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[Skill-Eater] Chapter 58: Stroll
🕑 Added 2024-07-23 17:01:01 +0000 UTCNow that Edge was feeling a little less overwhelmed, he slid off the barrel and rose to his feet. He was eager to complete a few quick transactions, stuff his face, and then sleep like the dead.
That was when he caught sight of his reflection in a windowpane. Damn. Is that really me? He looked like he had fought his way through hell and back, scaling a few mountains of garbage along the way. He stared down at his clothing with a critical eye, sighing at what he saw.
His shirt had long since been reduced to rags, or whatever you called something when rags would be an upgrade. By this point, it was just a collection of loosely connected threads that were stained with mud and grass. Not to mention the blood of several different species, including generous amounts of his own. The only reason that it was still attached to his body at all was the bag trapping it against his back.
Edge’s pants were in marginally better shape. Both legs were shredded, and he was one torn seam short of exposing himself to everyone he walked by.
His bag was barely holding together too. The cheap material was woefully insufficient to contain the bladed monster bits inside. The fabric had been soaking in the reavers’ stinking blood for days, and some was still dripping down from one corner. He doubted that the smell would ever come out.
No wonder everyone on the street is giving me such a wide berth, he shrugged and started walking. It explains all the unfriendly stares too.
Edge wasn’t in the mood to go shopping right now. He was worn out and half-starved, but he didn’t have much of a choice. If he wanted to acquire a meal, a bath, and a bed, not to mention something to wear that didn’t look like a beggar’s castoffs, he needed to have some money in his pockets. Or more accurately, registered to his Guide.
At the moment, he didn’t have a credit to his name, but he did have a bag full of potentially valuable items. What he needed to do now was head to one of the establishments that would buy what he was selling.
He took a quick look around while deciding where to go. Although he’d only been here once before, he knew the town well, thanks to his obsession with the feed.
The settlement was divided into four main districts, also referred to as quarters. They were separated by two major roads running in cardinal directions, and several ring roads that ran along the interior.
They included the residential district to the southwest, where the town’s citizens lived. The commercial district to the southeast held most of the settlement’s shops, including the Night Sky market. It was home to various forms of entrainment, hostels, and the shippers’ outposts.
To the northeast, the crafter’s district was comprised of the town’s various industries. And the hunter’s district was in the northwest, populated by the professionals who went toe to toe with the myriad dangers of Ord.
While Puppet Town was home to numerous venues that would buy monster and beasts parts, Edge needed to get paid right away. The best places to turn such resources into credits without bartering at the market were the Crafters’ Consortium and Ann’s General Goods.
Since the Consortium only bought materials that its members had need of, which may or may not include the items in his backpack, Edge decided to head for Ann’s.
Not to mention, Ann had a famously sunny disposition, which meant there was a chance that she wouldn’t kick him out on the spot. A warmer welcome than he was likely to receive anywhere else, given his appalling condition. He could sell his wares and pick up some necessities at the same time, then worry about finding a meal and a room for the night.
His stomach grumbled as he walked north toward the town square, but it was just going to have to wait a little longer. That was when Edge remembered that he did have one other type of wealth, a single mortium registered to his Guide.
While the thought perked him up, it didn’t help him with his problem. Mortium could only be spent at special locations. Letting the wrong person know that he had one would attract the kind of attention that he was desperately hoping to avoid.
He made his way down South Street, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight against his skin. The bustle of people ambling down the road, engaged in conversation as they went about their day. When he looked a little closer, Edge noticed that there was tightness to their expressions that hadn’t been there before. A pervasive tension in their tone. A wariness as their eyes scanned their surroundings for hidden danger.
It was clear that the disaster had profoundly impacted everyone on the planet. But he was far too tired to ponder any of that right now. Especially when he was still riding the high of surviving the last few desperate days. He deserved to feel good for at least a few hours, so he turned his thoughts to more pleasant topics instead.
It was so nice not having to watch his back. Not having to worry about something trying to eat him or another disaster descending upon his head. Edge was free from the threat of being hunted by hungry monsters and beasts. Nothing was going to stop him from enjoying it, not even the apocalypse.
Not that being in town was completely safe by any means. There were plenty of people who would be happy to take advantage of him, including some who would rob him blind if given half a chance.
Even assaults and murders happened from time to time, although those were rare, given the consequences. If the Sheriff’s deputies caught the perpetrator, they would either be banished or find themselves hanging from the gallows if the offense was serious enough.
Since he was hungry and covered in grime, Edge didn’t stop moving and kept to himself. He was already drawing more stares than he was comfortable with, given his unique situation.
He kept his head down as he crossed the town square and walked to the end of Main Street, heading toward one of the largest buildings on the block and the solution to several of his problems.
Comments
Bryan Dickerson
Thanks. Really appreciate the feedback.
closeded
Your chapters are too short, i like the story, but I'm probably going to cancel when i catch up, waiting a day to see him briefly look in a mirror, is sure to sap my motivation to read. Same thing with the fights. You put DBZ to shame with how many episides you can stretch a single shout. The fights are good, but cut into too many parts, i cannot maintain excitement for a battle over an entire week of chapters. I would recommend a slower release with longer chapters.
