Not Sure
New Member
It had been a while since Mara had walked on a real road. Most of her time was spent in the wilderness or on the rough dirt paths that connected most smaller hamlets. The feeling of solid stone beneath her feet was almost nostalgic. Her feet and her halberd's shaft thudded softly as she plodded her way toward the city's outskirts, scanning her eye across the horizon. The tall tower that loomed above the nearby cityscape drew her attention – the academy, no doubt, puffing out their collective chests for anyone in a mile to see. It would make getting lost more difficult, at any rate.
Entry to the city was uneventful, for the most part. The sentries had questioned her, of course. In these parts, any magical walking around armed was lucky if they were only stopped and questioned three times a day. A few minutes of having her arms and equipment inspected later, she was within the walls. She had apparently entered a gate by a poorer district of the city, judging by the state of disrepair most of the buildings – and people – were in. Traffic seemed sparse at this hour, which wasn't surprising considering the cold. A few heads turned in her direction as she started walking, but none lingered long. Fine by her. The distant visage of the academy acted as her compass as she began picking her way through the cityscape. Not being an idiot she kept off the back alleys and small roads, keeping herself out in the open. After about ten minutes she happened on what seemed to be the main street, running nearly straight to the academy from what she could see. The buildings grew slowly less ramshackle the closer she drew to it, though the atmosphere stayed just as dreary. A cloud of smoke off in the distance drew her attention. Apparently someone had been a little too desperate for warmth and excitement.
After about twenty minutes of walking, she was quite near to the academy. The size of its towers was even more apparent now. Anyone living nearby probably lost an hour of sunlight each day. She tore her gaze away; she'd have plenty of time to gawk tomorrow. Today, she was tired from traveling.
Finding an inn wasn't difficult, not that it ever was in a city this large. The Camilla Inn looked as dreary as anywhere else in the city, though it looked like it could be fixed up without much effort. She glanced once more at the academy's spire before entering the inn, pushing past a young girl who seemed to be content standing in the doorway. The place was...oddly crowded for a dingy little inn, but maybe being close to the academy made it a popular place. Not that it particularly mattered, a bed was a bed. Mara made straight for the bar, taking a seat and leaning her halberd against the counter. The barkeep seemed to be engaged at the moment, so she occupied herself getting comfortable, fiddling with the straps of her helm for a moment before setting it aside.
Entry to the city was uneventful, for the most part. The sentries had questioned her, of course. In these parts, any magical walking around armed was lucky if they were only stopped and questioned three times a day. A few minutes of having her arms and equipment inspected later, she was within the walls. She had apparently entered a gate by a poorer district of the city, judging by the state of disrepair most of the buildings – and people – were in. Traffic seemed sparse at this hour, which wasn't surprising considering the cold. A few heads turned in her direction as she started walking, but none lingered long. Fine by her. The distant visage of the academy acted as her compass as she began picking her way through the cityscape. Not being an idiot she kept off the back alleys and small roads, keeping herself out in the open. After about ten minutes she happened on what seemed to be the main street, running nearly straight to the academy from what she could see. The buildings grew slowly less ramshackle the closer she drew to it, though the atmosphere stayed just as dreary. A cloud of smoke off in the distance drew her attention. Apparently someone had been a little too desperate for warmth and excitement.
After about twenty minutes of walking, she was quite near to the academy. The size of its towers was even more apparent now. Anyone living nearby probably lost an hour of sunlight each day. She tore her gaze away; she'd have plenty of time to gawk tomorrow. Today, she was tired from traveling.
Finding an inn wasn't difficult, not that it ever was in a city this large. The Camilla Inn looked as dreary as anywhere else in the city, though it looked like it could be fixed up without much effort. She glanced once more at the academy's spire before entering the inn, pushing past a young girl who seemed to be content standing in the doorway. The place was...oddly crowded for a dingy little inn, but maybe being close to the academy made it a popular place. Not that it particularly mattered, a bed was a bed. Mara made straight for the bar, taking a seat and leaning her halberd against the counter. The barkeep seemed to be engaged at the moment, so she occupied herself getting comfortable, fiddling with the straps of her helm for a moment before setting it aside.
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