An Inciting Isekai - Chapter 26 (Patreon)

Levi and the adult trio arrived in front of the gates. The pungent smell of manure and smoke was overpowering. Dark clouds hung high above the town, a result of bad air pollution, was Levi’s best guess. 

They were surrounded by people all wearing an assortment of clothes. Mostly it was rough spin cloth; brown baggy trousers, collarless shirts of mostly white, which had long turned yellow, and long, thick jackets. They all seemed to wear the same type of hat; a peaked cap. The farmers wore thick leather boots, while others had shoes that seemed awfully similar to smart dress shoes. 

On either side of the road leading into the walls, were numerous stands. Levi got closer to one, the adult trio following closely behind with smiles on their faces. 

This particular stand held an array of different clothing; all similar to which everyone else was wearing around him. 

“Anything catches your fancy, lad?” The stall owner, bald and with little teeth, asked in a cheery voice. “I’ll warn ye now, don’t be wasting me time. I won’t go any lower than 10 pennies. The hats are 5. Won’t find a better price in all o’ Raven’s Pit. O’ that I can assure ye.”

Levi peeked into his pocket. He only had 36 pennies. He didn’t really feel like wasting them here. His stomach rumbled and his tongue clicked dry. He’d much rather spend it filling his stomach with some good food and wine. 

He was about to shake his head when Sera handed over a handful of pennies. “Give me two sets of clothes for the boy. A thick jacket as well.”

“Now you’re a looker,” The shopkeeper said with a kind smile. “Back from Beron?”

“You remember me passing through?” Sera asked.

“Aye. Hard not to with a face like that. You must come from the Imperial City, aye? So? What did ye find at Beron? I’ve not heard anything come that way for a while now. Merchants are beginning to worry, with the whole restricted access going on and all o’ that.”

“You’ll have to wait for the official report I’m afraid,” Sera responded in kind.

“Some things never change, eh?” The stallman chuckled, shaking his head. “We never get told nothin’ here. Anyway, enough of this old man’s stale words. Let’s get the lad fitted and booted, shall we?”

The rather rough handed old man checked for Levi’s measurements before deftly picking out clothes from underneath his counter. He took out two shirts, before shuffling around, trying to find the others.

Levi looked at Sera. “You don’t have to–” 

“We can’t have you walking around civilization wearing those tattered old things,” Sera said. Levi looked down at himself. Yeah, she was right. From blade wounds, sharp bushes, and tumbling on the ground, his clothes were all battered and torn. If it wasn’t for his fire attribute, he would have long felt the chill. Not to mention the grey of his shirt had turned a reddish brown.

She continued, “Especially not when you now represent my family, Levi.” She pointed to the golden rose emblem pinned to Levi’s chest. 

Levi helplessly nodded. While the man behind the clothing stall was getting Sera’s purchase ready, Levi listened to the sounds of the street. It was loud and bustling, and they hadn’t even entered the town yet. Guards patrolled the area. They each had a pistol holstered to their waist, along with a small curved blade. Their main weapon was a long spear. 

“Come get your fish here, just 20 pennies for a box! Freshest fish in the entire country, straight from port Uilor!”

“The best meat from all around! Freshly hunted by only the best!”

“The finest jewellery and stones from the deserts of Arubo, come quickly for the best prices!”

The shouts from the stall keepers resounded all around the place in a desperate attempt to peddle their goods, to make a living. Gregory wandered over to a stall that was selling cigars and ale. He returned a few seconds later with a box of grass smelling smoke, and a tall bottle of reddish alcohol.

“Really, captain?” Sera said with a look of discontent.

“Something to wet the whistle,” Gregory said with a smoke.

“Just as long as you don’t smoke in front of Levi,” Sera said. “His lungs are still young.”

“The little lad just awakened to Tier 2, with a specialty in fire, I think he’ll be fine with a little smoke.”

“You never know.” Sera frowned.

“Alright, alright, I can never say no to you,” Gregory said with a sly smile. “No smoking around the lad. Drinking is different, though, right? Helps lighten the mood.”

“Here we are,” The clothing stall keeper said, interrupting them. “Two sets of clothes for the boy, and a nice thick jacket to stave off the winter cold. Won’t find a better quality anywhere else for the price. They’ll be a bit on the bigger side, but he seems like a growing lad, he’ll fit into it in no time.”

Sera nodded and took the change from the old man. 

Levi took out 5 pennies from his own pocket, placed it on the table, and picked a charcoal grey peaked hat from the table. He tried it on. It was a perfect fit. “This one please.”

“Righty o’,” the old man said. “Will you be staying for the night?”

Gregory nodded. “For the night, aye. We leave at dawn for the Imperial City.”

“Well in that case,” The stall keeper took out a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it, then handed it to Gregory. Levi peeked behind the detective's arm, getting a good look at it. Displayed in big bold letters were the words ‘The rising star of the musical world—Rowena—playing at Raven’s Pit, tonight only.’

