, finding out he will be joining the military, and now the population of Steelcrest City and the stump of the Great Ironwood Tree.
"Ugh, this is giving me a headache just thinking about it..." Caedus mumbled while rubbing his head.
In the corner of his eye, he could still see Umbra's sly smile.
"Quite amazing, isn't it? This is the best reaction I have gotten from a newly ascended." Umbra smugly said, his voice barely audible over the bustling city.
"Am I not your first?" Caedus snapped out of his stupor and curiously asked loudly.
Weirdly, Caedus noticed some odd looks people around them gave before going back to their business.
"Yeah, please don't word something like that again. People will misunderstand. And of course, you aren't. I am a few dozen years old, and whenever my clan doesn't have a mission assigned to us, the King asks our patriarch to patrol the Kingdom, so to speak, and guide those newly ascended to the closest cities or see if there is a spy from the Astral Empire trying to sneak into our borders." Umbra began to squeeze his way through the crowd, beckoning Caedus to follow. Which he did while still taking in the beautiful sights of the city.
"So you just find newly ascended, and you just get them to join the military under your clan's sponsorship?"
"Well, no, you're the first, thankfully, I have some pull in the clan since the patriarch of the Nightmare Crow clan is my grandfather, so there definitely won't be anyone to oppose it."
"What the fuck, Umbra, you're telling me I only have the option to join the military, but no one else you found had to?" Caedus felt the vein on his head pop.
"Well, you are weak, and you have no skills or knowledge the Kingdom needs. So yeah, its your only option. The others I found had something useful for us or were strong enough to join a sect or a guild right as soon as they walked through the doors or those places." Umbra said matter-of-factly.
'Damn it, he's right,' Caedus thought. 'I guess joining the military is my only option.'
"Of course, there are a couple more reasons. But I will tell you later, right now, you need to stop looking around and get ready to follow me. You lose me in the crowd; it will be exhausting to try to find you." Umbra said, taking a right down a street that was almost just as busy.
Caedus nodded without responding. Despite his being behind Umbra, he felt as though Umbra knew he nodded his head. He still had a few questions, but those would have to wait.
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After what seemed like forever, Caedus was still following Umbra deep into the city, the streets where less busy and they were darker then the main street Caedus had first entered in, but after living in the woods and a mountain his entire life, each street they turned down still amazed him more then the last. It really was astonishingly beautiful. Not the same type of beauty as the valley during sunset and sunrise, but beautiful in the way that each building had its own story with people inside that also lived different and unique life.
It left Caedus feeling excited and sad.
He felt excited that he could live a life he always dreamed of. Traveling, exploring, meeting new people, and creating his own stories, similar to the ones he read growing up and the ones his grandfather told. But he still felt a slight sting in his heart. He missed his grandfather and really wished he was here to experience this amazing thing with him.
"Umbra, can I ask you something?" Caedus slowly asked.
"Hmm? What do you need to ask? I told you I will answer your questions later." Umbra looked over his shoulder at him.
"With the ability of soul powers, is it possible to-" Caedus didn't get to finish his sentence before Umbra stopped in his tracks before turning his head. Umbra has a look on his face that Caedus had never seen before but deep in his heart he knew what it was. Pity.
"Caedus. Were you about to ask about your grandfather?" Umbra paused for a moment, letting his question reveal a hint of emotion on Caedus' face.
Caedus nodded slightly. His heart was beating faster. Despite how tired and hungry Caedus was feeling from the past few days, he felt his anxiety push those feelings away while he held his breath for Umbra's answer.
"We should talk about it after you gets some food and rest." Umbra turned his body towards on of the buildings they were about to pass that had a sign saying it was called "The Broken Canopy" and just walked in through the doors without looking back.
Caedus' stomach sank. He didn't have a good feeling about the answer but he also knew deep down it probably wasn't a possible thing. What he wanted to ask was if it was possible for his grandfather to come back to life.
Caedus stood there for a few seconds trying to get his composure. He didn't cry, as he had shed so many tears over the past few days he couldn't shed anymore. He stared as the doors that were swinging closed before stepping forward. 'No. I have to know.' He resolved himself to get a real answer.
