Anik was easily the most populous place I had the privilege of walking through, even when considering my past life. Still, there was enough space on the streets for a child to walk through comfortably, not the monster of civilization I was raised to expect of cities, and for that I was grateful. Still gave a shock to my system, especially considering all the noise. But that was training too, just for my elven senses.

  Which is why I was travelling through the streets, watching how people here acted with a blade strapped to my hip. Just in case. They didn’t seem to care much for a child carrying the sharpened steel, which was a small surprise. Even as a smith's daughter I was often given warnings about handling swords, spears, and the like. Though maybe that was because of my position.

  It was annoying, but I appreciated the care my fellows had for me. It was a nice reminder that a village was just a grander family, despite my lack of blood relations. A family that was very dead now.

  Here the people didn’t seem as well acquainted with one another, going about whatever business they needed with blind consideration for their fellows. Which meant no one pestered me, which was nice, but it was also so…isolating.

  Like I was an ant without a colony.

  But letting something so asinine bother me was pointless, I was here to explore my new home, not mope about what was. The past wouldn't change just because I willed it to do so, and my effect on the future was so very limited. Depressing thought process but it was a fact of life, and only the weak willfully ignored that. There was strength in recognizing your insignificance, freedom in accepting the pointlessness of calamities. Trying to find purpose, trying to find meaning, all that led to was pain.

  So I just lived in the moment, and enjoyed what I could.

  Right then I was watching a man haggle for some apples with a produce vendor. It was a surprisingly heated debate for the handheld source of vitamins, all over a couple of copper pennies. The man refused to compromise, and the vendor was growing increasingly exasperated with his nonsense. There were a few like that in the village, but only a few, most haggling was well intentioned.

  It was entertaining, but not worth lingering over.

  So I continued down the street. The western edge was supposed to be the home of gangs, and coincidentally rivalled the peace of the east. So long as the populous paid its dues. It was mostly curiosity that brought me here, wanting to see how it could be better than the slums of the south when the guards wouldn’t dare regulate the area. Strangely peaceful, but I wasn’t so foolish as to judge the depths when I’d only seen the shallows.

  I scanned my surroundings, hand resting on pommel as a silent form of intimidation. Some would consider it foolish to willingly go into gang infested territory. I…didn’t think anyone would be so stupid as to attack an elf though, not in broad daylight. Especially not one known for killing a monster single handedly.

  Eventually my wandering was rewarded with something actually interesting.

  I stopped a dozen or so meters from a man guarding an alley, he was wearing proper leather, and had a gladius strapped to his hip. There was a strange mark on his cheek, like a dove but with four wings. He seemed determined to act as a sentinel to nothing, which meant there was definitely something. His form blocked most of the view though, so I didn’t get anything but guesses. Probably something to do with drugs. Though those weren’t as illegal here as they were in my old world.

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  I wasn’t subtle with my staring, and sure enough the man noticed me. He glared, but didn't seem to give much of a shit otherwise. Continuing his vigil and preventing anyone from crossing the alley. Not that anyone tried, the populace seemed intimidated by his presence, giving ample space as they passed.

  I stood and stared, and nothing happened.

  He glanced at me a few times but otherwise it was all quiet, I could've waited for a while longer but…nah. I’d rather find something else to look over. I hummed and headed back down the street, dragging a toga that was a little too big for me, but Aira insisted on buying. Something about presentation. I understood the idea but fuck was it annoying to pretend.

  It was a nice pink though, which was what convinced me to accept in the end. It was just…I was used to tunics and pants. City garb felt so alien. And it was too fucking big. Aira’s logic was that since I was still growing, this would last longer then if they got something that fit perfectly.

  Sound enough logic to be acceptable.

  I hummed a tune from old earth as I walked down the street, I remembered those better than the passing of minstrels in my village, and I was anonymous enough where no one would be able to pin the noise down. I looked up at the sky, mostly clear with some clouds, and let out a sigh.

  Then I heard a pained yelp, alongside childlike laughter.

  My focus shifted, and I looked down to find a group of well-to-do children kicking a canine protecting her litter. They seem to find her protective instincts and growling funny.

  Mmmmh, that pissed me off a bit.

  I stepped forward, walking up to the group of juveniles, they said something or other that I didn't really listen to. Then they kick the dog again, to a chorus of more laughter.

  I walked up to the one who seemed to be in charge and punched them hard in the face. Chaos ensued, and I basked in the precious violence that followed.

  Wood clashed in the large field the hunters gathered to train in, cracking a symphony of colliding strikes and whipping against flesh. A lot of yelps and curses pervaded the area, but everyone stayed to train if only to get a bit better. I was no exception to the chorus of pain.

  Aira was adamant on testing my capabilities once I was able, and since most of the mana sickness had subsided, and I could start eating solids again…I’d say I was well enough to provide a demonstration. I parried a strike aimed for my throat, and countered with a quick jab that Aira sidestepped. I switched it to a slash but the woman blocked easily enough.

  I was surprised by the hunters skill, she was no Isidro, which I was starting to realize the man was insane in his capabilities, but she was better than me. Not by much though, her attacks didn’t seem accustomed to the human form, attacking just about anywhere that seemed like an obvious weak point. If I had to guess I’d say the woman was more accustomed to kitting monsters than a direct confrontation of skill.

  But she struck me plenty, and I hadn’t managed much revenge in retaliation.

  She wasn’t even avoiding my belly! The few strikes that managed to hit it hurt like a bitch. Fucking crazy lady showing no mercy. Not that I wanted any, strength didn’t come through coddling. Well, that wasn't accurate, and depended entirely on your perspective of ‘coddling’.

  I hadn't been using my spell during the bout, because that would kind of render the point of this moot. We were there to test my skill, not strength, and real blades didn’t take well to being used as clubs.

  She brought a jab forward, striking my sternum and sending me stumbling back, following with a quick strike to my shoulder, then chin.

  I was plenty disoriented, and the woman gave me the time to recover before we continued our bout. Aira’s gaze carried a question and challenge, one that asks if I was willing to suffer through more of this. I growled and dug in my heels, continuing the spar with ferocious intensity.