“A plays on tonight,” he said. “Playing in the hall, but they’re charging an arm and a leg. It’s a piss take, is what it is. But I hear she’s got a set of pipes on her. Well, you’ve probably heard of her, coming from the Imperial City yourselves. Minus the lad, of course,” He gave Levi a strange look, before continuing, “with your purse, it shouldn’t be a problem to get some tickets.”

“Aye, we’ll probably miss it,” Gregory said, taking out a cigar from the box he had purchased a few minutes prior. But upon seeing the glare from Sera, the smoke retreated back to where it came from. He chuckled. “I prefer the inns, anyway.”

“Can’t beat a good pint of beer and a couple o’ songs, that’s true.”

Breaking away from the stands lining the entrance to the town, Levi and the adult trio continued on their way. Levi carried two bags worth of clothes. Bram wanted to take it, but they were his gifts. He’d feel bad if they not only bought it for him, but carried it as well. As long as he had his own two arms, he could carry his own shopping. Although he appreciated the caring gesture.

Levi did wonder why everyone had to walk around the wall to reach the outer market, as this entrance headed towards Beron, which was… dead. But he guessed he’d figure that one out himself soon enough.

Approaching the towering gate, Levi felt a profound sense of awe and insignificance as he gazed up at the towering wall. Deep gouges scarred the blackened bricks, forming valleys in the stone. Whatever monstrous force had caused such damage, Levi fervently hoped he would never have to encounter it.

Twelve guards protected the entrance. Just from a glance, he could tell they were powerful. But also lacking. He couldn’t help but compare them to Bram, who had an air of might around him. 

The guards looked at the patches on the detective's arms–letting everyone know they were representatives of the Imperial City policing force–and let them pass without any trouble. 

Passing by, Levi noticed a haze in their eyes and a sway in their posture. Were they drunk?

“That was easy?” Levi whispered. “And were they drunk?” 

Sera nodded, her face grim. “Because of the tall walls, there is little need for expensive training. Monsters won’t even leave a dent, and with the watchtowers high above, they can see for miles, ring the alarm, and close the doors. Worse yet, those that are sent here are usually the most inept of the Wall Guardians. They have little funding, and poor equipment.” 

So, the guards here have little battle experience, and waste their day away drinking. 

However, he noticed a small squadron of 6 men and women, wearing similar clothes. But there was a small distinction: they all wore a harness. The air they gave off was bloody and imposing, as if Levi was gazing at an experienced warrior. THey all seemed young, in their early and late twenties. Only one seemed to be a bit older. This was what the Wall Guardians were meant to be like.

Levi held his breath as they passed, their steps quick and powerful. “Who were they?” He asked, following them as they disappeared into the swaths of people just up ahead.

“Rail Slayers,” Bram said.

“You don’t know about them?” Gregory asked.

Levi shook his head. “I’ve never left Beron.”

Sera rested her hand on his shoulder, and explained, “Did you see those people atop the trail on the outside?”

Levi nodded.

“Those were the Rail Slayers, strong warriors who guard the trains from destination to destination. Since the railway is our only mode of transportation from town to town, without them, transportation would cease to function.”

“It’s a dangerous occupation,” Gregory added. “Compared to the military, it’s a walk in the park. Every single day, there are at least dozens of deaths from whatever threatens the rail. There’s a saying we have in the armed forces; always respect an old Rail Slayer, for when in an occupation where everyone dies young, they are still fighting.”

“The Rail Slayers are also really looked after,” Bram said. “In every town, they get to stay at the best hotels and inns free of charge, eat the finest of foods. The Ingredients they have access to feed their Birthrights  are also exceptional. It’s not a bad occupation if you can keep your head on your shoulders.”

“Easier said than done,” Levi said.

Bram chuckled. “Exactly.”

“I take it they have to be treated as such to warrant anyone even taking part at all,” Levi said. 

“That’s right,” Greggory added. “Without that level of compensation, there would be no one to protect the trains, no one to protect the trading between settlements. Only the elite of the elite are selected from the military to join the Rail Slayers. They are truly at the peak of combat. Never mess with them. That’s a warning.”

Levi nodded, taking it to heart. Not that he wanted to pick fights with anyone, anyway.

Continuing through the wide streets, the buildings looked very similar to Beron; grey brick, orange tiles on the roof covered in soot. But there was also something that Beron didn’t have, and Raven’s Pit had a lot of: factories. Down every street, round every corner, was a factory spitting out black smoke. Ash fell, staining Levi’s shirt.

“Raven’s Pit is known for its commercial factories,” Gregory explained. “It is vital, in that regard. You’ll notice that the train station is much more guarded than the walls. Here, in this world of Ubez, the trains are the most important thing we have. Civilization would fall if we had no connection to other settlements.”

Levi dodged an incoming guard, who looked at him as if he was an insect–only for his eyes to widen at the sight of the golden sigil pinned to his chest–and broke free out of the crowd. His eyes lay on an enormous pit that spanned at least 2 miles in circumference. It was truly huge. Inside, houses resided within, stairs circling the entire pit back, ascending to the streets where Levi stood.

“So, this is why it’s called Raven’s Pit?” Levi asked, his lips twitching.

What the hell could have caused such devastation?