As he walked through the door, his nostrils were hit with an amazing smell that reminded him of a winter stew he used to make. Which immediately reminded his stomach that he hadn't eaten properly since Earth and he was starving. He would have even forgot about the questions he had for a moment if it wasn't for the sting in his heart.
Caedus' eyes scanned the room and saw Umbra talking to an older lady behind a podium. She had a cute smile while she talked to Umbra before handing him a key then gesturing to the stair behind her then pointing to her left. Caedus followed her hand movements and saw her pointing to a dining area with a few tables with people already eating at them.
*whistle*
"Caedus, come here."
Still glancing at the dining area Caedus walked toward Umbra.
"So several things are going to happen. You are going to follow this lovely lady upstairs to your room. She will get a bath ready for you and you are going to wait till she leaves then throw your dirty grimy clothes into the bucket, we call a trash can in the corner of the room, and bathe cause you stink to high hell and you are filthy."
Caedus looked down at himself. Umbra wasn't wrong. He still had blood, ash, dirt, and sweat staining him all over. He was sure if he looked into a mirror he wouldn't recognize himself.
Caedus nodded before responding, "can I have some water to drink also? Also I know what a trash can is."
The lady with a soft smile spoke up, "Of course young man. I will get you some when I show you your room."
"As you wash up I will get you some new clothes and I will bring them up to you and put them on your bed. When you are dressed come back down here and I will be sitting in the furthest corner of the dining area with food waiting and then we will talk. Does that work? I forgot how exhausted and hungry you must be after wandering around the Endless Plains for a few days, I apologize." Umbra continued.
"Oh my! He was wandering around the Endless Plains? You poor thing! Hurry come with me. The innkeeper seemed genuinely concerned and hurriedly stepped forward grabbing Caedus by the arm and leading him upstairs.
"I won't be long, so don't take forever Caedus." Umbra waved before quickly stepping out the door, as Caedus looked back towards the door that was swinging closed behind Umbra, he could have sworn he it looked like Umbra melted into the shadows.
"What the hell." Caedus mumbled.
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Caedus had been dragged upstairs almost forcefully by the kind innkeeper. She showed him how to run a hot bath and gave him a quick tour of the room. Before she left though she picked up and empty pitcher of water before and placed it on the desk. She mumbled some words under her breathe and water materialized out of thin air flowing into the pitcher all the way to the brim. As soon as she left the room, Caedus chugged all of it. It was as good as the mountain spring water on Earth. As he emptied it, it refilled again without the innkeeper being there.
'Interesting. Maybe this is her soul power?'
As Caedus sunk his sore and tired body into the tub after stripping it was almost to warm to feel warm at first.
It was heavenly.
It made him a bit more sleepy but he couldn't sleep now. He quickly scrubbed everything off him revealing his slightly sun tanned skin and his slightly wavy black hair.
After a few minutes of washing Caedus reluctantly got out of the bath and dried off his body while looking in the mirror. He looked like himself again. His athletic body showed a lot more muscle then before because of him not eating for a few days. Caedus' piercing purple eyes stared back at himself through his reflection. Before he chuckled out loud, remembering what his grandfather would say when he would stare at him self in the mirror.
'What did I tell you about being obsessed with your looks?'
Caedus left the bathroom and saw a pile of clothes on his bed with black boots on the floor.
"Damn, Umbra works fast." He was impressed. He wasn't sure how he got the clothes so fast but it didn't matter that much to him. He threw on the cloths.
He wore the dark gray long sleeve shirt and charcoal colored trouser accompanied by a leather belt. It took a minute for Caedus to figure out the belt but he did eventually.
Finally it was time to eat. Caedu made his way into the dining hall where a few people were still eating with some light conversation. He saw Umbra staring at him with an eyebrow raised as he made his way to the table.
"Woah you look so much different, I could have mistaken you for a noble." Umbra said trying to lift the mood.
"Yeah yeah, let me eat first please." Caedus' stomach growled loudly as he sat down, gaining the attention of the young couple a few tables other.
Looking down at the bowl it seemed to be a stew on top of some white fluffy seeds. 'Different world, different foods.' Caedus would later learn it was called 'rice'.
After a few minutes of Caedus scarfing down his food and a pitcher of water, he finally wasn't hungry anymore.
He took a deep breath and spoke. "Thank you Umbra, for the food and a room, and you know. Showing me the city and answering my questions." He said genuinely.
"Don't forget saving your life in the Endless Plains and getting you a job in the military." Umbra adding teasingly.
"Yeah, that also." Caedus smiled slightly.
A short silence followed as Caedus waved to the waiter asking for a second bowl.
"Now about my grandfather."
Umbra exhaled slowly.
"There are abilities that touch death. Some speak to it. Some reverse parts of it."
He paused.
"But true resurrection… I've never seen it. Not once. But if it were even possible, would your grandfather even want to come back?"
"...No I supposed not." Caedus sighed, feeling the sting in his heart alleviate slightly. He didn't want to admit it at first but his grandfather probably didn't want to come back to life even if he could find a way to do it.
Umbra didn't respond, he waiting for Caedus to accept the fact.
The waiter had arrived with the second bowl of food and silence again filled the space between the two. Caedus silently picked up his spoon and ravenously consume the second serving.
"Don't you have more to ask me?" Umbra said a few moments later.
"Not right now. I'm to tired to care about anything else at the moment." Caedus said flatly through bites of his food.
"I see. Well I think its beset if you get some sleep. I will be going back to my clan for the night and I will meet you back here at noon. Your meals will be paid for by my clan so go all out." Umbra stood up before putting his hand on Caedus' shoulder gently and walking back towards the entrance.
"See you at noon."
Caedus half watched him leave before finishing the rest of his food and dragging himself up the stairs.
For the first time since arriving in this world, his mind wasn't racing because of confusion or immediate question.
It was calm.
He stood up, legs heavy, and made his way upstairs to his room.
As soon as he walked into his room he shut the door, kicked off his new boots, and flopped onto the bed.
Clean soft sheets. Cool air. A bed that didn't creak like wood under strain like the one he slept on for years in the cabin.
For a moment, he just lay there staring at the ceiling.
His home valley, burning. The air filled with smoke and ash as well as the occasional scream of a cult member loosing their life to the flames.
The Endless Plains.
The gate.
The city that didn't seem to end.
And his grandfather's face.
"…I guess that's it," he muttered quietly.
His eyes closed.
His exhaustion had taken complete control over his body now. And next thing he knew he was dreaming of a simpler time in life when his grandfather would scold him for being a terrible shot with a bow.
A simple dream of a simple time.
But in the world beyond sleep, some had already begun to notice of him.
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Umbra sneakily tried to get into his clan headquarters without drawing too much attention.
A cold voice spoke to him as Umbra merged from the shadows in his room. "Umbra. Why are we sponsoring some new ascended to join his majesty's military? I heard this one hasn't even awakened yet."
"Ahh father. You found out?" Umbra smiled.
Umbra's father, Damaros, was a lean man, that had a build perfect for precision, and not brute force. He had a chiseled jaw and handsome face with a black short trimmed beard, which was accompanied by frown donning his face.
"Of course I did." Damaros said coolly.
"Well, he needed sponsorship and wasn't willing to join our family as a servant."
"Are you sure that is the only reason? And it is not about having an in with those children who are also about to join His Majesty's military?" Damaros questioned.
"Well.. it wouldn't hurt to have an in." Umbra smiled a little brighter. His white teeth showing in the dim light of the room.
Damaros scoffed and threw an envelope towards Umbra.
"Here is your paperwork approving his acceptance into His Majesty's Ironwood Crown Initiative."
Umbra laughed lightly. "You already knew my plan huh? I guess you know me too well."
"Do not be fooled." Damaros said coldly. "You're just not as smart as you think you are."
Umbra didn't respond and just watched his father melt into the shadows in the corner of his room before smiling bit more brightly. "I hope you won't disappoint me, Caedus."